Ordinary World: Starting with a divorce from Tian Runye

The sun had completely sunk behind the western mountains. A faint crimson glow remained on the horizon. In the streets of Yuanxi County, some households had already turned on their lights, while others had brought out low stools to cool off.

Runye had no interest in reading these things.

She pedaled hard on the pedals.

Runye stopped the car at the entrance of the county revolutionary committee compound.

The courtyard was deserted. Only the cicadas on the crooked trees by the gate were still chirping loudly.

The Revolutionary Committee compound has been sealed off by two large iron gates.

A large, dark padlock hung on the door.

Runye was taken aback.

He then stretched his head out and pressed his face against the crack in the iron gate to peek inside.

Apart from three gray jeeps, the compound was empty.

She recognized the three jeeps.

At the end of last year, on the day she married Li Xiangqian, Li Dengyun and his wife were overjoyed and borrowed all three of the county's only jeeps to use as wedding cars.

That day, Li Xiangqian was wearing a black Zhongshan suit with a large red flower pinned to his chest. He was so excited that he grinned from ear to ear, handing out cigarettes and candy to everyone he met.

The wedding was held at the former west Hotel.

All the county officials came.

Father Tian Futang was so excited he was at a loss for words. In Shuangshui Village, Tian Futang was the undisputed number one leader. But once they arrived at the Yuanxi Hotel and sat at the main table, anyone they randomly picked was either a high-ranking county official or a commune director.

Tian Futang had never seen such a grand scene before. He would often lean close to Runye's ear and excitedly tell her.

"Girl, you come from such a good family. Such a good family."

"They didn't look down on us."

"Look how impressive this scene is!"

Xu Guoqiang's family also excitedly gathered around to chat with Tian Futang. Tian Futang couldn't keep up, so he laughed and nodded repeatedly, greeting them all.

Everyone at the wedding was satisfied. Everyone was happy.

Besides moistening the leaves.

Runye was still unwilling to give up and peered into the office building through the crack in the door.

The windows of the office building were sealed shut, making it pitch black and no one could be seen.

Over at the gatehouse, there was a palm-leaf fan and an enamel mug on a small wooden table, but no one was there.

Runye stood outside the door, unsure of what to do.

Feeling anxious and panicked, he slammed his fist hard against the iron gate.

The iron gate rattled a few times.

There was no movement in the yard.

Runye had no choice but to get back on her bicycle and ride towards the Transportation Department's residential compound.

When Runye arrived at the Transportation Department's residential compound, the sky had already turned a deep, inky blue.

In the courtyard, Aunt Liu and several other women from the residential compound sat on low stools, chatting while fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans. The small wooden stools were arranged in a circle, and the sound of the fans swaying intermittently mingled with the aroma of food wafting from the windows of each household, creating a scene in the summer night.

Runye pushed the car to the entrance of the carport and stopped it.

"Aunt Liu."

She called out.

Several women looked up.

"Is Xiangqian's wife back?"

"Has Xiangqian returned?"

Runye didn't bother with formalities and asked directly.

Aunt Liu shook her palm-leaf fan.

"Oh? I really didn't know. This afternoon, Aunt Zhang and I went to the supply and marketing cooperative."

Aunt Zhang, who was standing to the side, nodded in agreement.

"I went straight into the kitchen as soon as I got back. I didn't notice."

Aunt Zhang turned her head and asked another woman.

"Hey Zhao family, have you seen Xiangqian come back?"

The Zhao family shook their heads.

"I don't know. It's incredibly hot today. I haven't gone out much."

Runye's heart sank.

Unable to get an answer, she lost interest in saying more, turned around, parked her bike in the shed, picked up the cloth bag from the handlebars, and went upstairs.

The women behind her watched her retreating figure and waved their palm-leaf fans.

"They bring large and small bags every day. Among the family compound, the Xiang family eats the most expensive food."

"That's true. It's a couple working together. If you're so capable, why don't you go and get a government job?"

"Hey. We're not that lucky."

Aunt Zhang clicked her tongue.

"But women have to have babies sooner or later. Hey, Aunt Liu, didn't you say Xiangqian's wife is pregnant? Why are you still running around like this?"

Aunt Liu curled her lip.

"I heard it from Sister Zhang at the supply and marketing cooperative. The young couple are all lovey-dovey now, didn't you see? When has Runye ever asked Xiangqian about anything before?"

Several women nodded in unison.

"That's true."

"After that kiss, everything else came together."

……

Runye hurried up to the third floor.

As soon as I stepped out of the building, I saw that the light in my room was on.

Runye felt somewhat relieved.

She paused for two seconds in the hallway and took a deep breath.

I wonder what Li Xiangqian is like now.

She lowered her pace and tiptoed to her front door, then pushed it open.

Upon entering the living room, one could see that Li Xiangqian had already taken a shower and changed into a white tank top. He was lying motionless on a wicker chair in the living room, a palm-leaf fan covering his face.

"When...when did you get back?"

Runye asked cautiously.

"I've been back for a while now."

Li Xiangqian's tone was flat, his voice drifting weakly from under the palm-leaf fan.

Runye's heart sank even further.

She carefully placed the cloth bag she was carrying on the red lacquered square table. She asked, feigning casualness.

"I heard from Lili that you went to the county revolutionary committee this afternoon?"

A single word floated faintly from beneath the palm-leaf fan.

"Um."

Runye felt a chill run down her spine.

Li Xiangqian's current state is clearly not right.

She hesitated for a moment, then spoke.

"Hmm... what did the county revolutionary committee say?"

Li Xiangqian sighed and took the palm-leaf fan off his face.

"Why."

Li Xiangqian looked at his roof with a troubled expression, feeling somewhat guilty and resentful.

"I'd better talk less in the future."

Runye was taken aback.

This doesn't sound like something Li Xiangqian would say.

Li Xiangqian is usually a talkative person. He's always complaining, grumbling, and rambling on and on.

Li Xiangqian looked dejected and put the palm-leaf fan back over his face.

Runye felt a pang of heartache seeing him like this.

They assumed Li Xiangqian had gone to the county revolutionary committee to demand an explanation, but instead he was criticized and reprimanded by the county leaders.

"Xiangqian, don't take it to heart..."

Runye gently advised.

"I bought your favorite food. Take a look."

As she spoke, she untied the cloth bag and revealed the contents.

Inside was a small handful of tender green beans, two cucumbers, three tomatoes, a small piece of pork, and a few green peppers. There was also a small bag of peanuts at the bottom.

Li Xiangqian didn't look at Runye, nor at the bag on the table.

The palm-leaf fan covered his face completely.

"Sigh. I don't have an appetite. You eat it yourself."

Upon hearing this, Runye felt even more panicked.

No matter the circumstances, Li Xiangqian never skimps on food.

Seeing Li Xiangqian slumped in the rattan chair, Runye suddenly felt a pang of anxiety.

She stood beside the table, her hands clasped together.

"How can you not eat?"

She lowered her voice.

"I remember the egg and lean pork soup you made for me last time was pretty good. Shall I make you some?"

"No need for that. You can cook for yourself."

A muffled sound came from under the palm-leaf fan.

"I ate at my dad's this afternoon."

Runye paused for a moment.

"Did you go to the county revolutionary committee's residential compound?"