Page 68 of He Is My Bride
“I think it’s befitting of the Wu style,” said Madam Wu, the frail but pretty little lady. “They aren’t known for their exuberance, butrather quiet elegance.” This was the grandmother of Wu Hanrong and Wu Yiyi, Hanjun’s great-aunt by marriage.
“When did this happen?” asked Grandmother Linming, gently taking Li Ying’s hand to touch her thumb upon the ring.
“On Christmas Day. Hanjun proposed to me privately in his home.”
“That boy is indeed as Wu as they get,” said Madam Wang. “No sense of bravado.”
“Well, congratulations, Li Ying,” Grandmother Linming said calmly, letting go of his hand, and Li Ying couldn’t read her air.
The other madams congratulated him, and brisk Madam Wang spoke:
“Now that we’ve learned Wu Hanjun has finally found himself a woman, let’s have a proper look at her.” She twirled her finger to signal for Li Ying to turn around.
Not knowing what else he should do, Li Ying spun around for the aunties, feeling like a cow in a cattle market.
“She’s very tall, isn’t she?” Madam Wang commented. “What do they say, ‘everything’s bigger in America?’”
You’re one to talk, ma’am!Li Ying thought, although Madam Wang had probably only meant his height—or his broad shoulders.
“But, little sister, doesn’t she look healthy?” Grandmother Linming said.
“Yes, but my dear,” Madam Wang leaned forth to address Li Ying as if to give sage advice, “it wouldn’t hurt to put on more weight before thinking of children.”
So am I too big or too small?
“I like your shoes, Miss Li,” said little Madam Wu, and smiled at Li Ying, blissfully changing the subject. She really was the MVP of group situations, just like her grandson, Hanrong.
“Thank you, auntie!” Li Ying latched onto her friendly words.
“Well,” Grandmother Linming spoke authoritatively, taking charge of the situation, “as you can see, Li Ying, the three of us are like sisters: we cherish each other and the entire family’s prosperity.”
So, I have to get three out of three, all of you, to approve of me? Got it.
“We enjoy cooking together,” Grandmother Linming continued. “Would you join us in the kitchen today?”
“It would be an honor to cook with the aunties!” Li Ying was being as pleasant as he could, but luckily, charm came naturally to him. “Please teach me so I can tell my Grandma back home: I have learned from the best aunties in Shanghai!” And Li Ying gave a proper bow, like one would bow before a teacher.
Madam Wang chuckled. “Isn’t she so-very charming!”
“Please, sit down first, have some tea, and tell us of your time in Shanghai,” Grandmother Linming said and gestured at an armchair.
Li Ying sat down and sated the aunties’ curiosity, making sure to praise their hometown at every turn. Although Madam Wang was from the North, as her late husband had been before moving South for work.
ILi Ying recognized that Madam Wang spoke with the same accent of Mandarin as her son, Wang Guosheng, a more standard Beijing accent that Li Ying’s own accent was closer to, as opposed to the soft speech of the native Shanghainese Wus.
Madam Wang didn’t hide her nosiness and soon asked how Li Ying had met Hanjun, and Li Ying gave the well-rehearsed, family-friendly version, where he definitely wasn’t drunk at the big pharma -sponsored dinner for medical students, where Hanjun had been doing PR for his company. Definitely hadn’t flirted with Hanjun shamelessly and given him his number—only to hang up on Hanjun when the man had called him weeks later, because Li Ying had totally forgotten about the whole thing and thought Hanjun was some phone solicitor. Poor Hanjun had thought Li Ying had been toying with his feelings, but no, the younger man was just hopelesslyscatterbrained. It had taken a few more misunderstandings and back-and-forths before the two of them had actually ended up going on a date.
“So, you study medicine?” asked little Madam Wu. “What kind of doctor will you be?”
“A good one, I hope!” Li Ying gave a chuckle. Instead of telling the aunties of his dream of becoming a criminal pathologist, he said, “I have been told I would do well in pediatrics, and I do like working with children.”But I like forensics more.He wasn’t outright lying, but Li Ying didn’t think becoming a pathologist would be viewed as a very ladylike dream.
After finishing their tea, the aunties and Li Ying moved to the kitchen. The kitchen was large and well equipped, but Li Ying was self-determined and quickly figured out where all the tools were. He took initiative in prepping once Grandmother Linming had told him what they would be making: borscht, steamed crab, soup dumplings, Dan Dan noodles, duck, and grass jelly for dessert. Li Ying was charged with the noodles, since he’d previously boasted about it being his specialty.
“Have you ever made Shanghainese soup dumplings?” Grandmother Linming asked Li Ying.
“No, I haven’t. Will you please teach me, Auntie Wang?”
“Of course.” Grandmother Linming seemed to appreciate Li Ying’s attitude.
