Zhou Zhennan was well-liked throughout the compound. With old army comrades, former subordinates of Zhou Bingwen, and distant relatives of the Zhou family all in attendance, all thirty tables in the union canteen were filled.

Early that morning, Lin Xiaoxiao watched as Zhou Liyun and the housemaid carefully shaved the heads of the three babies.

In their first month, the little ones had grown plenty—though they were still a bit smaller than the average one-month-old. Their faces had filled out and their skin had grown fairer, now plump and pale like three little ginseng roots.

Even little An'an had been shaved completely bald. Lin Xiaoxiao couldn't help but laugh softly at her round, bare head. "Our An'an is a little girl. Now she's a little monk too."

Zhou Liyun continued gently shaving, not leaving a single strand of baby hair. "It'll help her hair grow thicker later. Our An'an is pretty—she looks good even bald."

Lin Wenbin stood nearby, hands behind his back, amused at the sight of the three babies lying side by side, their heads shiny and smooth. "Three little monks. We ought to take a picture."

The idea stuck with Lin Xiaoxiao. They really should take photos for keepsake. Who knew when Zhou Huaian would return? By the time he came back, the children would already be grown.

Would he regret missing their earliest days?

The story of Zhou Xiaoling's birth parents had moved her deeply.

No father fails to love his child—it's the weight of duty that leaves them no choice. In their own way, they strive to give their children a safe environment to grow up in.

So Zhou Huaian was doing his part, and she would do hers: striving to create value, and striving to raise their children healthy and happy.

Lin Wenbin saw right through his sister's thoughts. "I've already asked a photographer to come to the house. We'll take pictures then. But look at your hair—don't you think it needs a wash?"

Lin Xiaoxiao touched her hair helplessly. No matter how many medical explanations she gave, Li Yunlan and Zhou Liyun wouldn't let her wash it. According to them, new mothers simply shouldn't wash their hair—or even go downstairs without a hat.

She felt like she'd gone sour.

Nearby, Zhou Liyun was carefully gathering the babies' fine hair, saying it could be used to make a calligraphy brush. Hearing Lin Wenbin, she smiled. "We'll wash it soon. There's mugwort water boiling in the kitchen—I even added osmanthus flowers. It'll keep the wind from getting into your system."

Lin Xiaoxiao was thrilled. When the mugwort water was ready, filled with the herbal scent of Artemisia and sweet osmanthus, she went upstairs to wash her hair and bathe. She felt refreshed from head to toe.

Zhou Xiaoling helped her dry her hair. "Goodness, not bathing for a whole month is awful. When I have a baby, I won't last—I'll have to sneak a bath."

Lin Xiaoxiao would have done the same, if she'd had the chance. "As long as Mom and Aunt Liyun are around, don't even think about it. Better focus on finding yourself a man first."

The subject made Zhou Xiaoling groan. "I don't know what's gotten into Aunt Liyun lately. She keeps trying to set me up! The maid told me Aunt Liyun has a complete dossier on every single guy in this compound."

Lin Xiaoxiao had to laugh. "Well, they've got time on their hands. They're bound to think about these things. If there's someone suitable, why not meet him?"

The idea horrified Zhou Xiaoling. "Most of the guys here grew up with me—they're like brothers.

I'd rather stay single than date any of them. And I'm sure they feel the same."

Thinking about how Zhou Xiaoling used to throw toads into people's water jars as a child, Lin Xiaoxiao could see her point. "Don't worry, Mom and Dad aren't pushing you. There's no hurry."

Once her hair was dry and she'd changed, Lin Xiaoxiao went back downstairs. The photographer had already arrived and was taking pictures of the three babies lying side-by-side on the sofa.

Lin Wenbin was draped in a bedsheet as a backdrop, gently supporting the children.

Since the photos would be in black and white, Lin Xiaoxiao could already imagine how the three little bald heads would look. Usually, they dressed each baby in a different color to tell them apart.

But in black and white, they'd look completely identical.

Even so, the family happily took group photos—a full family portrait, pictures of the children, and photos of Lin Xiaoxiao with the babies.

Thousands of kilometers away, deep in the mountains, Zhou Huaian, Zhou Xiaocheng, and their team had been trapped for nearly ten days. They were now out of supplies and ammunition.

Zhou Huaian quietly noted in his small notebook: today was the second day of the second lunar month—the babies' first full moon. What did they look like now? Rarely opening up, he asked Zhou Xiaocheng, "Do you know how big a one-month-old baby is?"

Zhou Xiaocheng didn't know either. None of the others did. After a moment, he gestured vaguely with his hands. "Maybe this big? Do you prefer boys or girls?"

Zhou Huaian thought for a moment. "A boy. If I don't make it back, he can grow up to protect his mother."

Zhou Xiaocheng fell silent for a while, then patted Zhou Huaian's shoulder. "You'll make it back. We all will."

Zhou Huaian pressed his lips together—chapped from days without enough water or food. "Before I left, your sister-in-law asked me to choose their names—something nice-sounding. I wonder if she's named them yet. These days I've been thinking of a few. Tell me which ones you like."

He flipped to a page filled with name ideas.

Zhou Xiaocheng leaned over to look, his eyes finally settling on Zhou Lizheng and Zhou Lirong. "These are good."

Zhou Huaian gazed at the names. "But would they work for girls?"

Zhou Xiaocheng shook his head. "They suit both boys and girls. 'The Sword Gate towers high and steep; One man could block the passage of ten thousand.' I hope they grow up with that same spirit—to protect every inch of our land."

Zhou Huaian looked wistful. "That's what I hoped too. But I wish by the time they grow up, they won't have to live through times like these..."

"Captain, I think someone's approaching..."

The full moon celebration was lively. Cheng Mingzhong and his wife came; even Geng Aiguo showed up with Luo Anran.

Zhou Xiaoling had been in high spirits until she saw those two. Her face fell immediately.