Police have ruled Ms Yuan's death a suicide and say she did not have any interaction with other people during the hours before she fell to her death.

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Her 61-year-old sister, on the other hand, still lives in the neighbouring province of Hebei, where she collects a meagre pension of 80 yuan a month.

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She wasn't able to return 380 million yuan, prosecutors alleged.

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She expects pork prices to rise to 28 or 29 yuan before leveling off and declining after the Spring Festival holiday next year.

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When it is time for the return trip to Erlian, she manages to convince a jeep driver to take her and a traveling companion for 70 yuan, instead of the usual 100.

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