Ordinary World: Starting with a divorce from Tian Runye

Wang Manyin was still the same as always. His hair was a mess, his collar was open, and a bulging snakeskin bag was slung over his shoulder, filled with scarce supplies that he had somehow acquired.

"Brother Xiangqian, this is good stuff."

Wang Manyin patted the snakeskin bag on his shoulder, tilted his head, and gestured for Li Xiangqian to follow him to a safe place.

"Come on, this is good stuff."

Li Xiangqian didn't move.

"What good stuff? What about the soy sauce I asked you to get for me last time? And the oyster sauce too?"

Wang Manyin's smile froze. He switched the snakeskin bag to his shoulder and used one hand to scratch the back of his head.

"Xiangqian, I'm not kidding you. I asked a brother in Huangyuan about this soy sauce and that oyster sauce, and hey, as soon as I mentioned it, he knew everything."

"And then?" Li Xiangqian asked.

"My brother here has a tough life. He was selling nylon socks at Huangyuan Station and got caught by the police." Wang Manyin clicked his tongue. "I'll think of something else. Give me some time, and I'll look for other ways."

Li Xiangqian glanced at Wang Manyin, wondering how much of what he said was true.

"What's in here?"

Li Xiangqian pointed to the snakeskin bag on Wang Manyin's shoulder.

Wang Manyin looked around, lowered his voice, and whispered in Li Xiangqian's ear.

"Nylon stockings!"

"Forehead……"

"Selling nylon socks in the sweltering heat, you really are a business genius."

Li Xiangqian couldn't help but complain.

"These are genuine goods from the South. Buy a pair for Runye; I guarantee she'll love them."

Wang Manyin did not hesitate to promote his in-demand goods.

"Hey, what do you mean by nylon stockings? The supply and marketing cooperative has plenty."

"My prices are cheaper than those at the supply and marketing cooperative."

"I don't want socks. You can't get what I want anyway, and you're not very capable."

Wang Manyin was taken aback by these words.

"Xiangqian, I don't like hearing that. I've been running around these villages for years, what can't I get you? It's just that what you want is too out of the way. You ask me for a plastic sandal, nylon socks, or polyester fabric, and I'll get it for you in the blink of an eye."

"You probably can't get your hands on that cream either."

What kind of oil?

"It's nothing. It's none of your business."

Li Xiangqian waved his hand and turned to leave.

Wang Manyin's eyes darted around twice, and he caught up with Li Xiangqian in three quick steps, grabbing his arm.

"Wait a minute, Xiangqian. I just heard you. Cream, right?"

He chuckled, pulled Li Xiangqian to the steps at the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative, lowered his voice, and looked around.

"I've actually seen cream before."

Li Xiangqian looked at him.

Where have you seen me before?

Wang Manyin put the snakeskin bag on the ground and took half a step closer to Li Xiangqian.

"Outside the North Gate of Huangyuan City, there's an old man named Ma who makes pastries. He used to be a pastry chef at a state-owned food factory in the provincial capital. A few years ago, he returned to Huangyuan and started making peach crisps and fried dough twists at home, which he sells at the market. Last year, I brought him some peanuts, and I saw them in his kitchen. There was a tin bucket full of white peanuts, and they smelled like milk. Old Ma said that was butter."

As Wang Manyin spoke, he gestured with his hand to indicate the size of the tin bucket.

"But this stuff is expensive. Several times more expensive than lard."

He looked at Li Xiangqian, his eyes gleaming.

"What do you need this cream for?"

"Never mind that. Money isn't an issue. I'm in a hurry; I need it tomorrow. Can you get it?"

Upon hearing the words "money is not a problem," Wang Manyin's eyes immediately lit up. Last time he sold chickens, he made a profit of one yuan and fifty cents. Such a good customer was probably hard to find in the entire Yuanxi area.

Butter is a rare commodity; those who resell it can probably earn just as much as those who sell chicken.

He patted his chest.

"No problem. I'll go to Huangyuan this afternoon. The coal trucks that deliver coal to Huangyuan pass through Shuangshui Village every day; I'll just flag them down at the intersection. I'll spend the night in Huangyuan, go find Lao Ma first thing in the morning, and I guarantee I'll get it back for you before noon."

Li Xiangqian watched him pat his chest confidently. He did the same thing last time.

"Brother Manyin, don't stand me up this time."

"Xiangqian, what are you saying? When have I ever lied to you?"

Li Xiangqian glanced at him, then swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

Forget it.

"Tomorrow at noon. At the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative."

"no problem!"

Wang Manyin patted the dust off the snakeskin bag, tossed it over his shoulder, and hummed an albatross as he walked away.

……

Yuanxi County, Cultural Center.

Du Lili appeared at the door of the studio early in the morning.

Li Xiangqian had barely sat down, his bottom not even warmed up in the chair, when he saw Du Lili carrying a stack of manuscript papers, striding straight towards him.

"I've reorganized yesterday's content; please take a look and see if there are any problems."

Li Xiangqian took the manuscript paper, glanced at it, and saw that it was covered with Du Lili's handwriting, written and revised, rewritten and revised, and scribbled like a ghost's scribbles.

"Your handwriting is too messy, I can't read it."

"What part don't you understand? I'll read it to you."

Du Lili moved a chair and sat down next to Li Xiangqian, then began to read line by line.

"Article 1 of the Literary Society's charter states that anyone from the former Xixian County and surrounding areas who loves literature..."

"Ahem!"

Du Zhengxian coughed twice and stood at the door with the jar in his hand.

Article Two of the Literary Society's Charter...

"Cough cough cough!"

Du Zhengxian coughed three times and stood at the door with the jar in his hand.

"Dad, come inside and say what you need to say. Don't just stand there sending signals."

Du Zhengxian's face flushed red and then turned pale, his hands gripping the handle of the jar tightly.

"Lili".

Du Zhengxian cleared his throat.

"Come here for a moment."

Du Lili looked up at him.

"Dad, wait a minute, I was just discussing the literary club with Xiangqian."

"Come here first."

Du Zhengxian's tone left no room for negotiation.

Du Lili pouted and stood up, slamming the manuscript paper onto Li Xiangqian's desk.

"You keep an eye on it for now, I'll be back in a bit."

Li Xiangqian couldn't wait for her to leave, so he immediately leaned back in his chair and put his feet on the table.

Du Zhengxian brought Du Lili into his office.

The door was closed, but not completely. Du Zhengxian went back and closed the door tightly.

"Dad, what are you doing all mysteriously?"

Du Zhengxian sat down behind his desk, picked up his enamel mug, blew on the tea foam, and took a sip of the cold tea.

"Lili, have you been busy lately?"

"It's alright. There's a lot going on in the literary society."

"Yes, being busy is a good thing."

Du Zhengxian paused for a moment.

"However, no matter how busy you are at work, you must pay attention to your approach. Maintain appropriate distance with colleagues and be mindful of the impact."

Du Lili tilted her head to look at him.

"Dad, what exactly are you trying to say?"

Du Zhengxian's lips twitched; after going around in circles for so long, he finally couldn't get any further.

"Lili, did you know that you and Huiliang are engaged?"

Du Lili's expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.

"I know. What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? You're asking me what's wrong?"

Du Zhengxian lowered his voice and glanced towards the door.

"You're always glued to Comrade Xiang Qian, acting like you're inseparable. What do the other comrades in the facility think?"

"We are discussing serious matters concerning the literary society."

"Even serious matters need to be considered in terms of impact. You're a woman..."

"dad."

Du Lili interrupted Du Zhengxian.

"I am free."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was very clear.

"Let alone engagement. Even if we get married, I'll still be free."

Upon hearing this, Du Zhengxian nearly dropped the enamel mug in his hand.

"What did you say?"

"I say I am free. I have the right to choose who to talk to, who to befriend, and who to discuss literature with."

Du Lili looked at him.

"Dad, do you think that once a person gets married, they can't have their own inner world?"

Du Zhengxian was stunned by what she said. He opened his mouth, but it took him a long time to organize his thoughts.

"The inner world is the inner world, but you need to distinguish between them. Spending all day like this with a male colleague at work..."

"We didn't pull any strings."

"I saw it with my own eyes yesterday when you were grabbing someone's arm in the studio!"

Du Lili fell silent.

Seeing that his daughter had finally stopped talking back, Du Zhengxian quickly seized the opportunity to strike while the iron was hot.

"Lili, your dad is being honest with you today. I acknowledge Li Xiangqian's character. He's the son of the deputy director of the county revolutionary committee, and he's not a bad person. But can he compare to Huiliang?"

He counted on his fingers.

"Hui Liang is a young official in Huangyuan County, with a promising future. His father is also the deputy director of the Huangyuan County Party Committee's Personnel Bureau. You won't find another family like him in the entire Huangyuan area. Li Dengyun is indeed a deputy director, but he can't compare to Hui Liang's family."

After listening, Du Lili rolled her eyes. So what you're saying is all about family background.

"Dad, put your calculations aside. In my eyes, they are all good people."

She looked up.

"But I enjoy talking to Xiangqian. We have common topics; we both love literature."

"Don't you and Huiliang have anything in common?"

"Huiliang is a good person. But Huiliang doesn't understand literature."

Du Zhengxian stared wide-eyed.

"Renwu Huiliang is a proper college student. Does he not understand literature? Does a truck driver understand it?"

"Dad, you don't understand, this has nothing to do with education."

"Do you think I, a county cultural center director for eight years, know more than you?"

Du Lili paused for a moment, as if considering her words.

"Dad, to be honest with you, I do have some feelings for Xiang Qian. But right now, it's just feelings. I can't really explain it. It's just... I want to be with him."

When Du Zhengxian heard the words "feeling something," he felt like the sky had fallen.

He slammed the enamel mug onto the table, splashing tea and tea foam all over the table.

"Oh dear, Lily!"

Du Zhengxian lowered his voice, got up and checked the office door again, then tightened the doorknob.

"Comrade Xiangqian is already married!"

"Dad, you don't understand."

Du Lili's voice was calm.

"What? I don't understand?"

"Runye didn't love Xiangqian at all. Their marriage was a political tragedy."

Du Zhengxian became anxious.

"Stop reading tragedies and comedies, and stop reading those trashy books. All I know is that Runye drives Xiangqian to and from get off work every day, and they're incredibly close! Everyone in the office has seen it! You need to control yourself! There are so many people in the office, haven't you seen Sister Sun from the business office giving you the sideways glance? What if Huiliang finds out?"

"I don't care."

Du Lili stood up.

I need to ask for leave this afternoon.

Du Zhengxian was taken aback.

Why are you asking for leave?

"I have two tickets for the movie 'The Great River Flows On.' I want to go see the movie with Xiang Qian."

Du Zhengxian felt a rush of blood to the back of his head, and his temples throbbed.

"Don't even think about it! Do you want to drive your dad to his death?"

"I don't care."

After Du Lili finished speaking, she opened the door and walked out.

Du Zhengxian chased after him to the door, opened his mouth to speak, but Xiao Zhao happened to be passing by in the yard carrying an enamel mug. Du Zhengxian swallowed his words back.

"The sky is falling..."

Du Zhengxian closed the door and leaned against it, the veins on his forehead throbbing.