Page 114 of He Is My Bride

“Is it the Wus, Guosheng?” called Madam Wang from inside.

“Don’t get up, I’ll see them in.” Wang Guosheng stepped aside. “Please.”

Li Ying, refusing to let yesterday’s events get the better of him, refusing to show weakness, smiled at Wang Guosheng—too widely and the smile didn’t reach his eyes, but in the end it wasn’t his intention to make the Wang family head think he was actually being courteous to him.

“Hello, Wang Guosheng. Once more, happy New Year.”

“Happy New Year, Missy Li.”

“Please address me as ‘Miss Li’ or by my full name,” Li Ying said, and it wasn’t a question.

Wang Guosheng eyed him amusedly, but Li Ying stared right back, unflinching.

“Alright, Miss Li,” Wang Guosheng said and nodded at Hanjun, who returned the gesture stiffly. Neither said a word. Wang Guosheng left.

In the lounge, Madam Wang wasn’t doing too hot, obviously hungover and medicating herself with some hair of the dog: a bottle of brandy was on the coffee table. Li Ying felt sorry for her, and not justfor today. He wondered if she had had this problem for long, if Wang Guosheng had grown up with an alcoholic mother.

With Wang Guosheng gone, Li Ying would have been just fine staying a while, but they were to have lunch at Grandmother Linming’s soon and Madam Wang wasn’t feeling her best, so their visit remained brief. They left her with her mandarins and brandy and moved on to Wu Yiheng’s and Grandmother Linming’s place.

“Happy New Year, Auntie!” Li Ying then turned to Wu Yiheng. “Happy New Year Uncle—Mister Wu!”

“Prosperity, Missy Li.”

Uncle Yiheng can call meMissyall he wants.“Thank you for a wonderful dinner last evening, everything wassuper!”

“Hmm. Happy you enjoyed it.”

Is it just wishful thinking, or isUnclesounding less hostile today?It was hard to say, he was a Wu; one had to determine a lot from the smallest change in his tone.

They sat down for a light vegetarian lunch—meat wasn’t traditionally eaten on New Year’s Day—and talked about pleasant things.

“Thank you for playing the flute yesterday, Li Ying, it was very lovely. Hanjun.”

Hanjun looked at his grandmother.

“Why don’t you tune up your old violin upstairs? You haven’t played in a long time, we would all like to hear you play!”

Hanjun looked down thoughtfully.

“Yes!” Li Ying clapped enthusiastically and beamed at Hanjun. “Please play for me Junjun! I want to hear you play!”

Hanjun’s guarded expression softened. He nodded. “After lunch.”

“Yay!”

When they were finished eating, everyone moved to the parlor, and Hanrong made tea at Wu Yiheng’s request. Unlike the English-style tea Li Ying had had with the matriarchs, the Wus practiced the traditional Chinese way of tea.

Hanjun always made his tea this way, and to Li Ying the various cups and tools had become familiar, as had the motions Hanrong now went through. Li Ying still didn’t understand it though. To him it all seemed unnecessarily complicated when one could just boil water and toss in a teabag. Li Ying knew better than to say that out loud in Wu Yiheng’s presence though, as he had already received a judgmental gaze from Hanjun for that very comment early on in their relationship.

Hanjun had gone on a whole tangent, which Li Ying couldn’t even recall: bla-bla-bla tea something-something contemplation. But having followed Hanjun while he prepared his tea over the course of their relationship, always in this same way, Li Ying had become so familiar with the process that it brought him comfort to follow this simple ritual. It made him think of his beloved. Li Ying realized both Hanjun and Hanrong must have learned it from Uncle Yiheng. Hanrong poured Li Ying tea, and he accepted it with thanks.

After a while Hanjun rejoined them, carrying a beautifully varnished violin.

“Managed to tune it?” Hanrong asked.

“Mm.” Hanjun took a wider stance and placed the instrument on his shoulder, slotting his chin on the rest.

“What will you play for us?” asked Grandmother Linming.