Ordinary World: Starting with a divorce from Tian Runye

Miao Kai nodded.

"Old Gao is back this time to visit his hometown and revisit his old haunts."

Miao Kai paused for a moment.

"Old Gao is a veteran revolutionary. After leaving his hometown, he never had the chance to come back. Now that he is old, he wants to come back and take a look, and also do some research. Right now, Old Gao is conducting research in several counties in the south. Yuanxi County is Old Gao's hometown and also the key place for this research, so we can't be careless in our reception."

Feng Shih-kuan nodded.

"Secretary Miao, rest assured. I've already started preparing the reception plan."

"The County Revolutionary Committee has decided to establish an office to receive Elder Gao, headed by Deputy Director Ma Guoxiong. The office will be composed of personnel drawn from various departments of the county, and will include a reception group, a catering group, a liaison group, a transportation group, and a security group. This will ensure the smooth operation of the reception of Elder Gao."

Miao Kai nodded, expressing his approval of Feng Shikuan's work, and then tapped his fingers lightly twice on the table.

"Old Gao said he wants to see his old comrades-in-arms. There must still be quite a few of you old comrades from Yuanxi who followed Old Gao in the revolution, right?"

"Sixteen are still alive."

"How are these veterans doing now?"

Feng Shih-kuan paused for a moment.

"The quality varies. Some are alright. Some... are really difficult."

"How difficult is it?"

"Those who are in the most difficult situation can't even afford a cotton-padded coat for winter. There was an old man who received a new cotton-padded coat from the commune last year, but he couldn't bear to wear it. He kept it at the bottom of his trunk and was still wearing his old one with more than a dozen patches."

Miao Kai frowned.

Feng Shikuan glanced at Miao Kai's expression and then spoke.

"Secretary Miao, I have an idea. Why don't we gather these veteran comrades together in the county first, change their clothes into new ones, and arrange their food and lodging? Then, we can work with them one by one privately, asking them not to say anything inappropriate at the symposium. Just say that they are doing well and that the county has helped them solve any difficulties. If they really have any difficulties after the meeting, the county will address them one by one."

Miao Kai didn't say anything, but picked up the teacup, blew on the tea foam, and took a sip.

I tapped my fingers on the table for a while.

He knew this idea wasn't exactly respectable. But there was no time to lose; he couldn't let Old Gao see those veteran comrades sitting there weeping in their patched-up clothes. If that got back to the higher-ups, it wouldn't just be a loss of face for Miao Kai, but for the entire Huangyuan region.

"You take charge of this."

Miao Kai nodded.

"Prepare your clothes in advance, and make sure they look like they've been worn before, not fake. Be polite when you're doing your work, and don't make the older colleagues feel uncomfortable."

"Don't worry, Secretary Miao. I'll keep an eye on it myself."

Miao Kai stood up, walked around the desk, and went to Feng Shikuan.

"I have witnessed Yuan west's work over the past few years. However, we should not only focus on the big picture, but also pay attention to the details, especially the living conditions of some veteran revolutionaries. This is both a lesson and an experience."

Feng Shih-kuan stood up.

"Secretary Miao is right to reprimand me."

"It's not really a lesson learned, it's just like this..."

Miao Kai paused, then said thoughtfully, "We need to reach a consensus on the suggestions for receiving Elder Gao. It would be best to hold a meeting of the county standing committee, which I will attend. First and foremost, the comrades in the county need to reach a consensus on the work of receiving Elder Gao."

"Don't worry, Secretary Miao, I'll arrange it right away."

Miao Kai patted him on the shoulder and escorted Feng Shikuan to the door.

Feng Shih-kuan left the office building and walked along the corridor toward the main gate. The leaves of the two rows of old poplar trees were curled up by the afternoon sun, and cicadas were chirping loudly in the trees.

He wasn't walking fast.

Something is going through my mind.

Kaixian County Standing Committee?

Miao Kai proposed holding a meeting of the county standing committee, and he would attend in person. His meaning was clear: the plan to receive Elder Gao must be discussed at the county standing committee meeting. If the comrades at the meeting agreed, then Secretary Miao's plan was good. If the comrades in the county objected, then Feng Shikuan's plan was immature, and Miao Kai would then step forward to criticize and correct it.

Sigh, Secretary Miao must have some skills to have been able to govern Huangyuan for so many years.

Feng Shih-kuan sighed inwardly.

……

The news of receiving Elder Gao spread like wildfire throughout Yuanxi County within three days.

Inside the county revolutionary committee compound, everyone in every department was incredibly busy. The sign for the reception office was hung up, with Ma Guoxiong personally in charge. Five groups were set up: reception, catering, liaison, transportation, and security, drawing key personnel from each department.

The cultural center was the only one left unattended.

Du Zhengxian became anxious.

He went through the list of those to be received by the Higher People's Government Office three times, but the Cultural Center wasn't on it. All the departments, big and small, in the county were mobilized. Even Hu Defu, who made pork knuckle in Shigejie Commune, was pulled into two meetings, but the Cultural Center seemed to be an outsider.

That's so hurtful to my self-esteem.

How can this be allowed?

With Secretary Miao accompanying him throughout, what a tremendous opportunity for exposure! If you miss this chance, who knows when the next one will come?

Du Zhengxian summoned everyone to the business office for a meeting that very day.

Li Xiangqian, Lao Yang, Xiao Zhao, and Du Lili sat around a long table that had been pushed together in the office. Du Zhengxian closed the office door and adopted the posture of holding a standing committee meeting.

"Comrades, let's have an impromptu meeting today."

Du Zhengxian stood at the head of the table, holding an enamel mug, his expression serious.

"Everyone should have heard about the work of receiving Elder Gao. This is a top priority for Yuanxi County, and all departments must cooperate in its coordination."

He paused, glancing at everyone's faces.

Four faces, four expressions. Old Yang was expressionless, Xiao Zhao looked up curiously, Du Lili tilted her head to look at Li Xiangqian, and Li Xiangqian kept his head down, seemingly lost in thought.

"Now even the county revolutionary committee's canteen has been mobilized, and we, as respectable cultural workers, are just going to stand by and watch?"

Du Zhengxian slammed the enamel mug onto the table.

"I plan to draft a project plan for the cultural center to host Mr. Gao. I would like to hear your suggestions."

No one responded.

Du Zhengxian frowned, looking disappointed in Du Zhengxian.

"Then I'll call on someone. Comrade Yang Shulin, you go first."

Old Yang cleared his throat, and the wrinkles on his face twitched.

"I think we should showcase the changes in our Yuanxi County. The 'Learn from Dazhai in Agriculture' campaign is an advanced example from Yuanxi. We can compile a batch of advanced materials and give a systematic report to Elder Gao."

Du Zhengxian nodded, then shook his head.

"The direction is good. However, I heard that Elder Gao is here under the guise of returning home for inspection. It's inappropriate to bring materials to report on the work. I'm afraid it won't be approved by Director Ma of the Gao Office either."

Old Yang shut his mouth and looked down at the table.

Xiao Zhao raised his hand.

"Director, I think we can try a different approach. Instead of a report, let's have an exhibition. We can use a combination of paintings and text to showcase the advanced achievements of Yuanxi County in learning from Dazhai in agriculture. When people come home, they definitely want to see the changes in their hometown. Visiting an exhibition is not as formal as a report, but it still allows us to highlight our achievements."

Du Zhengxian's eyes lit up, and he looked at Xiao Zhao as if he were looking at a very intelligent person.

"Comrade Zhao Leli, this is a great idea!"

He was about to continue speaking when he caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye that Du Lili had moved her chair next to Li Xiangqian at some point and was speaking to him sideways. Li Xiangqian had his head down, and it was unclear whether he was listening or not.

Du Zhengxian's brow twitched, and he looked away.

"Comrade Xiangqian, do you have any suggestions?"