Not just for the young, 81-year old man finds love online


More and more people are finding love online, making meeting on the Internet more popular than meeting people at clubs for romance. Scores of children will now be hearing how mommy and daddy met in a chatroom or an online dating service. It’s become the single’s bar of the new generation.

81-year old assisted living resident Wu Jieqin, of China, and his 58-year old bride have something to tell the new generation, though.

“The Internet doesn’t belong to the young alone,” he told the paper. He said he had been using the Internet since 1998.

“There are no rules against old people seeking love online.”

The couple met after Wu, lonely since his divorce a decade ago, put a lonely hearts notice on a Chinese website last year with the help of a student.

Not that the feisty retiree with thin gray hair was not picky.

“As internet mates of his own age did not suit him, he set his sights on a woman in her forties or fifties,” the report said.

Wu said over 50 women responded positively to his ad, including prospects from the United States, Australia and the Ukraine. Wu met several but things clicked only when with Jiang, a retired railway worker from southwest China’s Sichuan province.

[From Reuters]

But there was something that stood in the lovebird’s way. And it’s an age-old story, no pun intended, but nevertheless appreciated. The bride’s parents, aged 85 and 86 were opposed to the romance because they felt the groom was too old for their daughter. But Jiang convinced them that he was young at heart and he wouldn’t take her away from home.

“His voice is very youthful. Not like an 80-year-old,” Jiang told the paper. “He’s very romantic.”

Wu plans to move to Sichuan to be with his new bride.

He likened their love to two well-meshed gears.

“As long they up to scratch, they can keep turning forever, and you don’t have to care whether they’re old or new,” he said.

[From Reuters]

Yes, the secret to a lasting and loving marriage is being up to scratch, and probably generous amounts of oil to keep down the friction. It makes perfect sense!

I think it’s pretty funny that he wouldn’t take any applicants his own age. Even in his 80’s the guy can’t keep his eyes off the pretty young things, like 58-year old Jiang. Wu is nearly a quarter of a century older than his young bride. How scandalous!

Like Romeo and Juliet, Wu and Jiang defied the odds to be together. But unlike the star crossed lovers, they have the support of her parents, so these crazy kids are going to make it. I’m a sucker for a romantic internet story.

Header photo from The Beijing News via Straits Times

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23 Responses to “Not just for the young, 81-year old man finds love online”

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  1. Lauri says:

    Sweet!!

  2. Syko says:

    Good for him!

    Until my mom went into the nursing home at 79, she had a hot and heavy thing going on with an 82 year old guy. His family was also against it because they feared she’d marry him and get his money. Those two crazy kids didn’t care, though, they just kept scratching away!

    There really is life after 50.

  3. Orangejulius says:

    This is just what I needed this morning! I was starting to give up and think it’d never happen….

  4. Syko says:

    😆 😆

  5. Diva says:

    I met my husband in a chatroom 3 years ago, and my 62year old dad met his new wife online, too. I thank God for the internet everyday cos there was no other way my English husband and I would have met and he’s the best thing that ever happened in my life.

    Awww, now I’m all misty eyed. 😛

  6. cara says:

    First off, I love his name and am jealous….to be named partially after the greatest rap group ever!!!!! – I kid.

    Second, good for them. Just goes to show, it’s not over till we’re dead…this is just a dry spell.

    P.S SYKO – I love it!!! And good for you for being so supportive of your mom.

  7. Lastdaylight says:

    My mother, my sister, me and most of my friends met their partners online. The internet really is the way to go for singles, whether they are actively searching or not. But you should stick to local chatrooms etc. otherwise you might end up with a cross country relationship (like me and my mom), which is really hard to bear when neither party can move in a reasonable time frame.

  8. Orangejulius says:

    OK guys. You’ve inspired me to quit playing around here and get back to my dating sites!

  9. Kristin says:

    Congrats! Love is love and it’s nice reading stories like this. :]

  10. Anna says:

    My uncle is getting remarried next year to a really nice woman after he divorced his ex-wife of 20+ years. I also have a cousin living with a girl he met online. It really is the new dating service of this generation!

  11. Danielle says:

    I met my Irish husband 6 years ago in a chatroom in the days of dial up. Ah memories. I wouldn’t trade him for the world though.

  12. Julia says:

    There is obviously a lot to know about this. I think you made some good points in Features also.

  13. myspace girl says:

    One of the advantages of online dating is that the internet lets us soften geographical and age limits. We can serach between a larger range of prospective partners than in off-line life.

  14. Jessica says:

    Every time i come here I am not dissapointed, nice post

  15. who says that oldman doesn’t love.
    Oldman Loves but no one make doubt on Oldmans.

  16. kaaanji says:

    Yes its really amazing 81 years old man can find love online.

    I am still 23 years old but not finding love. .. Lolz

  17. pepper says:

    I think its disturbing that even in his old ripe age he still wanted a younger woman and refused women near his age.

  18. I enjoyed your post, very informative. I’m learning a lot from your site.

  19. Shea Hanson says:

    I’m seeing so many stories like this lately. It is wonderful our elders can be happy with someone new at that age.

  20. Mollye says:

    I think that’s interesting. If an old man can go on a Webdate and find someone, than I can too. Not to say anything bad, but if that man is fearless and took a chance with the internet dating, than I can do the same. I have been debating whether I should give it a shot, and I think I’m starting to lean more towards yes.

  21. Maatch says:

    It’s just one of those where I’m on the fence. Can’t really decide yes or no.

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  23. mukpin.com says:

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