Zhang Linhua's children bought her a tomb in 1991 for 4,500 yuan (US$540). The woman was clearly in no hurry to use it - she lived up to the ripe old age of 102 and died last month.
But when the children went to bury her ashes, they were astonished to find somebody else had been buried in "Tomb No 13, Row 2 of Tian Area" in Futian Cemetery, Beijing.
"You bought the tomb 10 years ago! No wonder there was a mix-up," they were told as if reserving a burial plot was like ordering a bottle of wine - to be used soon after opening.
Then a land law was quoted to justify the mistake - "land deserted for three years can be used for other purposes" - unfortunately for them, the statute of limitation doesn't apply to life.
Zhang's children were even accused of trying to steal a bargain.
"The cheapest tomb is priced at 10,000 yuan (US$1,200) nowadays. You should pay for the 'price adjustment'," the cemetery staff said - they surely are well-versed in inflation theories.
Finally, after several rounds of negotiations, Futian reluctantly agreed to build a new tomb in a "similar location".
But all the hassle proved too much for Zhang's children, no spring chickens themselves - and probably contemplating their own final resting places.
Zhang's 71-year-old daughter, the youngest of four children, died suddenly a week after her mother's death. And her second son had a stroke in Taipei after hearing of his sister's death.
The family will sue the cemetery, said Dong Gong, the third son.
Rest in peace, Madam Zhang.
(China Daily HK Edition September 24, 2002)
