The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 379 Thoughts
There are different versions of Gan Guoyang's marriage proposal many years later.

According to the autobiography co-authored by Gan Guoyang and Wu Zhixiong, this was the most romantic thing that happened in 1987, and also a turning point in Gan Guoyang's personal life.

Gan Guoyang said that after returning from Dallas, he had Quentin drive him to the Oswick Lake Jewelry Store after getting off the plane, where he bought a huge aquamarine. Then he booked a high-end restaurant in downtown Washington and took Wang Fuxi out for dinner that evening.

Wang Fuxi found it strange that Gan Guoyang would go out to eat out. Gan Guoyang rarely ate out; he preferred to cook at home.

Gan Guoyang said it was to celebrate the new year, so Wang Fuxi dressed up and the two of them went to the Washington Center together.

The upscale restaurant was already full, but when the restaurant heard that Gan Guoyang wanted to dine there, they specially added a table for him.

Then, at the end of the meal, the waiter served a beautiful dessert—a two-tiered white cream cake.

On top of the cake was the aquamarine ring box. When the box was opened, the sapphire shone brilliantly under the light.

Gan Guoyang proposed to Wang Fuxi. Overjoyed and excited, Wang Fuxi reached out her hand with tears in her eyes and let Gan Guoyang put the ring on her finger.

The two then embraced, becoming the closest of people to each other and beginning their married life.

Everything sounded wonderful, and their union was a natural progression, starting a new life in perfection and romance.

However, in Wang Fuxi's recollection, things were not like that.

First of all, Gan Guoyang did not buy an aquamarine ring at all. On that day, he and Quentin Stephenson were both 6 feet 10 inches tall, and they probably didn't even know where to buy aquamarine.

On the day of the proposal, Gan Guoyang did indeed present a ring, an ordinary platinum ring with a rather large diamond. According to the invoice, it was purchased at a duty-free shop at Dallas Airport.

Later, Gan Guoyang bought a beautifully designed aquamarine that Wang Fuxi really liked; the two of them picked it out together at a jewelry store in Lake Oswig.

They did go to the Washington Center for dinner that night, but not at a high-end Western restaurant—Gan Guoyang doesn't like eating at Western restaurants, so he chose a Chinese restaurant.

Halfway through the meal, Gan Guoyang found the food at the restaurant to be mediocre, so he called over the owner and chef, saying he wanted to cook for himself.

The restaurant owner was a die-hard fan of Gan Guoyang, so he naturally agreed when his idol asked him to cook. Thus, Gan Guoyang went to the kitchen and made a traditional dish: Pagoda Pork.

This is a dish that really tests knife skills. Gan Guoyang did it perfectly, but it also took a long time. Wang Fuxi was getting a little impatient. You know, when two people come to eat, why do they cook for each other?

If you're addicted to cooking, can't you just cook at home?

Just as Wang Fuxi's patience was about to run out, Gan Guoyang returned to the table with the pagoda-shaped pork dish.

Then Wang Fuxi saw a diamond ring placed on top of the pagoda-shaped meat...

Wang Fuxi felt a mix of exasperation, amusement, surprise, and touching, but also a bit disgusted...

Why did you put the ring on the pagoda-shaped flesh?

At that moment, she became certain that humans are indeed conserving energy.

Forrest Gump used all his talent on basketball; he was a king on the court but a nobody in love.

On the court, he not only wins, but wins beautifully and brilliantly. He has devoted all the romance in his life to basketball, leaving himself only with pork belly.

However, Wang Fuxi felt that was enough. She accepted Gan Guoyang's proposal, then wiped the ring clean and put it on her hand.

Many years later, Gan Guoyang firmly denied the version of the pagoda-shaped pork dish, believing that it was something he could not have made.

"Who the hell could come up with the idea of ​​putting a ring on a pagoda of flesh? What the hell is the difference between this and taking 50 shots in a game? Is this still basketball? Are you playing pool?"

Whether Gan Guoyang admits it or not, he took this step on January 1st and registered his marriage with Wang Fuxi in Portland on January 2nd.

Because the season was still in progress and the proposal was very rushed, the couple did not hold any ceremony and planned to hold the wedding during the off-season, inviting family and friends to attend.

After registering their marriage, Gan Guoyang immediately informed his father, Gan Youwei. Gan Youwei was overjoyed and specially chose an auspicious day to travel to Portland and purchase half a pig, half a sheep, ten pounds of beef, two hens, a rooster, two ducks, a goose, twenty pounds of fish, twenty pounds of crabs and lobsters, three pounds of sea cucumbers, as well as a large amount of fruits and vegetables, and various candied fruits and pastries. With the help of Quentin Stephenson and Gan Guohui, all of these items were delivered to Gan Guoyang's villa in Oswick Lake Mountain Park, where preparations for the banquet began.

Gan Guoyang was speechless. He told his father that he would hold a wedding in the future and invite many relatives and friends. Why did his father have to do it himself and hold a Chinese banquet in this high-end villa area in the United States?
Gan Youwei said, "It's your business to hold your wedding. As a father, I must do my best to support my son's wedding. Don't interfere!" Although Gan Guoyang was a basketball superstar in Portland, he had no way to deal with his stubborn father.

He discovered that Gan Youwei, who had been in the United States for six years, had not only not been assimilated by American culture, but had instead become increasingly steadfast in his adherence to tradition, and had become more and more stubborn.

In the vast melting pot of American culture, some people must steadfastly adhere to their own cultural traditions in order to survive.

Gan Guoyang had no choice but to respect his father's opinion and let him prepare meals in the villa, making the house full of lively atmosphere.

Gan Guoyang specifically informed the community and neighbors that his father might make some chopping noises and produce a lot of smoke and fire when cooking at home, and asked for their understanding.

Wang Fuxi felt that her father-in-law was very sincere. She invited her parents and relatives from Los Angeles, and they actually enjoyed a traditional Chinese banquet.

On January 8th, Gan Youwei, who had been preparing for two days, with the help of Gan Bingguang and Gan Youtang, hosted a grand banquet for his son, setting up eight tables. Gan Guoyang's teammates, Wang Fuxi's close relatives, and neighbors from Lake Oswigo were all invited to enjoy the meal.

Gan Youwei's cooking skills are undeniable. Although he was exhausted, seeing everyone enjoying the meal so much made him feel that his trip was worthwhile.

He knew his son was now a basketball superstar and a celebrity in the United States. He never dreamed that one day Gan Guoyang would achieve such great success in America.

As a father, he really had nothing to give his son, but hosting a wedding banquet for him and inviting guests from all directions was the best blessing he could offer.

It is said that many Portland celebrities wanted to attend this traditional Chinese wedding banquet, but Gan Guoyang did not extend invitations because there were not enough seats.

Moreover, Gan Guoyang thought, with so many social celebrities, if you invite them to your house for a traditional Chinese banquet, you really don't know how to arrange the seating.

Instead of inviting anyone else, we invited our teammates, family, friends, and neighbors. Everyone ate very casually.

Gan Guoyang's neighbors have always taken good care of him, and gifts have never stopped arriving at his doorstep.

They usually do a lot of favors for us, and it's perfectly normal for them to be treated to meals.

After a busy day, things finally calmed down in the evening. After seeing off the guests and cleaning up, it was already late at night.

These past few days, Gan Youwei has had a big smile on his face, and the warmth and charm he exudes has become even stronger since his son's wedding.

Sitting by the door, Gan Youwei lit a cigarette. It was his first cigarette of the day, as he felt it was uncivilized to smoke while guests were present.

"Son, have I embarrassed you? A big American celebrity, throwing a lavish wedding feast..."

“If I felt ashamed, I wouldn’t have let you do it. I’m just worried that it will be too hard on you.”

"My whole life has been about cooking and preparing meals. What's so hard about it? I just hope... I don't have any other hopes. You're wonderful, and I hope you stay wonderful forever."

"Don't worry, I know exactly what I'm doing. When it comes to basketball, I'm not afraid of anyone; they're no match for me."

"But when it comes to having children, you're no match for those black men..."

Gan Guoyang knew that his father would eventually bring up the topic of having children.

However, Gan Youwei quickly added, "I won't rush you anymore. I know you have your own plans. The world you live in is very different from mine, and I should understand you. You're amazing. Look at those black people and white people. Because of you, they're all sitting under our big round table eating the food I cooked. I feel so proud. Remember, be kind to others and fight less in the future. I feel sorry for those black people you beat up. They also have parents."

"Dad, there may not be a father."

"Oh, by the way, Dad, Avia is going to film a commercial for me. The theme is our father-son relationship. You can come to the set and shoot a few scenes."

Upon hearing this, Gan Youwei immediately shook his head and said, "No, no, that won't do. I'm not cut out for making movies. No way!"

Gan Guoyang repeatedly persuaded him, saying that the director was Chinese and even told Gan Youwei the theme of the advertisement. Gan Youwei hesitated for a while, but thought that for his son's sake, he should just go ahead and film it.

It is said that during filming, Gan Youwei showcased his culinary skills, and the footage was included in the advertisement, which inspired Ang Lee's future ideas for making food-themed films.

(End of this chapter)