28-Year-Old Woman Marries Nobel Laureate 54 Years Her Senior: 16 Years Later, She Receives No Inheritance Yet Remains Happy
A marriage that once drew ridicule—where an 82-year-old groom was labeled as an old man chasing youth and a 28-year-old bride was accused of marrying for money—has now proven its critics wrong. Despite enduring years of public scrutiny, the woman in question has shown that her decision was made for the right reasons.
No Inheritance, No Regrets
Recently, renowned physicist and Nobel Laureate Yang Zhenning, now 98, announced the division of his estate. His entire wealth will be passed down to his children and grandchildren, while his wife, 54 years his junior, will not receive any financial assets. She will inherit only their shared home but has no right to sell it.
For years, critics speculated that she married Yang solely for financial gain. Now, faced with the reality of inheriting nothing, many question whether her decision from 16 years ago was a mistake.
A Chance Meeting That Led to a Life Together
Yang Zhenning, a renowned Chinese-American physicist, won the Nobel Prize in 1957 and became the first ethnically Chinese scientist to achieve this prestigious honor.
In 1995, he met Weng Fan, a then-19-year-old university student, during an academic seminar where she worked as a volunteer. Impressed by her intelligence, quick thinking, and keen interest in academia, Yang took notice of her.
Years later, fate reunited them under very different circumstances. Yang had lost his first wife, while Weng had endured a failed marriage. Their shared professional interests and mutual understanding drew them closer, and in December 2004, they married. Yang was 82, and Weng was only 28.
Overcoming Criticism for Love
Their marriage was met with public backlash. Many viewed Yang as an elderly man unwilling to accept aging, while Weng was accused of marrying him for financial security. However, Yang himself dismissed the controversy, stating, “I fear loneliness. If I had not married Weng Fan, I would have married someone else.”
Over time, Weng adapted to her new life with Yang, making significant lifestyle changes to support her husband. She transitioned from youthful, bright-colored clothing to more subdued attire, gave up late nights and coffee, and embraced tea and a structured routine to align with Yang’s way of life.
Their 16-year marriage was filled with academic collaborations, global travel, and companionship. Weng, who had academic ambitions of her own, even pursued postgraduate studies and frequently assisted Yang in his work.
A Relationship Built on More Than Wealth
To outsiders, a young woman walking beside an elderly man with a cane may seem unusual, even unnatural. However, Weng has consistently emphasized that Yang treated her with great care and attention.
On one occasion, while traveling for a conference, Yang refrained from turning on the bedroom light late at night for fear of disturbing Weng’s sleep. Instead, he sat in the bathroom reading. During another trip to Japan, when Weng suddenly felt dizzy, Yang lovingly fed her spoonfuls of porridge to help her recover.
Why Marry for Nothing? The Answer Lies in Happiness
Now 44 years old, Weng Fan remains far younger than her 98-year-old husband, but she has never expressed regret for her decision. If her goal had been money, she would not be walking away empty-handed after dedicating 16 years to their marriage.
Though she inherits their home, she has no right to sell it, proving that financial gain was never her primary motivation. Instead, her reward has been a life of shared love, companionship, and intellectual growth—a reality that few acknowledged when they first married.
Was It a Waste of Youth? Or a Well-Lived Life?
Some might say Weng wasted her youth on a man far older than her, especially as they never had children together to inherit his fortune. However, this perspective ignores an important fact: She lived those 16 years with contentment, companionship, and respect.
For those questioning why she didn’t fight for a share of Yang’s wealth, it’s ironic. Years ago, people mocked her for “marrying for money,” yet now, they blame her for not claiming an inheritance. Isn’t that contradictory?
At the end of the day, only those in the relationship know its true value. Weng has shown that personal happiness isn’t defined by wealth—it’s about the choices we make for ourselves, not the expectations set by society.
As Yang and Weng’s story proves, sometimes, choosing love, stability, and mutual respect outweighs any material inheritance.
