red moscow

Chapter 3138

Sokov, in his wheelchair, was slowly wheeled into the spacious but simply furnished living room, the wheels making a soft scraping sound on the floor. Asya stood beside him, a concerned smile on her face, and introduced them to him, saying, “Misha, our bedroom is on the second floor, it’s well-lit and quiet, but considering that you can’t live without a wheelchair now, it would be very inconvenient for you to go up and down the stairs. So until you can walk normally again, we’ll stay on the first floor for now, okay? That way it will be easier for you to come and go every day.”

Sokov thought Asiya's words made a lot of sense. He was indeed unable to leave his wheelchair now, and if he lived upstairs, he would have to trouble the guards to carry him down every time he wanted to go out, which would add a lot of burden. He had always been someone who didn't like to trouble others and always tried to handle things himself, so he readily agreed to Asiya's suggestion, nodding and saying, "Okay, Asiya, you've thought of everything. I'll stay on the first floor for a while until my legs are better."

Just as Asya was signaling to the guards to help Sokov into his first-floor bedroom, the black telephone in the corner of the living room suddenly rang loudly, breaking the silence. Gulia quickly went over, gracefully picked up the receiver, and held it to her ear, saying in a clear and polite voice, "This is General Sokov's residence. Who are you?"

After listening for a moment, Gulia's expression turned serious. She took the receiver away from her ear and turned to report to Sokov, who was sitting in a wheelchair: "Comrade General, it's a call from the gatekeeper. Marshal Zhukov has arrived and just entered the villa. It looks like he's heading straight this way."

Upon hearing this, Sokov's expression tightened immediately, and he quickly instructed the guard pushing his wheelchair, "Turn around quickly, I need to go out to greet Comrade Marshal! We can't let him wait for us." The guard didn't dare to delay and quickly and skillfully turned the wheelchair around, pushing it rapidly towards the gate.

Before the wheelchair even reached the door, Zhukov strode in with several officers. His steps were firm and powerful, he was dressed in a neat military uniform, and his face bore its usual stern expression. As soon as he entered, his gaze swept around the room, as if assessing everything. The atmosphere in the living room instantly became solemn.

Sokov's wheelchair was parked in the middle of the living room. Hearing the sound of boots clicking behind him, he immediately realized that Gulya and the guards were saluting Zhukov. He quickly raised his right hand to his forehead and said respectfully, "Hello, Comrade Marshal! It's a pleasure to see you again."

Zhukov strode forward, reached out his hands, pulled Sokov's saluting hand down from his forehead, and grasped it tightly. His eyes shone with relief, and he said with some emotion, "Misha, you've finally woken up. I was so happy to hear that you've woken up. But I was too busy yesterday to visit you, please don't mind."

Sokov smiled and shook his head, replying sincerely, "How could that be, Comrade Marshal? I heard that you visited me many times while I was in a coma, and even when you took up your post in the Odessa Military District, you personally arranged for someone to bring me here. I am filled with gratitude for everything you have done."

After releasing Sokov's hand, Zhukov turned to a lieutenant colonel from the Ministry of Internal Affairs behind him and said in his usual authoritative voice, "Lieutenant Colonel Bondarenko, now that General Sokov has awakened, you can give him that personnel appointment letter."

Lieutenant Colonel Bondarenko, whose name was called, responded and quickly took out a thick leather envelope from his satchel. He walked up to Sokov, presented it to him with both hands, and said politely, "Comrade General, this is your letter of appointment as Deputy Commander of the Odessa Military District. Please keep it safe!"

After thanking Bondarenko, Sokov took the envelope, carefully opened it, and pulled out the appointment letter to examine it closely. Having confirmed its contents, he casually handed it to Asya, who was standing beside him. Asya took the document, a proud expression on her face.

"Comrade Marshal!" Sokov looked up at Zhukov and asked curiously, his eyes filled with inquiry, "Do you also live in this compound?" "Yes, Misha, I also live in this compound," Zhukov replied gently. "I live in Villa No. 1, Lieutenant General Lukin lives in Villa No. 3, and you live in Villa No. 7."

Sokov hadn't even noticed which villa he was staying in before he entered the house. Hearing Zhukov say this, a smile appeared on his face. According to Russian custom, 7 is the most auspicious number: "Comrade Marshal, it seems you're quite considerate of me, actually letting me stay in villa number seven. That's a lucky number."

"I hope this villa will bring you good luck." After saying this, Zhukov asked curiously, "Misha, you were doing well in the hospital, why did you suddenly decide to be discharged? If I hadn't just passed by here and seen people moving around in the yard, and sent someone to ask the guard on duty at the gate, I wouldn't have known you were back."

"Comrade Marshal!" Upon hearing Zhukov's question, Sokov replied respectfully, "I also wanted to stay in the hospital a little longer until my injuries healed before being discharged. But yesterday afternoon, something unexpected happened in the hospital. An unidentified man broke into my floor and had a conflict with the guards who were chasing him. For safety reasons, I decided to leave the hospital and go home to recuperate."

Upon hearing this, Zhukov frowned: "Such a thing happened? Why didn't anyone report it to me?"

After saying this, Zhukov turned to Bondarenko behind him and instructed, "Lieutenant Colonel, immediately inquire with the hospital about what happened."

“Yes, Comrade Marshal.” Bondarenko nodded, then politely asked Sokov, “General Sokov, I would like to borrow the phone in your villa to make a call to the hospital. Would you mind?”

“Agreed, of course I agree.” Sokov was also eager to know the true identity of the man from yesterday, so he readily agreed to Bondarenko’s request: “The phone is over there, feel free to use it.”

While Bondarenko was on the phone, Zhukov sat down on the sofa next to him, facing Sokov: "Misha, now that you're awake and have received your official appointment, what are your plans for the future?"

"Comrade Marshal!" Sokov was unaware of the current situation in Odessa and therefore could not give Zhukov a satisfactory answer. He could only carefully choose his words and say, "I am not familiar with the situation in the city and I am afraid I cannot offer you any valuable advice for the time being."

(End of this chapter)