Page 178 of He Is My Bride

It was Huang Xiang’s first time in the States, and Anne had picked him up from the airport and driven upstate with him to attend the wedding. Huang Xiang and Anne were to partake in a fashion event next week, to network while they laid plans for their bespoke clothing brand.

“Come help me put all this stuff up.” Li Ying gestured at the wedding canopy.

“Still can’t throw a party without us, I see,” Anne joked while she and Huang Xiang went to help Li Ying with the decorations.

Hanjun brought the child out in a bouncer, the little one having woken up from his nap. Hanjun began to set up the grill; they would have a barbecue dinner, and Hanjun had prepped everything throughout the day.

Bottled beers and sodas sat in the cooler, and bottles of red wine had been brought to room temperature to wait. They had a wine cabinet too, and Li Ying loved it. And the huge grill. And his husband. And his son. He loved his life. Busy as that life was now, between a new job and a child, Li Ying liked it that way right now.

Next arrived the Qians:

“Hi Li Ying, hi everyone!” Amy ran to give them all a hug. “You must be Huang Xiang?” she asked the fun-looking young man.

“Hello. Qian Amy? You sure are even more beautiful than Li Ying described!” Huang Xiang said.

Amy chuckled at the friendly flattery and shook Huang Xiang’s hand. “Li Ying has told me much about you.”

Uncle Qian came to Li Ying. “Congratulations on your marriage,” he said, smiling at the couple:

Hanjun had come over to greet everyone, too, bringing the little one with him. The baby was so small in his strong arms.

“Thank you, uncle!” Li Ying gave Uncle Qian a hug, and the man received him with a tight squeeze.

“We are so happy for you,” Uncle Qian said, but looking over his shoulder at Mrs. Qian, Li Ying wasn’t sure his uncle was speaking for everyone. Suppose he couldn’t expect a miracle when it came to Mrs. Qian.

“Congratulations, A-Ying,” said Grandmother Qian from her son’s side.

“Thank you, Grandma!”

While Li Ying greeted his mother, Uncle Qian went to tote over his foster son’s child—his grandson, as far as Qian Hong was concerned. He and Hanjun connected over the joys of fatherhood, and soon Grandmother Qian joined them and took her turn holding her great-grandchild—as far as she was concerned; Li Ying and his family were their family. The baby was passed around, bewildered between all the arms that wanted to hold him.

Mrs. Qian, having stood quietly by her husband’s side, seemed to soften as she looked at the baby—or perhaps it was just Li Ying’s imagination. She looked at Li Ying and Hanjun.

“Congratulations,” she said sedately.

“Thank you, Mrs. Qian.” Li Ying smiled through his awkwardness, knowing it was mutual. He then turned back to the others. “Go ahead and have some drinks if you like, we still need a moment to get everything ready.”

After everyone had been introduced, Anne said, “Alright, now that we have more hands on deck: Kai, will you please take over the barbecue, Li Ying and Hanjun need to go change clothes and prepare the tea ceremony while we still wait for Wu Hanrong.”

“Just keep turning the rotisserie, so that the meat cooks evenly, like this…” Hanjun showed Kai how to use the grill. They were cooking awhole suckling pig, which they had bought from the farmer’s market, like a proper wedding feast demanded.

Kai was still awkward with both Li Ying and his husband, with the wholegaything, but he was trying, certainly more than his mother. He didn’t know how exactly he should be with the baby either, but suppose it was cute.

Li Ying and Hanjun went back inside and changed into their suits: Li Ying was wearing a black Western-style suit with a red tie, and Hanjun wore a red mandarin collar jacket and black pants. Li Ying hadn’t put it past himself to slip on a dress sometimes, but right now this felt more genuine for the occasion.

Then, once again with Anne’s help, they prepared the tea. Hanrong had sent them the wedding tea set through the mail, as well as Hanjun’s collection of teaware and tea pets. They were now on display in a glass cabinet in the living room. Hanrong had also sent family albums and other memorabilia: the violin. Bunny. Those were in Hanjun’s and Li Ying’s master bedroom. There was little time in their busy days to play music, but they still did it when they could.

“Easy with the lotus seeds,” Anne said while Li Ying spooned them into the cups.

“Can you stop micromanaging me? We’re not in Shanghai anymore,” Li Ying gently rebuked.

“But there you are, filling the cup with them! Where do you think the tea will fit?” Anne gave back. It was clear there was much love between the friends.

Meanwhile outside: a third car, a very nice car, drove up the yard.

“That must be Wu Hanrong.” Huang Xiang pondered aloud, and everyone turned to look, eager to see the other billionaire Wu cousin.

Out of the car stepped Wu Hanrong, but then, from the passenger’s seat, appeared Wu Yiheng as well.