We exploit variations in the timing of the New Rural Pension Scheme across counties in rural China and analyze how the pension affects outcomes related to eldercare and social norms over the life cycle. We obtain three different but coherent findings: (1) married sons, not married daughters, are less likely to live with and take care of their parents; (2) parents reduce bride price to their sons but do not change dowry to their daughters; and (3) the sex ratio is less biased. Pension provision reshapes the eldercare mode and leads to a more balanced preference between sons and daughters.