In China, when parents sit down to discuss the marriage of their children to one another, one topic that’s hard to avoid is caili. Literally translated as “colorful gifts,” and known in English as the betrothal gift, bride price or bride token, caili refers to the monetary or material compensation given by the future groom or his family to the bride or her family.
With a long history in China, the betrothal gift is a symbol of respect and gratitude for allowing the marriage to take place, as well as one of goodwill between the two families.
However, in some cases, the tradition has become a heavy burden for the groom and his family, causing disputes between in-laws-to-be or damage to marriage bonds. This phenomenon still draws public attention and also
