Chapter 469: The Marriage Proposal

By the end of April in Beijing, the wind finally shed the last trace of cold.

The drooping willows by Houhai sprouted tender yellow buds, and the water surface shimmered with the soft, melting glint unique to spring.

Li Ping'an stood under the Siheyuan's porch, watching the Old Locust Tree—its branches already studded with rice‑grain‑sized flower buds; in a few days the whole courtyard would be soaked in that fresh sweet fragrance.

But he couldn't smell the sweetness now.

His heart felt like a frog trapped inside, thumping irregularly.

"Dad, you've already walked around three times."

Li Yaozong emerged from the main house, holding a plate of melon seeds, "My mother said you should rest a bit, don't be like a donkey pulling a millstone."

"What do you know?" Li Ping'an glared at his son, "What day is it today? It's the day of your sister's lifelong affair!"

Before the words finished, the sound of a car engine cutting off came from outside the courtyard gate.

Li Ping'an instantly straightened his back, inhaled deeply, and wore the calm yet authoritative expression he reserved for business negotiations.

The door opened.

Nuanqing entered first, wearing a goose‑yellow sweater that made her white face glow pink. Behind her followed Su Jingming—still the same lanky frame, but today in a brand‑new Zhongshan suit of deep‑blue fabric, buttons fastened up to the neck, looking especially solemn.

Further back were an elderly couple.

The man was in his early sixties, with a square face, hair speckled white yet neatly combed, wearing black‑framed glasses; his eyes behind the lenses were gentle and bright.

The woman seemed a few years younger, round‑faced with a naturally upturned mouth, dressed in a jujube‑red coat, carrying a plump cloth bag.

"Dad, Mom," Nuanqing's voice carried obvious nervousness, "These are Jingming's parents, Uncle Su, Aunt Su."

Su Jingming hurriedly introduced, "Dad, Mom, this is Li's uncle, and this is... this is the eldest brother."

The two families stood still in the courtyard.

April wind blew, the locust tree leaves rustling.

"Please come in, please come in."

Lin Xueqing stepped out from the house, her face bearing a proper smile—the kind she had cultivated over decades as a doctor, soothing patients while keeping distance—"It's windy outside; come inside to talk."

Everyone entered the main house.

The living room was small but kept bright and tidy. The antique red‑wood furniture shone, and the coffee table displayed a fruit platter—apples and oranges neatly arranged—and a dish of assorted sweets—White Rabbit candy, sorghum toffee, peanut crisps—all common in the market.

Lin Xueqing invited everyone to sit, taking a seat beside Li Ping'an. Under the table, her hand lightly brushed her husband's hand back.

Li Ping'an knew this was meant to help him relax.

But he couldn't relax.

"Brother Li, Sister Lin," Su father began, his voice steady with a distinct Shandong accent, "We are bold to visit today; truly we have disturbed you."

"That's unnecessary," Lin Xueqing took over, "We are all family; there's no such thing as disturbing or not."

They exchanged a few polite remarks about the weather and whether the journey was smooth.

Li Ping'an barely spoke, his gaze wandering over the faces of Su's parents.

When Su father spoke, his back was perfectly straight, his fingers unconsciously rubbing his knee—a habit Li Ping'an had seen in many teachers, whose fingers move like that while grading papers.

Su mother said little, but her eyes kept shifting to Nuanqing, containing scrutiny, concern, and something else… perhaps satisfaction?

"Jingming, that child, told us many things about Nuanqing,"

Su mother finally spoke, her voice gentle, "She said Nuanqing's surgeries are well done, she's meticulous, patient with patients. She also said… she said Nuanqing loves dumplings but can't make them herself, and never manages to get any when the cafeteria serves them."

Nuanqing's face flushed instantly.

Su Jingming lightly brushed her hand under the table.

"Young people should look after each other," Lin Xueqing said with a smile, lifting the teapot to refill everyone, "I heard from Jingming that you two are teachers?"

"Yes, I've taught for a lifetime," Su father took the cup with both hands, "I taught Chinese at County No. 1 High School, she taught mathematics. We've been retired for three years."

"That's wonderful, a scholarly family," Li Ping'an finally spoke, his voice calmer than expected, "Greetings, teachers; teaching and nurturing people is boundless merit."

As he said this, his eyes fixed on Su father.

Su father met his gaze calmly, "It's not merit, just a profession. I can't compare with you two—doctors save lives, entrepreneurs create jobs; both serve the country."

His words were neither servile nor arrogant, neither overly modest nor sycophantic.

Li Ping'an's frog in his heart hopped a little lighter.

As they chatted, the atmosphere gradually relaxed.

Su mother reached into the cloth bag and pulled out items—not the imagined gold or silver jewelry, but several very practical things.

A pack of Shandong large jujubes, each thumb‑sized, red to a deep purple.

A bottle of homemade sesame oil, its glass shimmering with amber light.

And a pair of insoles, densely stitched with a "Magpie on Plum" pattern.

"I heard Beijing springs are damp; these insoles absorb sweat," Su mother handed the insoles to Lin Xueqing, a little embarrassed, "My handiwork isn't great; elder sister, please don't reject them."

Lin Xueqing took them, her fingers brushing the dense stitches, and her eyes suddenly grew a bit watery.

She recalled her own mother—of similar age, who also made insoles. Sadly her mother passed away early; as an orphan, she hadn't felt such simple, elder‑generated care for many years.

"The craftsmanship is truly fine," she whispered, "Few young people can make this nowadays."

Lunch was eaten at home.

They didn't go to a restaurant; it was Li Ping'an's idea—"Eating at home feels like a true family."

The dishes were prepared by the housekeeper, but Lin Xueqing personally added two: a steamed fish symbolizing "abundance year after year," and four‑delight meatballs, round and complete.

At the dining table, the conversation truly opened up.

Su father recounted a funny teaching incident: a student recited "Moonlight before the bed" as "Moonlight before the window," and he corrected it three times, yet the child still said "window" on the fourth try.

"Later I learned the child's family was poor; they slept on a kang and had never seen a bed," Su father shook his head, "I took him to my home to see my bed. Since then, he never misrecited again."

Li Ping'an listened, then suddenly asked, "What do you think are the commonalities between teaching and being a doctor?"

Su father thought for a moment, "Both require patience. If a child doesn't understand, you must explain repeatedly; if a patient doesn't understand, you must also explain repeatedly. And also… both need love in the heart. Without love, you can't teach well nor be a good doctor."

Those words hit Lin Xueqing's heart.

She, under the table, brushed Li Ping'an's hand again.

This time it meant: this person is reliable.

After the meal, they moved to the courtyard to drink tea.

The locust blossoms had truly opened, tiny clusters of white flowers, a faint, light fragrance mixing with the tea scent, calming the mind.

Now it's time to speak of business.

Su Father set down his tea cup, his expression becoming solemn: "Brother Li, Sister Lin, today the two of us have come, mainly for the matter of the two children. Jingming and Nuanqing have been together for some time, understanding each other, sharing the same aspirations. As parents, seeing our children well makes us happy."

He paused briefly, glancing at his son.

Su Jingming immediately sat up straight.

"We came today to formally propose marriage to you both."

Su Father, word for word, said, "Our Su family may not be a great wealthy household, but generation after generation have been upright and diligent. As for Jingming, I cannot vouch for everything else, but his character and sense of responsibility we can guarantee."

Su Mother continued, "We liked Nuanqing the moment we first met her. She is sensible, capable, and sincere. Raising such a daughter is not easy. We promise that once she enters the Su household, she will not suffer any grievance."

Her words were plain, yet each one weighed heavily.

Li Ping'an did not reply immediately.

He lifted his tea cup and sipped slowly. The fresh aroma of Longjing Tea Tea unfolded on his tongue, a slight bitterness followed by a lingering sweetness.

He looked toward his daughter.

Nuanqing kept her head down, fingers twisting the hem of her clothes, the tips of her ears reddened. Yet the corners of her mouth were upturned, an unmistakable joy radiating from her heart.

He then looked at Su Jingming.

The young man's Adam's apple bobbed with nerves, but his gaze was clear, meeting his eyes with openness.

"Jingming," Li Ping'an set down his tea cup, "I have a question for you."

"Uncle, please go ahead."

"When you have a family in the future, how will you balance work and home?"

Li Ping'an asked bluntly, "In the medical profession, you both know, there's no fixed schedule. A midnight phone call means rushing to the hospital, and a surgery can last many hours. If you have children in the future…"

"Dad!" Nuanqing hurried.

Li Ping'an raised his hand to stop her: "Let Jingming speak."

Su Jingming inhaled deeply.

"Uncle, Nuanqing and I have discussed this seriously." His voice was steady. "We have agreed that whoever has time will take care of the family. If both are busy, we'll hire a nanny. But there is one rule—no matter how busy, at least two days each week the whole family must eat together; and each month, we must take the child out at least once."

He paused, looking at Nuanqing: "Choosing this profession means sacrificing some family time. Yet we can create a family model for doctors— for example, turning case discussions into family topics; for example, teaching the child about human anatomy as a game."

Nuanqing nodded lightly, her eyes sparkling.

Su Father added, "Rest assured. Our health is still good back home; if needed in the future, we can come to Beijing to help watch the children. In our generation, who didn't raise several children while working?"

Lin Xueqing laughed, "That makes sense. When I gave birth to Nuanqing, I still had an older child to care for and no parents to help, but fortunately her father was reliable, coming home after work to cook and wash clothes."

The atmosphere in the courtyard warmed completely.

The frog in Li Ping'an's heart finally stopped hopping.

He stood up, walked to the Old Locust Tree, and looked up at the tree full of blossoms.

"This courtyard, I bought in '83." He said suddenly, his voice low but audible to all. "It was just after the reform and opening, I had some spare money and wanted to acquire a property for the family. I set my eyes on this plot in Houhai—quiet, close to the hospital—Xueqing works at Xiehe, convenient."

He turned and looked at Nuanqing.

"Originally I thought, when your mother and I grew old, we'd retire here—plant flowers, raise fish, watching you siblings start families." He smiled, "Now I see there's no need to wait that long."

Nuanqing was stunned.

"This courtyard, a one‑room layout, isn't large, but it's enough to live in."

Li Ping'an walked back, pulled a red booklet from his pocket—the property deed—and said, "I've discussed with your mother, and this will be your dowry. Not for show, but thinking that you two work at Xiehe, living here is close. When you have children, school will be convenient—Houhai has many good schools."

He placed the deed on the table, pushing it toward Nuanqing.

Nuanqing's tears fell with a "splash."

She glanced at her father, then at her mother, her lips trembling, unable to speak a word.

The Su parents were also stunned.

They knew the Li family's conditions were good, but didn't expect it to be this generous—Houhai's Siheyuan, even a one‑room layout, was a sky‑high price in Beijing in 1991.

"This… this is too valuable." Su Father hurriedly stood, "We can't accept, we can't…"

"What's so unacceptable?" Lin Xueqing grasped Nuanqing's hand. "We have only this one daughter; who else would we give her to? Besides, a house is inanimate, people are alive. As long as you two live happily together, that's better than giving us Gold Mountain Silver Mountain."

Su Jingming also stood, bowing deeply: "Uncle, Auntie, this gesture is too heavy. I… I assure you both that I will never fail Nuanqing in this life. I will work hard to give her a good life."

"Life is made by yourself." Li Ping'an waved his hand, "The house is yours now. How you arrange it, how you set it up, you decide yourselves. There is only one rule—"

He paused, looking at the two children.

"Do not forget your original intention."

The marriage was thus settled.

The wedding date was set for May 1st—Labor Day, when everyone has a holiday, lively.

They didn't plan a big ceremony, just the two families gathering, plus the Chen Jianghe family. Nuanqing said, "We are getting married, not putting on an exhibition. Inviting a crowd of strangers is pointless."

The Su parents fully agreed: "Keep it simple, save the money, and do something practical."

The two families discussed details: no betrothal gifts, the dowry is that courtyard. The wedding will be held in the courtyard, with a few tables of banquet, hiring a chef to cook. The wedding photos will be taken at Wangfujing's Zhongguo zhaoxianguan, wearing Chinese‑style wedding attire—Nuanqing dislikes Western wedding dresses, saying they "look like a mosquito net."

At that point, everyone laughed.

While laughing, Li Ping'an suddenly felt his eyes a bit gritty.

He excused himself to fetch more tea, turned and entered the kitchen.

Standing before the Stove, he stared at the pot of warm soup, daydreaming for a moment.

A pair of hands gently wrapped around his waist from behind.

It was Lin Xueqing.

"Reluctant to let go?" she asked softly.

Li Ping'an said nothing, only gripping his wife's hand.

"I'm reluctant too," Lin Xueqing pressed her face against his back, "but the child will always grow up and eventually leave."

"I know," Li Ping'an sighed, "it's just… an emptiness inside."

"Empty of what?" Lin Xueqing laughed, "Doesn't this mean we have another family? I think the Su parents are genuine people, and Jing Ming is a good kid. Our Nuanqing is fortunate."

At dusk, the Su family took their leave.

Nuanqing escorted them to Hu Tong Kou.

When she returned, she saw her father still standing under the Old Locust Tree, looking up at the sky.

Twilight settled, and at the horizon a final streak of orange‑red reflected on the swaying branches of the Old Locust Tree.

"Dad," Nuanqing walked over, looping her arm around her father's, "Thank you."

Li Ping'an patted his daughter's hand, "What's there to thank? As long as you're happy, dad is pleased."

"I'll be happy," Nuanqing rested her head on her father's shoulder, "Jing Ming… is really wonderful."

"Hmm, I can see that," Li Ping'an said, "He's just too thin; you need to get him to eat more. Later, have your mother stew some soup, and you take him to Yi Yuan—don't only attend to patients, also look after your own people."

Nuanqing let out a 'pfft' laugh, "Got it."

The father and daughter stood like that, watching the last glimmer of daylight fade as stars lit up one by one.

The scent of locust blossoms grew richer in the night.

In the spring of 1991, in this Siheyuan in Houhai, a marriage arrangement was settled.

Simple, plain, yet filled entirely with sincerity.

Like the locust blossoms covering the tree—unassuming, not flamboyant, but genuinely fragrant and lasting.