It would probably give them face.

Is that a satisfying answer?

My wife directly stated she wants to buy her parents a new home (which they'll probably deed to her older brother), so I'm actually looking at buying/refurbishing TWO homes (not to mention our own, the kid's homes, etc ad infinitum). Doesn't bother me - if we have the cash - fine. If we don't - ain't gonna happen. Whatever baby wants, baby gets...if we have the resources - which she manages VERY well.

So, back to the author's original post - I think the issue is more an issue of mutual trust, respect, and communication.

As HFCAMPO sorta noted - nothing's gonna happen by calculating this thread's statistics for a group answer. Every situation is different and unique - so skip the community poll (which was interesting, amusing, and entertaining - thank you very much) - and chat up the GF for a mutually equitable, hopefully win-win solution!

"If a local girl dating a foreigner is considered a "whore" I wonder what they think about local guys dating foreign girls."
@Serrure: To be fair though, this is few and far between.

The notion that a local dating a foreigner must be a whore is antiquated to say the least. This would have been the case a long time ago, anyone who thinks the same today in China likely has little education, has been living in a hole for 30 years and/or has deep nationalist sentiments making them rationalise Chinese/foreigner relationships by marginalising the Chinese side.

Most Chinese ask my wife if she is my guide first, a few are surprised when she responds "lao po". Only one has ever asked her how much she is getting paid a night, they were drunk and received the most vicious tirade I have ever heard from her. He ran away pretty quickly after he realised the game was up, there was no defence for such an idiotic notion in today's China.