The show has come to an end, maybe there will be another one tomorrow night or the day after tomorrow.
But now, it's time for people who still have unfinished business to disperse.
"Comrade General, General Malashenko! Please wait! I have something to say to you!"
"Um?"
Malashenko, who had not eaten in the evening and was a little overly hungry at the moment, was thinking about sneaking into the cafeteria to find something to eat after the performance, but he never thought that Valeski would be directly across from him.
He called out to him from afar.
"Huh... I finally stopped you, Comrade General."
"That song, the song you just sang, was it your original work? Did you compose it?"
"..."
Malashenko was noncommittal and did not give a direct reply. Instead, he stared at Valeski's expression in front of him for a while. After making sure that he could probably guess what this guy was planning, he quietly spoke.
"Yes, I composed the lyrics myself in my spare time. Maybe I didn't sing it well just now, but I already have a basic melody in my mind, and it hasn't been composed yet."
"Really? This is great! Comrade General!"
When he heard this, he was instantly excited! Valeski directly shouted out what he was thinking.
It was only after the words were spoken that Valeski, who was quite embarrassed, realized his gaffe and laughed awkwardly.
"I'm sorry, Comrade General. I...well, that's actually the case. If possible, I would like to help you complete the composition. I have some abilities in this area. I would like to ask you to let me try it. I am really interested in this."
I'm very interested. I believe the music I composed will definitely satisfy you. Comrade General, can you agree to my request?"
Everyone wants to be famous, especially the kind of fame that represents a high degree of career achievement. Needless to say, it is attractive to men.
Malashenko could guess what Valeski was really thinking, but it was no big deal.
As long as he can compose a complete piece of music under his own guidance and intention, it is not impossible for him to be a favor and help Valeski become famous.
It just so happens that I still lack an acquaintance in the Hongqi Song and Dance Troupe that I can talk to. My daughter-in-law works in the Song and Dance Troupe, so it is really necessary to have an acquaintance to get things done.
And if this thing can be done, this guy Valeski will owe me a huge favor, big enough to make this guy pay him back for the rest of his life and be grateful to him for his life. This may even be his favor.
A double turning point in his fate and career.
Thinking of this, Malashenko, who had already formed a plan in his mind, smiled slightly, and then extended his right hand to Valeski in front of him.
"Of course, I hope we can cooperate happily, Comrade Valeski."
Upon hearing Malashenko's answer, Valeski immediately "took off on the spot" and was so excited that he almost wrote "I feel so happy" on his face.
"Thank you! Thank you! Comrade General, we will definitely be able to compose a song that will sing throughout the motherland, I promise!"
Looking at the back of Valeski leaving after thanking him so much, Malashenko, who had made an appointment to discuss the matter with Valeski in detail tomorrow morning, subconsciously touched his belly.
In just a short while, I was so hungry that I had no appetite at all.
"Hey, I don't eat regularly every three days. I hope the stomach problem doesn't come too early."
The plan to have a late-night snack was abandoned. Not knowing what to do next, Malashenko walked and came to a sparsely populated lawn.
Although the current weather is still a bit like the tail end of winter, with some cold nights, the land under our feet is stubbornly pulling out new green grass shoots and growing vigorously.
Crouching down and sitting directly on the vigorous lawn, Malashenko raised his head and looked up at the starry sky and felt the rare tranquility, which was what Malashenko needed after the hustle and bustle of the war.
"I don't know what my parents are doing right now. After a busy day watching TV? Just don't worry about me and wipe your tears..."
"Hey, I'm getting more and more sentimental. What's going on, bro?"
A somewhat upset Malashenko was about to take out a cigarette and hold one in his mouth to relieve his boredom. Unexpectedly, at this moment, a beautiful figure came quietly from behind him with gentle steps.
"Smoke less, my dear, it's not good for your health."
Comrade Lao Ma, who had already put the cigarette in his mouth, was startled to see that the person next to him was his daughter-in-law Natalia.
"...I thought you were going to rest. Aren't you tired after running around all day and performing? You should pay attention to your health."
It is normal for lovers to care about each other, not to mention that both of them are sincere.
"I'm not tired. Rather than spending my time going to bed early, I would rather stay with you and just sit quietly like this."
Before he finished speaking, they were already sitting on the grass next to Malashenko. He could feel the warmth of Natalya who was holding his arm and leaning on his shoulder. He thought about what he should do.
To say something Malashenko felt now was the right time.
"There's something I want to tell you. I have to say it to you, dear."
At the moment when the words faded, Malashenko clearly felt that Natalia's hold on his arm was slightly tighter, and he became even more reluctant to separate.
"Well, I'm listening."
"...."
No matter how reluctant he was, he still had to face it. Malashenko, who was mentally prepared, only hesitated briefly.
"I met a girl, she was a nurse in our division's field hospital, her name was Anya. In Stalingrad, the hospital she was staying in was destroyed by a German bomb, and I rescued her from the ruins."
"What happened next was a bit strange, but...she and I did have feelings for each other. Although I didn't want to admit it at first, I later found out that it was true."
"Anya...she is a good girl, as kind-hearted as you, but she is still very young. Maybe her feelings for me are just a temporary passion like admiring a hero, that's what I thought at first. But
Later I found out that this was not the case. I had a very detailed chat with her, and she knew that I had you by my side, but she still made the choice not to leave, even in this situation."
"I...I really don't know how to continue talking to you. My dear, can you tell me what you are thinking now? Even if you scold me or hit me, it doesn't matter. I really feel very guilty for you.
, even though I didn’t want it to happen at first, it happened accidentally, in a way that I didn’t expect and was unprepared for.”
Is this a confession to Natalya? Maybe, Malashenko thinks it means this.
But Natalia in front of her still held her arm tightly, her expression unchanged, and she didn't mean to be angry at all.
That expression and state were like, uh... It was like I had known something for a long time, and I wasn't surprised to hear it now.
"Don't think of women too simply, kid."
Recalling the previous warnings given to him by his political commissar comrades, Malashenko suddenly felt a sense of "enlightenment".
Maybe this is exactly what the political commissar had predicted earlier.
But what Natalia said next after a brief period of calmness was even more unexpected and surprising to Comrade Ma, who looked blank.