Ordinary World: Starting with a divorce from Tian Runye

Li Xiangqian was forced into a chair in the business office, with Du Lili's desk in front of him.

A piece of manuscript paper lay on the table, with a few lines written on it and a few lines crossed out, the ink stains messy.

Du Lili placed her hands on the table, looking down at him.

Li Xiangqian sighed.

"It's settled then. You organize the literary club, I don't care."

Du Lili rolled her eyes.

"Alright, alright, just be a stone Buddha. Participation is the key, okay?"

"That's more like it."

Li Xiang leaned back in his chair.

Du Lili picked up her pen and drew a circle on the manuscript paper.

"There are countless literary societies of all sizes across the country now. In some places, there are three or five in a single county. It's really unacceptable that a large county like Yuanxi doesn't even have a single literary society."

Li Xiangqian scoffed.

"A literary society can be formed with just three to five people. It's not even as large as a university club; it's more like a literature enthusiast group."

Du Lili first glanced at him to show her dissatisfaction, then nodded.

"Indeed. Without influence, a literary society has no funding and can't even organize a decent meeting, let alone publish a literary journal."

She tapped the table with the pen handle.

"The most influential literary society in Huangyuan right now is the Huangyuan Poetry Society. The Huangyuan Poetry Society relies on the platform of 'Huangyuan Literature and Art' to frequently publish articles signed by the society, which is how it gradually gained influence. The Huangyuan Prefectural Committee allocates a portion of funds to the poetry society every year."

"Eh."

Li Xiangqian put his leg down and leaned forward.

"Your understanding is incorrect."

Du Lili stopped writing and looked at him.

Li Xiangqian thought for a moment.

"Influence comes from people, not money. Although money is also important. The Yuanxi Literature Society first needs people. We need to gather people together, without setting any barriers. Anyone who loves literature can join."

"How can that be?"

Du Lili's brows furrowed into a knot.

"No entry requirements? So anyone can come in? Zhang San writing a couple of rhyming verses is considered literature? Li Si keeping a diary can get into the literary society?"

"If you set up barriers now when you have nothing, you won't be able to get things going in the 21st century."

Li Xiangqian stretched out one finger and drew a circle on the table.

"First, get the people involved; once you have people, you'll have influence. After you've established a certain scale, then you can assign different levels to the literary society."

"Classification?"

"Yes. For example, internal members and external members. Or first-level members, second-level members, third-level members, and senior members. Different levels have different powers in the literary society, and can participate in different levels of meetings."

Du Lili put down her pen and stared at him.

Why are you looking at me like that?

"I think you have a point. Please continue."

Li Xiangqian felt somewhat embarrassed, and also a little scared.

"Well, I was just saying."

Du Lili rested her head on her hand and nodded: "And then what happens after the classification?"

"After the tiered system? After the tiered system, we need to create a scarcity of high-level members."

Different membership levels have different requirements. For example, points are accumulated based on the quantity and quality of literary publications. Points can also be earned for significant contributions to the literary society, such as helping the society secure sponsorships and fundraising, or assisting in connecting members with other literary societies. Membership status is upgraded based on the accumulated points.

This system became basic practice on later internet platforms. Membership systems, points levels, growth values, paid VIP memberships—Pinduoduo's "cut a discount" is essentially a pyramid scheme. Anyone who has done community operations can rattle off this whole thing with their eyes closed.

But in 1978, this thing was novel and sensational.

Du Lili initially frowned, but started nodding frequently as she listened.

What is meant by "senior employee"?

"That's the highest-level core member. They get priority access to top-level meetings, external exchanges, participation in the literary society's annual meeting, and authorship rights. Similar to... a top-tier platinum member."

"What kind of god-tier platinum level?"

"It's... the highest-ranking kind. Just think of them as the God of Literature descended to earth."

Du Lili nodded as if she understood, then picked up a pen and scribbled a few lines on the manuscript paper.

After finishing writing, she stared at the manuscript for a while, then looked up again.

"This feels weird. Isn't this creating a class division within the literary society? Where's the fairness in that?"

Li Xiangqian almost burst out laughing after hearing this.

"What is fairness? Fairness means having a regulated promotion path. If you feel it's unfair, then bury yourself in writing and strive to become a senior member as soon as possible."

Du Lili stared at him for a long time, her hands crossed in front of her.

"Li Xiangqian, I think if you were born in the old society, you would definitely be a shrewd businessman."

"Should I leave?"

Li Xiangqian felt that his personality had been greatly insulted. Although the essence of the insults might not be too different, the wording was unacceptable.

He had just stood up when Du Lili grabbed his arm.

"Oh, sit down. Continue. I think you have a point."

Li Xiangqian was pulled back into the chair.

"Could you please stop pulling me like that?"

"Can you please stop running away all the time?"

The two huddled together again, leaning over the manuscript paper to continue their discussion.

Du Lili took notes, and Li Xiangqian dictated. One wrote quickly, the other spoke casually. Occasionally, they would disagree on a word or phrase, and then argue back and forth for a couple of rounds.

Du Zhengxian was restless in his office. Every now and then, he would pretend to come out of his office to ask Sister Sun about her work, and every now and then he would stroll to the reading room to ask Old Wu about the book borrowing situation.

Anyway, I always had to pass by Du Lili's desk. Every time I passed by, I would glance up and see the two of them chatting enthusiastically.

They finally waited until noon, lunchtime, and the two of them should have finished their conversation by now, right?

As a result, when they were eating in the cafeteria, Du Lili took her enamel lunchbox and went straight to sit down opposite Li Xiangqian.

The cultural center's canteen wasn't big, with only three tables and enough seating for about ten people. Du Lili sat down opposite Li Xiangqian, placed her lunchbox on the table, and started eating while asking questions.

"What exactly is this points system you mentioned? How many points are awarded for publishing a poem? How many points are awarded for publishing an essay?"

"Let me chew the dough in my mouth first."

"You can talk while you eat."

Li Xiangqian picked up the enamel mug, tilted his head back, and gulped down a mouthful of water before swallowing the dough.

"Poetry and prose cannot be judged by the same standard. The word count is different, the difficulty is different, and the level of the publication is different. The points awarded for a piece published in a county-level publication will definitely be different from those published in a regional-level publication..."

"Who sets the standards?"

"You can discuss and decide internally."

"You're also an insider."

"Fuck you, I'm not talking to you anymore."

At the next table, Old Yang was engrossed in eating noodles, his eyes glancing over every now and then. Sister Sun came out of the kitchen with a lunchbox, and upon seeing this scene, she slowed her pace considerably.

Du Lili was completely oblivious to the stares around her. She ate twice as fast as usual, finishing her food in a few bites, then put down her chopsticks and started asking questions again.

Du Zhengxian sat at the innermost table, poking at the noodles in his bowl with his chopsticks, not eating a single bite, his eyes fixed on his daughter and Li Xiangqian.

His face changed from red to white, and then from white to green.

"This is terrible. How am I going to explain this to Huiliang?"

……

evening.

Under the old locust tree in the courtyard of the cultural center, Li Xiangqian sat on a bamboo chair with his legs stretched out.

The setting sun slanted down from the western mountain ridge, bathing the courtyard in a golden hue. The old locust tree cast a long shadow, imprinting a large patch of mottled patterns on the ground.

Du Lili finally let him go and went back to her house next door. Before leaving, she left a message.

"To be continued tomorrow."

Li Xiangqian felt completely drained and slumped in the chair.

Sister Sun came out of the office, locked the door, and was about to leave with a military green shoulder bag on her back.

As she passed under the old locust tree, she saw Li Xiangqian. After thinking for a moment, Sister Sun paused.

"Are you waiting for your wife to pick you up from get off work?"

Li Xiangqian nodded.

"Um."

He glanced towards the courtyard gate.

"Xiangqian, your wife is a good girl."

Li Xiangqian was a little confused by Sister Sun's seemingly random remark.

Why is this lady being so polite?

Are she and Runye very close?

Li Xiangqian nodded: "Yeah, good, you ride really fast."

Sister Sun glanced around, and seeing that no one was around, she lowered her voice and said, "Xiangqian, you're a man. No matter how good the women outside are, they're never as reliable as the ones at home."

Li Xiangqian frowned, pondering those words.

"Sister Sun, could you please explain it more clearly?"

Sister Sun sighed helplessly, "Oh, I shouldn't have said anything, anyway, your wife is a good girl."

"That's good. I'm very busy every day, and I have to wait for her to pick me up after get off work."

Li Xiangqian muttered to himself and glanced at the courtyard gate again, but still couldn't see Runye's figure.

What a lousy school!

Working overtime every day?

Sister Sun rolled her eyes at him.

"Serves you right for waiting. Your wife waited for you here for ages yesterday."

Li Xiangqian was taken aback.

"Last night?"

"Otherwise what?"

Sister Sun pulled the strap of her handbag up over her shoulder.

"She was there when I got off work. She was standing alone under the eaves at the entrance of the reading room. It was raining so hard, and I tried to persuade her to leave, but she wouldn't."

Li Xiangqian opened his mouth.

Are you kidding me?

"I don't believe it!"

Li Xiangqian tilted his head back, looking completely confident.

"Hey, why would I lie to you?"

Li Xiangqian looked at Sister Sun.

"I don't believe you. What time do you get off work?"

"At six o'clock, I glanced at the clock as I left."

six o'clock.

What time did he get back? It was completely dark when the meeting ended. He and Du Lili walked back with the tarpaulin over their heads, so it must have been at least eight o'clock.

Two hours.

It rained so hard yesterday.

Li Xiangqian stroked his chin, appearing deep in thought.

That's not right!

My leg isn't broken yet.

That's not how Mr. Lu Yao wrote it, is it?

Seeing that Li Xiangqian remained stubborn and unyielding, Sister Sun felt quite sorry for Runye.

"Ha. Men."

After saying that, he adjusted his bag, turned around, and walked towards the gate of the courtyard.

Li Xiangqian snapped out of his daze and saw that Sister Sun had already stormed off. Just as he was about to call her back, a sudden screeching of brakes sounded at the gate of the courtyard.

Runye made a sharp turn, and the car sped right into the courtyard of the cultural center.

"Something came up at school today, so I was a little late."

Runye braced her hands on the handlebars, her chest rising and falling slightly, sweat plastering her hair to her cheeks, and streaks of sweat covering her neck.

Li Xiangqian looked at her.

Runye was somewhat puzzled by the look she was being given.

"What are you dawdling for? Get in the car."

"Why are you riding so fast when you're not in a hurry?"

After Li Xiangqian finished speaking, he got into the back seat, and the car slowly moved out of the cultural center.

"Is your school that busy? Don't you even have time to change a bandage?"

Li Xiangqian, sitting in the back, glanced at the gauze on Runye's arm. The gauze was still bandaged last night and had turned slightly yellow from being soaked in sweat.

"It's summer now, the temperature is high, and bacteria multiply quickly. If you don't change the clothes in time, you'll get an infection and inflammation."

"Wound infections are generally caused by Staphylococcus aureus..."

Why are you talking so much today?

Li Xiangqian: "Uh..."