Ordinary World: Starting with a divorce from Tian Runye

In the evening, after finishing work at the cultural center, Du Zhengxian specially changed into a clean blue cloth shirt, wet his hair with his hands, looked at himself in the office window, felt that he looked quite energetic, and then went straight to Li Dengyun's house.

He arrived just in time for lunch.

The aroma of fried eggs wafted from Li Dengyun's living room. Liu Zhiying, wearing an apron, came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of golden-brown egg pancakes and called out to the inner room.

"Dengyun! Come and have a taste. I made it the way Xiangqian told me."

Li Dengyun was curled up on the sofa reading the newspaper, not even raising his head, and just pursed his lips.

"I think pork stew with glass noodles is pretty good."

"What do you know? Come here."

Liu Zhiying put the plate on the table, and Li Dengyun got up reluctantly. Just as he reached for his chopsticks, the door opened.

Du Zhengxian stood at the door, his face beaming with smiles.

"Hey, I've come at an inopportune time, it's like I timed this perfectly to freeload a meal."

"Haha, Lao Du!"

Li Dengyun put down his chopsticks, somewhat surprised. Du Zhengxian didn't usually visit his house.

"You don't come here often, what brings you here today?"

"Director Li is usually very busy, so I wouldn't dare to bother him. I just happened to be passing by today and came up when I smelled the aroma."

As Du Zhengxian spoke, he exaggeratedly sniffed twice, his gaze falling on the plate of egg pancakes on the table.

Liu Zhiying was very enthusiastic.

"Director Du, please have a seat. You should try my new cooking."

"Then I'll gladly accept your offer. It's my turn to eat this bite; I came right on time."

One sentence made Li Dengyun and his wife burst into laughter.

Du Zhengxian sat down at the table, picked up a piece of egg pancake with his chopsticks, and put it in his mouth.

I chewed it twice.

His expression was subtle.

It wasn't particularly delicious. Like Li Dengyun, his palate was raised on pork stew with vermicelli and noodles with chili oil.

"Yes, yes, these eggs are tender and have a scallion flavor, unlike the way they're made in our Yuanxi."

Du Zhengxian began to offer his serious comments.

"Hi, this is what my son Xiangqian taught me to do."

When Liu Zhiying talks about her son, her face naturally exudes a sense of pride.

"He's traveled all over the country and has a lot of experience. A few days ago, he made several new ways to eat at home. Some of them were so strange that I couldn't accept them, but this egg pancake was alright."

Du Zhengxian was secretly delighted.

Here comes the topic.

"Speaking of Xiangqian, I heard from Lili that he doesn't want to drive for the transportation department anymore?"

Du Zhengxian asked casually.

Upon hearing this, Li Dengyun snorted coldly.

"Hmph, I don't know what this kid is thinking. When he wanted to go to the Ministry of Transport, nothing could stop him, but now he's changed his mind. I just called the Ministry of Transport a few days ago and told him to rest at home for a few days first."

"Hey, young people are all full of enthusiasm, that's normal."

Du Zhengxian waved his hand casually.

"Driving is a job that involves going out in wind and rain. Once the initial enthusiasm wears off, it's really tiring."

After Du Zhengxian finished speaking, he appropriately changed the subject, and then, as if he suddenly remembered something, he changed his tone.

"Director Li, I heard from Lili that your son Xiangqian is skilled in writing. He wrote a poem, which Lili showed to me. After reading it, I have to say, it does have some talent."

After hearing this, Li Dengyun and Liu Zhiying exchanged a glance.

Moving forward? Writing poetry?

These two words don't seem to fit together at all.

"Old Du, you've got something wrong, haven't you?"

"My son couldn't even write a proper essay when he was in school, and you're telling me he can write poetry... does he even have that level of skill?"

Upon seeing this, Du Zhengxian quickly waved his hand and laughed.

"Director Li, we're both getting on in years. Our children are incredibly capable; how could we, as their parents, possibly know everything?"

"I've spent most of my life working in the cultural field; the manuscripts I've handled are taller than me if they were piled up. Xiangqian, that kid, is really talented. Lili showed that poem to the comrades at the Huangyuan Poetry Society, and they all thought it was written by Lili. Don't you think that's good enough?"

Li Dengyun didn't reply, but he started to ponder.

A couple of days ago, Xiang Qian talked a lot at the dinner table. He talked about things like top-down approach, knowledge-based, youthful, and professional development, and that development is the only hard truth. He had no way of verifying these things.

However, Xiang Qian did manage to find out about the personnel changes in the province and the fact that the central government would be sending new provincial officials through his connections in Huangyuan.

There are indeed rumors of changes at the provincial level.

"Director Du, what poem did Xiang Qian write?"

Seeing that Li Dengyun was silent, Liu Zhiying took the initiative to ask a question.

Du Zhengxian frowned for half a second, then smiled broadly. "Lili showed it to me. I don't remember much, but it seems to be... If there is an afterlife, there are new-style poems and portraits. Young people's thinking is so imaginative, it's rare."

These words instantly brought Li Dengyun back to his senses.

"Do you also have roast goose from Sham Well?"

Li Dengyun was deeply impressed by the roast goose from Shenjing.

"Oh, right, Director Li also saw it?"

Du Zhengxian nodded in agreement.

Liu Zhiying stood aside with a complicated expression, while Li Dengyun's face instantly darkened.

"Director Du, Lili... how did she know what Xiangqian wrote?"

Liu Zhiying glanced at Li Dengyun, who had a sullen face, and then turned to ask Du Zhengxian.

Du Zhengxian sensed something was off. Everything was fine just a moment ago, so why were the two of them looking so strange? Was it really that important how the poem came about?

"Um... Lili showed it to me, but I didn't ask how the poem came about."

Li Dengyun plopped down in a chair, wiped his face with his hand, and said, "Old Du, it's just a young man venting his frustrations, don't take it personally."

"Yes, Xiangqian is in a much better mood now. We even had dinner together a couple of days ago, chatting and laughing." Liu Zhiying chimed in from the side.

Du Zhengxian was completely bewildered. What was going on with this couple? He had been working in the cultural field for decades, and their response didn't even fit the context.

"Director Li, has Xiangqian been feeling unwell lately?"

Du Zhengxian asked tentatively.

Li Dengyun and Liu Zhiying exchanged a glance, then looked at Du Zhengxian and nodded in unison.

"I'm resting at home now, and I'm feeling much better."

Liu Zhiying said softly, "If word gets out that Xiangqian attempted suicide, it won't be good for anyone, especially for Xiangqian."

Du Zhengxian scratched his head and muttered, "Is driving a big truck really that bad for your health?"

"Director Li, let me be frank."

Du Zhengxian looked up and decided to get straight to the point; if he kept beating around the bush, he would almost forget why he came here in the first place.

"Xiangqian is a bright young man. Our county cultural center is in dire need of young people like him. It's a waste for him to drive a big truck. I'd like to have Xiangqian work at our cultural center."

"County Cultural Center?"

"yes!"

"Based on that roast goose?"

Li Dengyun asked.

"Hey, that's poetry. I read it, and it's incredibly inspired. Director Li, you can't be biased. We should take care of talents like that in our cultural system."

Li Dengyun looked at Liu Zhiying in silence.

Seeing this, Du Zhengxian continued.

"Director Li, let me add something. Xiangqian's wife teaches at Chengguan Elementary School. If he were to work at our cultural center, it would be a perfect match. One of them works in education, and the other in culture; they're both cultural workers and have common interests. When a couple has common interests, their life together is sure to be smooth."

These words struck a chord with Li Dengyun and his wife.

Xiangqian and Runye's relationship is probably due to their work in the transportation department. Xiangqian has to drive, and Runye teaches at the school. One is a driver, and the other is a teacher. Xiangqian also often has to be separated from Runye for a period of time because of work.

Look at the last few days, Xiang Qian has been staying home, and our relationship has obviously improved.

Liu Zhiying looked at Li Dengyun.

His eyes clearly showed his approval.

Du Zhengxian had done his research before coming. He knew that the Li family's biggest concern wasn't Li Xiangqian's job, but rather the relationship between Li Xiangqian and Runye. The couple had been married for almost a year, and their relationship was as cold as ice, a fact known throughout Yuanxi County. If they could have more interaction and more common topics, perhaps their relationship could improve.

This reason is a hundred times more effective than any talk of cultivating talent.

"Let me think about this."

Li Dengyun did not agree on the spot.

"I need to ask Xiangqian's opinion first."

"That's to be expected. But I'm sure Xiangqian would be happy to come to the cultural center."

Du Zhengxian stood up. He was a man of discretion; he knew when to stop, and anything more would seem too hasty.

"Then I'll head back now. Director Li, I'll come visit again another day."

"Take it easy, take it easy."

Liu Zhiying escorted him to the door.

After the door closed, the living room was quiet for a while.

Li Dengyun sat alone at the table, his fingers tapping the surface unconsciously.

Writing poetry. A cultural center. A cultural worker.

He's spent his life in administration, not culture, and has never had much interest in poetry or literature.

However, quite a few people have emerged from the cultural field in recent years.

Let's take Huangyuan County as an example, not to mention distant places. That old man from the Provincial Writers Association, now in charge, used to hold a local position and genuinely governed the area. These days, the pen carries as much weight as the abacus beads. The higher-ups need people to write reports, to produce exemplary models, and to have cadres who can both write and speak well. Those who can write have wider connections than others.

No matter how well you drive, at best you're just a driver for a leader.

The driver certainly had a respectable position. In Yuanxi County, a leader's driver could sit at the same table as the leader for meals, be greeted when leaving the house, and be offered cigarettes during holidays. But sitting at the same table for meals and sitting at the same table to discuss business are two different things.

Those eating listen to the leader speak while holding their bowls, while those discussing matters offer advice to the leader with pens in hand. One serves the leader, the other helps the leader.

The tea had gone cold and was bitter.

Li Dengyun picked up the enamel mug and took a big gulp.

If Xiang Qian truly possesses this ability...

"Zhiying."

"Um?"

"What do you think, how about we go to the cultural center?"

Liu Zhiying poked her head out from the kitchen.

"I think it's a good idea. It's safer than driving a big truck, and it's closer to Runye."

"That's not what I meant. I meant, can he handle it? He shouldn't go and embarrass people."

"Director Du said he's got a spiritual aura now. Besides, he said he won't drive big trucks anymore and won't go to the cultural center. Does he mean he'll just stay at home all the time?"

Li Dengyun took another sip of herbal tea and remained silent.

Liu Zhiying came out of the kitchen and sat down opposite him.

"Dengyun, don't overthink it. Xiangqian has been cooking and cleaning lately, and Runye isn't as resistant as before. Take advantage of this momentum and find him a proper job so he has something to look forward to. Once he has something to look forward to, Runye will see it, and the couple's life will gradually get better."

Li Dengyun pondered for a while before placing the enamel mug on the table.

"I just don't know if this silly kid is willing to go."