Page 38 of He Is My Bride
“She is,” Hanjun attested with confidence.
“But it’s hard work that pays off in the end, isn’t it?” Li Ying tried to stay humble. He wasn’t sure how well he succeeded when he couldn’t stop smiling smugly after Hanjun praised him in front of his family.
“Indeed,” Wu Yiheng said, breaking the silence he’d kept up so far.
They informed a dapperly dressed waiter of their choices of tea. All the Wus took oolong—Da Hong Pao for today— while Grandmother Linming went for yellow tea. Li Ying took the safe option and simply asked for ‘black tea.’ Hanjun had always brewed nice tea at home, but Li Ying didn’t know what was what. He was more used to drinking coffee.
Grandmother Linming asked Hanjun questions about his time in the States and made sure he knew he’d been missed. Hanjun answered her questions in his usual style, succinctly but politely. It seemed the whole family was used to this; suppose Hanjun had always been the quiet type.
Tea arrived along with a three-tiered silver tray, holding tiny sandwiches and macarons, scones, and other little pastries.
Li Ying tried to recall what he’d read on etiquette and stirred his tea up and down, not in circles, and he definitely didn’t drink with the spoon in the cup, certainly didn’t replace the spoon on the table, but on the saucer instead.
Where else was the spoon supposed to be or not to be…?
Li Ying subtly peeked at what people in the other tables were doing. He couldn’t copy the Wus, because it turned out their tea was served in traditional Chinese style after all: a kettle was provided, and each guest had a lidded cup for brewing the tea for themselves, and they poured and drank it from small earless cups. No spoon action.
Li Ying vacillated between putting his pinky up and putting it down, but seeing as no one else was holding theirs up like in British parodies, he held his down too. He thought he’d nailed it.
Alright, can I get married now?
“So, Missy Li.” Wu Yiheng addressed Li Ying—of course just as he’d put a whole mini sandwich into his mouth.
Li Ying tried to chew and swallow as fast as possible, daintily covering his mouth with his hand while Wu Yiheng finished his question to him:
“What did your family think about you coming to the mainland?”
He took the offensive to press Li Ying with the hard questions; Li Ying guessed where the conversation was going next, but he was prepared.
“They were happy for me,” Li Ying answered once he had managed to swallow his slider.
“And what does your family do?” Wu Yiheng followed.
“My foster father is the founder and owner of a cyber security business, which my foster mother is the CEO of.”
“‘Foster?’ What about your real parents?” Grandmother Linming asked with brows raised, but her question seemed genuine, with no hidden jabs.
Li Ying gathered himself, keeping a smile, and answered, “Unfortunately, I don’t know my real parents.”
Grandmother Linming seemed sympathetic towards him, but she didn’t seem to know what to say. Li Ying hurried to continue:
“I was taken in by my foster father, who knew my mother in college. He raised me along with his own children, whom I think of as my brother and sister. I still love them all very much, but they’re not actively involved with my life now that I’m an adult.”
“And who are the Lis?” Wu Yiheng pressed.
“Li is my mother’s family name. She had come to the States to study in her youth, and that’s how she met my father, or so I have been told. Unfortunately they were unable to raise me, but I had a good childhood with my foster family.”
“Missy Lihas quite an adventurous history,” Wu Yiheng said.
“Not at all.” Li Ying denied.Seriously, old man, you’re putting me through the wringer.“My childhood and youth were quite ordinary. I attended a private school until college, played with other children in our neighborhood in Brooklyn Heights, and played the flute in the school wind ensemble.”I’m hitting you back with my full hand, Wu Yiheng; this is what I have. This is what your nephew chose. What’s your next move?
“You play the flute? What kind of flute?” Grandmother Linming seemed delighted, and Li Ying jumped at the opportunity to get past Wu Yiheng and right to the matriarch.
“Western concert flute.”
“I would love to hear you play,” Grandmother Linming said.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t take my flute with me. Perhaps next time?”Please, Grandma Wang…
