A man in China has been sentenced to seven months in prison after assaulting a woman who confronted him over an unpaid loan of just 10 yuan (approximately S$1.85), more than a decade after he borrowed the money.
The incident took place in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, where the woman, surnamed Wang, had previously worked at a vegetable market. According to Chinese media reports, she first met the man, surnamed Xu, when he approached her asking to borrow 10 yuan for an emergency.
Wang agreed to lend him the money, but Xu apparently never returned it despite encountering her several times at the market. She repeatedly reminded him about the outstanding debt, but her requests went unanswered.
Woman Recognised Debtor On Public Bus
The dispute resurfaced in May 2026 when Wang spotted Xu aboard a public bus. Recognising him, she approached him and asked him to repay the money he had borrowed more than 10 years earlier.
However, Xu, who had been drinking, denied ever borrowing the money and allegedly hurled insults at her.
The confrontation soon turned physical after Wang slapped Xu during the argument. Xu retaliated by slapping her and kicking her in the upper body, causing her to fall backwards into her seat.
Although the bus driver intervened to stop the confrontation, the situation escalated once more.
Xu was reportedly preparing to leave the bus when he turned around and attacked Wang again, punching and kicking her. The assault left Wang with a fractured sternum, also known as the breastbone.
Man Admitted Borrowing Money After Arrest
Following the incident, police arrested Xu and began investigating the assault.
During questioning, Xu eventually admitted that he had indeed borrowed the 10 yuan from Wang, contradicting his earlier denial during the confrontation.
The case was subsequently brought before the court, which sentenced Xu to seven months’ imprisonment for intentional injury.
Despite the original loan amounting to only around S$1.85, the decade-old dispute ultimately resulted in a criminal conviction and a prison sentence for Xu.
The case also highlights how an unresolved personal disagreement can escalate into a much more serious matter when violence becomes involved.