Ordinary World: Starting with a divorce from Tian Runye

in the afternoon.

Tian Xiaoxia rushed into the house like a gust of wind.

She had just returned from outside, her bag bulging with books, her braids swinging behind her.

"dad!"

Tian Fujun was still in the study.

Tian Xiaoxia pushed open the door and came in, her face full of excitement.

"Dad, great news! The Huangyuan Poetry Society is holding a discussion in our Yuanxi County, and Qi Wenyuan will be there too!"

Tian Fujun looked at his daughter.

Except for the two braids on his head, he looks exactly like a boy. He's so energetic and lively; I wonder whose personality he inherited from?

"Qi Wenyuan?"

"That's right! He's a literary representative of the younger generation in Huangyuan. He's published quite a few poems in Huangyuan Literature and Art, and one of his articles was included in Yanhe."

Tian Xiaoxia sniffed twice while she was speaking.

"What does it taste like?"

Tian Fujun pointed to the enamel pot on the table.

"Chicken soup. Runye brought it over."

Tian Xiaoxia walked to the table, peeked into the pot, and saw that the chicken soup was full and hadn't been touched much. She picked up a spoon, scooped up a mouthful, and tasted it.

"So fresh. It has red dates and goji berries, this isn't how we originally made it."

Runye said it was done by Xiangqian.

Upon hearing this, Tian Xiaoxia seemed to have thought of something and burst into laughter. She laughed so hard she bent over, one hand supporting herself on the desk, her braid swinging in front of her.

"He's making chicken soup again? Hahahaha!"

Tian Fujun was puzzled.

"It looks like a little girl, look how happy you are!"

"Dad, you don't know..."

Tian Xiaoxia finally straightened up and recounted the whole story of how Li Xiangqian made chicken soup and the whole county misunderstood that Runye was pregnant. Tian Fujun couldn't help but laugh after listening.

"No wonder others put red dates and goji berries in their chicken soup; they're so particular," Tian Fujun said with a smile.

"My brother-in-law knows how to enjoy himself."

Tian Xiaoxia put the spoon back into the pot and wiped her mouth.

"He also said that everyone must love themselves first for society to be better. He certainly put that into practice."

Upon hearing this, Tian Fujun stopped laughing.

"Nonsense. If everyone were selfish, wouldn't society descend into chaos?"

"Right, I think so too."

Tian Fujun pondered for a moment, then said, "However, there is a source to his words. Two thousand years ago, the old master Yang Zhu said, 'I would not pluck a single hair to benefit the world.' He just put it in a different way."

Tian Xiaoxia tilted her head and thought for a moment.

"I don't think so. If everyone is stingy, the weak will have no place to stand."

After saying that, he pulled a book out of his bag. The cover was yellowed and the edges were curled.

"Oh, right, Dad, look, my brother-in-law recommended this to me."

Tian Fujun took it and looked at it.

"float".

"This book is about the American Civil War."

Tian Fujun flipped through the pages and found that the bookmarks had been clipped to the last few pages.

"Are you almost done reading?"

"Soon."

Tian Xiaoxia took the book back, hugged it to her arms, and laughed.

"Haha, sure enough, there are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people's eyes. My brother-in-law said that this book is about a selfish woman who saved many people because of her selfishness."

"That's nonsense. This is clearly about the lives of ordinary people during the American Civil War. Overanalyzing the characters will only cause you to overlook the grand narrative of the era in the book," Tian Fujun said, frowning.

"Yeah, I don't think so either."

Tian Xiaoxia said earnestly.

"I think Scarlett's selfishness is just a facade. She held up her family and supported a group of people when everyone else collapsed. She wasn't selfish; she was braver and more selfless than anyone else."

Tian Fujun glanced at his daughter and nodded.

Fortunately, Li Xiangqian was not present.

Otherwise, he would definitely say, "There are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people's eyes, and you, Tian Xiaoxia, have misread it."

……

Three days after Miao Kai's inspection, the cultural center resumed its normal operations.

The so-called daily routine consisted of Du Zhengxian reading newspapers in his office, Xiao Zhao painting in his studio, Lao Yang copying materials, and Li Xiangqian lying on his chair.

Du Lili pushed open the door to the studio and put her hands on her hips.

"Xiangqian, I have good news for you."

Li Xiangqian didn't move, the newspaper covering his face, his voice muffled.

"What good news? We're on holiday?"

"The Huangyuan Poetry Society will organize a discussion in Yuanxi County."

Li Xiangqian tore off the newspaper and glanced at her.

"What does this have to do with me?"

"You participate too."

"I will not participate."

Li Xiangqian covered his face with the newspaper again and pointed to the gauze wrapped around his left arm.

"There's a limit to exploitation. I'm working while injured, so please respect the Geneva Conventions."

"Your little wound."

Du Lili pursed her lips.

"You've had the bandage on for three or four days already, it's going too far to keep pretending. Look at Teacher Zhao, she's got a strong will, she doesn't rest a day after the performance, and she volunteers to be on duty. And look at you. Tsk tsk tsk, you've got some awareness."

Xiao Zhao peeked out from behind the drawing board and chuckled.

"The Huangyuan Poetry Society is the most influential literary society in the Huangyuan area. It's a rare opportunity for people to come to western Huangyuan, and many want to join but can't."

Du Lili leaned closer and lowered her voice.

"Old Yang has always wanted me to help him get his son into the poetry club. This time, he even came to me and asked me to bring his son along. However, our poetry club has certain requirements."

The studio is small, and lowering your voice only makes you sound like you're talking behind someone's back, which is of no use.

Old Yang, who was sitting not far away, picked up his enamel mug, took a sip of tea, and coughed lightly twice.

After listening, Li Xiangqian sat up, his face full of righteous indignation.

"Then I will uphold the spirit of dedication and give my place at the conference to Lao Yang's son."

As soon as he finished speaking, Old Yang's coughing grew louder, like tea leaves stuck in his throat.

"Are you going or not?"

Du Lili put her hands on her hips.

"Whoever wants to go can go."

This time, Old Yang didn't cough. He simply picked up his enamel mug, his face grim, and left the studio.

Du Lili didn't even look at Lao Yang, she just stared at Li Xiangqian.

"I've shown your poem to the other members of the Huangyuan Poetry Society, and they all want to see it for themselves."

"What poem? Is it a recipe?"

Seeing that she couldn't persuade him, Du Lili took matters into her own hands and grabbed Li Xiangqian's arm.

"Just go! I already promised everyone I'd bring you with me."

Li Xiangqian was secretly pleased to see Du Lili's pleading expression.

They've begged me for help, so I have to ask for a price.

"No. Unless you give me three days off."

"I'm not your boss."

"He's not a leader, but he's better than one."

"Cough, cough!"

Two coughs came from the doorway; it wasn't Old Yang.

Du Zhengxian was standing at the door holding an enamel mug.

Her own daughter was arm in arm with a married man, and the two of them were so close it was unbelievable, simply outrageous.

Du Zhengxian's face instantly contorted into a walnut shape.

"What kind of behavior is this! Comrade Xiangqian is a married man, let go of his hand!"

Du Lili ignored her and shook her head, pulling the arm even tighter.

"No, Dad, unless you give me the first three days off."

"What? A three-day holiday?"

Du Zhengxian was completely bewildered.

"Is Comrade Xiangqian feeling unwell?"

Li Xiangqian nodded vigorously, raised his arm wrapped in gauze, and looked pained.

Du Zhengxian looked at the gauze. The bloodstains on the gauze had turned black, clearly indicating that the injury was several days old.

If you want to ask for leave, just tell me. Now, let my daughter let you go.

"Three days is fine, just let go of my hand. What kind of behavior is this in broad daylight?"

Du Lili then happily let go of his hand and turned to walk out the door.

"Don't forget tomorrow night."

"night?"

Li Xiangqian stood up abruptly from his chair.

"Come back, let's talk again. The price you asked for earlier was a bit too low."

Li Xiangqian shouted as he chased after him.