Ordinary World: Starting with a divorce from Tian Runye

Li Xiangqian sighed inwardly again.

Dad, is there something wrong with your mouth? Can't you think before you speak?

Tian Fujun, who was listening nearby, also felt somewhat embarrassed. He glanced at Feng Shikuan, received a pleading look from Feng Shikuan, and stepped forward.

"Comrade Dengyun."

Tian Fujun's voice was not loud, but steady.

"Xiangqian is right. Haste makes waste. You're rushing to Huangyuan now, all flustered and looking like a guilty thief."

He paused for a moment and looked at Feng Shih-kuan beside him.

"Director Feng and I will both call the prefectural committee to clarify this matter and will definitely give Xiang Qian justice."

Upon hearing this, Feng Shih-kuan quickly nodded in agreement.

"Yes, yes, yes. Comrade Dengyun, don't worry."

He paused for a moment, thought for a while, and then suddenly spoke.

"By the way. Old Du told me that Secretary Bai Yuan even praised Xiang Qian's recitation lyrics. That's genuine talent. He definitely got into the cultural center based on real ability."

After hearing this, Li Dengyun's anger subsided slightly.

Suddenly, I remembered that such an incident had indeed happened.

Li Dengyun turned to look at Du Zhengxian.

"Yes, Secretary Bai Yuan told me that himself. Old Du was also there, right, Old Du?"

Du Zhengxian nodded vigorously.

"Yes, yes, yes! When Secretary Miao heard this, he nodded repeatedly."

Li Dengyun snorted, his expression softening slightly.

Li Xiangqian watched this scene from the side and chuckled to himself.

This father is really protective of his son.

They become incredibly stupid whenever they involve themselves.

Just moments before, he was angrily shouting, "The people from the prefectural committee are up to no good!" But in just a few words, he was fed back by "Secretary Bai Yuan praising the recitation."

No wonder he was willing to give up his position as the top official of Yuanxi County for Li Xiangqian in the original novel.

Li Xiangqian struck while the iron was hot.

"Dad, Uncle Fujun is right. If we rush to Huangyuan like this, it will only make us look like we're doing something wrong."

"It's just an article. Qi Wenyuan, who wrote the commentary in the supplement, I refuted him so well at the literary discussion last time. Director Ma was there then, you can ask him."

Upon hearing this, Du Zhengxian immediately raised his arm.

"I was there too! Comrade Xiang Qian really did leave Qi Wenyuan speechless, unable to utter a single word."

Li Xiangqian mentally gave Lao Du a thumbs up.

Director Du's cooperation was spot on.

He then took over the conversation.

"I'll write an article about it and publish it in 'Huangyuan Literature' someday, so he'll lose face too. This is just like kids arguing, you really take it so seriously?"

Li Dengyun was provoked by these words and had already restrained his fiery temper.

He tucked both hands into his pockets and snorted heavily through his nose.

Why should I argue with him?

His tone already carried a hint of disdain.

"He's just a stinking intellectual who only knows how to quote from classical texts. Ten years ago, he would have had to obediently go to work in the fields."

Seeing this, Li Xiangqian breathed a long sigh of relief: "That's right, getting angry with this kind of person just lowers your own status."

After saying that, he turned his head and smiled apologetically at Feng Shih-kuan.

"Director Feng, I'll take my dad home first. My dad... my dad really did drink a bit too much."

Feng Shih-kuan immediately understood and deliberately raised his voice.

"Comrade Dengyun has indeed had too much to drink! Xiangqian, quickly help your father back to rest!"

Li Dengyun looked up at the office building and saw several heads hanging in the windows, looking in his direction. He immediately blushed and realized that he had indeed lost his composure.

Li Dengyun didn't say anything, but he and Li Xiangqian pushed the cart out of the county revolutionary committee's courtyard and headed towards the revolutionary committee's family quarters.

Feng Shikuan and Tian Fujun stood in the courtyard, watching the father and son walk further and further away.

Feng Shih-kuan couldn't help but murmur a sigh.

"This kid of Li Dengyun's is really mature beyond his years. How come I never noticed before?"

As soon as he said it, he suddenly remembered that Tian Fujun was standing next to him, and abruptly stopped talking.

The two men exchanged a glance, their faces quickly reverting to the formal expressions befitting county leaders.

Feng Shih-kuan cleared his throat and waved to Du Cheng-hsien.

"Old Du, go back to the cultural center first. I'll talk to you another day."

Du Zhengxian felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly said goodbye to Feng Shikuan and Tian Fujun.

Du Zhengxian rode his bicycle out of the county revolutionary committee's courtyard.

Feng Shih-kuan and Tian Fu-jun entered the office building one after the other.

……

The family quarters of the County Revolutionary Committee.

High-ranking leaders like Li Dengyun all lived in detached brick houses with courtyards, and inside the courtyard grew a crooked jujube tree. The jujubes weren't ripe yet, and the tree was covered with green ones.

Li Xiangqian propped up his heavy lathe under the jujube tree at the entrance of the courtyard.

Upon entering the living room, Li Dengyun had already plopped down on the sofa. He pulled a cigarette from his pocket, struck a match, and lit it.

The smoke slowly dissipated around his head.

Li Xiangqian went to the kitchen, found a clean tea mug, poured half a mug of water from the thermos, and handed it to Li Dengyun.

Li Dengyun took the jar, deliberately avoiding looking at Li Xiangqian.

He took a sip of water.

"...I thought about it the whole way back."

His voice was muffled.

"You're right. I acted impulsively."

Li Xiangqian sat down on the rattan chair opposite him.

"Oh, parents always have such loving hearts. I understand."

Li Dengyun pondered his son's words.

Something feels off, but I can't quite put my finger on it.

Li Dengyun took another sip of water.

"Isn't that your fault? You should have chosen to go to the cultural center from the beginning. Why did you go to the transportation department? You've just attracted so much criticism for no reason."

Li Xiangqian nodded vigorously.

"Yes, yes, yes. It's definitely your son's fault."

Seeing that he was so good at admitting his mistake, Li Dengyun's anger and embarrassment subsided a bit.

He sighed.

"It's also the fault of that girl from the Tian family. If you had given me a big, healthy grandson sooner, I would have come back to hold my grandson sooner and wouldn't have bothered with all this troublesome stuff."

When Li Xiangqian saw that Li Dengyun was actually thinking about retiring, he was so frightened that he quickly reminded him.

"Hey, what are you saying! You're at the prime of your life, you can't give up now. Your career is about to take off, so hang in there."

Li Dengyun shoved the teacup onto the coffee table and rolled his eyes.

"Are you trying to push your father to improve?"

"Director Feng is about to be transferred to the Huangyuan Prefectural Committee. The position of Director of the Yuanxi County Revolutionary Committee will then be vacant. You must seize this opportunity."

Li Dengyun paused for a moment, then looked at Li Xiangqian with surprise.

Then, like a deflated balloon, he slumped back into the sofa, his tone slightly sarcastic.

"Ha. If you have that kind of energy, you should go home and try to please your wife."

He took a drag of his cigarette.

"Feng Shih-kuan is gone, but Tian Fu-jun is still ahead of me. You should hurry up and try to get some benefits from him, and try to build some connections."

Li Xiangqian quickly waved his hand.

"Don't mention it. You're my own father. We're blood relatives, even if we're not related by blood."

Li Dengyun's tone softened slightly. He crossed his legs.

"Good to know."

"Don't worry. Miao Kai is too busy trying to transfer Uncle Fujun away from Yuanxidu. He won't let Uncle Fujun take over Director Feng's position."

Li Dengyun exclaimed "Huh?", sat up straight again, and stared at Li Xiangqian.

"You silly boy, haven't you always thought highly of that stubborn mule Tian Fujun?"

Li Xiang went forward and joined the group.

"Dad, Uncle Fujun is a long-term investment, while you are a short-term investment. Uncle Fujun will have to wait until next year."

He paused for a moment.

"Let me tell you, this is the rising period of your career. You must remain steadfast and maintain a high degree of political sensitivity."

Li Dengyun frowned, slightly displeased.

"Do you need to teach me?"

Then he snorted again.

"Comrade Hu Zhengwen of the Prefectural Committee has always thought highly of Tian Fujun. The two of them even went to the provincial level for study together last year. Comrade Hu Zhengwen is in charge of the organization of the region, and he has a lot of influence in the Prefectural Committee."

"Tian Fujun was already wronged once when he was the second-in-command in Yuanxi. What's wrong with that? Now that Feng Shikuan is gone, are they going to drive Tian Fujun away too?"

Li Xiangqian gave a wry smile.

"Hey. Anyway, Uncle Fu's good fortune won't come until next year. Listen to me, no matter what happens, you must maintain your political composure."

Li Dengyun clicked his tongue.

"You silly boy, why do you talk like a fortune teller?"

Li Xiangqian knew that revealing the original plot was basically useless, so he could only offer a simple analysis.

"Dad, Miao Kai has been deeply involved in Huangyuan for many years. Zhang Shengmin from the province is Miao Kai's fellow townsman, and Wu Bin also has a long-standing relationship with Miao Kai. In Huangyuan, Miao Kai can almost single-handedly make decisions on many personnel transfers."

Li Xiangqian thought for a moment and then asked.

"Did you hold a standing committee meeting last time to discuss receiving Elder Gao? Did Miao Kai attend?"

Li Dengyun was stunned for a moment.

How did you know?

Li Xiangqian didn't respond to that question, but continued to ask.

"Did Uncle Fujun criticize Director Feng's arrangements regarding the reception of Elder Gao at the Standing Committee meeting?"

Li Dengyun's mouth opened slightly.

Is this son a spy? How does he know everything?

Li Xiangqian continued.

"This reception of Elder Gao caused Miao Kai to lose face so much. Miao Kai is a man who holds grudges. Can he tolerate Uncle Fujun becoming the top official of Yuanxi County?"

After listening, Li Dengyun pondered it in his heart for a while.

You know what, what that kid said makes some sense.

He nodded, then suddenly frowned and spoke.

"I criticized it too."

Li Xiangqian.

"ha?"

He stared at Li Dengyun.

That's not right, that's not how Lu Yao wrote it.

My beloved father, why are you adding this drama to your life?

Seeing Li Xiangqian's shocked expression, Li Dengyun scratched his head in distress.

"Didn't you tell me to speak up for Tian Fujun?"

Li Xiangqian: "..."