That day, after getting off work, Zhou Jinshan first went to the daycare to pick up his son, Mao Mao.

Mao Mao stretched out her little hand: "Daddy, Mao Mao wants to ride a horse."

Zhou Jinshan glanced around at the people, then looked down at his son and said, "Daddy will carry you, and we can ride horses when we get home, okay?"

Mao Mao is almost three years old and is a sensible child. He nodded in agreement and then made a small request: "Tonight, Mao Mao wants to sleep with Mommy."

Zhou Jinshan said helplessly, "Your mother is pregnant with your baby sister. What if you squeeze her?"

Mao Mao immediately assured, "Mao Mao is a good girl and won't crowd Mommy and the little sister."

"Alright, let's see how you perform tonight."

Zhou Jinshan finally agreed to his son's request, picked him up with one hand and walked out of the nursery. Not long after, he ran into the director of the political department.

The other party smiled and congratulated him: "Commander Zhou, I heard you're about to be promoted to deputy division commander, congratulations!"

Upon hearing this, acquaintances around him congratulated him, but Zhou Jinshan modestly waved his hand, saying, "The order hasn't been issued yet, so it can't be confirmed."

"Commander Zhou is too modest. Director Qiu has already said that you are going to be promoted, so it's a sure thing, there's no doubt about it," a commander surnamed Huang said with a smile.

Many people were eyeing the position of deputy division commander, but no one objected to Zhou Jinshan's appointment.

Because whether it's personal achievements or leading troops on missions at sea, no one of the same rank on the entire island can surpass Zhou Jinshan.

"Dad, after you get promoted, can Mao Mao have an extra egg?"

Suddenly, Mao Mao asked a question, which made everyone laugh. He then teased Zhou Jinshan for being too stingy and told him to hurry up and buy eggs for the child.

Zhou Jinshan waved his hand: "This child gets an egg every day, which is enough nutrition. He's just greedy."

"It's good that he's craving food. He'll eat more and grow taller. Your Mao Mao is much taller than other three-year-olds," Commander Huang said with a smile.

Zhou Jinshan laughed and said, "Children still need a balanced diet. The reason why Mao Mao can grow tall is because my wife takes good care of him."

"Commander Zhou, we all know that Teacher Feng is a good man, so stop showing off. Hurry up and bring your sister-in-law out. There are so many fine young men on this island, you can choose any brother-in-law you like."

This remark drew unanimous agreement from everyone, and the single people all volunteered. Zhou Jinshan chuckled and said, "You guys don't need to even think about it. My wife wouldn't want her sister to come here to enjoy the sea breeze."

“I don’t need to brave the sea breeze; I can apply to be transferred to another unit,” a single officer said loudly.

Zhou Jinshan glanced at the man and said indifferently, "Ma Baoguo, you want to be transferred? Sure, go back and write an application and submit it."

Upon hearing this, Ma Baoguo immediately shrank back: "Commander, I was just joking."

"Marriage is a serious matter, not something to joke about," Zhou Jinshan said to his subordinate before taking his son home.

When the old lady saw him return, she happily grabbed him and said, "Did you know your wife is pregnant with twins?"

Zhou Jinshan was stunned for a moment, then handed Mao Mao to the old lady and strode upstairs.

The old lady quickly reminded her, "Your daughter-in-law is on the first floor, why are you running to the second floor?"

Zhou Jinshan immediately turned around and went downstairs. He found his wife in the east room on the first floor, took her hand, and asked, "Are you tired?"

Feng Mingshu noticed the tension in Zhou Jinshan's eyes, shook her head and smiled, "I'm not tired, I just feel sticky. Could you boil some water for me? I want to take a bath."

"Okay, I'll go boil some water and help you wash up in a bit."

After Zhou Jinshan finished speaking, he got up and went to the kitchen to boil water. After boiling the water, he diluted it with warm water and then helped his wife to the bathroom, serving her the whole time.

With twins in her belly, Feng Mingshu was naturally exhausted, but her husband's meticulous care lessened her fatigue considerably.

Three months passed in the blink of an eye. In the autumn of 1969, Feng Mingshu gave birth to twins in the hospital, a pair of sisters.

The old lady was overjoyed, saying that her two granddaughters looked just like her daughter-in-law, and that they would surely be beautiful and intelligent in the future, bringing honor to the Zhou family.

Three-and-a-half-year-old Mao Mao breathed a sigh of relief, finally not having to bring glory to his ancestors on his own, so he decided to be nicer to his two younger sisters.

The two babies didn't appreciate their older brother's kindness, because their little faces were hurt by his finger, and they immediately started crying loudly.

Before he could retract his fingers, Mao Mao was caught red-handed and then his dad grabbed him and spanked him.

"Waaaaah—"

Another crying baby has appeared.

Feng Mingshu glared at Zhou Jinshan, picked up Mao Mao, and after finding out why he had made his sister cry, she said softly, "Your sister's face is delicate, so you can't just poke it. If you want to tease them, you can shake a rattle or sing to them."

Mao Mao's eyes lit up: "Will they like it?"

"You'll know once you try," Feng Mingshu encouraged softly.

Mao Mao excitedly ran to her two younger sisters' cradle and started singing a new song she had learned in kindergarten. Sure enough, it attracted the attention of her two younger sisters, and Mao Mao sang even more enthusiastically.

Having dealt with the children's issues, Feng Mingshu turned her attention to Zhou Jinshan.

She felt that Zhou Jinshan had been acting strangely lately, especially three days ago when he took a ferry off the island, the first time in four years.

"You're hiding something from me," Feng Mingshu said bluntly, his tone certain.

After a moment's hesitation, Zhou Jinshan handed her a surgical consent form.

When Feng Mingshu saw the word "vasectomy" on the form, she jumped up and exclaimed, "You got a vasectomy? Are you crazy?!"

As soon as she raised her voice, Mao Mao stopped singing and looked over nervously.

Feng Mingshu realized that she was in a bad mood, so she first calmed her son down and then pulled Zhou Jinshan out of the house.

Before she could get angry again, Zhou Jinshan explained, "Ming Shu, when you were pregnant with twins, I consulted with the doctor. The best method of contraception is male sterilization. Moreover, this surgery is not very harmful to the body and does not affect the couple's life. So I went off the island three days ago to have the surgery... Ming Shu, don't cry. It's really a minor surgery. I'm recovering very well now."

Zhou Jinshan comforted her, wiping her tears with a handkerchief: "You've just finished your postpartum period, you can't cry yet, it'll hurt your eyes."

Feng Mingshu clenched her fist to punch him, but then remembered that he had just had surgery, so she withdrew her fist. But she was still not satisfied, so she tilted her head back and bit his chin: "If you ever act on your own again, I will never talk to you again."

Zhou Jinshan hugged her and laughed, "Don't worry, I won't hide it from you again."

Feng Mingshu didn't believe him, but what could she do?

This is the man who would get a vasectomy for her, the best man she has ever met in her two lifetimes. She can't bear to let go of him, and she will never be able to let go of him for the rest of her life.

At this moment, the twins inside started crying again. Feng Mingshu immediately switched into motherly mode: "The babies must be hungry. I'll go in and breastfeed them. Go downstairs and get two clean diapers."

So, the couple went inside and went downstairs.

The whole courtyard was filled with the warmth of everyday life.

The children play, frolic, and grow up in this yard before going out into the world.