His Father’s Speech

Dear family and friends, distinguished guests,

Hello, everyone!

Today we celebrate the wedding of my son and daughter-in-law. As his father, my heart is full of joy and gratitude. First of all, thank you for taking the time to witness one of the most important moments in their lives. I would also like to offer special thanks to the bride’s parents for raising such a wonderful, kind and gentle daughter. From today, she is not only your the apple of your eye, but also our beloved daughter. Please rest assured: we will cherish and support her as if she were our own.

You two drank in knowledge together in the ivory tower, walked hand in hand along the leafy paths by the River Cam, kept each other company through sleepless nights before exams, and encouraged one another through the disruptions of COVID. Your efforts have made flowers bloom, and the abundant fruits will surely be your future. Watching you step into marriage, I send blessings on behalf of our family and friends back home: may you be happy, always.

Life is a journey; keep moving forward

When our son was in his second year at university, he rang us in the middle of the night. Our hearts skipped a beat – what on earth had happened? A thousand images flashed through our minds… Then we heard his excited yet slightly shy voice: “I confessed my feelings.” “You dashed out at midnight to confess to a girl – wasn’t she going to think you were mad?” “A confession isn’t the trumpet for a charge; it’s the anthem of victory.” Good lad – that’s the spirit!

Your life together opens a new chapter. True growth isn’t about reaching the destination; it’s about keeping the posture of moving forward. Spread your wings and aim high. Whether in fair winds or headwinds, have the courage to ride the winds and greet the rising sun – armed with books and with courage – setting out on the vast road ahead. The end of one journey marks a new beginning; neither the joy of success nor the grind of setbacks should be a reason to stop. Whatever the future brings, may you climb the highest peaks side by side, smile and carry on. If the mountain will not come to you, then go to the mountain.

Stay grounded; the sweetness will come

During the pandemic, every time we video-called, we saw smiling faces. It eased our worries to see you encouraging and looking after each other, and we never once heard a word of complaint. That shared generosity of spirit that has made your love even more enduring. No step is ever in vain: “The road may be long, but we will arrive if we keep walking; the task may be hard, but it will be done if we keep doing.” So it is with marriage, so it is with career, and so it is with life. Do not fear the long trek, for after the storm comes a rainbow. When you study, be focused; when you play, enjoy it fully; when you’re restless, move your body; when you’re tired, take a rest. Remember: a fountain is beautiful because of pressure; a drop of water pierces stone because of persistence. A bird perched on a branch is never afraid of it snapping, because it trusts not the branch but its own wings. In the years for striving, don’t choose ease. The best “patron” in life is the upward-striving version of yourself. Without enduring the piercing cold, how can the plum blossom release its fragrance? True happiness is often hidden in perseverance and the steady work of everyday life.

Break the cocoon and become the butterfly; surpass yourselves

You went abroad at a young age, facing studies and life on your own. We knew you would meet setbacks in learning, stumbles in social life, and helpless moments when unwell – all of which you had to handle yourselves. Thankfully, destiny brought two far-from-home souls together in Cambridge, where you met, came to know each other, and made a lifelong promise. Over the past years in London, we’ve been delighted to see the homemade lunchboxes you shared in the group chat and the moments when music filled your spare time.

Life is like an egg: if broken from the outside, it is food; if broken from the inside, it is life. Dare to break through from within – every shedding of the old is a rebirth. Marriage is a journey of shared growth for the two of you; flying in tandem will be your shared lesson. May you support one another, cherish one another, and become the ferrymen of your own lives.

Hold to your first intentions; never forget where you come from

In this fast-changing time, I hope you will always remember: do not forget our country, our family, our culture, our language, or your heart. Family is your foundation; country is your backbone; culture is your lifeblood; language is your inheritance; and your heart is the compass by which you face the world. However far you go, remember who you are, where you come from, and where you are going. Your hometown will always keep an open harbour, and your loved ones will always be your strongest support.

To both of you I want to say: marriage is not the finishing line, but the beginning of another, richer journey. The road ahead will be long. There will be moments of moonlight and roses, and also the everyday chores of bread and butter. Disagreements and frictions are inevitable, but remember that home is a harbour for love, not a court of right and wrong. May you be like two trees growing side by side, roots intertwined and branches leaning into each other, stretching together towards the sun. Whatever the weather, storm or clear skies, may you smile, hand in hand, and walk forward together.

Thank you all!