Ordinary World: Starting with a divorce from Tian Runye

Everyone looked up at the same time.

"The curator called a meeting with the staff of the creative studio," Sister Sun added, "in the administrative office."

Sister Sun said that and then turned and left.

There was a two-second silence in the studio.

Li Xiangqian stood up from his chair, stretched, and glanced at Xiao Zhao and Lao Yang.

Xiao Zhao and Lao Yang slowly got up from their chairs.

These two are usually the most enthusiastic in meetings, but today they were both slow.

Li Xiangqian was the first to leave the studio.

Business office.

Two long tables had been pushed together to form a makeshift conference table. The atmosphere was somber.

Du Zhengxian had already sat down at the table with his teacup in his hand.

Li Xiangqian also sat down at the table, and Du Lili sat down next to him.

Xiao Zhao and Lao Yang stepped into the business room one after the other, paused for a moment, then each brought a chair and sat down on either side of the conference table.

Du Zhengxian put on a stern face, thought for a while, and organized his thoughts before speaking.

"Today's meeting was convened on short notice. The main purpose is to summarize the work done in the last meeting with the Higher Education Office."

No one spoke in the office.

Du Zhengxian continued.

"The overall work done during Gao Lao's inspection of Yuanxi was quite good. The Gao Lao Office has basically completed its tasks."

Everyone present understood.

"Basically completed" means "not completed." If it were truly completed, Du Zhengxian would definitely say "perfectly completed."

Du Zhengxian took a sip of tea.

"Of course, there are also areas where we could have done better."

His voice became a little flatter.

"For example, the exhibit only showed Gao Lao's past revolutionary stories, without showing the current revolutionary development and changes in our Yuanxi County. The leaders of the prefecture and county were dissatisfied. This made our cultural center deeply reflect on its own problems."

After Du Zhengxian finished speaking, he looked around. Of course, he couldn't reveal the real reason; he could only offer the excuse that the content being presented was inappropriate or incomplete.

Upon hearing this, everyone frowned. Du Zhengxian's words were quite serious. Generally, saying "basically satisfied" meant "dissatisfied," but to say "dissatisfied" directly meant "extremely dissatisfied." And it was a profound self-criticism.

No wonder Director Du was summoned three times.

The crowd remained silent.

Du Zhengxian continued speaking.

"Yes. Personally, I think our cultural center is doing a pretty good job overall."

His tone softened.

"My suggestion is to conduct a thorough self-examination, and let only a few individuals do so. We can't condemn everyone because of one example."

After saying that, he hugged the enamel mug and looked at everyone's reactions.

"Then I'll take responsibility. I was the one who came up with the idea."

Li Xiangqian spoke first. Xiao Zhao and Lao Yang both looked at Li Xiangqian immediately. Du Lili also turned her head away.

Comrade Xiangqian is still too young. Does he really think a deep self-criticism will get him out of this? Just look at Director Du's face; this is a serious matter! The county and prefectural leaders have spoken, and it's obvious they're looking for someone to take the blame!

Xiao Zhao and Lao Yang exchanged a glance.

Du Lili became somewhat agitated and slammed her hand on the table, about to speak, but was silenced by a look from Du Zhengxian.

Du Zhengxian was already cursing under his breath.

That Li Xiangqian! I can't stop him! I'm trying to help you, and you're still jumping into the fire like a little puppy?

"dad……"

Du Lili said urgently.

Du Zhengxian quickly spoke first, interrupting Du Lili.

"Oh, Comrade Xiangqian."

"This idea came about through discussion. I remember it was Comrade Zhao who suggested that exhibition format. Isn't that Comrade Zhao?"

Du Zhengxian looked at Xiao Zhao.

Xiao Zhao suddenly raised his head, his face flushed red, and nodded.

Li Xiangqian knew the whole story and the gravity of the matter. So what if Miao Kai lost face? At worst, he'd be fired and could just go home and relax. Xiao Zhao and Lao Yang were different; they both depended on this job for their livelihood.

"Director, I was the one who came up with the idea, and I was the one who collected the revolutionary stories. I bear the greatest responsibility."

When Du Zhengxian saw that Li Xiangqian looked like he was going to take all the blame, his face instantly turned ugly. He was screaming in his heart, "Have some decency and shut up! Li Dengyun and Tian Fujun are standing behind you. If they decide to push you out, why am I even holding this meeting?"

"This is not Li Xiangqian's responsibility alone."

Du Lili finally couldn't hold back any longer and stood up.

"I was involved too. Everyone was involved. This is unfair to Li Xiangqian."

Du Zhengxian's head began to throb with pain.

This meeting is going way off track! He originally planned to quietly bury the pot under the table, but now Li Xiangqian is going to carry all the pots away, and Du Lili is going to smash the pots so everyone can share them.

Du Zhengxian suppressed his temper.

"I've already said, we can't condemn everyone just because of one mistake."

He glanced at Du Lili.

"This is irresponsible towards the work of other comrades."

Du Zhengxian turned to look at Xiao Zhao.

"Xiao Zhao, why don't you share your thoughts first?"

Xiao Zhao stammered for a long time.

"I... curator... I don't have any opinion."

He lowered his head.

"I will follow the arrangements."

Du Zhengxian paused for a moment, then looked at Lao Yang.

"Comrade Yang Shulin, and what about you?"

Old Yang's fingers tapped on the table.

"I think... I think I'm older..."

"oops!"

Du Zhengxian interrupted impatiently.

"This is a meeting! Not the time to respect the elderly and care for the young!"

Old Yang was speechless, his face turning red. He moved his lips but didn't continue speaking.

Silence fell over the office again.

Du Zhengxian held his teacup, looked at the people in front of him at the table, paused for a while, and then took a deep breath.

"How about this?"

Du Zhengxian cleared his throat.

"Our cultural center has always emphasized democracy in its work."

As he spoke, he reached for a piece of paper on Du Lili's desk next to him, and tore it into several pieces with a ripping sound.

"Everyone writes down their name and hands it to me. I will make a decision based on the number of votes."

After saying that, he pushed the few small pieces of paper to the middle of the table and took a few dip pens from the pen holder and placed them next to him.

Du Zhengxian had his own ideas. In the end, all these names would end up in his hands; he could choose whoever he wanted, thus absolving himself of responsibility, appearing democratic, and saving face for everyone. After all, they wouldn't discuss this privately, and even if they did, they wouldn't believe him.

Du Lili suddenly reached out and grabbed a piece of paper from the middle of the table.

Du Zhengxian was taken aback.

"Why are you getting involved? This is the creative team's business."

"I participated in the entire process."

Du Lili crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"Why can't I write?"

Du Zhengxian had no choice but to give up.

Li Xiangqian was the first to pick up a dip pen, bend down and scribbled three words on the paper, folded it up, and pushed it to the middle of the table.

Du Zhengxian frowned.

He knew what was written on it without even opening it.

Du Lili was the second to write. After she finished writing, she folded the note into a small triangle and gently pushed it to the center of the table.

After quite a while, Xiao Zhao and Lao Yang finally handed in theirs.

Du Zhengxian collected the four slips of paper one by one in front of him.

"Alright."

His voice was a little dry.

"That concludes today's meeting. Everyone, return to your posts."

The meeting ended in silence. Everyone returned to their desks, deep in thought, and the cultural center was utterly silent.

……