“The Charm and the Horror: The Tragic Tale of a Handsome Killer and his Fearful Wife
The story of Wang Wei and Zong Xizhen is a disturbing example of how toxic masculinity and societal expectations can have deadly consequences. Wang Wei, born in 1953 in Changchun, Jilin, was a very handsome man who had a way with words. He easily charmed women into falling for him, and they were willing to spend money on him, thinking that this kind of happy-go-lucky life could last forever. However, Wang Wei’s good looks and smooth-talking ways were not enough to sustain his relationships with women.
One natural characteristic of women is jealousy, and Wang Wei failed to recognize this. The women who were attracted to him wanted him to only have eyes for them, and when they saw him being affectionate with other women, they became jealous. This jealousy turned into anger for some women, and they reported Wang Wei to the police for being a hooligan. At that time, the criminal law still had the crime of hooliganism, which included crimes such as insulting women and disrupting public order. In 1979, Wang Wei was sentenced to 10 years in prison for hooliganism.
However, Wang Wei did not repent in prison. Instead, he developed a strong resentment towards women. After his 10-year sentence was over, Wang Wei’s resentment towards women reached its peak. He thought that women were too bad, taking advantage of him and causing him to spend 10 years in prison. However, he was 36 years old at the time and needed to find a wife to start a family. Women’s standards had changed, and on top of that, he had the stigma of being a hooligan.
Just when he and his parents were desperate, a girl named Zong Xizhen came forward and expressed her willingness to marry him. Zong had always been fond of Wang Wei since she was a child. Despite the opposition of Zong’s parents and relatives, they reluctantly agreed to the marriage. Wang Wei was overjoyed that a woman was willing to marry him, let alone an unmarried young woman. He promised to always treat Zong Xizhen well, and they got married a few days later.
However, Zong Xizhen was weak-willed and timid, and couldn’t control her husband. After the novelty wore off, Wang Wei went to KTV every day and had relationships with a group of women. Zong Xizhen knew about Wang Wei’s affairs but turned a blind eye to them. She was not happy about it, but she thought that it was better to ignore it than to confront him. She hoped that one day he would change his behavior and be faithful to her.
However, one day in October 1993, Wang Wei brought a waitress home and had a sexual relationship with her in the living room while Zong Xizhen was hiding in the bedroom. When she heard her husband shouting and then heard a struggle, she was terrified to see that he had choked the waitress to death. Zong Xizhen was scared and didn’t know what to do. Wang Wei told her to help him dispose of the body, and like a robot, she did as she was told. Together, they dismembered the body, burned it to ashes, and threw it in the wilderness. Wang Wei took the money that was in the waitress’s pocket for himself.
From then on, Zong Xizhen loved and feared Wang Wei at the same time. Every time Wang Wei brought a woman home and killed her, he took her money, and Zong Xizhen helped him dispose of the body. Finally, in 1997, Zong Xizhen couldn’t take it anymore and went to the police station to report that her husband had killed many people.
Wang Wei’s actions were the result of a deeply ingrained sense of entitlement and misogyny that are common in societies that normalize toxic masculinity. He believed that he was entitled to the attention and affection of women and that their jealousy was merely a natural reaction to his desirability. This entitled attitude is often reinforced by societal norms and expectations that place men in positions of power and privilege, leading them to feel that they are above reproach.
Moreover, the fact that Wang Wei’s criminal behavior was initially dismissed as mere hooliganism shows how society often fails to recognize the severity of toxic behavior and its impact on women. The fact that he was able to use his good looks and charm to manipulate and harm women for years, and that Zong Xizhen was so deeply entrenched in the cycle of abuse, highlights the importance of addressing toxic masculinity and promoting healthy relationships.
One way to address these issues is through education and awareness-raising campaigns that challenge gender stereotypes and promote healthy relationship dynamics. It is important to teach young people about consent and respectful communication, as well as provide them with the tools to identify and report abusive behavior. Additionally, resources such as counseling services and support groups can help survivors of abuse to heal and rebuild their lives.
Another important step is to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions. In the case of Wang Wei and Zong Xizhen, justice was eventually served, but only after a significant loss of life. It is important to ensure that victims of abuse have access to the legal system and that law enforcement takes their reports seriously.
Ultimately, addressing toxic masculinity requires a collective effort from society as a whole. This includes challenging harmful gender stereotypes, promoting healthy relationship dynamics, and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. It is only through these efforts that we can prevent tragedies like the one that befell the 17 women at the hands of Wang Wei.
