Chapter 3003: Flying Is a Living Hell!
Jack brought this unique "luxury and top-grade" gift to Malashenko.
Although I don’t know who the female gunsmith named Mrs. Goldstein is, I have never heard of such a person in this life, and I don’t remember her in my past life.
But for the reputation of "a .45-caliber artist", Comrade Ma, who has never eaten pork and has seen pigs running, felt that since he could be called such a respectful name, he must have enough reputation. And the gun is really good, I like it!
The old guy Browning did make a good gun. The Colt M1911 can definitely be called a classic. With such an "exclusive treasure" engraved with his name, it is impossible to say that Comrade Lao Ma is unhappy.
Thinking of his current identity and popularity, he thought that if this gun were to be valued again in the 21st century, it would definitely be unstoppable for one apartment in Shanghai. If not, he would have to have two apartments, and it would have to be a flat-floor apartment. kind.
Realizing that he had thought too much and gone too far, Malashenko took back his soul. He thanked him cheerfully and put the pistol back into the wooden box and put it away properly.
A complete set of miscellaneous items like this, from the gunsmith's handwritten letter to the gun itself, including the magazine, will be greatly reduced in value if a small part is lost, so it makes sense to keep the complete set properly.
However, after accepting the gift, Malashenko felt that if he accepted it so straightforwardly without any expression, he would somewhat owe Jack some favors.
After all, the last time I gave him a gun, it was in the name of an official prize, to lend flowers to the Buddha, and to handle official business.
But Jack, the boy, came here based on personal friendship this time, and he also presented such a valuable and unique treasure.
Malashenko, who knew that the difference in meaning was huge, was thinking of ways to make amends. He didn't want to owe Jack such a huge favor.
Otherwise, when our respective camps fall out one day in the future, you kid will jump out with a loud "wow" and yell about the guy on the other side of the wall, Malashenko, is taking advantage of me and still owes me a favor with interest. , what will you do then? We are also people who want to save face and cannot lose this part.
Thinking of this, Malashenko, who already had an idea, immediately faced Jack and spoke quietly.
"By the way, do you want to accept the gift? I just have something to give you. I hope you don't dislike it."
"Ah? Give it to me?"
Sitting with Malashenko on two single sofas next to each other, with a small tea table in between.
At this almost face-to-face distance, the obvious expression of surprise on Jack's face could be seen in Malashenko's eyes.
"What is it? I mean I'm looking forward to it. If you are willing to give it to me, then I think I will be happy to accept it no matter what it is."
"Um"
To be honest, Malashenko was really reluctant to give this thing to Jack.
After all, this is something that has been with him from the first second he traveled to this world to this day. It is said to have witnessed Malashenko's transformation from a dead man in existing history to starting from scratch without using plug-ins. The entire process of becoming a living legend cannot be overstated.
But when things got to this point, the things Jack gave him were too valuable. He was leaving soon and had no time to prepare anything else for him. Whether he would be able to return to Berlin in the future or whether he would be able to meet this boy again even if he returned to Berlin was uncertain. Malashenko did not want to owe this valuable favor with interest for the rest of his life.
So, I have no other choice, just give it away.
"Although she is very old, a little broken, and has a lot of scratches, she did accompany me through the entire process of the Great Patriotic War."
"Even during the military parades in Moscow and Berlin, she was always by my side. To be honest, I almost felt emotional just holding it in my hand."
"But since it's time to catch up today, it's better to hit the sun than to choose another day, then she will be yours."
"Be kind to her, so that no matter where you are in the future, even if we never see each other again, you will definitely think of me when you see this thing, right? Huh?"
""
Looking at Malashenko, he pulled out a sidearm from the holster on his waist belt, a Tokarev TT33 pistol that was almost bald even with its sleeve.
Seeing this thing being handed to him by Malashenko, he used words and actions to signal himself to accept it.
Jack, who instantly understood how valuable this thing was, was so flattered that he almost jumped up from the sofa as if there was a spring under his butt, and spoke in an unbelievable tone.
"Is this appropriate? I know this thing must be very, very important to you. Maybe you should leave this gun as a family heirloom to future generations. If not, you can donate it to your Soviet War Museum for collection. I think if I It’s really, really too valuable to accept it.”
Regarding Jack's hesitation to evade, Malashenko just thought that the boy was just going through the motions and blurted out the words without thinking.
"Since I can take it out, I have made it clear that I want you to accept it. If I were to discuss it with you, I wouldn't take it out now, but should still keep it in my holster.
""
Looking at Malashenko's already somewhat "displeased" expression, even though he knew it was deliberately pretending, and after taking a look at the pistol that was clearly displayed on the small tea table in front of him, he really thought from the bottom of his heart. Jack, who wanted this thing, finally nodded.
"Okay, I will take good care of it and put it away, and I will even treat it as a family heirloom and leave it to my children. As long as I am alive for one day, I will not let this thing go to the market because of money. , You can rest assured of this, old friend, this will be a testimony of our friendship.”
At this point, Malashenko's favor transaction of "exchanging tattered iron guns for silver-edged guns" can be regarded as completed in accordance with the principle of 1:1 fair and reciprocal transactions.
However, Malashenko had no intention of actually using this thing that looked more like a work of art than a weapon on the battlefield.
After sending away the pistol that had been with him throughout the Great Patriotic War, Malashenko, whose holster was empty, had to find himself a handy weapon to load before sending Jack away and actually leaving Berlin.
"That's the gun you shot throughout the Great Patriotic War, and you just gave it away like this? Okay, really okay, that's really generous."
He was holding a brand new Tokarev TT33 that he had just picked out from the arsenal. He was cleaning and maintaining the gun by himself. After hearing Lavrinenko's complaint, Malashenko did not explain much, and then Then he pointed towards the small box on the table with his eyes.
"Here, take a look at that thing before you talk."
"Um?"
Lavrinenko, who didn't know what kind of treasure was in the box, opened it and took a look. The two eyes immediately stared like cow eggs and couldn't move away. Seeing this posture, Malashenko couldn't help laughing and cursing at the blank stare. Open your mouth.
"You didn't have this expression when you went down to inspect the field hospital, right? I guess, is a pistol that rare?"
"turtle"
As if he didn't listen to Malashenko's words, Lavrinenko's eyes were like iron being sucked by a magnet, and Lavrinenko couldn't move away from the gun. He held the gun like a sacred object in both hands. He held it up in front of him and observed it carefully. After looking at it, he was full of praise on the spot.
"How can this fucking gun be a gun? This is obviously a treasure! Old horse."
""
Malashenko, who glanced sideways and smiled, said nothing and continued to wipe the new gun brought from the warehouse with a gun cleaning cloth. He just sat here and quietly watched Lavrinenko go crazy.
"Damn! It stands to reason that I have handed over many Nazi commemorative guns and gift guns before, but this is really the first time I have seen this. Those things I have seen before are like dirt hammers and tatters compared with this guy! This gun There are also foreign codes engraved on the body!”
"That's because the things you've seen before are, firstly, old, and secondly, they were made to order in batches."
"And this is the only thing you can find in the whole world. Who knows how many dollars Jack spent to make this thing? The date on the gun is written, it was just last month. It’s newly made. Jack hired a top gunsmith to hand-make it. It’s completely different from the stuff coming off the assembly line.”
"Okay, it's really okay"
Still sighing, he put the gun back into the wooden box, and continued to look at the wooden box for a while, almost seeing flowers. Then, with a lot of reluctance and sigh, he closed the delicate small wooden box and buttoned it back. .
"You said this Yankee major general is rich. Just this thing. I guess our brothers' combined salary for a whole year, no, two years, might not be able to buy it."
"Two years? Ha"
After getting the new gun, loading the magazine, putting on the safety, putting it back in the holster and putting it away, Malashenko, who knew very well how much this thing cost, then continued to speak seriously.
"You underestimate the material luxury of capital society, brother."
"The materials and craftsmanship cost for this thing, don't tell us that it will take two years for us to make it. Let's see if we can make it with the money we saved for five years without eating or drinking."
"Besides, I bet that if Jack only relied on his personal connections, he wouldn't be able to get it. A major general like him wouldn't be that big in terms of money or cards."
"That is to say, her wife's family has this ability. Those capitalists who belong to the upper class, even if they don't care about Jack's face, they still have to look at his father-in-law's face to fawn over this popular young general. There are 140 million in the United States. Ten thousand people, and what about the senators? There are only one hundred and ten people, let alone a very famous veteran senator.”
"As for Jack, he happens to have this need. The big boss satisfies his needs and asks him to do something. The deal is done. Jack will go home and talk to his father-in-law about the deal between them. The transactions are one after another and linked together. If the negotiation is good, you don't even need to spend a penny. The most valuable things cannot be bought with money. This is the rule of people in their circle. "
""
Lavrinenko, who was confused by Malashenko's "Riddler", felt his head pounding just listening to it, let alone thinking about it. Even his enthusiasm for this precious gun was extinguished in an instant. More than half of it.
It seems that this thing just looks beautiful, nothing more.
After going around all the way, he finally finished all the matters that needed to be dealt with before leaving. Malashenko, who boarded the plane with peace of mind, did not use the train to conduct strategic maneuvers on the road with the Second Division of Varosha.
Of course, the reason for this is also very simple. The military headquarters of the leadership army must arrive and be established first, so that it can facilitate the coordination and handover of many superior and subordinate affairs.
The old propeller passenger planes of this era cannot fly too far in one go. Malashenko did not go straight from Berlin to the Far East. Instead, he stopped in many cities, landed and took off many times, and finally arrived at the destination where he no longer needed to take a plane. It was also one of the main cities in the Soviet Far East-Chita.
According to the written documents issued by the superiors to the military headquarters of the Leader's Army, Malashenko and the Leader's Army will transfer to the railway in Chita, and then continue to travel along the Far East railway line to a city that Malashenko is very familiar with-Khabarovsk, the old Boli, which is only a line away from the Northeast.
The final deployment and departure position of the Leader's Army is also here. The equipment, all the necessary materials and supplies of the troops will be transported to the place in succession by rail transportation, supplemented by road and air transportation.
The vanguard of the 1st Division of Kurbalov, which took action in advance, has arrived here, waiting for the commander to lead the military organs to meet up.
After getting off the plane, Malashenko had half a day to adjust his schedule, eat and rest. His current condition is really not very good.
The comfort is poor and the flight is slow. Not only is the flight short, but it also has to take off and land many times.
Therefore, taking a long-distance flight these days has nothing to do with enjoying the journey. In the words of Comrade Lao Ma, it is "purely suffering."
Malashenko feels that his body is strong enough, but his current condition is still uncomfortable all over his body. He feels that his neck creaks when he twists it.
Malashenko, who doesn't want to suffer this kind of torture again, secretly swears that he will not take this plane again after fighting the battle in Northeast China. Even if he takes a train to go back slowly, at least he can have a sleeper and sleep well, which is much better than taking a long-distance old plane like being tortured by an electric chair.
"Uh, let me look at this neck. The train is at 8 o'clock tonight, and it's 1 o'clock in the afternoon now. It should be enough time to have a meal and then take a nap."
"Let's go. I'm starving. Let's find something to eat after we leave the airport."
Malachenko, who was mumbling to himself, accompanied by the political commissar and Lavrinenko and his party, carrying large and small bags and various luggage, was unexpected.
As soon as he left the airport, he saw the person waiting for him in front of the convoy outside the airport, on the roadside, and it turned out to be his boss, Vatutin, who seemed to have been waiting there for a long time.