70-Year-Old Chinese Man Marries Younger Cambodian Woman, Sparks Online Debate

[Houri]

70-Year-Old Chinese Man Marries Younger Cambodian Woman, Sparks Online Debate​

A 70-year-old Chinese man, Shi Song Bang, has become the center of a social media firestorm after marrying a much younger Cambodian woman, Soda Meng. Their relationship, celebrated by the bride but harshly criticized by netizens, has ignited debate around love, age gaps, and societal expectations.



Love in the Spotlight

Photo: Soda Meng via Facebook
Soda Meng took to Facebook recently to express her deep affection for her new husband, sharing sentimental messages about their long-standing relationship. “Thank you for always being by my side,” Meng wrote, expressing her devotion to Shi Song Bang, and adding, “I will love only you in this lifetime.” The couple has reportedly been together for eight years before deciding to tie the knot. However, their marriage has not been met with universal warmth.



The Backlash

Photo: Soda Meng via Facebook



Instead of receiving well-wishes, Meng and Shi have faced an overwhelming amount of negative commentary. Detractors labeled Meng a “gold digger,” suggesting her love might not be sincere due to the substantial age difference. Comments ranged from envy to outright mockery, with one user sarcastically stating, “I really envy this man from China for being able to marry such a beautiful woman.” As the backlash grew, Meng either deleted or restricted access to her original posts, signaling the intensity of the online criticism.



This strong public reaction illustrates the broader issue of societal discomfort with relationships that defy traditional expectations, particularly those with large age gaps.



A Cultural Divide

Photo: Mashable SEA
The controversy surrounding the couple’s marriage sheds light on cultural attitudes towards relationships across Asia. Some critics see such unions as exploitative or transactional, while others recognize them as legitimate expressions of love that challenge conventional norms. The outpouring of criticism suggests that love across generations still faces scrutiny, with the couple’s relationship becoming a focal point for larger conversations on age, love, and culture.



As Meng and Shi continue to navigate the challenges posed by public opinion, they stand united, proving that love transcends age—despite the storm of criticism swirling around them.



Sources:
[1] Young Cambodia woman marries 70-year-old, couple receives

 

[Houri]

i wonder they are still happily married or divorced already

 

[Peter Ahmad Muniandy Wong]

Marriage to Soda may fizzle out.

 

[A Singaporean]

You think she would have married him if he is a coolie gene Sinkie retard ?

 

[Byebye Penis]

many singaporeans also have young wives in batam


Speedboats from Singapore are still packed, shuttling concerned-looking men, sugar daddies, husbands in need of second wives.
https://www.asia-pacificresearch.co...-attempt-to-create-a-second-singapore/5628202

I spoke to Ms. Mira, who works at a small store (warung), which doubles as a bar in Batam’s neighborhood called Nagoya. She laughs, bitterly, whenever I ask some uncomfortable questions:

“I don’t know why I came to Batam, but I did; from Lombok. It was not easy to get a job here. I finally worked at Chilli Bar here at Nagoya Town, at that corner, look… not far from here. I used to make grand total of Rp. 3 million (about US$ 240). And that already included my salary, tips and drink commissions. I heard that in better bars, women could earn up to Rp. 5 million, with the same structures of payment.”

Finally, I went to Chilli Bar, and it was clearly a brothel, a den, with girls dancing in their skimpy clothes, with a transvestite mixing cocktails; a place where there are no secrets, where everything is raw and open. A middle-aged sex-worker, Ms. Jemmy, is from Palembang. She is bitter and tough, and at the same time as melancholic as a character from Chekhov’s play:

“I have 17-year-old kid now. I was pregnant when I was very young, her age, at 17.
First, I went to work in Singapore, then I moved to Batam to work in a casino. At that time, gambling was thriving here. But then it became restricted, only five places that could have gambling on their premises. So, I would work for 2 weeks and then not work for 2 months. I have a kid to raise, so I moved; I began working in this bar in order to make ends meet.
I would do anything to survive. If customers want to be with me for a night, that’s OK. At one point, I became a ‘second wife’ of a Singaporean businessman who had been travelling regularly to Batam. But then, things did not work out as planned. We broke up.
I don’t have plans to go back home to Palembang for Idul Fitri holidays. I have to earn more money first, to be able to do that. Anyway, I am not looking forward to the holidays. It is already bad during Ramadhan – the bars can only operate from 9pm to 1am. Such a short time. Yes, not enough time to get many customers. That means less earning for us. Usually we started to open at 3pm and could stay open until early hours, especially on the weekends.”

Tens of thousands of Indonesian women are drawn to Batam, as hundreds of thousands are drawn to Bali. The legend goes: anything could happen here. Life could change. Prince Charming may appear from nowhere.

But miracles hardly happen. Charming Princes that travel here, are usually just some tough Singaporean businessmen, who know precisely what they want. Most of them, once they get it, rush back to their bubble, to a highly conservative lifestyle.

But Indonesian reality is too dreadful and the dream of easy escape too bright. Desperate women keep coming.

 

[oliverlee]

Can’t use lanjiao cna still finger

 

[Narong Wongwan]

Want milk dun have to buy the cow