In China, you don't just get to ask the bride's parents' permission, you gotta hand over cash and presents. You also have to abduct the bride, but that's a later story!

You can read about the traditions at:
http://www.chinabridal.com/etiquette.htm (the meanings of each of these is described here)

I prepared a big red box, with the correct (I guess - they said yes) gifts inside. These included:
two large fish.
chocolates.
Ten thousand and one yuan (showing Joan is one in ten thousand - she's actually one in a billion, but I'm not that rich).
Peanuts, two jin (about a kilo) to symbolise life.
Tea.
Dried mushrooms

The first photo shows Nick doing my speech, which he spent ages rehearsing, and Joan's parents endeavouring to decipher his appalling accent.

The second shows Joan's Dad opening the box of goodies, whilst Joan's Mum and Nephew look on.

The last shows Joan's Mum just about to prepare one of the two fish.