Ordinary World: Starting with a divorce from Tian Runye

The next morning, Li Xiangqian changed into a faded shirt and went out into the courtyard of the former Xixian County Transportation Department.

In the courtyard of the former Xixian County Transportation Department, several Jiefang brand trucks were parked crookedly against the wall, their paint worn and mottled by the yellow soil.

A transistor radio sat on the windowsill of the gatehouse in the corner of the courtyard, playing Qinqiang opera. The mournful singing mixed with the smell of diesel fuel permeated the entire courtyard.

When Li Xiangqian pushed open the wooden door of the transportation department's office, the team leader, Lao Hou, was squatting behind the desk, brewing strong, black brick tea in an enamel mug, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth.

"Old Hou, I want to talk to you about something."

Old Hou looked up and saw that it was Li Xiangqian; his eyes flickered noticeably.

He received a call from Li Dengyun yesterday. Li Dengyun's exact words on the phone were: "Xiangqian hasn't been feeling well lately. Don't schedule him to drive. Let him rest for a while."

Li Dengyun was the deputy director of the county revolutionary committee. Although the transportation department was not under his direct jurisdiction, in Yuanxi County, a place as small as a palm, a deputy director's greeting carried almost the same weight as issuing a notice.

Old Hou put down his enamel mug and forced a kind smile: "Xiangqian, what's the matter?"

"I want to hand over the car and stop driving it."

Old Hou was somewhat prepared, but he still feigned surprise: "Not opening? I heard from Director Li that you weren't feeling well?"

"Yes, I'm not feeling well and want to rest for a while."

Upon hearing Li Xiangqian's affirmative answer, Lao Hou immediately stood up and grinned.

"OK! OK! OK!"

As he spoke, Lao Hou handed him a cigarette.

As a health enthusiast, Li Xiangqian usually avoids tobacco, a potent carcinogen, but he politely accepted it nonetheless.

"Xiangqian, you didn't let our men in the transportation department down. You've got skills."

Old Hou patted Li Xiangqian on the shoulder excitedly and breathed a long sigh of relief.

"Old Hou, you've got some skills? What do you mean?"

Li Xiangqian looked at Lao Hou, who was beaming with excitement, with a bewildered expression.

"Hey, come on, what are you hiding from me? Last night Runye even borrowed eggs from my wife, saying she wanted to cook them for you. Okay, Xiangqian."

Old Hou slapped Li Xiangqian directly on the chest and winked at him.

"Leave her out for a while, and when you come back, she'll be longing for you and want to crawl into your arms. How about that? Listen to your brother, right?" Old Hou continued with considerable pride.

Ever since Li Xiangqian married this woman from the Tian family, she has completely controlled him, not even allowing him to sleep on the kang (a heated brick bed). Li Xiangqian is not one to hide his emotions; he used to be a lively young man, but after marriage, he often sits alone in the driver's seat, lost in thought.

As Li Xiangqian's superior, Lao Hou naturally had to find a way to help this son of an official.

A while ago, I deliberately sent Li Xiangqian to Beijing on a mission, and told him not to rush back, but to stay in a guesthouse in Beijing for a few days and let his wife relax.

Li Xiangqian did indeed do as he was told, staying in the capital for a full week before returning to Yuanxi. But the result was not as Lao Hou had expected.

Runye didn't snuggle into Li Xiangqian's arms and remained as indifferent as ever. Li Xiangqian was greatly disappointed. Taking advantage of his drunkenness, he started to snuggle into Runye's arms, only to be slapped by her.

According to the original plot, Li Xiangqian should kneel down to apologize, then continue to drink heavily, then drive his car into a ditch in the middle of the night, lose both legs, and finally set up a shoe repair stall on the street, becoming a typical example of overcoming physical disability.

But Li Xiangqian clearly wouldn't agree to that now.

"Hmm, yes... it is a bit strange."

Li Xiangqian smiled helplessly and stroked his chin. He had taken the initiative to propose the divorce, but Tian Runye said she wasn't considering it for the time being. He didn't know what the problem was.

"Hey, what's so strange about that? Women are meant to be left out in the cold. How can you keep letting them poop on your neck all the time?"

"You should rest for now and stay home to discipline your wife."

"Your salary will be paid as usual. You can come back whenever you want. Don't worry about the car; I'll arrange for someone to cover for you."

Li Xiangqian: "Will salaries still be paid?"

Old Hou: "Go ahead and do it! Just focus on... taking care of your health."

Li Xiangqian blinked.

Paid extended leave?

What was the significance of this in Yuanxi County in 1978? In his previous life in Guangzhou, it was called "early retirement with a formal employment contract," the highest level that even a landlord wouldn't dare to dream of.

"Okay, I'm leaving then."

Li Xiangqian turned and left, his movements very decisive.

Old Hou watched Li Xiangqian's figure disappear through the gate, a wide grin spreading across his face. He turned and called into the inner room, "Old Hao! Come here for a second."

Master Hao emerged from the adjacent repair shop, his hands covered in machine oil and a black mark on his face: "What happened?"

"Don't drive forward anymore, connect his line."

"Not operating anymore?" Master Hao was taken aback.

"The car on the kang (heated brick bed) has just been driven on; there's no time to drive this car."

"I know, I know."

Master Hao understood immediately and readily agreed.

……

The former Xixian Supply and Marketing Cooperative was the busiest place in the county, basically like a city CBD.

A single-story brick house stood with a faded wooden sign hanging at the entrance. Behind the counter, shelves were sparsely stocked with daily necessities: thermos flasks, enamel basins, corduroy fabric, a few pairs of canvas shoes, and a row of glass jars containing brown sugar cubes and hard candies. Further inside was the grocery section, selling bulk liquor, soy sauce, vinegar, coarse salt, and various grains.

The peak hours at the supply and marketing cooperative are from nine to eleven in the morning, and there are always seven or eight people queuing in front of the counter.

After leaving the transportation department, Li Xiangqian went straight to the supply and marketing cooperative. When he entered the cooperative, he was holding a piece of paper torn from his exercise book. On it, a line of words was written in pen: tofu skin, ginger, Sichuan peppercorns, eggs, red dates, and goji berries.

The handwriting was neat and tidy, and it was even numbered.

Saleswoman Sister Zhang was knitting a sweater behind the counter when she looked up.

Hey, isn't this Li Dengyun's son?

My father was the deputy director of the county revolutionary committee, and I was also a driver in the county transportation department. I was really lucky.

Sister Zhang worked at the supply and marketing cooperative for twelve years, and she knew exactly what each household in Yuanxi County bought.

Li Dengyun's family never used to buy things from the supply and marketing cooperative; Liu Zhiying would always bring them back from the county hospital canteen.

Li Xiangqian, needless to say, is a long-distance driver who visits the supply and marketing cooperative a handful of times a year, and every time he does, he buys cigarettes and alcohol, doing so efficiently.

Today is something new.

"Xiangqian? What do you want to buy?"

Li Xiangqian handed over the paper.

When Sister Zhang took a look, her face immediately contorted into a walnut shape.

"Tofu skin, ginger, Sichuan peppercorns... is this for cooking?"

"Um."

How many eggs do you want?

Ten.

"Ten!" Sister Zhang's voice rose half an octave. In those days, eggs were a precious commodity. People usually bought them in groups of three or five. Buying ten at once was unusual, especially not during holidays or festivals.

"Red dates, goji berries..." Sister Zhang stopped reading, looked up, and scanned Li Xiangqian from head to toe.

"Xiangqian, what are you buying red dates and goji berries for? Who are you giving them to to nourish their body?"

"For myself. To make soup."

"You, by yourself?" Sister Zhang's lips curled downwards instantly. "A grown man stewing red dates and goji berries to nourish himself?"

"Is there a problem?"

Sister Zhang looked around and lowered her voice to ask, "Xiangqian, tell me the truth, is it Runye... um?"

"What?"

"I know, the first three months are the most important, and we need to keep it a secret. You're not an outsider, are you? I'm the kind of person who keeps quiet," Sister Zhang said, tapping her fingertips on the glass cabinet.

Are you selling or not?

Li Xiangqian was speechless for a moment, and became somewhat impatient.

"Sell it, I'll get it for you."

After saying that, she turned around and went to the shelf to get something. Another woman was listening intently nearby. While Sister Zhang was getting something, the two of them quickly huddled together.

"Are you really pregnant?"

"Yes, otherwise, who would eat all this red dates and goji berries?"

"I've heard that this young couple has always been at odds?"

"Hey, do you know what happened? This morning, Sister Liu from the Transportation Department's family compound came over, and we chatted for a long time. She said that Runye went to her house last night to borrow eggs, saying that she wanted to cook them for Xiangqian."

"Things that happen on the kang (heated brick bed) are decided by the person on the kang. Judging from the situation, she's probably pregnant..."

……

The two whispered to each other in front of Li Xiangqian.