Ordinary World: Starting with a divorce from Tian Runye

Nine o'clock in the evening.

The family compound of the Ministry of Transport.

A 28-inch bicycle slowly drove in. Du Lili stopped the car at the gate, and Li Xiangqian got out of the back seat, his head hanging low.

"Alright, be careful on your way back."

After Li Xiangqian finished speaking, he walked towards the entrance of the building.

At this hour, most of the three-story buildings in the residential compound were dark. People go to bed early these days; nine o'clock is already considered late at night for people in Yuanxi County. The stairwells were dark, and the sound of footsteps on the concrete steps echoed back and forth in the empty stairwells.

Li Xiangqian took two steps forward and looked back.

He saw Du Lili still straddling the old-fashioned bicycle, smiling at him.

Li Xiangqian waved his hand.

"Go back quickly."

"Make sure you get up early tomorrow. I'll pick you up."

"understood."

Du Lili then started pedaling her bicycle, rang the bell twice, and disappeared into the night.

Li Xiangqian dragged his tired body upstairs.

I spent the whole day at the Yuanxi Hotel. The cultural center's booth was located on the second floor of the Huangyuan Hotel, on the way from the conference room to the restaurant.

The location was decided after a long discussion between Du Zhengxian and Ma Guoxiong.

Xiao Zhao spent the entire day painting at his easel, and the scene of Gao Fengzi leading his team to intercept the convoy was only approved after three attempts. Old Yang wrote explanatory text beside him, his calligraphy neat and tidy. Du Lili and Li Xiangqian were in charge of setting up the exhibition: hanging paintings, nailing frames, arranging flower pots, and adjusting the lighting. Du Zhengxian paced back and forth like a supervisor, re-nailing any frame that was even a centimeter crooked.

Ma Guoxiong also came to inspect the area once, standing in front of the display board for two minutes and nodding several times.

"You've put in the effort. Well done."

Upon hearing this, Du Zhengxian was so happy he almost took off on the spot.

Li Xiangqian was so exhausted that he couldn't straighten his back.

Upon reaching the third floor and exiting the stairwell, Li Xiangqian paused for a moment.

The house was dark inside.

Has Runye not returned yet? Or is she already asleep?

He went closer to look. The door was open. It was a dark, gaping hole; he couldn't see anything.

Li Xiangqian groped his way into the living room in the dark, felt around on the wall for a while, found the light cord, and gently tugged it.

As soon as the lights were turned on, a large, living person suddenly appeared in the living room.

Li Xiangqian cried out in fright and pressed himself tightly against the wall.

Runye was sitting in a rattan chair.

He sat ramrod straight. His eyes were wide open, staring straight ahead.

A perfectly healthy person was sitting quietly in the dark, without turning on the light or making a sound.

"You're sitting here all alone, without turning on the lights or making a sound. Who are you trying to scare to death?"

Li Xiangqian complained loudly, "What's wrong with Runye? Why does she always like to play this 'appearing and disappearing without a trace' trick lately?"

Runye didn't say anything.

His eyes were fixed straight ahead, as if he had been frozen in place.

"I'm asking you a question!"

Runye touched her nose with the back of her hand and then spoke.

"Did Lily bring you back?"

Li Xiangqian nodded.

"Otherwise what? It's so dark outside, it's not safe for a young man like me to walk down the street."

Runye did not reply.

After a few seconds of silence, she pointed towards the red lacquered square table.

"The meat is back; it's on the table."

Li Xiangqian walked to the table, picked up the piece of meat, and examined it. The toilet paper was soaked with oil and had turned yellowish. The meat was also dark in color, clearly having been sitting for a long time, and its surface was slightly sticky.

"Tsk, you actually bought it?"

"But I've already eaten."

Li Xiangqian put the meat back on the table as he spoke.

Runye sat in the rattan chair, so angry she felt like vomiting blood.

What do you mean by "really bought"? Didn't you say you wanted to buy it?

I skipped lunch to go to the meat processing plant to buy this piece of meat. I also skipped dinner and came back. I sat in this wicker chair from dawn till dusk.

You're so easygoing. You just eat first.

Runye sniffed. Her eyes were slightly red.

"I didn't eat."

The voice was cold.

Li Xiangqian looked at Runye suspiciously and smacked his lips.

"Tsk. Doesn't the school have a cafeteria? Are you stupid? Didn't you know to grab something to tide you over?"

Upon hearing this, Runye seemed to be set ablaze, and she jumped up from the rattan chair, throwing her handbag onto the chair.

"I'm stupid. I am stupid. How can I be as quick-witted as you?"

After saying that, she stormed back to the inner room. Without turning on the light, she sat like a statue on the edge of her small bed in the dark.

Li Xiangqian, carrying the meat, glanced into the inner room.

It was pitch black, and a dark figure sat upright on the edge of the bed, as if he had been acupunctured.

Did this woman eat explosives?

He sighed and took the meat to the kitchen.

The kitchen light came on.

Then came a clatter of pots and pans. The tap gushed water, the cleaver slammed against the cutting board, and an eggshell cracked open, releasing its yolk into a bowl. A wok sat on the stove, hot oil sizzled, and minced meat was added and stir-fried, its aroma immediately filling the air.

Not long after, Li Xiangqian came out of the kitchen carrying a large enamel bowl, blowing hot air from his mouth.

With a clatter, the bowl was placed on the red lacquered square table.

"It's burning me!"

Li Xiangqian pulled his earlobes with both hands, which were burning hot, and took a deep breath.

"It's on the table. Come and eat."

There was no movement from the inner room; Runye was as if she were dead.

"It's just eating a little later. Why are you so angry?"

Li Xiangqian muttered a complaint under his breath, then turned and went to the kitchen to boil water.

The inner room.

Runye sat on the edge of the bed and sniffed.

The aroma of the broth wafted from the living room, seeping into my nostrils and lingering there.

Runye hadn't eaten all day. She was starving. The anger in her heart felt like a stone slab pressing on her chest, making it hard to breathe.

Damn, this broth smells amazing.

My stomach rumbled loudly, much to my dismay.

Runye sniffed and tried to stay still.

The sound of water being poured into an enamel basin came from the kitchen. Then came footsteps, walking from the kitchen towards the bathroom.

The bathroom door slammed shut.

Runye's body swayed slightly.

She turned her head and glanced into the living room.

It was confirmed that Li Xiangqian had indeed gone into the bathroom.

Runye got up and tiptoed to the table.

The soup in the large enamel bowl was clear and bright, with eggs and lean meat clinging to the bottom, and a few bright red goji berries floating on top, soaked in the broth. A white porcelain spoon rested on the rim of the bowl.

Runye leaned closer and took a sniff.

Damn it, where did Li Xiangqian learn his skills? He's so particular about making meat soup; it looks so delicious.

She picked up the spoon, scooped up a mouthful, and put it in her mouth.

It was piping hot. Fresh. The minced meat was tender and smooth, the egg was soft and fluffy, and the soup base was clear and sweet. One bite and my whole stomach felt relaxed and comfortable.

She scooped up another spoonful.

Another bite.

Another bite.

The sound of running water came from the bathroom. Runye quickened her pace.

After Li Xiangqian finished showering and changed into clean clothes, he glanced into the enamel bowl on the table.

The bowl was spotless. The soup was all gone, the meat was all gone, and not a single goji berry was left. There wasn't a drop of broth left at the bottom of the bowl.

"Wow. It's really clean. I don't even need to wash the dishes."

Runye was standing by the table, holding a bowl in her hand, when she suddenly froze.

"I was thinking you wouldn't be able to finish it, and you could leave me a bite as a midnight snack."

Li Xiangqian chuckled.

Runye pursed her lips and didn't say anything. She picked up the bowl, turned around, and went to the kitchen.

Li Xiangqian watched her retreating figure and muttered to himself.

"Why are you still angry? Haven't you eaten enough?"

He shook his head and went back into the inner room.

"Women on the Loess Plateau have an enormous appetite."

……