Former Child Prodigy Relies on Parental Allowance, Rejects Employment

Zhang Xinyang, a former child prodigy in China, has chosen to live without a regular job and rely on his parents for financial support. Despite early academic success, Zhang's struggles with standardized tests prevented him from attending top universities. He demanded a 2-million-yuan ($280,000) apartment from his parents before pursuing his Ph.D., but they compromised by renting him a flat instead. After completing his doctorate, Zhang resigned from his teaching job and now relies on an allowance from his parents for daily expenses. He claims to be content with his frugal lifestyle and believes that working for others would not lead to financial freedom.