A man in northern China has been sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison after stabbing his wife over suspicions that she was having an affair with a local butcher who offered her discounted meat.

According to a report by the South China Morning Post, the man, identified by his surname Zou, attacked his wife Zhao at their home in Songyuan, Jilin province, in March. Court records revealed that Zou’s jealousy was triggered when Zhao received a significant discount on meat from the neighborhood butcher.

Attack Over Misplaced Suspicion

Believing the discount signaled an affair, Zou reportedly hid a wooden-handled knife near their bed and stabbed his wife multiple times during a heated argument in the living room. Zhao sustained serious internal injuries but survived the attack.

Despite his confession and claims that the incident stemmed from a domestic disagreement, the Songyuan District People’s Court ruled that Zou’s actions constituted attempted deliberate homicide. The court acknowledged mitigating factors but imposed a decade-long prison sentence.

Wife Refuses to Press Charges

In a surprising turn, Zhao asked the court to show leniency and refused an official medical evaluation of her injuries. She stated that the couple had shared a “good relationship” over their 30 years of marriage, with no major conflicts prior to the incident.

She further explained that she wanted to protect their family’s peace for the sake of their son and grandson, saying her husband “has always been hardworking and provided for the family.”

“I do not want to pursue an injury evaluation or compensation,” Zhao told the court.