Chapter 214:
Chapter 214
So, youre thinking of getting married, huh?
Yes! Mom. Katia is so kind and smart
Well, I dont think shes very smart if shes willing to marry you But if you two are happy, what can I say?
My mother kept making such remarks, but I ignored them. My father seemed more interested in something else than my marriage.
So, how did you get that medal? You know, you can stay in the army with that, right?
Ah um I dont think the army suits me very well.
Kid You only care about getting paid.
But I learned how to drive a tank, so maybe I could do something on the farm.
Thats what I thought. I learned how to read and write, and do arithmetic, and I used to be a decent candidate for a collective farm.
I I was thinking of driving a tractor
A tractor?
My father looked at me with surprise as I said that.
These days, there are plenty of young people who know how to drive. Look, Ivans son Vasily, and that Semens son Artur, they both drove tractors after driving tanks. There are many people who came back from driving tanks, but Artur got selected as a tractor driver after losing some fingers as a war hero.
Really???
Well, there should have been more tanks.
Damn. The hill I was proud of turned out to be a small mound of dirt. I felt like my confidence crumbled all of a sudden, and I stuffed some spam into my mouth from the stew.
I I learned some writing, but the village clerk
Everyone who went to the army learned how to write! Listen, son. Its not easy to make a living these days Why dont you just stay in the army?
You think your son, who got the Peoples Hero medal, cant be a tractor driver? I wanted to ask that, but I just shut my mouth.
Youll probably ask me why I dont stay in the army since I became a Peoples Hero. To be honest, I didnt want to push away my friends who got other medals by luck, like Artur who lost his fingers.
Is there any farm work I can help with?
These days, you need more tractors and farm machines. Were done with sowing, and well probably need some labor when its harvest time.
The career I had in mind was changed in a way I never imagined. I shook my head as I saw my hometown changed so much in a few years.
Alright Ill go see the clerk tomorrow.
Okay. Do that. Just get some rest today. Thats your room over there We left it alone since you never came back. It should be fine if you clean it up a bit.
My room was full of all kinds of junk. My mother threw me a soft blanket and sat on the floor, patting my back.
Son, why are you so worried? Dont worry too much. Theres so much to do these days, youll find something to do.
Yes, mom
That wasnt really the problem. Anyway, my mother comforted me and left.
Sigh
What should I do to survive? I wondered.
If I think about it, I wasnt good at anything.
The things I learned in the army were things that many others learned and used, and I lost all the good positions because I stayed in the army for too long.
And staying in the army Ugh, that didnt seem right.
General Chernyakhovsky said there was something good for me, but I didnt overestimate my abilities.
Ill probably k**l my subordinates if I go to a real war
Of course, the last two times, when I led a mission as a platoon leader and a company commander, none of my men got hurt. But that was because the enemy was weak, and I didnt know what would happen if I went to a real war.
I wanted to live as an ordinary worker, not as a cowardly and incompetent officer that I always hated in my heart.
Honestly, I felt guilty for being overrated for a medal that wasnt my ability. Katia always told me to have more confidence, but
Ill think about it tomorrow.
It was a long time since I slept in a place like this, not in a barracks full of snoring and sweaty men. I closed my eyes and fell asleep as I thought about various things.
Tomorrow, the sun will rise again.
***
Hey! Nikolai! Youre back!
The clerk looked the same as before, with a warm expression. He had more wrinkles and white hair and beard, but still.
Yes, sir. Hahaha Youre still the same?
Of course! Im still the same. Ive gained some belly fat lately, though
He patted his plump belly and chuckled. But that was only for a moment, he lifted his glasses and read the document.
What, what is this? A Peoples Hero? Nikolai, is this you?
Haha It just happened.
Hmm I see Wait a minute
He made a phone call and said something quickly. Words like Peoples Hero, Soviet, and whatnot came and went, and I had to stand there awkwardly.
Sorry for the wait, Comrade Petrov. Lets go!
Sir, why are you suddenly being polite? And where are we going?
Thats the town office, of course! Its only natural for a Peoples Hero!
No, sir
He grabbed my hand and dragged me to the farms truck. Ivan, who was loading carrots on the back of the truck yesterday, waved at me.
Hey, Nikolai!
Hey! Ivan Ivanovich! How rude of you to a Peoples Hero!
Huh?
Ivan looked stunned. He said he would borrow the truck for a while for the Soviets business, and he snatched the truck key from Ivans thick hand. He started the car.
What, why
Give it to me. Ill do it.
I had driven a truck a few times, so I could start it fairly well. The clerk looked at me with awe. He seemed to say, as expected, a Peoples Hero I felt an immense pressure from his expression.
Sir please
Hahaha, Im so proud that our village, our farm, produced such a hero! Come on, lets go!
The reaction at the town office was similar. The town head made a fuss and said he was proud that our town had such a hero, repeating the same thing he had said on the phone.
Then he brought out a large and thick piece of paper.
Here, sign this.
What, what is this? A Communist party membership card?
If youre a Peoples Hero, you should have the right to join the party, shouldnt you? And since you said you were looking for a job after you retired Ah! How about running for the town Soviet election? The previous representative, Comrade Anatoly, had to step down because of his poor health
The town secretary whispered that Comrade Anatoly was a drunkard who had a bad reputation up and down, and a useless incompetent.
Me? Im the town representative?
Yes! There were some people who were fighting over that position, but they would all agree without a word if they heard that the Peoples Hero became the representative of his hometown. First, receive your party card and
No, no! I want to go back to the army!
Excuse me?
The town head and the town secretary, who were about to hand me a fountain pen and press my hand to sign the party card, both looked disappointed.
Ha, haha, I have a lot of work to do in the army
If you dont like the town representative position, how about the army representative? It might be hard to get it right away, since youre a Peoples Hero, but maybe we can arrange it
No, no, I really want to go back to the army!
Of course, that wasnt true, but I was willing to do anything to get rid of this burdensome position.
Ch Colonel Chernyakhovsky gave me a uh, that its classified! Anyway, its classified, but I have a classified mission. So I cant accept this party card and representative position.
Hmm thats a shame.
They really looked sorry. It was natural that if someone from our village, our town, got a high position, it would benefit the people around here. The road would be laid more favorably for this side of the village, or a big store would come in first.
But Nikolai knew that he wasnt cut out for that.
He had never done anything political, and he was just a rookie who had just returned from the army. How could he dare to represent hundreds of lives! Nikolai was horrified by the fact that the old men had such thoughts.
Ahem, I think I need to return to the base as soon as possible. Im busy
Understood, Comrade Petrov! If you ever retire, please do your best for our hometown!
The town head got up and bowed, then grabbed Nikolais hand with both of his and shook it. Nikolai, who had his hand grabbed by him, shuddered at the pressure he felt.
What the hell
The town Soviet representative was a higher position than a major. At least Nikolai thought so.
And one more thing. Since Uncle Ivan had heard the word Peoples Hero, it was only a matter of time before this news spread to the village.
He thought it would be better to go to the army sooner than to hear the rumors that he had stolen someone elses merit and became like that.
Yes! Thank you! See you later, next time!
***
Why did you come back and do such things if youre going to the army again? Thats why you should do your job well
Oh, he said he wanted to try something, just let him be!
Youre the same. Youre always looking around, and thats why we ended up like this! If only you had stuck to one thing
Mothers nagging seemed to go on endlessly. But even that nagging, he realized he wouldnt hear it for much longer, and he felt like crying.
Well, Ill be back soon.
Okay. Come back healthy and well.
Eat well, brush your teeth, and say hello to that lady for us. Listen to your superiors and be nice to your subordinates!
As he received his parents farewell at the train station, Nikolai got on the train.
The way back to the base was still far away.
He felt anew that it was impossible to live a normal life after receiving such an excessive title as a Peoples Hero.
He was nothing but a lowly soldier, a peasant, but he received a shiny medal like the Legion of Honor or something, as if that changed his essence.
Chik-chik, the train spewed smoke and started to move away from his mother, who was wiping her tears and waving goodbye, and his father, who was smoking and waving his hand.
Dont worry~!
***!! *****!
He couldnt hear what they were saying, but Nikolai waved his hand harder.
When the train station was too far to see, he closed the window and closed his eyes. Back to the army.
Where would Colonel Chernyakhovsky send me? Could I adapt well there?
Anyway, he hoped his salary would be higher than now.
Hoo
Nikolai sighed and took out a small box from his chest pocket. He had saved money for this by sparing the letters and postage he sent home.
Inside the box were a pair of small gold rings.
Katya
Maybe this would make him feel more secure?
It was better to charge with the protection of the Fire Bear and the Boar than with the Mosin-Nagant and the potato grenade. His senior captain had told him that. He had spent his meager salary to buy this ring, but
He had a lot to do in the future. He had to find a place to live, and a way to make a living. He had to decide where to go and what to do first!
Ha, Nikolai sighed again.
Everyone said the war was over and went back to their daily lives, but he felt like he was jumping into a new war.
As he had done so far, he could only hope that luck would kiss him.
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