Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 6, Section 6: A letter home brings good news; the Ministry of Transportation issues the letter of appointment.

The remaining letters, judging from the return addresses on the envelopes, fell into two categories: one from Jiaxing, Zhejiang, and the other from Changde, Hunan.

He looked at the ones from Jiaxing, Zhejiang first.

In terms of the wording, they were all letters to their parents, which, apart from letting them know they were safe, consisted of everyday matters and inquiries about the family.

From this information, we can see that Fang Wen's ancestral home is in the Jiaxing area. His family runs a rice business. They are not extremely wealthy, but their income is quite considerable.

Furthermore, the letter reveals that Fang Wen was the fifth child in his family and the eldest son of the third wife.

The internal relationships within this family must be very complicated, and there might even be some conflicts. Fang Wen couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

He put down the letter from home and opened the last type of letter.

The letter came from Changde, Hunan; it was a correspondence between my fourth sister and me.

The fourth sister was her biological sister, sharing the same mother and father. She married a tung oil merchant.

Therefore, she lived with her husband in Changde for many years to purchase tung oil.

Fang Wen knew nothing about the tung oil business, and the real Fang Wen was the same.

In the letter, the fourth sister also made a special explanation about the tung oil business.

Dear Fifth Brother:
Greetings. Since our last meeting, my sister has married someone else. It's a pity that my fifth brother can't attend my wedding because of his studies.

Whenever I think of the things I did with my fifth brother when we were children, I am always filled with longing. Today I have some free time, so I am writing this letter.

My mother is in good health and enjoys chatting with the neighbors every day, always in a good mood. My father is still the same as always, spending his days wandering around the rice shop and visiting old friends. You've left home to study, and the house is less filled with laughter, but knowing that your ambitions lie in all directions, we are still proud of you.

Since you asked about the tung oil business, I'll explain in detail. Your brother-in-law has been running the tung oil business for several years. Although it's not a highly profitable industry, it's stable. Tung oil is an essential coating for wood products, ships, and other items, and the demand is widespread. Your brother-in-law buys tung oil from southwestern Hunan, then transports it to Shanghai for refining and processing before selling it to various places. Although it's hard work, it's the foundation for supporting his family.

In recent years, my brother-in-law has been looking to expand his business and collaborate with merchants in neighboring states and counties to jointly develop the market. While there are risks, there are also opportunities. The family supports his idea and hopes to use this opportunity to take the business to the next level.

Fifth brother, now that you are far from home, you must study diligently and never forget the expectations of your family.

This short letter carries a deep affection; words cannot fully express my feelings. I eagerly await my fifth brother's return home so we can enjoy the joys of family life together. I hope you take good care of yourself and achieve success in your studies.

四姐
March 15, 1920
So it was tung oil.

Fang Wen remembered.

He remembered that before he traveled through time, a friend told him that he wanted to invest in dozens of acres of land to plant tung oil trees.

My friend talked a lot about the uses of tung oil at the time, and also mentioned some of the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union in the tung oil trade with China during World War II.

It can be said that tung oil played a very important role in China's international relations during World War II.

It seems that tung oil has antiseptic properties, which can be used to protect military facilities and weapons from oxidation and corrosion, and it can also be used to manufacture ammunition and other military equipment.

In addition, it can be used in a wide range of applications such as coatings, pharmaceuticals, and inks.

After putting down the letter, Fang Wen wanted to write two letters home to the family in this body, explaining that he had graduated early and joined China Airlines as a civil aviation pilot. He also wanted to ask his fourth sister to invest more in the tung oil business, not to miss out on this lucrative business that remained strong even during wartime.

What if I have to write a letter?
Although he gained the ability to pilot an airplane through the remaining memories of this body.

However, the writing of traditional Chinese characters and the unique style of writing from the Republican era are not easy to imitate.

In this era, the vernacular used for communication and the language used in letters are somewhat different.

He sat up in bed, looked at his roommates, but had no intention of asking them to write for him. Instead, he left the dormitory and strolled around Nanyuan Town outside the school.

Nanyuan was a royal garden and hunting ground during the Qing Dynasty. Now, in the Republic of China era, people have gradually moved in and settled there, forming a sizable town.

Walking through Nanyuan Town, Fang Wen searched for what he was looking for.

Ghostwriting family letters.

This was a means of livelihood for impoverished intellectuals in ancient times, and it existed in many places, becoming the most convenient way for illiterate people to contact their families.

He walked to the back half of the street and saw an old man wearing a cotton-padded coat and long robe, with a cloth curtain hanging behind him, on which was written the words "Writing letters home".

Fang Wen walked over and sat down in front of the old man.

The old man glanced at Fang Wen, somewhat surprised, but remained silent.

"How much does it cost to write two letters home?" Fang Wen asked.

The old man stroked his beard. "One silver dollar."

"I'll do the talking, and you can polish it up, is that alright?"

"Of course, that's what I do."

The old man was very displeased with Fang Wen's doubts, and immediately ground up his brush and ink, preparing to write.

After some thought, Fang Wen expressed what he wanted to say in plain language.

"Dear Father and Mother, I have graduated ahead of schedule and have also received a job as a pilot for China Airlines in Shanghai. The timeframe is a bit tight; I need to report for duty in two weeks, followed by on-the-job training. I won't be able to come home for a while, so I'm writing to inform you."

Without a second thought, the old man picked up his pen and began to write. After he finished, Fang Wen glanced at it.

"My son has graduated ahead of schedule and has secured a job as a pilot for China Airlines in Shanghai. This is truly an honor for him and a source of pride for our family. However, time flies and there is no time to slack off. He must report for duty within half a month, and there is still the heavy responsibility of further learning on his shoulders."

Thinking of this, I feel a great sense of urgency, and it is difficult for me to leave home for the time being. Therefore, I am writing this letter to inform you, my dear parents. I hope you will not worry, as I will certainly work diligently and strive to live up to your expectations.

Shanghai, though bustling and noisy, is a city I miss. Though I long for the warmth and tranquility of home, my duties necessitate this temporary separation from my family. Once I have achieved success in my career and have a stable job, I will surely return home to enjoy the joys of family life with you both.

I pray that my dear parents enjoy good health and long life. Though I am far away, my heart is with home, and I think of you both constantly. I hope you take care of yourselves and will not worry about me.

After this revision, the same meaning takes on a different flavor.

it should be OK.

Fang Wen then asked the old man to revise and polish the vernacular text he had written to his fourth sister, and then returned to school with the two letters.

The letter was mailed out, and the family matter was considered resolved.

Next, we await the letter of appointment from the Ministry of Transportation.

Three days later, a black sedan drove into the school.

The school principal and teachers came out to greet him, and then called Fang Wen to the school auditorium.

Meanwhile, fellow students from the same cohort also came to witness the ceremony.

In the small auditorium, a representative from the Ministry of Transportation presented a framed letter of appointment.

"Today, we hereby issue a letter of appointment to Fang Wen, appointing him as a special flight pilot specialist for China Airlines, responsible for flight operations and subsequent training."

Amid applause, Fang Wen accepted the letter of appointment, thus obtaining his first job after his rebirth.

(End of this chapter)