Chapter 102: Managing Officials Take Their Posts

"Good, good, good. You have shown me a Siheyuan of mutual accommodation, love, and harmony. The Managing Official for the Middle Courtyard will be Yi Zhonghai. Now, let's begin with the Back Courtyard."

"Back Courtyard: Liu family, Wu family, Zhou family, Xu family, Na family..."

"Dad, you should go for it. In the Back Courtyard, only you are the most suitable," the eldest son of the Wu family whispered.

"Eh~ let's just quietly earn our money. It's better not to fight for this kind of attention-seeking business. A Managing Official is a thankless job that requires effort; it's better for us men to work overtime and earn more money, so your second and third brothers can marry wives sooner."

"That's right, Big Brother. Being a Managing Official will only drain our energy; it's better to earn money." Upon hearing that it was to earn money for them to get married, the second and third brothers were instantly excited.

The Wu family has five back-row rooms in the Back Courtyard and can be considered one of the few wealthy households in the Siheyuan. With four employees in the family, this is the reason they were able to afford the house.

However, it was precisely because of buying the house and the eldest son's marriage that the family's savings were mostly emptied. Fortunately, the two younger sons are not yet of age, so they can still save for a year or two.

"Right, we might as well do Lao Wu a favor and nominate him for election."

"Hmm, Lao San is right. Uncle Zhou is getting on in years, and Lao Xu spends most of his time in the countryside showing films. Only Lao Liu is the most suitable."

"Good." The four men nodded in tacit agreement.

"I think Lao Liu is more suitable," Lao Wu spoke up.

"That's true. If it weren't for Uncle Xu being away from the courtyard for long periods, you and Uncle Liu could have competed for it."

"Hahaha, Sanzi is right." Xu Fugui didn't care about this Managing Official position, but hearing the Wu family say this made him feel comfortable.

"That's settled then. The Back Courtyard Managing Official is Liu Haizhong. You three must handle the mediation of disputes among the Siheyuan residents well, convey the Street Office's documents and notices in a timely manner, and report to the Street Office if you cannot resolve them. Meeting adjourned." Before leaving, Director Wang nodded toward the Deaf Old Lady.

This meeting had already lasted for more than half an hour, and every household hadn't eaten yet. Moreover, they still had two more courtyards to visit, so they had to hurry.

Thus, the three giants of the Siheyuan were born. It was just like the original drama, but much more harmonious.

Liu Haizhong cupped his hands to Lao Wu in a showy manner. Liu Haizhong also knew in his heart that if Lao Wu had competed with him, it would have been hard to say who would have ended up with the title of Managing Official.

"I'm happy today. Mother of the children, fry two eggs for me to drink with my wine."

"Got it."

Clutching his tea mug, Liu Haizhong walked home with a swaggering, square-stepped gait.

"This Lao Liu, he finally realized his dream of becoming an official."

"Hahaha."

Zhang Ping'an just found it interesting. It wasn't like the backstabbing in the drama; this was quite good too. It's just that he didn't know how many years this harmonious Siheyuan could last.

At eight o'clock in the evening, Zhang Ping'an pedaled his tricycle to the Eighty-Eighth Courtyard.

"Master, it's me."

"Hmm, push the cart in. Ping'an, I have many books passed down through the family here. Put them all with you first, and we'll talk after the Public-Private Partnership."

"Done."

This was for the best. Keeping them with him would at least be secure. If they stayed here, they might be recorded in the files, and they might be destroyed during the ten-year special period.

Master had already tied up the medical books in categories, and Zhang Ping'an just had to move them onto the cart.

"Alright, that's about it. We must leave some to keep up appearances."

"Good."

The next evening, Zhang Ping'an returned and found everyone gathered in the Middle Courtyard in twos and threes again. Zhang Ping'an was a bit puzzled; didn't they just have a meeting yesterday? Why another one?

"Jiecheng, what's the situation?" Zhang Ping'an squeezed Yan Jiecheng to the side of the bench.

"It seems like Uncle Liu wanted to hold it. I don't know what he said to my dad."

"Oh, have some melon seeds."

"Thank you, Uncle Zhang."

"Hmm."

"Ahem, everyone is mostly here, right? There is only one matter today," Liu Haizhong said, taking the initiative.

"I have discussed it with Lao Yi and Lao Yan. Since the three of us are serving the Street Office and serving everyone..."

"If we are called Managing Official Liu, Managing Official Yi, and Managing Official Yan, it will inevitably feel distant and create a barrier. It would be better to call us 'Uncle'. This is both intimate and reflects our status."

"At the same time, based on our age, Lao Yi is First Uncle, I am Second Uncle, and Lao Yan is Third Uncle. What does everyone think?" Liu Haizhong was still regretting that he was younger than Yi Zhonghai and wasn't ranked first.

Yan Bugui was so embarrassed on the side that his toes were curling in his shoes. He was only in his early thirties, and it was very awkward to be called 'Uncle'. Although Yi Zhonghai didn't object, he didn't support it either, letting Liu Haizhong speak.

The crowd was quiet for a few seconds before it suddenly exploded.

"Uncle? This..."

"It's fine for the younger generation to call us that, but is it appropriate for us to call you that?"

"That's right." No one wanted to be a generation lower than others for no reason.

"Ahem, let me add something. Lao Liu just forgot to say that it's for the younger generation. For those of the same generation, everyone should call us as they always have. Isn't that right, Lao Liu?"

"Yes, yes, yes."

Liu Haizhong was worried about not having a way to step down. If everyone had opposed it just now, he would have lost face. A compromise like this was not unacceptable.

Just as Yan Bugui thought, taking a step back significantly increased everyone's acceptance, and the voices of opposition grew smaller.

"That's settled then. Meeting adjourned. Everyone go home and cook."

"This Lao Liu, he played a good hand of cards into a mess," Lao Jia said.

"Lao Jia, we've been neighbors with Lao Liu for so many years, don't you know his little thoughts?"

"That's true." Lao Jia shook his head and smiled, saying no more.

Back home, Liu Haizhong was in a bad mood and picked up a broom to beat his children as usual.

"Dad, you are now a Cadre in the Siheyuan, you must pay attention to your image," Liu Guangqi hurriedly stopped him.

Usually, Liu Guangqi wouldn't dare. Lao Liu used to hit him too, but ever since he started getting top grades in class, Lao Liu let him off, and Liu Guangtian became the main target for beatings.

"Hmm~ Guangqi, what you said makes sense." As soon as Lao Liu heard that he was a Cadre of the Siheyuan, he felt relieved. He threw the broom aside and walked into the room with his hands behind his back.

"Big Brother, thank you." Liu Guangtian, who had escaped a disaster, let out a long sigh of relief.

"It's nothing. You also need to study hard, and Dad won't hit you anymore. And you too, Guangfu."

"I understand, Big Brother."

Time flew by to mid-October; Zhang Ping'an moved the corn cobs in the courtyard into the Ear Room, preparing to return to his hometown to harvest rice.

"Zhang Ping'an, let me go with you," Wang Xiaoling said.

"No, you stay home and get some good rest. Haven't you had enough of snapping corn cobs?"

Zhang Ping'an had originally intended to harvest the corn cobs in the courtyard by himself, but Wang Xiaoling insisted on coming over to help; as a result, the two of them finished snapping them while playing around, and Wang Xiaoling was stung quite badly by the corn leaves, leaving quite a few scratches on her arms.

"Rice leaves are even more stinging than these corn leaves; I'll be back in three to five days at most."

Ever since Zhang Ping'an returned from Beijiang, Wang Xiaoling had become increasingly clingy toward him; sometimes he was afraid he wouldn't be able to hold back his urges, so he had to marry her as soon as possible next year, hehehe.

"Alright then."

"Mm, let's go, I'll walk you back."

The gate to Zhang Ping'an's courtyard was left wide open; he didn't want to give the group of women in the courtyard any chance to gossip.

"Master, I've finished snapping those corn cobs. Once I've ground them into flour, I'll pay Xiao Ling her wages; there's a share of her hard work in there."

"You rascal."

Wang Xiaoling lightly punched Zhang Ping'an, and Master and Mistress were already used to this.

The next day, Zhang Ping'an returned home, and returning with him were his third sister Zhang Xiaohua, his two nephews, and Daniu's family of three.

Except for Li Ze and Li Cheng, the nephews and nieces in the shop also went home to harvest rice; currently, only Si Jie, Qin Pandi, and Tan Cuicui were left.

However, this was only for this one time; once the Public-Private Partnership started, it would likely not be so easy to ask for leave to go home and farm.