Henan's first "divorce company," Henan Marriage-saving Counseling Company, was opened in Zhengzhou on Dec. 13. It is the 12th branch of Shanghai Weiqing (marriage-saving) Company.

Lin Chunyan, the manager of the company in Henan, said that when the Shanghai company was founded on Mach 8, 2004, it raised a great argument among the public, as people thought the purpose of the "divorce company" was to persuade couples into divorce.

Lin used to work as volunteer, helping couples solve marriage crisis. "More than 80 percent of them finally decided to live together again instead of divorce," she said. "The purpose of our present company is to help couples better communicate with each other and find out their problems. Anyway, maintaining their relations is good to couples, although our charge is high."

Currently Lin and her colleagues received 10 calls everyday counseling their clients. They find that marriage without love may directly lead to divorce. Domestic violence also makes couples' relations tense.

"Our company can be also regarded as a 'marriage hospital,'" said Lin. According to her, her clients are mostly female white collars and company managers.

(Chinanews.cn December 21, 2006)