Chapter 29 - Meeting the parents.

As they reached Shanghai Liqin turned to Bao and said, "You go home. I will drop Jia and come. I might have to stay back for dinner."

Bao browsed through the mails on his phone and replied, "It's all right. I understand your need to be filial to your would-be in-laws. We will catch up in the evening."

Bao returned home, while Liqin left for the Huang mansion.

As they reached the Huang mansion, Liqin became a bit stressed as to how to respond, and asked Jia, "What do you think they will ask? It is not that I have not been here before. But the situation is different now."

Jia held his hand and replied, "Relax. They have already approved. Isn't it? You do not need to be anxious. Just go with the flow of the conversation. I have already informed them about you dropping me home, and they are expecting you."

As they reach the Huang Mansion, the Huang family warmly welcomed them and they had a nice family reunion over dinner.

All the fears, that Liqin had were cast away, as the family had no doubts to be clarified from the groom to be, and already knew him well.

As he left the mansion, Huang Fan walked him out, and said, "I am handing over her responsibility to you. I am assured, that you will not fail me. I will come over to discuss the wedding with your grandfather, uncle, and aunt, once Enlai comes back. Well, you need to address me as 'dad' now. I would be glad to have a son after dealing with a daughter all these years."

Liqin smiled, walked up to him, hugged him tightly, and responded, "Thank you, dad. I assure you, that I will not fail your expectations about me. I cannot assure a bed of roses always, but I will ensure, that I will stand by her, through thick and thin."

Huang Fan held him tight and replied, "Well, I believe every word, that you said will be upheld by you without fail as always. Come home for dinner whenever time permits. It feels nice to have you here for dinner. Just inform in advance, as your mother-in-law would love to pamper you with delicacies. Let us not disappoint her on that matter."

As they broke the embrace Liqin smiled and responded, "Sure. I will come over whenever I have time."

The next few days, were quite busy for all the three, as they had to catch up with all the business matters, that were pending while they were away.

Liqin juggled his mornings and evenings between his grandfather and Jia's family.

Time went by, without much notice, in love and joy as families found time for each other.

A fortnight had already passed, since Li Enlai and Li Diu had been on vacation, and the Li household was desperately awaiting their return, as they waited for them to reach home from the airport.

As they entered Bao stepped ahead, and gave a hug to Li Diu, and said, "Mom I missed you a lot. Thank God, you are back. This house was engulfed in pin-drop silence in your absence."

Li Diu held his face in her palms, and said, "Well, now that I am back son, we can have a nice time together like before."

She then looked at Liqin, hugged him, and said, "How are you doing? I missed your smile and humor a lot."

Li Enlai interrupted, and said, "Am I being forgotten? You guys seem to forget me when you get together."

Li Bao smiled walked up to him, hugged Li Enlai, and responded, "Of course not dad. Welcome back."

Li Enlai returned a tight hug, turned to Liqin, and said, "Did we miss out on an important event?"

Li Bao smiled and interrupted, "He has got engaged to Jia, dad."

Li Enlai turned to Jia standing aside blushing and said, "Does someone know to blush as well? Well! I am glad you chose him. Now I can have you as my daughter as planned."

Jia smiled and replied, "I would love to uncle."

Li Enlai looked around and asked, "So how are things in the office these days?"

Li Diu interrupted, and said, "Well, here you go. You were just waiting to discuss business, the moment you stepped into the house. Let us go freshen up first. Then all the three of you can discuss business over lunch."

Li Bao was taken aback at the response of his mom who was always the silent observer and said, "Wow! Look at the great change. You both look like a real honeymoon couple now. I am so glad about this change mom."

Li Enlai pointed toward Diu and replied, "I think I owe your mom a lot son. Let me freshen up, and come down. After that, the father and sons will have a one-to-one discussion. Have you both taken an off today?"

Li Bao smiled and replied, "No, we are just working from home. We will leave for the office post lunch."

It was a lively coterie as the whole family had lunch together.

After lunch, Li Enlai received a call that ended with the sentence, "Well, let us meet for dinner to finalize things then. I am looking forward to meeting you."

Li Diu who had been listening to the conversation asked, "Whom are we expecting for dinner? Do we need to prepare for the evening?"

Li Enlai looked around at all of them, and said, "The Huang family is coming over for dinner to finalize the wedding date of Liqin and Jia. They have already spoken to your grandpa. You guys pick him up on the way from the office, and leave early from the office today."

Li Enlai turned to Diu and continued, "Diu it's going to be a busy day today dear. Let us make it a grand event."

Li Enlai looked at Liqin and Bao, and said, "Can we now have a short discussion about business, over a cup of tea?"

Liqin smiled and responded, "Sure uncle."

As they leave to discuss business Jia walked up to Diu and said, "Aunt, do you need me to help you with the preparations?"

Diu brushed her hair lovingly with her hands and said, "Jia, you need to prepare yourself for the evening. After all, it is your grand day, and you guys will cherish this moment for a long time to come. I would advise you to go, and prepare yourself."

Jia looked toward the kitchen and replied, "But you must be tired after a long journey."

Li Diu turned around and replied, "I just need to supervise, you see. We have a lot of staff. Isn't it? You better get going to prepare for the evening."

Jia smiled and responded, "I will leave as you say, aunt."

Li Diu shook her head in acknowledgment and responded, "You better leave now as it is already a quarter to two. See you in the evening with your parents."

As Jia left, Diu got busy supervising the dinner preparations for the evening. After all the instructions regarding the menu, and the ambiance had been discussed, she left to get ready for the evening herself.

Li Enlai walked down dressed up in official attire, stepped toward her, and said, "I will drop by the office with Bao and Liqin, and come back in the evening."

Li Diu stepped ahead, and adjusted Enlai's tie, and said, "Come back soon."

As the sun, set, and the dusk spread its dark hues Bao returned with Li Enlai, and said, "Liqin has gone to pick up grandpa, and will be here in a short while. You look great, mom."

Li Diu smiled and replied, "You both better get ready for the evening. I will send the tea to your rooms."

Chang Liqin was the first to arrive looking stunning in a coffee-brown high neck pullover paired with an off-white coat and trousers. He was accompanied by Chang Bohai who was very joyous about the purpose of the gathering.

As he waited in the living room, Bao walked up to him in a cream pullover with black trousers, and said, "You look stunning. I am going to lose two friends to family responsibilities now."

Liqin looked unto him, and said, "That will surely not happen. We will find time for all three of us together. When are you getting yourself, someone, to cherish life-long like me?"

Li Enlai pointed his finger at Bao, joined the conversation, and said, "That's a very good question Liqin. So, Bao, when are you getting me, my other daughter-in-law?"

Li Bao turned away and replied, "Well, let us not get to it again. Dad, I will not hide it from you, and Liqin, when I find the one whom I love."

Li Diu walked to him, turned him around, joined in, and said, "And when is that going to happen."

Li Bao smiled, looked away, and replied, "Mom please do not add fuel to their fire. I would at least want you to stand by me. Three against one is not a fair fight. Isn't it?"

Li Delun joined, and interrupted, "Make it six against one Bao."

Li Bao turned around and answered in a state of shock, "And who are the other three?"

Li Delun smiled and replied, "All of us present here including Liqin's grandfather. I would like to see your children before I close my eyes. With your stand and requirements, I doubt whether that would happen."

Li Bao held his hands, and said, "Grandpa this is not fair. You are going to live to see my children become teenagers as well."

Li Delun shook his head and replied, "I am giving you a year to choose before I choose one for you."

Li Bai got up shook her head and added, "You need to find a wife before that Bao."

Cornered Bao closed his eyes and said, "I promise, I will seriously start thinking over this matter."

Huang Fan walked in with Sying, and said, "What matter requires Bao to make an oath here? I always believed, that his word is a word for sure."

Li Delun turned to them and replied, "That holds true for all matters other than the one we were discussing now."

Li Enlai smiled and added, "We were discussing him finding a life partner as well. That is one area where we need to take an oath from him. He seems to be allergic to the opposite gender. There is not one girl down there who matches his requirements."

Li Delun sat down and interrupted, "Well, let us discuss the wedding on hand first before getting him to find a girl. Where is the girl in question?"

Huang Sying turned around and replied, "She is on her way, and will reach in five to ten minutes."

As they were talking, Jia walked in a beautiful peach and greyish floral collared dress with her hair beautifully set with a floral pearl, and Swarovski tiara on the left side.

Liqin stood up, and walked up to her held out his hand for her, and said, "You look lovely."

She reached out her hand, and they walked in together completely immersed in each other.