The first performance of the National Day show was a grand chorus by the Cultural Troupe.

The women of the Cultural Troupe were truly worthy of their title.

They appeared in military uniforms, carrying themselves with a proud and dignified air that surpassed ordinary women.

Their voices were powerful, singing with the grandeur expressed in the songs.

Aunt Yang was someone who enjoyed listening to songs and watching performances.

As she listened to the Cultural Troupe’s performance, she was completely captivated.

Ning Shu, on the other hand, was not particularly interested.

With so many modern variety shows, she had grown tired of these school holiday performances since childhood.

However, when she was younger and studying, she used to find such holiday performances quite exciting.

“Ning Shu, look at these women from the Cultural Troupe. They are all so spirited and sing so beautifully. They’ll find good husbands in the future and have their own abilities. What do you think about Jinzhu, Yinzu, and Baozhu joining the Cultural Troupe when they grow up?” Aunt Yang suddenly had this idea.

They only had three granddaughters in their family, and she also had to think about their future.

Ning Shu thought about it. “It’s already 1973 now, and 1977 is coming soon. With the restoration of the college entrance examination, by then, barring any accidents, all the children in the Yang family should be able to go to university. So, the topic of joining the Cultural Troupe isn’t really important. After all, going to university is definitely more important than joining the Cultural Troupe.”

She continued, “It’s better to let them study well first. With good grades, they won’t have any problem getting into technical colleges or agricultural universities. After graduating from university, they can choose whatever job they want. And even if they don’t go to a technical college or agricultural university, with good grades, their chances of joining the Cultural Troupe in the future are still higher, don’t you think so, Auntie?”

In the military school, there were indeed quotas for recommending students to universities.

Several students had been recommended to technical colleges or agricultural universities before, and someone as well-informed as Aunt Yang was certainly aware of this.

As Aunt Yang carefully considered Ning Shu’s words, she realized they made sense.

While the Cultural Troupe was indeed prestigious, it couldn’t compare to being a university graduate.

Therefore, since her three granddaughters were still young, Aunt Yang thought it better to encourage them to study hard now.

Rather than waiting for them to compete for a chance to join the Cultural Troupe in a few years, it would be better to encourage them to aim for university now.

If they became university students, that would be prestigious.

And if they didn’t enter university, they could still join the Cultural Troupe later.

As Ning Shu and Aunt Yang chatted, half of the time passed amidst applause from the audience and the vibrant performances on stage.

“Next up is the dance ‘Little Soldier’s Song’ performed by Class 2 of Grade 1 from the elementary section.”

The host’s expression brought Ning Shu’s attention back sharply.

Class 2 of Grade 1—wasn’t that where her three children were? And ‘Little Soldier’s Song’—wasn’t that the performance her three children were in?

Ning Shu perked up and focused intently on the stage.

As the music began, the curtains gradually opened on the stage.

There lay a child in military green children’s clothing.

The audience was curious. Why was this child lying on the stage?

He got up, washed his face, ate his meal, and assembled to queue up on the playground.

With the first verse of the song, the child lying on the stage got up.

He put on his hat, slung on his liberation bag, and started performing on the stage. His performance, of course, involved military boxing.

“Such a young child, is he really in first grade? He looks about the same age as kindergarten children.”

“A child this small performing military boxing so properly, he must come from a military family. He has the potential to be a soldier.”

“Hey Lin, isn’t this your child?”

“This isn’t your child, Commander Lin?”

Someone pointed towards Lin Guodong.

“What? This child is from Commander Lin’s family?”

“Is he from the Lin family?”

This was a certain leader.

Lin Guodong replied, “He’s my youngest. There are two more coming later.”

As Lin Guodong finished speaking, the music reached “Countdown eight seven six five four three… two one…”

These two counts were different from the singing; they were very loud, but clearly from children’s voices.

Then, from the left and right sides of the stage, two slightly older children somersaulted out.

“Watching their somersaults, they will definitely become excellent soldiers in the future.”

“Commander Lin, your three children are really impressive.”

Lin Guodong smiled.

As an old father, although he didn’t show it, he was proud in his heart.

Yi Bao and Er Bao somersaulted to stand behind San Bao, then performed together with San Bao.

Their hats and liberation bags were placed on both sides of the stage, not worn or carried.

If they wore hats and carried bags during the somersaults, their hats might fall off and the bags would hinder their movements, possibly causing accidents.

Yi Bao and Er Bao followed San Bao in performing for a while.

Midway through, synchronized with the music, when they reached the part where they were supposed to march, the two of them marched to the left and right sides of the stage to put on their hats and sling their liberation bags over their shoulders.

Then, they returned to stand on either side of San Bao.

The three children’ performance was innovative and different from the traditional performances of that era.

They incorporated many elements from future generations’ shows, which dazzled the audience.

Until the program ended, the applause from the audience was still echoing.

Even the leaders sitting in front, along with several officers around them, couldn’t stop praising them.

It had to be said, out of the entire program, if you asked which performance was the most captivating, it would definitely be the three brothers performance.

Of course, not because their performance was the most technically perfect, but because it was unique and thoughtful.

Moreover, since they were all children, and Yi Bao and Er Bao were twins, they naturally attracted attention.

So, when the three children came to find Ning Shu after the performance, they caught the attention of everyone in the audience.

Ning Shu suddenly felt like the mother of a superstar, and herself like a star’s family member.

“Are these the three children who just performed as little soldiers? They’re really impressive.”

“Yeah, not only did they perform well, but they’re also good-looking.”

“Their good looks definitely take after their mother. Just look at how much they resemble her.”

“Haha… that’s true. I envy them for having such good looks. I couldn’t possibly give birth to such good-looking children.”

“I know them. The twins are in the same class as my child, and Yi Bao is even the class monitor. My child says their academic performance is also excellent.”

“If I had children like that, I’d wake up laughing from my dreams.”

“Well, I guess you’ll have to keep dreaming.” Someone teased with a friendly tone.

Ning Shu endured all the pointing and discussions and returned home.

Starting from today, their family was once again in the limelight.

If before, some family members didn’t know she was the mother of twins, now, after the three children’ performance, when they came to find her, everyone would definitely know she was the mother of twins.

When Ning Shu got back home, she took a sip of water and heard Aunt Yang calling from outside, “Ning girl… Ning girl…”

Hurrying out from the kitchen, Ning Shu asked, “Auntie, I’m here. What’s the matter?”

Aunt Yang entered the yard and quietly asked Ning Shu, “Ning girl, I want to ask you something.”

Ning Shu was curious.

She knew Aunt Yang knew more about the neighborhood than she did. “Go ahead, Auntie. If I know and it’s not against my principles, I’ll tell you.”

Hearing this, Aunt Yang became nervous.

Would asking how to have a son violate Ning Shu’s principles?

Normally, people didn’t like to talk about secrets like that.

After thinking for a while, Aunt Yang decided to ask, “Ning girl, you see, both of your pregnancies were boys, and the first one was even twins. They’re so smart too, among all the families here, yours is outstanding. I just want to ask, do you have a secret to having sons? I hope this question isn’t against your principles.”

Ning Shu was relieved she had already swallowed her drink.

Otherwise, she might have choked.

How did she have sons? It was just how the story went; it wasn’t her skill.

And the same went for another question.

Why didn’t Aunt Yang have any sons? She had three daughters, just as the story dictated.

Or perhaps Ning Shu had drugged Lin Guodong?

Of course, these were just Ning Shu’s thoughts.

Ning Shu thought for a moment and replied, “Auntie, I had twins because someone in my family’s ancestors had twins. If someone in the woman’s ancestors had twins, there’s a chance she might have twins. As for having boys or girls, that’s determined by the man.”

Chromosomes decide a child’s gender.

Thinking about how Aunt Yang had three daughters, Aunt Yang must have been uncomfortable.

Everyone here was female.

Ning Shu defended Aunt Yang, “Whether it’s a boy or a girl, we women can’t decide. It depends on the man.”

Then, with some nerve, she added, “It’s when a man and a woman go to bed that something flows from the man’s body into the woman’s body to determine whether a boy or a girl is born. So, some families giving women medicine to have a son really won’t help.”

Ning Shu finished speaking, feeling a bit embarrassed.

She wasn’t thin-skinned, but she did feel a little embarrassed to talk about a man and a woman going to bed in front of strangers.

Just then, Lin Guodong came back, walking into the courtyard.

He had a tall, strong body that seemed perfect in the setting sun.

Thinking about what she’d just said, Ning Shu looked at him, feeling her heartbeat quicken a bit.

Suddenly, Ning Shu’s face turned even redder.

She had spoken softly, but she didn’t know if Lin Guodong had heard what she’d just said to Aunt Yang.

However, Ning Shu didn’t know that Aunt Yang had misunderstood her meaning.

Aunt Yang thought that whether she had a son or daughter depended on the man’s skills.

So she looked at Lin Guodong and examined him from head to toe.

Aunt Yang thought that, since Lin Guodong was so tall and strong, he must be very good in bed, so it wasn’t strange that they’d had a son.

On the other hand, her son hadn’t inherited such talents, maybe because the family had been poor when he was young.

While he wasn’t short, he couldn’t compare to Lin Guodong.

Nevertheless, she’d need to ask Lin Guodong for her son to have a son of his own.