Russia implements the traditional system of meal sharing. Now, what is presented to Natasha is a huge piece of fried steak with an alluring aroma.
The staple food is still the most common Russian rye bread slices, and the side dishes include smoked Kama perch, traditional sausage slices, pickles, creamy mushroom soup and cheese stewed potatoes.
Although Balzen stayed in a military hotel, and the restaurant here was very plainly decorated, the quality of the chef was by no means bad.
Because of his great achievements in fighting in Belarus, Balzen also received a large bonus. He knew that he would have to go to the purgatory battlefield after all. No matter how much money he had in his pocket, he would still be useless on the battlefield?
If you have the opportunity to enjoy life, no matter how much money you spend, it is worth it.
Balzen wants to invite Natasha to a meal, and the meal must be sumptuous.
He did spend a lot of money, but looking at the delicacies in front of him, the five hundred cloth flowers were really worth it.
So the meal was divided evenly among everyone, and it actually only cost one hundred rubles.
After returning to a safe place, Balzen was initially delighted with the huge sum of 20,000 rubles in his hand. However, after learning about the current prices of many in-demand commodities, he realized that the purchasing power of the huge sum of money had seriously shrunk.
There is still bread for sale in the market, but the price is already very expensive. In comparison, the high-end catering prices offered by the military hotel in Perm are already very cheap.
Natasha's eyes widened. Isn't that what happened to Balzen? Including several of Balzen's followers. At this moment, they were very lucky to have followed their division commander to Perm and smelled the delicious aroma of the food. All the busyness during the day had disappeared.
There is no trace.
Now, no one has taken the initiative to touch the knife and fork.
As the waiter handed over the opened bottle of red wine and filled it up for everyone in turn, Balzen, as the initiator of the banquet, decided to order the meal.
Before that, he suddenly asked: "Natasha, what do you think of this meal?"
"It's so sumptuous. The last time I had such a feast was in the Kremlin."
"You..." The girl's casual words really startled Balzen. "You actually went there?"
"Yes. I also accepted an interview with Comrade Stalin." The girl raised her head and smiled.
Balzen thought about it for a moment and felt relieved. The newspaper clearly stated that the girl had indeed accepted that person's reception.
Natasha swallowed her saliva and suddenly asked a little guiltily: "Sir, if we eat this today, would it be... too extravagant? Extravagance is not a good thing."
"Yes! Deliberately pursuing luxury can easily lead to corruption, but today is a special day, and we need a luxurious meal to celebrate it."
The girl nodded: "What you said makes sense. I have always eaten potatoes at school for a month, and bread at most twice a week. Everyone at school eats the same meal, but luckily I got it before I came to Perm.
Some cans, now I’ve finished all the cans.”
"Really? Your allowance level is very high, you can't treat yourself badly." Balzen said, "Listen, you are just hiding in the school. Your identity is still a soldier, a major in the active army. You don't have to
Too formal."
"Yes. I really don't want to show off."
"But you are already very flamboyant. Haha!" Balzen, who was in high spirits, suddenly took out his cigarette case. Thinking that this girl didn't like tobacco, he stuffed it back with regret. "Oh, my pseudonym is Kharkova, you have great ideas.
ah."
Listening to this, Natasha smiled shyly.
Balzen shrugged: "The general knows that you are deliberately living an ascetic life now, and he wants to criticize you. I think you know the general's attitude towards life best. No matter how difficult the conditions are, he never wants to lose money when it comes to food.
You and your family are just like potatoes, and they can be cooked in various ways and turned into a delicious meal. So take this opportunity to eat more meat. How about this, I will share half of my portion with you."
"Oh! No need! No need..." Natasha hurriedly shied away.
Now she felt as if she was being lectured by an elder, and then coaxed like a child. She didn't feel the slightest disgust, but this warm feeling was so happy.
The traditional drink favored by Russians is vodka. Where did it originate? Poland says it was invented by itself, and Russia claims it came from Kievan Rus. However, there is a lot of evidence that vodka was first used by the Poles as a medicinal drink to fight the Black Death.
It becomes hot and strong due to further processing of distillation.
Therefore, vodka also has its own drinking vessel, a special-shaped glass goblet. Wine is served in vodka drinking vessels, as is the case on the dining table.
Balzen stood up with a glass of wine, and everyone else stood up. Natasha didn't like the heat of vodka, but the red wine was very rare here, and she was very willing to try it.
For Balzen, he was the complete opposite. The so-called real man should drink vodka.
"Raise your glass, everyone! Comrades, here's to Comrade Speroskina."
"Ah! Sir, isn't it offensive for you to say that?"
"Okay, then I would like to pay tribute to Comrade Natasha." Balzen continued.
"I also respect you and hope that you will make great achievements in future battles, uncle. I hope that when I see you in the future, I can see the Gold Star Medal on your chest."
"Haha, this girl really knows how to talk." After saying that, Balzen drank it all in one gulp.
Drinking red wine should be done slowly. No matter how much wine Balzen has, a real man should drink it down in one gulp. Those heroines should also drink it down in one gulp.
What's more, Balzen is in a happy mood now, and this Natasha actually calls herself uncle...
He sat down and looked at the empty wine glass and muttered: "Red wine with fried steak, this was invented by the French. More than 20 years ago, the French still had the courage to fight the Germans. How come they have collectively become cowards after 20 years?"
?They surrendered without much resistance. On the other hand, those of us who love to drink vodka will soon be able to make the enemies flee. So this red wine..."
Balzen shook his head and quickly ordered his men to take out two bottles of vodka exclusively for the army from another linen bag.
It was said to be vodka, but Natasha, who was wide-eyed, could not see any clues. The two bottles did not have any labels on them, they were just glass bottles with transparent liquids and corks.
Balzen filled it for himself, and his followers also poured it for themselves.
"We Soviet citizens should drink this." Balzen asked Natasha with a smile: "My dear, do you want a drink too?"
"I……"
Natasha wanted to shirk it. If she could choose, she would prefer red wine. Vodka is a good thing. If she was to perform a mission in winter, she would definitely take a few sips to warm herself up, so forget it now.
But my old comrades have asked me this, and it would be really bad if I didn’t have a drink.
After much hesitation, Natasha could only nod: "Just one cup."
"Indeed, a drink is enough for you. The same goes for us!" Balzen looked around and sighed: "Tomorrow I have to go to the No. 2 Middle School to complete a process. I don't know how many elites can be recruited there."
"Of course, the more talents, the better, Comrade Commander." Sergey agreed.
"That's what it is." Balzen looked at the crystal clear liquid in the wine glass hesitantly. "They are very young. They took the initiative to join the army. I hope they are all lucky." After that, Balzen drank it all.
Natasha also drank this cup, and the hot feeling acted on her whole body. Her body was very distorted for a while, and then she regained her mood. Only a fire seemed to be ignited in her stomach, and her whole person became very excited.
The act of drinking took some time, and the fat-boiling steak cooled down enough to be eaten safely.
Everyone started to move, cutting the beef with serrated knives. Like Balzen, his movements were simpler and rougher. He cut a large piece of meat and stuffed it into his mouth, followed by a piece of bread.
It's as if he has a pair of big mouths like a crocodile and can swallow a lot of food in one breath.
Balzen did have this ability. Life in the battlefield forced him to eat the most food in the shortest time. Therefore, in the newly formed 324th Division he led, he also required his subordinates to finish a meal in a short time. Especially breakfast.
The soldiers immediately started physical training after breakfast.
Therefore, this kind of harsh training can cause gastroptosis in soldiers. Balzen is not aware of this. He only knows that if an enemy attack occurs while eating and the soldiers cannot enter combat mode instantly, then this meal will really be the last supper.
In comparison, Natasha is much more elegant.
After all, the fried steak was too greasy, but red wine had the effect of relieving greasiness. So she poured herself some more red wine and slowly tasted it to dilute the greasy and sour taste.
Natasha was actually quite capable of drinking. After all, she had to fight in the swamps in winter, and she also needed a little alcohol to stimulate her spirit occasionally in the battlefield.
After three rounds of wine and five flavors of food, when it comes to this kind of time, either the music ends and everyone disperses, or a group of people chat about random things, no matter whether it is the East or the West.
Balzen looked at Natasha who was blushing slightly, leaning against the soft leather chair, and muttered very lazily: "Natasha, there are actually a lot of talents among your classmates."
"Yes...many of them will take the entrance exam for Perm University after graduation."
"Haha? So I discovered a group of college students?"
"That's probably it."
"Perhaps some of them already have the qualifications of college students, at least in some aspects. Alas, some of them should go to college for further studies, but it is also a very good choice for them to join the army. Dear, today I interviewed a
Boy. He actually knows Morse code. He is a child of the post office, so he knows this. This kind of talent is really...it only takes a little learning to make a very good communicator."
Natasha, who was slightly drunk, was sweating. She sat calmly, knowing that if she sat still for a while, the alcohol in her body would be almost completely decomposed. This was the chemistry knowledge she learned in school.
Although Natasha's spirit was a little wandering, she also knew that Balzen was talking about Gil Ivanov.
"It's...it's him? Gil!"
"Huh? Yes, his name is Jill. It seems that he is your classmate?"
"Yes! He is my friend and classmate. He even treats me..."
Balzen sat up suddenly. Because of the alcohol, his movements were wide and he looked a little nervous.
"Haha! Is it admiration? You are very beautiful and talented. What young man wouldn't want to pursue you? It's just that many people just think about it. By the way, does that Jill know your true identity?"
Natasha nodded: "Yes, I told him personally. After all... I have an agreement with Kharkiv, and I cannot betray him. I don't want to make my new friend feel uncomfortable."
Youth is beautiful, but war is cruel. For boys and girls who are forced to fight side by side in order to survive, their comradeship is very likely to evolve into love, and further into family affection.
Many literary works currently popular in the Soviet cultural market describe the civil war period, and many of them eulogize the love of young soldiers.
There are only tens of thousands of people in the guerrilla republic in the swamp, and Natasha is a hero known to everyone. Her relationship with another young and brave warrior is also known to everyone and is blessed by everyone.
Balzen guessed everything at once, and said: "That Gil Ivanov, he is a talent, and my trip this time is to find such a talent."
"He is indeed a talent. If he becomes a soldier under your command, he will also accomplish great things."
"Of course. I really need communications soldiers now. Jill's ability to know code saves a lot of training time!"
Natasha nodded happily.
She has always regarded Gil as a friend, and she is even happy to see such a brother who cares and helps her, but the relationship between them should stop there.
Speaking of Jill, Natasha thought of another agreement.
He had already promised Gil to visit his home as a classmate. Now that Gil was about to join the army, could his promise to Gil be fulfilled?
Natasha quickly asked: "Sir, Gil is just signing up today, when will he go to your military camp?"
"This... probably within two days. If the recruitment department registers the recruits' military status quickly enough, and the school organizes the files of the students selected for this special recruit quickly, they may be able to set off on the 11th.
.”
"Ah! Is that the day when General Berekov arrives?"
Balzen nodded: "Indeed. Judging from your appearance, you are very worried about that Jill?"
"Yes! After all, we are already friends."
"Haha! You are a comrade. Well, I can take this opportunity to ask you, that Gil Ivanov. How is his physical fitness? Is he good at running? Is he also very good at studying?"
"Yes! If he works harder, he will have the ability to participate in the marathon."
"Ah, what a talent." Balzen slapped his thigh with joy, and continued talking: "Originally, I planned to throw him to the headquarters of the regiment-level troops. Now the situation has completely changed. This Gil, I have to arrange him
Come to the division headquarters! Natasha, the person you recommend is definitely a reliable talent, that’s it.”
"I……"
"Stop talking! I'm very clear-headed now. I'm not drunk. I've made up my mind, Sergey!" Balzen yelled rudely.
"arrive!"
"Take out your notebook and make a memo for me. Gil Ivanov is assigned to the communications platoon of the headquarters."
At this moment, Natasha still felt that Balzen's decision was too abrupt: "Sir, he is very young and has not even been on the battlefield. Is your decision a bit hasty?"
"My dear, I am giving him a chance! Think about yourself, General Berekov has given you a lot of opportunities, and you have grasped these meritorious opportunities to be where you are today. You don't have to worry about him! If Gil Ivan
If Nov doesn’t do well, I will still kick him to the grassroots level.”