Good wives worth their weight in gold

China is relaxing the policy of family planning of the past, which allows couples to have a second child if one spouse is an only child. For many, that is good news indeed, but for some, it has come a little too late, especially if the children are now of marriageable age.

In rural communities, a girl child was, and may still be, considered a burden because she will be married off and lost to the parents. Boys, however, meant the bloodline would be continued and that the family farm would gain another pair of hands.

But values are changing because of simple supply and demand. There are too many boys and not enough girls.