The Xu triplets recently joined the People's Liberation Army, which is not only a great honor for their entire family, but has also been their fate for the last 18 years.

Xu Zhichuan is a beekeeper in Sanjiangkou village of Zhouxiang Township, east China’s Zhejiang Province. His wife gave birth to the triplets in 2000, which brought the family both a huge surprise and heavy economic burden in equal measure.

Thanks to the help of good-hearted people in their society, the family could afford to bring up all three boys. The army was especially helpful, donating enough money to keep the family afloat with three extra mouths to feed.

“I strongly support my sons’ decision to join the army, as they are repaying society on behalf of my family,” said Xu.

“I have dreamed of becoming a soldier since I was a child,” said one of the triplets, Xu Jiayin, adding that he would have spent his life regretting the decision if he had chosen not to join the army.

Despite feeling sad about the fact her sons will soon leave home, their mother noted that she knows they are now ready and able to serve the people.