The Inheritance War Behind "Paradise Villa"
Written by Chunxia
Qin Kun never expected that his thirtieth year would be so eventful. The joy of becoming a father for the first time, the pain of losing his beloved wife, and the anger of going to court - all these emotions left him feeling a complex mix of feelings.
Misfortune Strikes, Relatives Refuse Kidney Donation
Qin Kun is from Qingdao, Shandong. He and his wife, Qu Ying, were classmates at Qingdao University. He studied foreign languages while Qu Ying majored in Chinese literature.
Qu Ying's hometown is in Feidong County, Anhui Province. Her parents are local farmers, and she is the youngest daughter in the family, with an elder brother and sister.
In September 2003, after graduating from university, Qu Ying returned to her hometown in Anhui to become a high school teacher, while Qin Kun was admitted as a graduate student at the same university. From then on, this couple started living separately. Whenever there was a holiday, Qu Ying would visit Qin Kun in Qingdao. Since they didn't have their own home, Qu Ying had to stay in hotels every time she came to Qingdao. This made her feel uncomfortable, not only because staying in hotels cost money, but also because she felt without a house, they lacked roots. She hoped they could have a house, a home.
Qu Ying's thoughts were clear to Qin Kun. He promised her that once he graduated, they would buy a house and get married. Because of this promise, Qu Ying believed that even the longest wait would be sweet.
In July 2006, after completing his master's degree, Qin Kun was hired as a translator at a Qingdao foreign trade company. By the end of 2007, Qin Kun and Qu Ying had saved over 200,000 yuan. At this point, Qin Kun's parents, eager to see them settle down and to reassure Qu Ying, contributed another 200,000 yuan, allowing them to purchase a 70-square-meter apartment in Jin Niu neighborhood in Qingdao under Qu Ying's name.
On January 1, 2009, after ten years of love, the couple finally got married in Qingdao. Subsequently, Qu Ying resigned from her job in Anhui and moved to Qingdao. However, before she could stabilize her work, she discovered she was pregnant. Qin Kun's parents were naturally delighted, hoping Qu Ying could focus on having the child before looking for work again. Qin Kun was overjoyed, feeling he now had the motivation to work harder. Just as the entire family was immersed in excitement, misfortune struck. After becoming pregnant, Qu Ying experienced persistent facial swelling, frequent nighttime urination, and occasional vomiting. Initially, Qu Ying thought these were normal pregnancy reactions. However, on August 15th, when Qin Kun took her to the obstetrics department of Qingdao Medical College Affiliated Hospital for a prenatal check-up, it was discovered that Qu Ying had renal failure – uremia!
Qin Kun was shocked and immediately transferred his wife to the urology department for further examination. Deputy Director of Urology Zhang Shoujun immediately advised Qu Ying to terminate the pregnancy, as both she and the fetus were at constant risk of life-threatening danger. However, terminating the pregnancy meant Qu Ying would never be able to have children again.
The doctor's words filled Qu Ying with immense sorrow. She wanted this child not only out of maternal love but also considering Qin Kun. As an only child, his parents were eager to see their grandchildren. Recalling Qin Kun's happiness upon learning he was about to become a father, Qu Ying decided to take the risk and carry the baby to term.
To keep the child, Qu Ying refused medication, injections, and dialysis. Watching his beloved wife's unrelenting facial swelling, Qin Kun was heartbroken. He urged her to abort the child, but Qu Ying was determined to keep it. Crying, she said, "Husband, this child is a piece of my flesh! I'd rather die than lose the child."
Seeing Qu Ying's refusal to accept treatment, the urologist suggested transferring her to the obstetrics department for monitoring. At this point, Qu Ying's condition was far from optimistic.
Qin Kun realized that each day delayed in delivering the child posed a greater threat to his wife's life. When he learned from the doctor that the fetus could survive at 28 weeks, he pleaded with the doctors to arrange an emergency cesarean section for his wife as soon as possible.
On September 17th, as Qu Ying's condition stabilized, the obstetrician promptly performed a cesarean section, successfully delivering a five-pound male infant. Seeing the child she had risked her life to bring into the world, Qu Ying shed tears of happiness, saying, "Even if I die, I won't regret it, because my child is safe." Hearing her heartfelt words, Qin Kun couldn't help but burst into tears. At this moment, he barely felt any joy from becoming a father. Doctor Zhang Shoujun informed him that Qu Ying's condition was very unstable, and she urgently needed a kidney transplant. Given the current shortage of public kidney donors, the best option for Qin Kun was to find a suitable donor among Qu Ying's relatives.
After hearing Dr. Zhang's advice, Qin Kun immediately underwent kidney transplant compatibility testing at the hospital, but the results showed that they were incompatible. Now, all hopes rested on Qu Ying's family members. Qu Ying's parents were also present by their daughter's bedside. When they heard their daughter needed a kidney transplant, they expressed willingness to donate. However, the doctors considered them too old (nearly eighty) to be suitable donors. Desperate, Qin Kun traveled to Anhui and spent an entire day and night pleading with his in-laws, but to no avail. He eventually returned to Qingdao in despair. Learning that her family refused to donate, Qu Ying silently wept...
At 4:30 PM on December 25th, Qu Ying passed away in Qin Kun's arms. Three days later, overwhelmed by grief and without having secured a burial plot for his wife, Qin Kun decided to bury her temporarily.
While searching for a gravesite, Qin Kun noticed his father-in-law constantly inquiring about how much money remained at home, even asking how much their house was worth. Seeing his suffering wife, Qin Kun resolved to ask his in-laws again, imploring them, "Could your eldest son and daughter come to Qingdao for a test? Maybe they'll match." The elderly couple immediately agreed to bring Qu Ying's brother and sister for compatibility testing.
Thinking face-to-face discussions might be more convenient, the couple did not call but instead personally returned to Anhui. After they left, there was no news. During this period, Qu Ying's condition fluctuated several times. Anxious, Qin Kun called his father-in-law daily. However, the elderly couple always claimed they hadn't yet contacted Qu Ying's siblings. Qin Kun had no idea that originally, Qu Ying's brother and sister believed donating a kidney would be fatal and thus refused to undergo testing.
Ripples Arise, Father-in-Law Claims Inheritance
On October 21st, Qu Ying fell unconscious again. Dr. Zhang Shoujun urged Qin Kun to quickly find a kidney source for a transplant; otherwise, her life would be in imminent danger. With no other choice, Qin Kun reluctantly called his father-in-law again. This time, his father-in-law responded, "Child, we want to save Qu Ying too. But her brother and sister have their own families, working far away to support them. We don't know what else to do. Is there any other way?" Qin Kun became agitated, retorting, "Is Qu Ying really your biological daughter? Is she truly the younger sister of your son and daughter? They're her only hope to live!" The elderly man sighed and silently hung up the phone.
Qu Ying's condition worsened. On October 26th, Dr. Zhang Shoujun issued a final ultimatum: Even if they searched for other donors now, it would be too late. Desperately worried, Qin Kun boarded a train overnight...
Upon learning of their daughter's death, Qu Ying's parents rushed to Qingdao to mourn. Through tears, they told Qin Kun, "We're deeply saddened by Qu Ying's passing. But life and death are predestined. Please handle her funeral arrangements as soon as possible. Both me and her mother are not in good health, and raising her wasn't easy. We had hoped that with her education and success, we could benefit. Who knew she'd leave so suddenly? Let's discuss how to handle her assets."
Qin Kun never expected his father-in-law to bring up inheritance at such a time. Irritated, he replied, "I will handle it!" Yet throughout the day, he felt uneasy. "How could Qu Ying have such relatives? They refused to save her, and now, not long after her death, they're demanding her inheritance. How can such relatives exist?"
The next afternoon, Qin Kun visited his wife at the morgue. That night, he dreamed of Qu Ying returning, hugging herself and repeatedly saying, "Cold, I'm so cold, I want to go home!" Awakening from the dream, Qin Kun couldn't help but cry. Realizing his wife had little money left, Qin Kun irritably informed them that all savings had been exhausted treating Qu Ying. Their property essentially amounted to just this house. His mother-in-law then remarked, "When we bought this house, Qu Ying contributed quite a bit." Understanding their intentions, Qin Kun angrily slammed the door and left.
Seeing his in-laws lingering at home, Qin Kun felt extremely frustrated. He lied, claiming he still had some matters to resolve with the hospital, postponing Qu Ying's funeral arrangements, and sent his in-laws away. Consulting a lawyer friend afterward, he learned that since Qu Ying left no will, his in-laws indeed had the right to inherit her assets. If they insisted on dividing the inheritance, the only options were to sell the house or appraise its value, allowing one party to buy it and compensate the other.
Subsequently, Qin Kun received multiple calls from his father-in-law, realizing their inquiries about the funeral were false pretenses, and their demands for inheritance were genuine. Feeling imbalanced, he thought: It was his in-laws' refusal to donate kidneys that deprived Qu Ying of her chance for survival. Since they refused to save her, how dare they claim her inheritance? Since Qu Ying's inheritance mainly pertained to this house, he decided to sell it and use all the proceeds to honor her memory, ensuring his unfeeling in-laws wouldn't receive a single cent.
Right and Wrong, Father-in-Law and Son-in-Law Face Off in Court
After losing his beloved wife, Qin Kun often took out their old photos to relieve his longing. Each time he saw a photo taken shortly after their wedding during a trip to Mount Laoshan, Qu Ying's comment echoed in his ears: "If we ever have enough money, it would be wonderful to buy a house like this!" Recalling her words, Qin Kun suddenly had an idea: Why not build a house-like tomb for her on Mount Laoshan? This way, he could fulfill her wish in life.
The next day, Qin Kun went to the Jiu Feng Ridge Cemetery in Laoshan, Qingdao, and selected a 160-square-meter plot halfway up the mountain. Upon inquiry, he learned that the villa-style mausoleum he intended to construct was classified as oversized and therefore highly priced. Qin Kun calculated that constructing a 100-plus square meter building on this plot, including the land cost, would require approximately 500,000 yuan. However, to realize his wife's wish and to completely sever his father-in-law's claims on her inheritance, Qin Kun decided to sell the house and build this "Paradise Villa" for his wife.
On January 17, 2010, Qin Kun sold the house for 610,000 yuan and moved back to live with his parents. Subsequently, he paid 130,000 yuan upfront to purchase a 166-square-meter plot at Jiu Feng Ridge Cemetery. Then, Qin Kun fully committed himself to constructing the "Paradise Villa," deciding to invest all remaining funds into it.
On February 26th, while supervising the construction site of the "Paradise Villa," Qin Kun received a sudden call from his father, urging him to return home immediately. Rushing back, he found his father-in-law's family sitting in the living room. Qu Ying's brother said, "After my sister passed away, the house should have included a share for our parents. How could you secretly sell it alone?" Enraged, Qin Kun replied, "Back when Qu Ying needed your help, why didn't you come? Today, I clearly tell you, I'm using this money to build her tomb! I've merely transferred her inheritance there. If you want her inheritance, you can pick bricks and tiles from her grave!" Eventually, they parted on bad terms.
Thereafter, Qin Kun accelerated the construction of the "Paradise Villa." On March 12th, a 580,000-yuan villa-style mausoleum, including ground and underground levels, was completed. On March 14th, Qin Kun placed his wife's ashes in the "Paradise Villa." Tears streaming down his face, he gazed at Qu Ying's portrait on the gravestone and said, "Dear, you can rest in peace now."
On March 21st, Qu Guoliang filed a civil lawsuit against Qin Kun at the Nan District People's Court of Qingdao, claiming the right to inherit 120,000 yuan of his daughter's estate.
On April 12th, during the first court session, Qin Kun passionately told his father-in-law, "I never imagined your family could be so unsympathetic! All the money has already been used to build Qu Ying's tomb. If you want the money, go to her grave..." This session ended in heated arguments, and the court did not make an immediate judgment.
After investigating the basic facts, presiding judge Sun Gaohong, considering the special relationship between the parties, decided to attempt mediation. Sun Gaohong explained to Qin Kun that parents are the first-order heirs of their children's estates. After Qu Ying's death, her parents could legally inherit their share of her estate. Without their consent, Qin Kun's unilateral disposal of Qu Ying's entire inheritance clearly violated their legal rights. Moreover, in this case, Qu Ying's parents had largely fulfilled their parental responsibilities. They voluntarily offered to donate kidneys but were denied by the doctors, leaving them powerless. "You shouldn't vent your anger on them because Qu Ying's brother and sister refused to donate kidneys. Consider the elders' difficulties; if Qu Ying knew, she would certainly disapprove of how you treated her parents."
Through Sun Gaohong's repeated patient explanations of the law, Qin Kun's attitude gradually changed. Then, Sun Gaohong persuaded Qu Ying's parents to consider their grandson and Qin Kun's deep affection for Qu Ying and strive for reconciliation. The elderly couple nodded in agreement. "Our son-in-law preferred to build a 'Paradise Villa' for our daughter rather than give us a single cent, hurting our dignity. We only wanted an explanation."
On June 11th, under Judge Sun Gaohong's mediation, Qin Kun and his in-laws ultimately reached an agreement: Qin Kun would compensate his in-laws with 60,000 yuan. The elderly couple, given that Qin Kun had invested most of the money into the "Paradise Villa," decided to accept 40,000 yuan and asked Qin Kun to reserve the remaining 20,000 yuan as educational funds for their grandson. Qin Kun, surprised by his in-laws' compromise, apologized for his previous impulsive behavior. Subsequently, Mr. and Mrs. Qu Guoliang withdrew their lawsuit.
(All names except those of the physician and judge are real.)
(Excerpted from Legal and Life Monthly Issue, Lower Half of August)