Shanghai Conservatory of Music student buys house as a gift for mentor, but is taken over by mentor’s nephew

Shanghai Conservatory of Music student Zhang Wei, out of gratitude, gifted a house to his teacher. The teacher’s name was added to the property deed. However, after the teacher passed away, Zhang Wei encountered difficulties in retrieving the property. The teacher’s two nephews refused Zhang Wei’s request to change the deed. Helpless, Zhang Wei took the matter to court.

Reported by Jimo News on March 20, 2025, in 1983, Zhang Wei, in his twenties, became a student of senior vocal music professor Mr. Chen at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, forming a deep bond with the teacher.

At that time, Mr. Chen lived in a 15-square-meter small room in the faculty housing of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, sharing a kitchen and bathroom with neighbors. Mr. Chen’s younger brother moved to Shanghai Jiao Tong University to teach in 1984, and the two siblings, who had always been single, relied on each other.

Until his retirement in 1996, Mr. Chen, who had remained single, was unable to obtain an independent welfare house from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Housing became the biggest challenge in the lives of the teacher and his brother.

Zhang Wei stated that since he met Mr. Chen in 1983, in her heart, Mr. Chen was like another mother to her, someone she respected and adored deeply.

Facing the teacher’s living difficulties, in 2001, Zhang Wei fully purchased a 125-square-meter house on Shanghai Fahua Town Road to allow the two teachers to live in. Zhang Wei said that she not only spent all her savings but also sold a commercial property, solely to provide them with dignity and a comfortable retirement.

Zhang Wei also registered the names of Mr. Chen and his brother on the property deed for the purpose of settlement.

For forty years, on holidays and birthdays, Zhang Wei accompanied the two teachers, ensuring the childless duo enjoyed family happiness, like one big family.

Eventually, both Mr. Chen and his brother passed away. After taking care of the teachers’ funeral arrangements, Zhang Wei sought to reclaim the property he had purchased. However, when trying to change the property deed, Mr. Chen’s two nephews, living far away, rejected Zhang Wei’s request.

Zhang Wei filed a lawsuit against the teacher’s two nephews, seeking confirmation from the court regarding his complete ownership of the property in question.

During interviews, several students and friends of the teachers confirmed that the teachers had mentioned to them that the house was purchased by student Zhang Wei and should be returned to him after their passing.

Dr. Fan from Zhongshan Hospital, a student of Mr. Chen, a teacher at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and a renowned baritone singer, Zhang Zeyong, confirmed that after Mr. Chen’s passing, he personally heard one of Mr. Chen’s nephews say that Mr. Chen had mentioned that this house belonged to Zhang Wei. They expressed the intention to return the house to Zhang Wei. Zhang Zeyong also provided corresponding recordings.

In addition to multiple witnesses, Zhang Wei also has a recorded phone conversation with one of Mr. Chen’s nephews.

In the recording, the nephew says: “When I passed through Shanghai from Kunming coming back from Dalian, my aunt told both me and my partner clearly that this house was bought by Zhang Wei. We reached a consensus that the ownership of this house belongs to you. They can live in it until they pass away, and after that, this house must be returned to you. My aunt was clear about it, and my uncle also made it clear to me, so my understanding and stance won’t change; I wouldn’t take anything.”

When contacted by Chinese media, Mr. Chen’s nephew mentioned he was busy and promised to get in touch later. However, several hours later, his phone remained unreachable. The Chinese media tried to reach out to the two nephews through text messages but received no response.

This case has been accepted by the Changning District Court in Shanghai.

Regarding this matter, some netizens expressed that human nature cannot withstand the test, while others suggested that legal notarization should have been done in advance.