"What? Build a reservoir? My dear father, are you crazy? Are you trying to kill me?" Zhou Mingqian never expected that his father would have such a terrible idea.

Subconsciously, Zhou Mingqian looked at Zhou Mingjiao and said, "Zhou Mingjiao, tell me, is this your doing? I was wondering why you were being so kind today. Turns out you were waiting for me here. Well, it seems I really underestimated you."

Zhou Mingjiao wasn't surprised that her older brother would guess it. He used the same excuse, "Isn't this all for your own good? Building a reservoir is a lucrative business," she said, having already inquired about it thoroughly.

“If it’s such a good thing, then go by yourself. Why are you dragging me into this?” Zhou Mingqian wasn’t fooled.

Zhou Mingjiao was so angry she almost cried. Sure enough, she and her older brother were natural enemies.

“Eldest son, isn’t this just a discussion with you? Your baby will be born next year. As a father, don’t you plan to set a good example? Also, you should be more sensible. Don’t upset your sister so easily. You’re a man, and you should be more magnanimous in your actions. Look at your sister, she’s very good. She knows she was wrong and even apologizes to you.” Mr. Zhou was full of fatherly love.

Zhou Mingqian rolled his eyes. "Anyway, you can go whoever wants to go to the reservoir construction project. I'm not going. Also, a friend of mine is going on a business trip to the Northwest, and he wants me to go with him."

"What? Zhou Mingqian, Zhou Mingqian, I think you've really become incredibly lazy. Now you're all wild and want to fly away. This whole area isn't enough for you to travel around. Other people are going on a proper business trip, but you're just thinking about playing. It was really a waste of time to send you to high school," Zhou's mother exclaimed.

Even though he had heard these words before, Zhou Mingqian couldn't help but feel a darkening in his eyes.

Sometimes he could clearly sense that his mother actually loved him, but whenever it came to Zhou Mingjiao's matter, he would become completely confused and unable to distinguish right from wrong.

"Mom, do you think they invited me for nothing? They're going to pay me a salary."

"What?" Zhou's mother's voice cracked. "Are you serious? Which sucker is it? Oh, son, you'd better seize this opportunity. By the way, how much are you asking for?" Zhou's mother's face changed like a Sichuan opera mask.

Zhou Mingqian didn't want to pay attention.

"Oh dear, child, if you had explained it clearly earlier, I wouldn't have disagreed. How much is it exactly?" Zhou's mother hadn't expected such a good thing to actually happen.

"thirty".

"Only thirty? How stingy! You're not going to pay for the train ticket, food, and lodging, are you? Let me tell you, that won't do. You'll have to cover the cost later." Zhou's mother's mood was truly fluctuating wildly.

Zhou Mingqian said irritably, "They cover food, lodging, and transportation, and give me an extra thirty yuan. When I come back, they'll also give me a local specialty. My friend works in purchasing."

Zhou's mother's face lit up with a smile. "Oh my, your friend is such a good person, not bad at all." She then turned to Zhou's father and said, "Old man, let's not ask the eldest son to handle the reservoir repair. Let the second son do it."

Li Erya hesitated, but ultimately didn't say anything more.

Zhou Lao Er thought it was alright; he was strong, so he could take this opportunity to earn more.

That's how it was settled, except that Zhou Mingjiao was unhappy.

She never expected that something like this would happen when everything seemed to be a done deal.

That evening, Shen Banxia hugged Zhou Mingqian and said, "Be careful when you go to another place, okay? Also, make sure you have the pills I prepared for you. And remember to bring your cotton vest since it's cold in the Northwest. Also, bring some peanuts and other herbs and pills."

Shen Banxia says whatever comes to mind.

Zhou Mingqian carefully held Shen Banxia in his arms, and even before leaving, he already felt reluctant to part with her.

Shen Banxia gently patted his back, offering silent comfort.

The two have never been apart since they got married, and this trip will take at least half a month.

"Wife, you need to take good care of yourself at home. If Mom asks you to do anything, just push it all onto me. I'll do it when I get back. Also, your legs sometimes cramp, so remember to keep warm. And be careful of Zhou Mingjiao; she's not a good person." Zhou Mingqian felt there were too many things to tell him.

"Don't worry, I won't let myself suffer. You know me, I'll never suffer a loss." In this life, she is not as helpless as she was in her previous life.

"Have you forgotten how strong I am?"

"Yes, yes, by the way, I noticed you didn't eat much tonight, I'll go get you something to eat," Zhou Mingqian said thoughtfully.

"Forget it, you'll just get scolded for no reason if you go to your mother-in-law," Shen Banxia knew her mother-in-law Wang Cuihua's temperament all too well.

In short, apart from Zhou Mingjiao, no one else, including Zhou's father, could get special treatment.

As for Shen Banxia, ​​who was pregnant, she was not included in the special treatment program.

"Hehe, you forgot? I'm going on a business trip with my friends to earn a salary. If Mom doesn't bring me food, I'll spend all my salary."

Shen Banxia silently gave a thumbs up.

Sure enough, Zhou's mother's voice came from outside, "Are you trying to get yourself killed, Zhou Mingqian? Your sister makes pancakes and you don't eat them, but now you want to eat dumpling soup, and you even want to add an egg. I wonder if you're going to fly to the moon? Why don't you cut off a piece of my flesh and eat it?"

"Mom, if you don't give it to me, don't blame me for not paying my wages. Anyway, I won't be able to eat them."

"You, you, you're going to drive me crazy! Eat, eat, eat until you die!"

Zhou's mother gave the things to Zhou Mingqian and then closed the door heavily with a "bang".

Shen Banxia came to the kitchen to help start the fire, and Zhou Mingqian was quick and efficient.

A bowl of egg drop soup was quickly prepared, garnished with chopped green onions.

"Wife, eat it while it's hot."

"Gulp," Shen Banxia silently swallowed, "You eat too."

"I'm not hungry, you eat up, honey," Zhou Mingqian said, turning his head away and refusing to be fed by his wife.

Shen Banxia directly turned Zhou Mingqian's head around and "ate" him.

The couple ate the food one bite at a time, and couldn't help but exclaim, "Refined grains really do taste better!" They looked at each other and smiled.

While Zhou Mingqian was washing the dishes, Shen Banxia, ​​with her sharp eyes, spotted something in the cupboard.

Thinking of Zhou Mingjiao's unnatural expression, Shen Banxia instantly understood everything.

He placed the withered, weed-like thing in front of Zhou Mingqian and said, "You recognize this thing, right? Tell me, this thing has always been kept in the main room. Who brought it here?"

Zhou Mingqian's face turned ashen. How dare Zhou Mingjiao do this?