Ordinary World: Starting with a divorce from Tian Runye

Miao Kai looked up at Feng Shikuan.

Feng Shih-kuan looked at Ma Kuo-hsiung.

Ma Guoxiong looked at Du Zhengxian.

Du Zhengxian's face turned a deep purplish-red, and he was at a loss. He was at the end of the entire transmission chain; no one could look any further.

Feng Shih-kuan steeled himself and stepped forward, breaking the awkward atmosphere.

"Mr. Gao, Yuanxi County has indeed not shown enough care for its veteran comrades in the past. Our county revolutionary committee will strive to correct this in the future. On behalf of the Yuanxi County Revolutionary Committee, I assure you, Mr. Gao and Secretary Miao, that we will thoroughly implement and arrange for the well-being of our veteran comrades in their later years."

Miao Kai also stepped forward.

"Old Gao, I am the person in charge of the Huangyuan Prefectural Committee. This was also my oversight. I bear responsibility for inadequate supervision and failed to do my job properly."

He paused and looked around at the elderly people who were still wiping away tears.

"How about we lead everyone inside for dinner first?"

Old Gao snorted through his nose, his face grim.

Without saying anything more, he turned around and led the group of elderly people toward the restaurant.

"Xiangqian, I heard from Runye that you've started working at the cultural center. How's it going? Are you settling in?"

Tian Fujun slowed down and lagged behind. As he passed Li Xiangqian, he suddenly stopped and asked with a smile.

Hearing the voice, Li Xiangqian was somewhat surprised. He looked up and saw a burly man from Northwest China standing in front of him. Tian Fujun had a dark complexion, piercing eyes, and slightly prominent cheekbones. He didn't look like a high-ranking county leader, but rather like a production team leader.

"Oh, Uncle Fujun, I've been at the cultural center for a while now. Well, it's alright, the staff there are all quite easy to get along with."

As Li Xiangqian spoke, he smiled at Xiao Zhao and Lao Yang standing to the side.

Xiao Zhao immediately stood up straight, and Lao Yang also managed to squeeze out a smile from his bitter face.

"Hello, Director Tian!" the two said in unison.

Tian Fujun looked at the two of them and nodded slightly as a greeting. Then he raised his hand and pointed to the exhibits on both sides.

"Well done."

Tian Fujun nodded, turned around and walked towards the restaurant.

The restaurant was at the end of the corridor. Two waiters were already waiting at the door.

Inside the restaurant, several wooden screens enclosed a separate area in one corner, where three dining tables were set up. The group filed in, and various dishes and drinks were already laid out on the tables. Braised pork, stewed tofu, big plate chicken, poached meatballs, and cold vermicelli salad were all neatly arranged in plates, bowls, and chopsticks, with two bottles of Fenjiu liquor standing upright in the center.

The dozen or so elderly people were clearly flustered by the scene. Some had their hands behind their backs, others didn't know where to stand, their eyes darting around, and they didn't dare to reach out to pull out a chair.

Feng Shih-kuan resumed his role as a traffic policeman at the crossroads, bending over to lead the way, his arms pointing back and forth like road signs.

"Come, come, sit here. This way, please, senior comrades."

The group of elderly people had never seen the former head of Yuanxi County bow and scrape like that before. They looked at each other, and finally all looked at Old Gao.

Old Gao walked to the largest round table and stopped.

He glanced at the food and wine on the table, and his face darkened.

"Who authorized such an extravagant banquet?"

He turned his head to look at Miao Kai beside him.

"Before I came to Huangyuan, I had already visited several areas, and the farmers' lives are still very difficult."

"I told you guys back in Huangyuan not to do this. Keep the meals simple. Why are you still doing this?"

Miao Kai awkwardly rubbed his hands. The other county and prefectural leaders stood in front of the table, looking at each other, none of them daring to speak.

Feng Shih-kuan quickly stepped forward.

"This is all the county's responsibility. Secretary Miao and the regional leaders were unaware of it beforehand."

Old Gao waved his hand.

"Take all of this away. Just have some simple food instead."

Feng Shih-kuan immediately gave Ma Kuo-xiong a wink. Ma Kuo-xiong understood and hurriedly called over the waiters. Several waiters rushed in and quickly carried away the dishes and drinks on the table.

In an instant, the three dining tables, once laden with a dazzling array of items, became empty, leaving only a few condiment bottles and a stack of bowls and chopsticks.

Fortunately, the main dishes prepared in the kitchen were all local delicacies: steamed buns, hand-pulled noodles, and buckwheat noodles. These were originally intended as snacks after the banquet and were not very expensive. Ma Guoxiong, quick-witted, simply instructed the waiters to bring all of these items to the table.

Old Gao's complexion improved slightly.

He waved to the elderly people behind him.

"That's more like it. Steamed buns and big bowls of noodles are the proper food for us original Western Han people. Come, come, sit down."

The elderly people smiled and nodded, then took their seats. Once the initial awkwardness subsided, the table became lively.

Master Zhao picked up a bowl of noodles, scooped out two large spoonfuls of chili oil from the condiment bottle on the table, poured it into the white noodles, and stirred it. He kept talking.

"Hey brothers, do you remember that time when our unit improved our meals and ate noodles? Commander Gao complained that there was no chili oil. It was me and Liu Da Lai Zi who went to the field in the dark and pulled up two scallions."

Liu Dalaizi, leaning on his cane, sat down next to him and burst into laughter upon hearing this.

"How could I not remember? You don't know, this kid ate a few raw scallions on the way. Those scallions were so spicy that he couldn't walk anymore halfway there, saying he had heartburn and was squatting on the ground groaning. I carried him back."

Liu Da Laizi slammed his hand on the table.

"Hey, he just got back to the unit, and he's already jumping around like a baby. He's showing off two big green onions to Commander Gao like they're treasures. I was the one who picked those green onions, but he's taken all the credit."

Master Zhao quickly waved his hand.

"I wasn't pretending! That scallion really was spicy and potent. Commander Gao took a bite, and snot and tears were streaming down his face."

As Master Zhao spoke, he placed the noodles with the chili oil mixed in front of Old Gao.

Old Gao was laughing so hard he started slapping the table.

"Xiao Zhao, you son of a bitch! I've never eaten such spicy scallions in my life. After a bowl of noodles, my throat still feels like it's on fire."

After a few words, the whole place became lively. The old people chatted one after another, bringing up old stories from the past. They laughed heartily at the funny parts, fell silent for a while when they talked about sad parts, and then were amused by someone's words.

Miao Kai sat beside him, a smile on his face, and smiled along with him.

Li Dengyun, Tian Fujun, and others sat at another table with the prefectural committee leaders. The atmosphere wasn't as lively as at Gao Lao's table, but everyone was still eating.

The corridor outside the restaurant.

Several gunmen from the cultural center were squatting in the corner of the corridor eating dinner.

Xiao Zhao looked at the noodles and a few steamed buns on the enamel plate and started muttering to himself.

"It's better to write poetry. Poets are all sitting inside eating big meals, while painters can only squat here eating steamed buns, noodles, and pickled vegetables."

Qi Wenyuan, as an accompanying person, was also sitting in the restaurant, which Xiao Zhao could see clearly.

Old Yang squatted down beside him, slurping his noodles loudly, and made noises to remind him.

"The curator doesn't look well. Please be careful."

He gestured towards the restaurant. Du Zhengxian was also inside.

Xiao Zhao was surprised.

"Why is the curator unhappy? We did a great job, didn't we? Everyone was so moved they cried."

"Some people think it's bad."

Li Xiangqian slumped into a chair at the end of the corridor, his voice drifting over.

Xiao Zhao looked up at him.

"Who?"

"Whoever feels embarrassed, whoever feels uncomfortable."

After Li Xiangqian finished speaking, he stood up and patted his pants.

"Are you alright? If you're alright, I'll head out now."

Du Lili rushed over from the other end of the corridor in one stride.

"Li Xiangqian, where are you going again?"

"You've been busy for days already, and you still have to work overtime?"

Li Xiangqian glanced at her, somewhat puzzled.

"Weren't you eating inside? What's wrong? Didn't you like the food there?"

Du Lili glanced at Xiao Zhao and Lao Yang, who were squatting on the ground.

"What kind of feast? Just like you, it's steamed buns and noodles."

Xiao Zhao and Lao Yang looked at each other in bewilderment.

"No way! Such a grand affair, and all they're eating are steamed buns and noodles?"

Du Lili shrugged.

"Old Gao ordered all the prepared dishes to be removed. They only ate steamed buns and noodles."