Ordinary World: Starting with a divorce from Tian Runye

The clock on the wall just pointed to 5:30.

The staff at the cultural center gradually left for the day. Old Wu was the first to lock the reading room door, then slowly walked out of the courtyard carrying his enamel mug. Old Yang packed up his materials, said goodbye to Li Xiangqian, and left as well. Little Zhao packed up his drawing board, slung his cloth bag over his shoulder, and glanced back at Li Xiangqian as he walked to the door.

"Aren't you leaving yet?"

"Waiting for the driver."

Xiao Zhao chuckled, waved, and left.

Li Xiangqian was left alone in the studio.

Li Xiangqian stood up from his chair, stretched, and strolled to the entrance of the cave dwelling.

The courtyard was empty. The leaves of the old locust tree rustled in the afternoon wind. Thick clouds hung over Yuanxi County, as if a rainstorm was about to break out that night.

Li Xiangqian turned and walked towards the business office.

The office door was still open. Du Lili was hunched over her desk, a pen in her hand, flipping through pages of manuscript paper, writing something with her head down.

Li Xiangqian leaned against the door frame and looked at her for two seconds.

This woman... she's got so much energy. She keeps pushing herself even after work.

Li Xiangqian muttered to himself, and was about to call her when a bicycle bell suddenly rang out from the courtyard gate.

Ring ring.

Li Xiangqian turned around.

Runye rode her bicycle into the yard.

She held the handlebars with one hand and pressed the other against a bulging cloth bag hanging from them. The bicycle wasn't going fast; the wheels rolled over a small pebble in the yard, causing Runye to sway slightly. The bicycle slowly glided to Li Xiangqian's side, and she placed one foot on the ground.

"Get in the car."

Li Xiangqian looked her up and down.

A faint smile seemed to linger at the corners of her lips. She wasn't the same person as the cold and aloof Runye from yesterday.

"You found money? You seem so happy."

Runye paused for a moment, then touched the corner of her mouth.

He then pursed his lips and put on a cold face.

"I'm leaving if you don't get in the car."

"Top, top, top".

Li Xiangqian hurriedly climbed into the back seat.

Runye straightened her back, pedaled her bicycle, and carried Li Xiangqian out of the cultural center's courtyard.

The poplar leaves on both sides of the street were blown back and forth by the wind, revealing the lighter color on the underside of the leaves. The clouds in the sky pressed lower and lower, and the wind was extremely cool. Compared to the scorching sun of the past few days, it was like the weather in two completely different counties.

Li Xiangqian sat in the back seat, his eyes glancing at the cloth bag on the handlebars.

The bag was bulging, and a section of green scallion leaf could be seen through the opening, with a hint of red date color showing underneath.

"Did one of the teachers in your office bring it back for you again?"

Runye paused for a moment while riding her bike.

They immediately realized what was happening.

"Yes...yes. Ms. Li. She was just going to the meat processing plant on business and brought it for me on her way."

Li Xiangqian did not respond.

Runye secretly glanced at the back seat and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that Li Xiangqian remained silent and did not ask any further questions.

After riding the bike for a while, Runye thought for a moment and coughed lightly.

"I have something to tell you."

"what?"

"I have something to tell you."

"What's up?"

Li Xiangqian stretched his neck and leaned closer to her side.

"You seem quite happy. Did you get things sorted out in Huangyuan?"

Runye's face immediately fell.

"It wasn't done."

After saying that, he suddenly pushed off with his foot, and the car sped up.

"Wait, that's not right."

Li Xiangqian was almost thrown off the back seat, but he quickly grabbed the crossbar behind the seat.

"Didn't Lili say yesterday that the situation in Huangyuan had been resolved? What happened? Is your school not releasing them?"

Runye remained silent, her feet kicking so hard they flew up.

Why does Du Lili tell Li Xiangqian everything?

Li Xiangqian sat in the back seat, puzzled.

That's not right. In the original story, the town's primary school didn't stop Runye from being transferred to Huangyuan. Besides, if the regional Communist Youth League committee wanted someone, would a county primary school dare to refuse?

"Is it your principal who's blocking things?"

Li Xiangqian continued asking questions from the back seat.

"Should I have my dad put in a good word for me?"

Runye paused for a moment.

"Need not."

"It's just a matter of a word," Li Xiangqian said warmly. "Your principal isn't some big shot."

Runye didn't reply, but pedaled even faster.

"Need not!"

Runye's voice suddenly rose an octave.

Li Xiangqian was stunned for a moment.

The car sped into the gate of the residential compound.

Runye braked the car, picked up the cloth bag, and walked towards the stairwell without looking back.

Li Xiangqian followed behind.

"Tell me, which step is the problem? If you're too shy to speak up, I'll go and say it for you."

Runye quickened her pace ahead.

We went up one floor.

"Anyway, your school will definitely have a way."

Runye quickened her pace again.

"If all else fails, I'll ask my mom to ask around. She knows a lot of people at the county hospital, and she'll eventually find some connections with your school."

Runye paused for a moment.

Li Xiangqian couldn't stop in time and luckily didn't hit her on the back.

Runye didn't turn around and continued walking uphill.

The two went up to the third floor one after the other. Runye pushed open the door and heavily placed the cloth bag on the red lacquered square table in the living room.

"Bang."

Li Xiangqian stood at the door.

Runye turned around and put her hands on her hips.

"Are you secretly hoping I'll go to Huangyuan?"

Li Xiangqian was stunned for a moment.

"what?"

"Judging from your attitude, you can't wait for me to leave."

"oops."

Li Xiangqian shrugged.

"It's like the sky is going to rain, or a mother is going to remarry; whether you leave or not is not up to me. I'm just thinking that if you're in a hurry to leave, I should hurry up and buy a bicycle. I need to be prepared in advance."

Runye frowned.

She sat down on the rattan chair angrily, turned her head away, and refused to look at Li Xiangqian.

"I'm not going to Huangyuan."

Why?

"For no reason."

After Runye finished speaking, she secretly glanced at Li Xiangqian.

Li Xiangqian's face showed only confusion, not surprise.

Runye felt something was off.

She looked away and stared at the tips of her shoes.

"I just can't let go of the students in my class."

"Forehead."

Li Xiangqian smacked his lips.

"You really are overflowing with maternal instincts."

Runye looked up abruptly after hearing this.

"Why do you say that too?"

"Who else says that?"

Runye covered her mouth with her hand.

"No...nobody."

"You're so annoying."

Runye gestured toward the cloth bag on the table, changing the subject.

"Chicken, red dates, and goji berries are all in there. Hurry up and get it ready."

Li Xiangqian's eyes lit up.

My mouth has been so bland these past few days. I've been craving this for so long.

"Did you really find some money?"

He walked to the table and took things out of the cloth bag.

A whole white chicken, wrapped in oil paper and then wrapped in straw paper. Unwrapping the straw paper, the chicken's skin was slightly yellowish, it wasn't large but firm, and the meat looked firm, clearly carefully selected.

A small bag of red dates, each one plump and glistening red.

A small packet of goji berries, wrapped in a newspaper.

There are also two scallions, a small piece of ginger, and a few peppercorns.

"It's not a holiday or anything, aren't you afraid people will misunderstand?"

Li Xiangqian looked at the table full of food and rubbed his hands together excitedly.

Runye crossed her arms over her chest.

"Li Xiangqian, why are you talking so much?"