Ordinary World: Starting with a divorce from Tian Runye

Runye left work early and rode her Phoenix brand bicycle into the residential compound while it was still broad daylight.

As soon as I reached the entrance of the building, I heard laughter coming from inside the house.

One belongs to Li Xiangqian, and the other to Runsheng.

Runye stopped in her tracks, somewhat surprised.

In her memory, Li Xiangqian and Runsheng never really talked. Li Xiangqian was a quiet person, rarely exchanging more than three sentences with anyone, and Runsheng was also a quiet person. Two quiet people together should, in theory, be quieter than a meeting of mute people.

But at this moment, there were bursts of laughter coming from inside the room, intermittently mixed with Runsheng's laughter.

It was also mixed with a slurping sound.

They even got to eat there?

Runye pushed open the door and went in.

Two bowls of noodles sat on the living room table, with chicken broth as the base and noodles nestled in the golden soup, topped with chopped scallions. Runsheng was engrossed in eating, his mouth smeared with noodle soup.

"Sis! Come and try this chicken noodle soup your husband made, it's so delicious!"

Runsheng looked up, half a noodle still hanging from the corner of his mouth, his eyes sparkling.

"Chicken soup again?"

Runye stood at the doorway, looking down at Li Xiangqian with her voice directed at him.

Li Xiangqian sat opposite him, also eating, without even looking up.

"The leftover chicken soup from yesterday wasn't spoiled, so I cooked some noodles in it. There's still some left in the pot, help yourself."

Runye frowned.

"Who would want to eat that?"

She pulled up a chair, sat down, placed her handbag on her lap, and looked at the mess on the table. Two bowls of noodles were almost empty, and next to them sat half a plate of crookedly cut pickled vegetable shreds.

Li Xiangqian put down his chopsticks and glanced at Runsheng.

"Runsheng, how old are you this year?"

"nineteen."

"Still working as a substitute teacher?"

"Yes, with Shaoping, at the village primary school."

Li Xiangqian nodded.

"This substitute teacher isn't very promising. Although I'm no longer in the transportation department, I can help you find a mentor to teach you how to drive."

Runsheng stopped eating with his chopsticks, his eyes widening instantly.

"real?"

"When has your brother-in-law ever lied to you? Substitute teachers earn work points, not much money. Driving is the real security job; once you learn it, you can eat anywhere."

In those days, a cadre's driver could sit at the same table as the leader during meals, and his status was basically equivalent to that of the leader's secretary.

Runsheng was so happy that he sat up straight, forgetting to clear the bowl.

Runye felt inexplicably offended after hearing this and snorted coldly.

"Teaching is a good job, no worse than driving."

His tone wasn't exactly aggressive, but it carried a hint of resentment.

Li Xiangqian almost choked on his noodles after hearing this.

Oh no, Runye herself is a teacher.

I think I just accidentally killed someone.

"Teaching and nurturing people is a good thing. Teachers are the gardeners of our motherland. The progress of society cannot be separated from teachers. The work of teachers benefits the present and future generations."

Li Xiangqian quickly tried to cover up the mistake, showering Runye with compliments as if they were free.

Runye rolled her eyes. When did Li Xiangqian learn so many catchy rhymes?

"However, the land will soon be distributed to individual households, and each family will cultivate their own land. The children in the countryside are all laborers, so they will definitely have to work in the fields. When there are fewer students, schools will not need as many teachers. If Runsheng does not find a way out in advance, he will be in a passive position."

Li Xiangqian then changed the subject.

"Distributing land to individual households?"

Runye was the first to frown.

"Distributing land to individual households is taking the capitalist road. I read the Huangyuan Daily every day, but I haven't seen any information about distributing land to individual households."

"No matter what kind of road it is, the first priority is to ensure that the people have enough to eat, right?"

"Don't talk nonsense, Runsheng, don't listen to him."

"Forget it, I can't explain it to you."

Li Xiangqian waved his hand, indicating he would not argue anymore.

Runye snorted in response.

Runsheng looked left at his sister and right at his brother-in-law, opened his mouth but didn't dare to say a word.

Pregnant women are known for their bad tempers; my brother-in-law is going to have a hard time with her.

Runsheng thought to himself, without saying anything.

After finishing their meal, Li Xiangqian escorted Runsheng downstairs.

"I'll talk to Lao Hou about the transportation department matter for you. You should also go back and discuss it with your dad. There's no rush. Whenever you want to come, just let him know in advance."

"Brother-in-law, I'll head back now!"

Runsheng hopped on his bicycle, pedaled twice, then turned around and shouted.

"Brother-in-law, don't worry, I'll go back and talk to my dad, and tell him not to worry!"

Li Xiangqian stood at the courtyard gate, watching Runsheng's figure disappear into the twilight. He knew very well that when Runsheng said not to worry, he meant that Tian Futang should not worry about Runye's pregnancy.

Well, let the bullets fly for a while. The stomach doesn't lie; the bullets will eventually land.

Back inside, Li Xiangqian casually splashed some cold water on his face and rinsed his feet before heading into the inner room.

Runye was sitting in a wicker chair in the living room, flipping through her lesson plan book, thinking that Li Xiangqian would have to go through the same routine again: boiling water, taking a bath, and applying lotion. But she saw Li Xiangqian do a couple of things casually and then go straight back to the inner room.

Is this unusual again?

"What's wrong? Not Onegin today?"

Runye looked up and asked.

Li Xiangqian paused and turned around.

"That's good, you even know Onegin."

Runye paused inwardly. Who do you think you are? You, a driver, know this, so I, a teacher, must know this.

"I'm a teacher. Onegin is a character created by Pushkin, who spent half his life wandering and suddenly became particular. Who doesn't know Pushkin?"

Runye recounted all the information she had obtained from Du Lili in one go. After finishing, she nervously glanced up at Li Xiangqian, afraid that if Li Xiangqian continued to ask Onegin, she would not know the answer.

Fortunately, Li Xiangqian wasn't particularly interested in Pushkin or Onegin.

"I'm tired. My emotions have been too volatile today, and I'm exhausted. I'm not going to be picky anymore, I'm going to sleep now."

Li Xiangqian said calmly and continued walking into the inner room.

"Have you explained things clearly to Runsheng?"

Runye's voice drifted out from behind the lesson preparation book.

Li Xiangqian knew what she was asking, and his heart immediately felt incredibly uneasy.

"I wanted to explain, but he didn't believe me."

After saying that, he immediately quickened his pace.

"you……"

Just as Runye was about to say something, Li Xiangqian had already slipped into the inner room, and the curtain fell down with a whoosh.

Runye stared at the curtain, her lips moved, and she gritted her teeth.

"Lili is right, I'm leaving Yuanxi."

Runye continued flipping through her lesson preparation book, but after about ten minutes, she couldn't absorb a single word.

The aroma of chicken noodle soup wafted into the living room from the stove.

Runye turned the page sharply.

……

midnight.

Li Xiangqian was awakened by a faint sound.

I opened my eyes and saw that the living room light was still on. Then I looked at the small bed in the room.

Runye is not here.

Still awake?

Li Xiangqian lifted the curtain and tiptoed out.

Runye was sitting at the table with an enamel bowl in front of her. The bowl was filled with a mound of chicken soup noodles. The soup wasn't as bright as it had been during the day, but the noodles had soaked up the broth and looked quite appetizing.

Runye was engrossed in eating, her cheeks bulging, completely unaware that someone had appeared in front of her.

Li Xiangqian crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame.

"uh-huh."

Upon hearing the sound, Runye stopped eating instantly.

He slowly raised his head.

"You...you weren't asleep, were you?"

The two looked at each other.

Runye's face flushed red at a visible speed.

"Hey, I have a bad memory. Can you help me remember who said they didn't like to eat it?" Li Xiangqian tapped his chin with his index finger, pretending to think.

"I didn't eat anything last night and woke up hungry. I saw there was some leftover noodles in the kitchen, so I tried to eat them..."

"Oh, I ate two big bowls in one go."

Li Xiangqian glanced at the stove; half a pot of chicken noodle soup was almost empty, with only a few lonely noodles remaining on the pot's sides.

Runye's face turned even redder.

"you……"

"Eat, eat, eat."

Li Xiangqian waved his hand and turned to walk back.

"Remember to wash the dishes."

Runye didn't pick up the bowl again until the curtain in the inner room was lowered again. She pursed her lips and drank the noodle soup clean.

"Fine, I'll wash it!"

Runye put down the bowl and muttered softly.