My happy life in a courtyard house with triplets.

Chapter 318: Fighting for the Position of the First Uncle

Before they knew it, it was time for Zhang Lei and Ding Qiunan to return to Beijing.

Mr. and Mrs. Ding kept stuffing things into the package. Zhang Lei and Ding Qiunan tried to stop them, but Ding Qiunan finally said, "Mom and Dad, that's enough. We can't carry that much. You can keep these for yourselves."

Ding's mother smiled and said, "These aren't anything valuable, just some local specialties. You can share them with your family when you get back."

Zhang Lei looked at the enthusiastic mother-in-law, then at Ding Qiunan beside her, and silently picked up the package. These things weren't valuable, but they represented the goodwill of his parents-in-law.

Soon, the two boarded the train back to Beijing. Ding Qiunan looked at her parents who had come to see her off, feeling very reluctant to part with them.

Zhang Lei gently comforted her, "Qiu Nan, don't be sad. If you're really worried, we'll bring your parents to Beijing to stay for a while."

Ding Qiunan shook her head: "Forget it, they're used to living here. Let them come over after our baby is born."

Zhang Lei thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, on the other side, in a courtyard house, an election was being held.

The second uncle, Liu Haizhong, and the third uncle, Yan Fugui, looked at He Daqing sitting to the side with displeasure on their faces.

He Daqing, however, paid no attention to their expressions. He stood up, looked at everyone, and said with a smile, "Our courtyard's 'Grandpa' position has been vacant for too long. Although I, He Daqing, haven't known you all for long, you've all gotten to know who I am. Besides, I'm currently the head of the textile factory's canteen, and I believe I'm capable of being our courtyard's 'Grandpa'."

Liu Haizhong, standing to the side, immediately spoke up unhappily: "He Daqing, what makes you think you can take this position? In this courtyard, no matter how the position of the eldest uncle is rotated, it shouldn't be your turn, right? According to seniority, I am the second eldest uncle, Yan Fugui is the third eldest uncle, and it should be my turn to be the eldest uncle."

Yan Fugui also stood up: "Yeah, He Daqing, you're just thinking of yourself as a big shot right from the start. That's a bit presumptuous."

He Daqing said with a disdainful look: "Old Liu, Old Yan, I know what you're thinking. But the eldest uncle is different from the second and third uncles. He must have leadership in the courtyard. Besides, which of you two has ever been a leader? Although I'm just the canteen manager, not a big official, I'm still a small leader. Managing so many people in the canteen and managing this courtyard is a piece of cake."

Liu Haizhong's face flushed red with anger: "He Daqing, who haven't been a leader? I've been the second-in-command in this compound for so many years, managing things for so long, who doesn't know that?"

Yan Fugui stood next to Liu Haizhong and chimed in, "He Daqing, Second Uncle is right. You haven't been here long. Why don't you be the Third Uncle?"

He Daqing scoffed, "Since none of the three of us can convince the others, let's have a vote by the whole college. Whoever gets the most votes becomes the boss, how about that?"

Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui exchanged a glance and nodded to each other.

Soon, a cardboard box was placed on the table, and everyone in the courtyard received a slip of paper.

Everyone stared at the note, exchanging bewildered glances, unsure what to write. Someone asked directly, "What are we supposed to write on this piece of paper?"

Liu Haizhong snapped impatiently, "What do you mean, 'how to write'? Just write the name! Write whoever you want!"

Upon hearing this, several men in the crowd immediately objected: "What? Write my name? I don't even know how to read, what name am I supposed to write? Are you deliberately making things difficult for me?"

As soon as he said this, many people echoed his sentiments. In those days, few people were educated, and many wouldn't even know that a fallen carrying pole was the character "一" (one).

He Daqing quickly looked at everyone: "Alright, everyone, stop arguing. You don't need to write anything. If you choose me, write 'one'; if you choose Uncle Liu Haizhong, write 'two'; if you choose Uncle Yan Fugui, write 'three'. You can draw a horizontal bar, right?"

Upon hearing this, everyone praised He Daqing for his thoughtfulness.

Liu Haizhong, standing to the side, immediately objected: "Stop, stop, stop! What do you mean, 'choose you to write number one, and me to write number two'? Doesn't that still imply you're the boss and I'm the second-in-command? No way!"

He Daqing smiled and asked in return, "Then how do you suggest I write it?"

Everyone looked at Liu Haizhong, who suddenly felt a headache coming on. He had only been focused on refuting the situation and hadn't thought about what to do next.

Yan Fugui's eyes darted around, and he coughed twice before saying, "Alright, everyone, stop writing and just draw pictures. A triangle represents choosing He Daqing, a circle represents choosing Liu Haizhong, and a square represents choosing me."

Everyone was taken aback upon hearing this, but then they all nodded in agreement.

Yan Fugui, worried that everyone might not remember, specially found three wooden boards, giving one to He Daqing and one to Liu Haizhong, and taking one for himself. His board had a square drawn on it, He Daqing's was a triangle, and Liu Haizhong's was a circle.

The atmosphere at the scene was eerie. If you didn't know better, you'd think they were selecting an old man, but if you didn't, you'd think it was elementary school students drawing.

Soon, everyone in the courtyard finished drawing their ballots and tossed them into the ballot box. As the last person finished voting, Liu Haizhong couldn't wait to open the box and see who had the most votes. Just as he was about to step forward, He Daqing stopped him.

"Liu Haizhong, you're too hasty. None of the three of us can touch the ballots. Call the people below to read the ballots and then count them."

Liu Haizhong scoffed, "Why would I be in a hurry? I'm just worried that the ballots in the box will be hard to get, so I wanted to help."

He Daqing smiled dismissively and said nothing more.

At this moment, Jia Zhangshi suddenly raised her hand and shouted, "I'll do it! I'll do it!"

Everyone looked at her, and someone mocked, "Jia Zhangshi, can you even read? Why are you trying to get involved?"

Madam Jia glared angrily, "What do you mean, 'can you read or not'? Do you think I can't see the pictures? Just recognize the shapes!"

The audience burst into laughter.

Madam Jia didn't care at all, and looked at the three men who wanted to act like big shots: "You three all want to act like big shots, and I've taken the initiative to step forward, shouldn't you show some appreciation?"

He Daqing immediately reprimanded, "Jia Zhangshi, are you out of your mind? You stepped forward voluntarily; who asked you for money?"

Madam Jia immediately threatened, "He Daqing, don't blame me later if you say that. If I misread your vote, you'll deserve it!"

He Daqing was so angry that he waved his hand repeatedly, shouting, "Get out! Get out! Get out!"

Liu Haizhong, who was standing to the side, became interested and said to Jia Zhangshi, "If he won't give it to you, I will. Reading the ballots is hard work too."

As he spoke, he took out fifty cents from his pocket and handed it to Jia Zhangshi. Jia Zhangshi took the money and smiled from ear to ear: "Look, Liu Haizhong is so sensible."