40 Years and Counting: The village bride who’s breaking social prejudice

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"Class Five" is a documentary film produced by CGTN which documents the changes to the Chinese society since the announcement of the Reform and Opening Up policy. Here's a shortened version of the story of one of the characters in the film, Zhang Yun'e, a village bride who is breaking social prejudice to embrace her womanhood.

Every year on this day, Zhang Yun'e comes to this market early for the best ingredients. July 15th on the Chinese lunar calendar is the day for people to remember the dead.

ZHANG YUN'E "My children's father has been gone for 13 years. I want to cook some of his favorite dishes, so he can come home to eat."

Helping with her special meal is her second husband, Tu Congzhu. He's pitched in every year for the past ten years. Back then, their marriage raised many eyebrows in the village. He is seven years younger. And having a groom move into a widow's home was quite unusual.

Zhang Yun'e's daughter, Xia Jiahui has a secret plan for her mother and stepfather. She wants to bring them to a wedding photo shoot. Picking out the dresses, she wants nothing but the very best for her mother.

XIA JIAHUI ZHANG YUN'E'S DAUGHTER "When my biological father was around, we were very poor. Who would've thought of wedding photos? With this marriage, they are older and wouldn't imagine something like this."

Zhang Yun'e married into this village just a few years after graduating from high school. The couple ran small businesses. They'd just earned enough to build a new house when her husband suffered a stroke. But she didn't get much sympathy from her fellow villagers. Old superstitions still existed in China's countryside.

ZHANG YUN'E "They think your husband died. You must bring bad luck. When other people get married, a person like me cannot touch anything in the room."

XIA JIAHUI ZHANG YUN'E'S DAUGHTER "My mother has been shouldering immense pressure. My father died just as their life was about to get better, for that, she still feels sorry."

Zhang Yun'e never thought this is what she'd walk into.

ZHANG YUN'E "I'm very happy. Really, very happy. Now I want to cry."

Moisturizer, foundation, mascara haven't touched her face in a long time. Her husband dons on a suit. Hours of preparation, the bride is finally ready for her close-up.

"Yes, smile! Aunty, you can close your eyes."

Public display of love for this couple is a first. He's a little awkward. She's having the moment of her life.

ZHANG YUN'E "When my first husband was around, I'd asked him if we could do wedding photos for my birthday. He said yes. Who would've thought he got sick that very year. But my dream came true today with the help of my daughter."