Ordinary World: Starting with a divorce from Tian Runye

Li Xiangqian raised his head.

"no."

Du Lili immediately responded.

"Dad, don't believe him. He's got a lot of tricks up his sleeve; he's definitely up to something."

Du Zhengxian coughed lightly twice.

"Shut up. Comrade Xiang Qian is smart enough, do I need you to remind me?"

He turned to look at Li Xiangqian, his tone softening.

"Comrade Xiangqian, you are also a member of the cultural center. Could you offer some suggestions?"

"I think Teacher Zhao's approach is quite good."

Du Zhengxian rolled his eyes at him.

This perfunctory attitude shouldn't be too obvious.

"Comrade Xiangqian, this reception is very important. Secretary Miao of the Prefectural Committee accompanied us throughout. Our Cultural Center is an important organizational department of the former Xixian County, and we must have our own voice."

Du Zhengxian stared at him.

"Explain your thought process."

Li Xiangqian glanced at Du Zhengxian and slowly spoke.

"Teacher Zhao's performance was indeed good. However, the elements she presented could be adjusted."

"How do I adjust it?"

"Learning from Dazhai in agriculture is a good achievement, but that's an achievement for the county, and it has no direct connection to Old Gao himself. Old Gao is an old revolutionary who carried a gun and fought in battles. He must have left behind many stories in Yuanxi. The old man is revisiting his old haunts, so it's inevitable that he will reminisce about the past."

"I think we could collect some of Gao Lao's revolutionary stories from the Yuanxi period and put them on display in the form of text and paintings."

Du Zhengxian's eyes lit up instantly after hearing this.

Yes.

Who can resist the proud and ambitious self of yesteryear?

Old Gao specifically requested to see his old comrades-in-arms during this trip, showing he's a sentimental person. He might not be interested in the data from the "Learn from Dazhai in Agriculture" campaign, but how could he not be moved by the stories of his guerrilla warfare on this very land thirty years ago?

Wonderful.

Du Zhengxian slammed his hand on the table.

"Young people are so quick-witted! Comrade Xiangqian's suggestion is excellent!"

Du Zhengxian began to excitedly make plans.

"I will report this proposal to Director Ma after I finish this meeting."

……

at the same time.

The meeting room of the county revolutionary committee was filled with smoke.

The long conference table was filled with people on both sides. Miao Kai sat in the very center, with an enamel mug and a pack of cigarettes in front of him. He leaned back slightly in his chair, a smile on his face.

On the left is Feng Shih-kuan, and on the right, in order, are Ma Guo-xiong, Li Deng-yun, Tian Fu-jun, and Zhang You-zhi. A circle of attendees sat in the back row; these were the heads of various groups from the Higher Education Office.

Miao Kai looked around and spoke.

"Today's meeting is a working meeting about receiving Elder Gao, and it is also a standing committee meeting of the Yuanxi County Revolutionary Committee. Under the leadership of Comrade Shikuan, Yuanxi County has achieved many good results in the past. However, the work is never finished, and new challenges will always arise. This work of receiving Elder Gao is a new test for the leadership of the Yuanxi County Revolutionary Committee."

He smiled.

"Today I've only brought my ears here, wanting to hear what the comrades from Yuanxi County have to say."

This morning, when Miao Kai arrived in Yuanxi, he met with Feng Shikuan again. The two discussed everything that needed to be discussed. Feng Shikuan proposed the plan first, while Miao Kai observed from the side.

If no one objects, everyone will be happy. If someone objects, Miao Kai will simply treat the plan as none of his business, merely Feng Shikuan's personal idea. Feng Shikuan is also prepared to willingly accept Secretary Miao's criticism and corrections.

Feng Shih-kuan picked up the red and blue pencils on the table, drew two lines on a piece of white paper in front of him, and began to speak.

"Comrades, although the revolutionary and production situation in our Yuanxi County is very good, there are still shortcomings in our work. For example, we haven't shown enough concern for the lives of these veteran revolutionary comrades. Taking advantage of Elder Gao's inspection tour of the county, we must thoroughly change this situation."

He paused for a moment and glanced at the people present.

"My suggestion is that we gather these veterans in the county first, change their clothes, and arrange their food and lodging. Old Wu, you can handle this with the civil affairs department."

Wu Kejian, sitting in the back row, quickly answered.

"We will definitely get this done."

He then took out his notebook and wrote down Director Feng's instructions.

Feng Shikuan then subtly mentioned several other arrangements. For example, going to each commune in advance to investigate the current situation of these veteran comrades and resolve any issues that needed to be addressed before the symposium. Another example was arranging for a comrade from the county revolutionary committee to sit with the participants at the symposium and keep abreast of the situation.

These words were spoken in a grand and dignified manner, but everyone present could understand what they meant.

After Feng Shih-kuan finished speaking, he turned to look at Miao Kai.

"Please give us instructions, Secretary Miao."

Miao Kai touched his hair and looked around with a smile.

"Haha, as I said, I only brought my ears with me today. Let's let the Standing Committee members speak first. In short, Elder Gao is a highly respected senior leader, and we must ensure that he leaves this trip to his hometown happy and satisfied."

After Miao Kai finished speaking, the conference room remained silent for a long time.

This silence carried an unsettling undertone.

It was right to let Feng Shih-kuan make the suggestions first. It was also right to hold the county standing committee meeting ahead of schedule. Miao Kai leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling, thinking to himself.

Feng Shih-kuan continued to draw lines on the white paper with red and blue pencils, the pencil tips creating fine grooves on the paper.

Li Dengyun lowered his head, intently picking at his fingernails.

For some reason, Zhang Youzhi's face turned bright red, and he turned his head to face the map of Yuanxi County on the wall.

Ma Guoxiong attached a cigarette to the burning end of another cigarette butt.

Tian Fujun rested his elbows on the table, his hands tightly crossed, and a knot formed between his eyebrows.

The members of the reception office in the back row all kept their heads down, and none of them dared to make a sound.

The silence lasted for a long time.

Suddenly, someone in the back row sneezed, which broke the deathly silence and startled several people.

The person who sneezed quickly covered their mouth and shrank their neck.

"I'd like to share my thoughts."

Tian Fujun's voice broke the silence.

He loosened his crossed hands, glanced at Miao Kai, and then looked at Feng Shikuan.

"Of course we must do our best to receive Elder Gao when he returns to his hometown this time."

He paused for a moment.

"As for the symposium of veterans that Gao Lao is convening, I understand that he is conducting research and doing his work. He wants to understand the real situation."

Tian Fujun's voice wasn't loud, but every word he uttered was delivered with force.

"Our blatant falsification and deception is not only a mistake, but a crime."

It was as if the air had been sucked out of the conference room.

Zhang Youzhi immediately turned his flushed face away.

"I completely agree with Comrade Tian Fujun's views."

Feng Shih-kuan's face also flushed red. But he tried to remain calm, put the red and blue pencils on the table, and turned to look at Li Dengyun and Ma Guoxiong.

What are your opinions?

Ma Guoxiong stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and opened his mouth.

"The achievements of Yuanxi County in the past are obvious to all. The county has indeed neglected the living conditions of the veteran comrades, but this is not a big problem. I agree with Director Feng's view that we should not magnify small problems into big problems. That would be irresponsible to the comrades of the Yuanxi County Revolutionary Committee in the past."

He glanced at Miao Kai.

"As Secretary Miao just said, this is a test for us. I think the test is to discover and solve problems, not to magnify them."

After listening, Miao Kai nodded slightly twice.

Feng Shih-kuan's flushed face had also improved somewhat.

As soon as Ma Guoxiong finished speaking, before Li Dengyun could even open his mouth, Tian Fujun had already taken over.

"This isn't exaggerating the problem. It's about being realistic."

Tian Fujun's gaze was not on Ma Guoxiong, but on the table.

"If avoiding problems could solve them, then that would be a denial of the work done by our comrades in the county."

Feng Shih-kuan's face froze again.

He didn't speak, but turned his gaze to Li Dengyun.