Yuan Dibao and Li Danni is happily married now


Fifty-four years ago, 25-year-old Yuan Dibao fell in love with his teacher but they were forced to part from each other because he was already married.

Last month, the loving couple was reunited and finally got married although they are already in their eighties.

In 1953, the young Yuan tied the knot with Huang Xiuxue. A month later, he left home to study at a medical school in Zhejiang, China.

At school, he fell in love with his Russian language teacher Li Danni - a French who was born in Beijing.

One day, he told Li that he was married and said he could not abandon his wife.

In 1955, Yuan continued his studies at West China University of Medicine in Chengdu, some 1,800km away.

Before leaving, Li gave him a strand of hair and a ring.

Since then, they had not met each other. Li followed her parents to return to France in 1956.

They exchanged letters at first but since the Cultural Revolution began in the 1960s, Yuan's letters to Li were all returned.

Li also stopped writing as friends told her that she could land Yuan into trouble.

They kept their love for each other for years until seven months ago.


The young Li Danni and Yuan Dibao

At a Lunar New Year gathering, a nephew of Yuan told the family that Yuan almost married a foreign teacher.

After knowing the story, Yuan's daughter-in-law Ouyang persuaded him to contact Li.

"I told him: 'Last time you worried that it might hurt mama, but she had died many years ago.'"

That night, Yuan wrote to Li although he had no idea if she was still alive.

On May 1, Yuan received a three-page letter from Li and a photo of her. He cried.

After exchanging several letters, Yuan invited Li to live with him.

On Sept 18, Li arrived in China. She was greeted by Yuan and his three sons.

Yuan presented her with a bouquet of 55 roses and the two octogenarians hugged each other tightly.

Three days later, they registered their marriage and held a grand ceremony on Sept 26.

"When I was in Lyon, a lot of men were interested in me but I rejected them all. In my life, there was only one man and he is always in my heart," said Li.

Source: dailychili.com