"I give you a year’s leave. During this time, find a woman to marry and then have a child. If you can’t complete the task I’ve given you, I will personally kick you out of my army," Malin His Excellency said with a very serious expression.
The young Tuojin fell silent for a moment, then the lad with no whiskers on his lips shook his head: "His Excellency Malin! I’m not even twenty years old!"
"I know, you lied about your age, your identity. It is precisely for this reason that I’m telling you to find a woman. As the Tide of the Dead comes, everyone in this world will face death. I don’t want the Spencer family to die out because of my decisions. So, go find a girl to marry. Only when you have a child will I let you return to the army. Understood?" His Excellency Malin’s expression remained very serious, and it looked like his orders were absolute.
In the end, Tuojin could only choose to salute: "Then may I return to my hometown... I, I have a girl there who I’ve liked since childhood."
Thinking of his Elma, he now, as a major, should be able to propose to her, oh, for heaven’s sake, she better not already be married.
"Elsa Gold Doma?" His Excellency Malin asked with a smile.
"Yes, Your Excellency! How did you know, Your Excellency!" Tuojin’s eyes bulged.
"Your mother told me. She said if you were to look for a woman back home, it would certainly be her. But your mother also said that once you left home, you would fall for the girls of the big city. I made a bet with your mother, saying a boy’s heart is best devoted to his first love; you wouldn’t change. It seems now I have won. So, congratulations, your little Elsa is neither married nor engaged, and I’ve already paid your engagement gift. You can now return in triumph to marry your Elsa," His Excellency Malin said, ending with a laugh.
The senior officers present laughed heartily.
Tuojin saluted his Excellency Malin, torn between embarrassment, surprise, and sheer happiness: "Thank you for your gift, Your Excellency!"
Having said that, he prepared to skedaddle from under the watchful eyes of His Excellency Malin and the other officers.
Then he was stopped by His Excellency Malin again. He drew a Revolver from the holster on his waist, pointed it at Tuojin, then laughing, let go. The Revolver flipped in his hand: "Come, young man, this is my standard issue, now it’s yours."
It was the gift of a gun! Only the most trusted officers and non-commissioned officers chosen by His Excellency Malin could ever hope to receive such a high honor. Tuojin trembled as he took the gun from His Excellency Malin: "Your Excellency, are you truly giving it to me?"
"Yes, after you return, continue to serve me and this world. But, I will have someone investigate. If it turns out your wife doesn’t have a child, then I’ll kick you out of my army. Remember that,"
"I assure you the mission will be completed, Your Excellency!" Tuojin stowed away the gun, and then saluted once more.
"Very good! Full of spirit!" His Excellency Malin smiled as he straightened Tuojin’s collar: "Go forth, my Commissar, back to your hometown, and show everyone the spirit and physical presence a soldier should have."
"Yes, Your Excellency. As I walk out, I will represent this collective, serving you and the world, Your Excellency."
"It is I and the world who serve, Commissar Tuojin, dismissed."