Qi Wei and Lee Seung-hyun are both post-80s, which can be said to be a typical "post-80s couple". The two met through social media many years ago and fell in love after falling in love at first sight.
Growing up in the United States, Lee Seung-hyun was deeply influenced by Western education and culture, and many of his ideas were relatively open-minded. And Qi Wei is a native Chinese and has more traditional values.
But this does not prevent them from falling in love with each other, on the contrary, this difference in philosophy has made their married life more harmonious.
At the beginning of marriage, Lee Seung-hyun promised Qi Wei that he would be by her side for the rest of his life. They chose to buy a home in Southern California, where the pace of life is more leisurely.
Only the two of them have a small family, living a simple and happy life. Qi Wei will be responsible for cooking, and Lee Seung-hyun often takes his dog for morning runs. On weekdays, they also like to watch movies and chat together at home, and this comfortable life is what they dream of.
As long as you have each other's company, nothing is a problem.
Lee Seung-hyun has always supported Qi Wei's acting career, while he chose to engage in Internet investment and entrepreneurship. He was unwilling to rely on his father-in-law's help and planned to support his family on his own.
Because of this, Lee Seung-hyun will later take care of his daughter Lucky full-time at home. Because he feels that his wife's career development is equally important, and he can't give up his dream just because he has a child.
This was a very modern approach in China at that time.
Lucky is the first child of Qi Wei and Lee Seung-hyun. A few months before she became pregnant, Qi Wei began to learn Xi relevant knowledge and adjust her daily life. She hopes that her physical condition can be at her best, so that her baby can be born healthy and safe.
Lee Seung-hyun saw it in his eyes and was very moved by his wife's efforts and dedication for the next generation.
As the day of delivery approached, Lee Seung-hyun began to pack everything in the nursery, and he himself was nervous and expectant. Qi Wei insisted on not looking for a confinement mother, because she believed that what the child needed most after birth was the company of both parents.
Lee Seung-hyun agreed.
Lucky was eventually born in a private hospital in Los Angeles. Lee Seung-hyun is a patroller, and he witnessed Qi Wei's difficult and painful production process, and his heart was extremely distressed.
When Lucky's first cry sounded, Lee Seung-hyun's eyes couldn't help but redden. He gently stroked Qi Wei's hair and whispered, "Thank you for your hard work."
During the confinement period, Lee Seung-hyun took on most of the child-rearing responsibilities. He learned how to feed Lucky properly, how to help her massage and lactation. Sometimes late at night Lucky suddenly cries, and Lee Seung-hyun will also get up to coax.
He always remembered his wife's physical state just after giving birth, and he couldn't rush it. Slowly, they Xi this new rhythm of life.
After Qi Wei gave birth to her daughter Lucky, she planned to have another child. She was born into a standard traditional Chinese family and has an older sister, so she also wants Lucky to have a partner.
Mr. Lee had no objection to this, jokingly saying that his family needed a diplomatic ambassador to combine Chinese and Western cultures. And Qi Wei seriously thought about the education of the second child.
At a warm family dinner, Qi Wei raised the issue of children's surnames to her husband. She hoped that the second child, whether it was a child or a daughter, would follow her mother's surname, and Lee Seung-hyun pondered for a few minutes and readily agreed.
He explained that he grew up in the United States and did not have such a strong traditional concept, and the surname of his children did not matter to him, as long as it was his own flesh and blood.
Qi Wei didn't expect Lee Seung-hyun to accept his idea so smoothly. She was very happy, and thought that if she moved back to China in the future, it might not be so easy to do.
But she also believes that with Lee Seung-hyun, a reasonable husband, everything will go well.
When Lee Seung-hyun reported to his family via video that the decision to take his mother's surname for the second child was adopted, his father, Uncle Lee, immediately expressed strong opposition. As the elder of the family, Uncle Li hopes to pass on the surname from generation to generation, and he believes that if his only grandson takes his mother's surname, it is equivalent to ruining the Li family's incense.
Uncle Li is a typical traditional Chinese man, and he believes in the concept of "inheritance". So as soon as he heard this decision, he was furious, and several videos in a row persuaded Lee Seung-hyun to change his mind.
He emphasized that there is an old Chinese saying that "it is better to have a broken jade than to destroy it", which is a kind of expectation and persistence for the future generations of the family.
Lee Seung-hyun was not moved by his father's traditional ideas, and he sympathetically expressed his understanding of his father's thoughts, but this decision will not change. He calmly explained to his father that the child's surname does not represent blood and flesh, and that he will care for the family with all his love.
Uncle Li was speechless for a while.
A few days later, Uncle Lee made another video call, but Lee Seung-hyun's attitude remained resolute. Father and son are at an impasse, and both decide that their traditions or ideas are correct.
This also reflects the differences between Chinese and Western cultural concepts. In the end, Uncle Li could only reluctantly accept this reality.
In the face of his father's strong opposition, Lee Seung-hyun did not give up on his initial decision. He grew up in the United States, and his sense of patriarchy was not as strong as that of men in the country. He understands his father's concerns and his desire to pass them on from generation to generation.
But as a party to the family, he still thinks that this is a decision that he and Qi Wei can make decisions independently.
In fact, Lee Seung-hyun has very different personalities from his father, he is a relatively gentle and introverted person, and he attaches more importance to feelings and morality. So in this matter, he chose to stand on Qi Wei's side and respect his wife's ideas.
Lee Seung-hyun believes that the heavy responsibility of giving birth to a child rests with the mother, and the mother should have the final say on the child's surname. This enlightened conception of gender is lacking in China's patriarchal society.
On the other hand, Lee Seung-hyun also takes into account the particularity of the identity of a mixed-race child. The surname "Li" is not really helpful for children, but choosing a Chinese mother's surname will bring some convenience in life.
So this is not only an emotional consideration, but also a realistic pros and cons. Lee Seung-hyun is a pragmatic person, and he weighs everything in his heart.
After this series of reflections, Lee Seung-hyun chose to stick to his original intention. He gently but resolutely told his father that this was the independent choice of their small family, and it was also an insistence on the integration of Chinese and Western cultures, and hoped that his father would understand and accept it.
After 10 months of waiting, Qi Wei and Lee Seung-hyun's second child was born. Luckily, it was another safe and smooth cesarean section. Lee Seung-hyun was with the delivery room as always, and he once again witnessed Qi Wei's greatness as a mother.
When the baby's first cry came to his ears, Lee Seung-hyun's eyes turned red with excitement.
According to their original arrangement, the second child was a son, and he successfully followed his mother's surname "Qi". Lee Seung-hyun hugged his son and read the name of "Qi Xiaopeng" softly.
This is the crystallization of his and Qi Wei's hard work, flesh and blood linked by blood.
At this time, Lee Seung-hyun's mind was all about the newborn little life, not his father's traditional concepts. He values this home more and the happiness he built with his own hands in front of him.
Lee Seung-hyun sincerely thanked God for giving them such a perfect second child.
Through the entire decision-making process of the second child from the mother's surname, we can deeply understand the unique family concept of Qi Wei and Lee Seung-hyun. This is somewhat different from the mainstream traditional Chinese culture, but it makes people feel the modernity and open-mindedness in their bones.
First of all, they value democracy and mutual respect within the family. Lee Seung-hyun did not force his children to take their father's surname on the basis of male status, which is rare in a patriarchal society in China.
He respects his wife Qi Wei's ideas and supports his wife's right to speak in the family. This concept of equality and openness of gender strengthens their feelings and impresses the viewer.
Secondly, Qi and Li attach great importance to the personal care of their children. Instead of reusing nannies or confinement nannies, they insisted that the husband and wife share the responsibility of serving their offspring.
Lee Seung-hyun even gave up his job and stayed at home as a stay-at-home father for 6 years, which shows their dedication and devotion to the lives of the next generation. This also lays the foundation for children to grow up healthy and happy.
Finally, the spirit of mutual understanding and consideration between them was also touching. Lee Seung-hyun did not back down because of her father's pressure, and Qi Wei was also very grateful for her husband's great support for her on parenting issues.
It is not easy to maintain this kind of understanding and tolerance in real life, but Qi Li and his wife have done it. This also confirms the stability of their marriage from the side.
Through this series of events, we can see that contemporary young people are reshaping traditional Chinese family values, making them more humane and perfect. We also hope that this new thinking can be deeply rooted in the hearts of the people and benefit more Chinese families.