Ordinary World: Starting with a divorce from Tian Runye

The next day, Li Dengyun was preoccupied with something from the morning. He originally planned to talk to Li Xiangqian in the evening, but he couldn't resist and went to Li Xiangqian's place at noon, just in time to find Li Xiangqian cooking.

Upon entering, Li Dengyun glanced around the room and, seeing that Runye was not there, looked at Li Xiangqian, who was wearing an apron and working around the stove. He couldn't help but scoff.

"A grown man with no career, spending all his time around the stove, deserves to be looked down upon by girls."

Li Dengyun's face darkened, but then he thought to himself that Du Zhengxian's idea made sense. Xiangqian had a proper career and could be with Runye for a long time. As for feelings, they could be cultivated slowly. Time would warm even a stone, let alone a girl.

He has a decent appearance, and he's not inferior to others in any way.

Thinking of this, Li Dengyun suddenly smiled again. If Xiangqian could go to the cultural center, it would really be a great help to him.

"Dad, please sit for a moment, it'll be ready soon."

Li Xiangqian turned around and called out, but Li Dengyun did not respond and sat down at the table.

"Scallion pancakes should ideally be fried in peanut oil, but we don't have any in Yuanxi County, so we can only use pork lard instead. It's a bit greasy, but the scallion flavor is amazing. Give it a try."

Li Xiangqian first served a plate of egg pancakes, then a plate of crispy on the outside and tender on the inside thin pancakes, sprinkled with chopped green onions, which smelled delicious.

"Is this what you call a meal?"

Li Dengyun picked up a piece and put it in his mouth. The taste was okay, but the pancake was too thin and had no chewiness. It was so slippery that it could slide down his throat without him even having to swallow it.

In his view, a proper meal consists of white steamed buns and hand-pulled noodles that are chewy and offer a satisfying swallowing experience.

"Hey Dad, you're getting on in years. You should eat more refined foods and chew slowly. That's the way to stay healthy. Don't eat high-carb foods all the time."

Li Dengyun ignored him, put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and said in a tone similar to that of someone attending a county revolutionary committee meeting, "Xiangqian, Du Zhengxian from the county cultural center talked to me, wanting you to work there."

Li Xiangqian had just picked up a piece of egg pancake with his chopsticks and stuffed a big mouthful into his mouth when he almost choked.

"Cultural center?"

"Yes. It's a permanent position, with a salary and a job title."

Li Xiangqian wiped the corner of his mouth.

Going to work again?

He just got out of the Ministry of Transport and only stayed home for a few days, and now he has to go back to work?

"Dad, I'm not feeling well, am I still resting?"

"You're perfectly healthy. If you stay any longer, your mother will have to go to the county hospital to get you a doctor's certificate."

Li Dengyun glanced at him.

"The cultural center is not like the transportation department; you won't have to brave the wind and rain. When you go there, you'll just need to arrange some programs, write some reports, and get along well with Du Zhengxian. Runye teaches at Chengguan Elementary School, and you work at the cultural center; you're both in the cultural system, so you can hang out together occasionally."

This last sentence was something Liu Zhiying had told him beforehand.

Li Xiangqian put down his chopsticks, tapped his fingers on the table, and fell into deep thought.

County Cultural Center!

He suddenly remembered someone.

A certain famous person in later generations, because he admired slacking off, gave up his family background as a dentist, abandoned medicine for literature, and devoted himself to the cultural center, living a life where he could go to bed and come home whenever he wanted.

My father really understands me; no one knows a son better than his father.

"Hmm, I can consider it."

Li Xiangqian said.

Seeing Li Xiangqian's attitude, Li Dengyun was furious.

"What are you thinking about? Go report tomorrow."

Liu Zhiying didn't come today, and Li Dengyun's tone was extremely bureaucratic.

"Going tomorrow?"

"What's wrong? Do I need to check the dates to go to work?"

"No, I still have a few dishes I'm working on."

"I'm not eating anymore!"

Li Dengyun was so angry that he slammed down his chopsticks, got up, and left.

"Dad, I'll go, I'll go."

Li Xiangqian quickly replied.

"Please have some more."

"I'm not eating anymore. I'm going back to the county canteen for a bowl of noodles. You can't eat this much; you'll just pee it all away. Remember to report for duty tomorrow."

……

night.

Li Xiangqian tossed and turned in bed.

The light in the inner room was still on, and Runye was leaning against the headboard flipping through her lesson preparation books.

"Lili said you're going to work at the cultural center?"

Runye didn't look up. This afternoon, Li Dengyun called the county cultural center and received a positive reply from Li Dengyun. Du Zhengxian was overjoyed. Du Lili got the news immediately and ran to talk to Runye, telling her that Li Xiangqian was going to work at the cultural center.

Runye went from surprise to confusion, initially thinking that Li Dengyun had used his connections to get Li Xiangqian into the cultural center. Du Lili, however, said that her father, Du Zhengxian, had actively sought out Li Dengyun for the job. After repeated confirmation, Runye realized that it was because of something Li Xiangqian had written that Director Du had taken a liking to him, which led to his entry into the cultural center.

Is this really written that well?

Runye had her doubts; she felt the writing was too literary and she couldn't make out its meaning.

If Xiaoxia were here, she would be studying Chinese literature at Huangyuan Teachers College. She would definitely do well in her studies.

Du Lili has already said not to show this to anyone else.

So it turns out I was the one who pushed Li Xiangqian into the cultural center.

"Okay, I'll report for duty tomorrow."

From the large bed opposite, came Li Xiangqian's leisurely voice.

Runye closed her lesson plan and thought for a moment.

"Get up early tomorrow, don't dawdle like usual. The cultural center has its rules too."

Li Xiangqian pulled the blanket over his head.

"We'll see. I haven't slept well for the past few days, and I'm completely exhausted. This bed is so hard, like a door. The air is dry too, there's not a drop of moisture in it, and I've even got dark circles under my eyes."

"So dramatic!"

Runye rolled her eyes, reached out and pulled the light cord, turning off the light with a snap.

"Remember to come early tomorrow!"

In the darkness, Runye reminded him again.

"Oh dear, Yu Hua himself said that going to the cultural center at ten o'clock is considered early..."

"What Hua?"

"It's nothing."

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.

Li Xiangqian was woken up by Runye.

"Get up."

"What time is it?"

"Six-thirty!"

"6:30? You don't even go to the fields that early."

Li Xiangqian pulled the sheet up a little.

"The cultural center opens at eight o'clock. You can wash up, eat breakfast, and then go there. You'll have just enough time."

Runye was already dressed and standing by the bed.

"Today is your first day reporting for duty, don't be late."

Li Xiangqian, still half-asleep, looked at Runye for a while before pulling the sheet over his head again.

"No, this isn't the kind of schedule cultural workers should have."

Runye could tell that Li Xiangqian was extremely tired, but the more Li Xiangqian didn't want to get up, the more she wanted him to get up.

These past few days, Li Xiangqian has been causing her trouble. She has explained the pregnancy issue to the teachers in the office more than a dozen times. Now that she finally has a chance to make Li Xiangqian uncomfortable, how could she let such an opportunity pass?

How come I never realized you were so lazy before?

Li Xiangqian is now extremely regretful, feeling that he agreed too readily.

"It's not too late now that we've discovered it."

After Li Xiangqian finished speaking, he continued to lie down and pretend to be dead. After lying there for a while, he saw that there was no movement. He felt uneasy and opened his eyes to see Runye staring blankly at him.

"That's scary, can't I get up?"

After saying that, he slowly got up.

Runye didn't say anything and went straight out of the inner room to the living room.

Li Xiangqian dawdled as he got dressed and came out, only to find Runye sitting in a wicker chair waiting for him, her satchel beside her. On the table was a bowl of egg drop soup, the steam having mostly dissipated, indicating it had been cooked for some time.

A woman's silence is truly terrifying.

Li Xiangqian glanced at it, still feeling lingering fear, and quickly began to wash up.

"Hurry up, I need to catch the first class today."

Runye tapped her fingers rhythmically on the armrest.

"You go first."

Li Xiangqian sat down at the table and gulped down the contents of his mouth.

Runye rolled her eyes at Li Xiangqian. Before leaving get off work yesterday, Liu Zhiying called the school, repeatedly reminding her that the family compound was not close to the cultural center, but the cultural center and Chengguan Primary School were on the same route, and asked Runye to give Li Xiangqian a ride.

Is it possible for such a grown man to be exhausted from walking just a few miles?

A doting mother often spoils her son!

"You're planning to walk there?"

Li Xiangqian paused for a moment.

He hadn't really thought about how to get to the cultural center. It would take about thirty minutes to walk from the residential compound to the cultural center.

"Lili's at the cultural center, and you're late on your first day? What kind of behavior is that? Do you think you're still in the transportation department, able to come and go as you please?"

Runye stood up and slung her handbag over her shoulder.

"Come on, I'll take you there; we're going in the same direction."

The county cultural center and the town's primary school are both located in the eastern part of the town. The two places are close to each other and can be reached in just a few steps.

Li Xiangqian followed her downstairs.

The Phoenix brand 26-inch bicycle was parked in the yard. Runye straddled the crossbar, bracing herself with her feet on the ground, and glanced back at him.

"Come up."

Li Xiangqian was stunned for a moment.

Sit in the back seat?

Where is the dignity of a Guangdong man?

"Hurry up!"

Runye urged him on.

Li Xiangqian gritted his teeth.

According to Li Xiangqian, a 30-minute journey is roughly equivalent to a mini-marathon.

Forget it, I'm not going to have this dignity anyway.

Li Xiangqian got into the back seat.

The Phoenix brand bicycle wobbled twice before regaining its balance. Runye started pedaling, and the two of them wobbled out of the gate of the residential compound.

On a June morning, the air was slightly cool. The sun had just peeked over the eastern hillside, turning the stone-paved road of Yuanxi County a pale gold.

A breeze blew from the loess slope, causing Runye's hair to flutter and gently brush against Li Xiangqian's face.

itch.

Li Xiangqian subconsciously tilted his head slightly.

The car swayed slightly.

"Can't you ride in a car? Lift your legs up, don't let them touch the ground."

Runye tried to steady the handlebars and reminded him.

Li Xiangqian inwardly groaned, "Oh, my long legs have nowhere to go!"

"How come I never realized you had such a bad temper before?"

"It's not too late now that we've discovered it."

Runye retorted.

……