What was meant to be a simple blind date turned into a spectacle when a woman’s unusual test of generosity didn’t go quite as planned. Hoping to gauge her date’s willingness to provide and share, Miss Zhang showed up not alone, but with an entourage—23 members of her extended family in tow. Her intentions, she later claimed, were rooted in wanting to see just how generous her date, Mr. Liu, would be. But what unfolded at the restaurant was anything but romantic.
The incident took place in Zhejiang, a province in eastern China, where the two had agreed to meet for their first date. Mr. Liu had wanted to make a good impression and had suggested they dine at one of his favorite restaurants—a gesture that, under normal circumstances, might have been appreciated. However, the mood shifted quickly when he arrived and was met not just by Miss Zhang, but by a crowd of her relatives, all seated and ready to order.
Caught off guard and clearly overwhelmed, Mr. Liu tried to make sense of the situation. What was supposed to be an intimate dinner turned into a full-blown banquet. Waitstaff were seen scrambling to accommodate the unusually large party, menus were passed around quickly, and the kitchen was likely pushed to its limit. Miss Zhang reportedly smiled through the chaos, unfazed by the awkwardness that was clearly settling over the table.
As the dishes piled up and the conversation flowed mostly among the family members, Mr. Liu sat quietly, observing. The initial charm of the evening had worn off, replaced by confusion and discomfort. Though he may have initially planned to pay for the date, the unexpected financial pressure of covering a meal for 24 people proved too much. The final bill came to a jaw-dropping 20,000 yuan—roughly $3,100. That’s more than a splurge; it’s a sum that could easily fund a short vacation or cover several months’ rent.
Faced with such an outrageous tab, Mr. Liu made a decision that stunned the group—he stood up and walked out, leaving Miss Zhang and her family to foot the entire bill. It was a dramatic exit, but perhaps not entirely unjustified. After all, the premise of their meeting had been a one-on-one date, not a dinner party.
Miss Zhang, however, didn’t take this quietly. Feeling wronged and embarrassed, she decided to pursue legal action against Mr. Liu. In her lawsuit, she argued that he had invited her to dinner and should therefore be responsible for the cost, regardless of how many people she brought. The case made headlines, drawing strong opinions from both sides of the public—some sympathizing with her view of testing generosity, while others firmly supported Mr. Liu’s reaction.
Ultimately, the court sided mostly with Mr. Liu, ruling that he was responsible for paying only a small portion of the bill—1,400 yuan, or about $200. The court concluded that while he did invite her to dinner, there was no reasonable expectation that he would cover such an excessive number of guests, especially without prior notice.
Looking back, the whole situation seems like a cautionary tale about the dangers of testing someone’s character in elaborate or manipulative ways. Miss Zhang may have wanted to see if her date was the kind of person who could provide for a large family, but in choosing such a dramatic and deceptive method, she lost sight of what dating is really about—honest connection, mutual respect, and clear communication.
The lesson here is simple: trying to measure a person’s worth through ambush tactics rarely ends well. Relationships built on tests and traps are shaky at best. Instead, showing genuine interest, having open conversations about values and expectations, and allowing things to unfold naturally are far more reliable paths to understanding someone’s character.
For Mr. Liu, this blind date surely became one he’ll never forget—not for the connection or chemistry, but for the sheer unpredictability of it all. And for Miss Zhang, it was an expensive reminder that sometimes, trying to test someone’s generosity can come at a greater cost than expected—financially, emotionally, and reputationally.
