Upon hearing this, Ye Jianhua gradually calmed down. "Indeed, do you know why I chose to work on this project with you?"

"Is it because you were ostracized?" Jiang Shaozhen asked him.

"That's part of the reason. Actually, I've worked at the design institute for quite a while and done many excellent projects, but unfortunately, the credit never came my way. As a result, after three or four years, I'm still at the lowest level. Apart from seniority and praise from leaders, I really haven't gained anything." Ye Jianhua walked to a pile of bricks and sat down.

“My hometown was very poor. When I joined the design institute, I thought that with the country’s vigorous efforts to promote economic development, one day I would use my skills to go back to my hometown and build roads and buildings, just like in Western cities, with clean roads and modern facilities everywhere. But as the years have passed, I have gradually lost my ambition.”

After Ye Jianhua finished speaking, he gave a wry smile.

Jiang Shaozhen arranged the bricks, turned to look at him, and said, "Write a plan first, and I'll find a way to send it to the army. This time, I won't let the Song family succeed!"

"Alright, I love working with someone as tenacious as you!" Ye Jianhua said, standing up, dusting off his pants, and turning to walk towards the tin shack.

In the evening, before Jiang Shaozhen returned, Jiang Guofu told her that Song Huiquan had approved Jiang Shaozhen's project for another construction team.

“That construction team is under Song Huiquan’s jurisdiction. If they achieve political success, it will belong to him.” Jiang Guofu’s expression was solemn.

Shen Mingzhi remained silent for a while before speaking, "If we want to win it back, we not only need to make the plan the best it can be, but we also need to deliver it to the right people. Otherwise, we're just handing meat to the other side."

Jiang Qing was beside Zhouzhou, holding Niannian in one arm and stepping on the cradle with the other, coaxing him to sleep.

Niannian is quite lively, but now that her pregnancy is progressing, she wants to be held all day long. In contrast, Zhouzhou is very quiet and is very well-behaved when we go out to play and he is held.

Upon hearing Shen Mingzhi's words, she frowned and said, "You mean, bypass Song Huiquan and send it to someone with a higher status? That can only be the mayor. But the mayor approves international projects. Local projects like ours are still under Song Huiquan's jurisdiction."

“Yes,” Jiang Guofu replied.

The difficulty now lies precisely in this point.

“That’s true, but what if the plan is so good that it can not only make a lot of profit, but also minimize costs?” Shen Mingzhi asked. Right now, the country is short of money. If they can save costs on projects and still create maximum profits, then Song Huiquan can’t control them.

“In that case, I can only find someone who can compete with Song Huiquan. If there are disagreements among them, they will be sent to the mayor for him to choose from,” Jiang Guofu told Shen Mingzhi.

"Is it reliable?" Shen Mingzhi asked him.

"That depends on the plan. In all my years in the military, this is the first time I've met someone like Song Huiquan. The other leaders are all working for economic development. Even if they are a bit stubborn at times, which can create prejudice, their starting point is still to benefit the people," Jiang Guofu replied.

Shen Mingzhi nodded, "If that's the case, then things will be much easier."

When Jiang Shaochen returned, it was already completely dark.

Shen Mingzhi sat in the courtyard waiting for him.

After a long day of work with Ye Jianhua, Jiang Shaozhen was exhausted. But when he saw her sitting in the courtyard, all his fatigue vanished in an instant.

"Wife, wait for me to come home?" He walked towards Shen Mingzhi, his eyes sparkling.

Shen Mingzhi stood up, looked into his eyes and said, "Dad told me about what happened to you, and I'm a little worried about you."

“It’s alright. I’ve discussed it with Engineer Ye. As long as our proposal is good enough and we send it to the military, the project will be ours if the military approves it,” Jiang Shaozhen said to Shen Mingzhi with a smile.

Shen Mingzhi noticed a speck of cement stuck to the corner of his eye.

He reached out and slowly scratched, "You're oversimplifying things. Even if you give the plan to the military, they'll still question the construction team's capabilities. You don't have the ability to secure loans, but Song Huiquan guarantees his own construction team can. So, tell me, if they take your best plan, who will do the work?"

Jiang Shao-chen's idea was that as long as his plan benefited the people and the country, then the project belonged to him.

But he didn't know that with so many construction teams, the military would choose the most capable people to do the work, without considering whether the people below needed the project.

After all, the military considers the big picture.

And their struggles... can only take place in private.

After being reminded by Shen Mingzhi, Jiang Shaozhen lowered his eyes, frowned, and started thinking of a new solution.

“Dad said you should work on the plan properly, and he’ll show it to Song Huiquan’s opponents. Everyone needs political achievements. As long as you can do it, they will naturally speak up for you and help you fight for your cause.” Shen Mingzhi scratched off a cement splatter and touched his face.

Jiang Shao Chen reached out and took her hand, squeezing it gently. "I'm sorry to have made you worry about me."

"Isn't it natural for me to worry about you? Go back and wash your hands, they're all dirty!" Shen Mingzhi was speechless. His hands were covered in cement dust, and he was even pinching himself.

Jiang Shaochen released her hand.

Shen Mingzhi's fair hands were covered in a layer of dusty cement grime.

She rolled her eyes at Jiang Shaozhen and pushed him into the house.

Jiang Shao Chen was pushed forward by her, and laughed out loud, "Who told my wife to suddenly touch me? I couldn't control myself, and I forgot that my hands were dirty."

Shen Mingzhi wiped her hands on him, "Here's all the dust back for you."

As soon as they entered the house, Wang Sao immediately poured out the water for washing their faces.

Jiang Shaozhen held Shen Mingzhi's hand, pressed her hand down, and washed with her.

"I have to wash it again." After washing, Shen Mingzhi felt that the water was also dirty.

Jiang Shaozhen carried the basin of water and poured it outside.

Seeing how good the couple's relationship was, Wang's wife couldn't stop smiling. She poured them clean water again and then stepped aside.

This time, Jiang Shaozhen stood obediently to the side and said to Shen Mingzhi, "Wife, wash your hands."

After Shen Mingzhi finished washing, she flicked his face a few times.

Jiang Shao Chen said in a low voice, "You're too naughty."

After washing his hands, he went to take a shower.

When Shen Mingzhi arrived at the main room, Aunt Wang was already getting the food. Wang Xinian was sitting to the side, and Jiang Guofu was talking to him about his reinstatement.

“You have three years of work experience, and the factory has verified that. The application materials have been secretly sent to you in the last couple of days, and you should have a result in a few days.” Although Jiang Guofu didn’t know if it would be useful, he could only help Shen Mingzhi for now because she asked him to.

"Thank you, Uncle." Wang Xinian sat stiffly, his tone extremely obedient.

As Shen Mingzhi entered the room, he unconsciously looked up at her.

After the wedding banquet, she became increasingly different, exuding more and more femininity.

Seeing her like this, Wang Xinian regretted agreeing to go abroad in the first place.