Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 66, First Flight and Press Interview, Secret Meeting
Eighteen passengers entered the airport: ten were regular passengers carrying luggage, and eight were reporters with cameras.

The reporters followed behind, raising their Leica cameras—symbols of their identity—ready to capture every newsworthy moment.

A staff member from Taishan Airlines announced loudly at the security checkpoint: "Ladies and gentlemen, for everyone's safety, it is strictly forbidden to carry knives, firearms, or other dangerous items when boarding the plane. If any passengers are carrying such items, please hand them over to avoid delaying your journey."

The passengers looked at each other, but no one answered.

Seeing that no one responded, the staff member stepped aside and said, "Please go in from here and complete the ticket check."

Passengers lined up to enter the security gate, checked their ticket numbers on the other side of the gate, and then boarded the plane.

There were also instances where the security gate alarmed.

After being searched, without exception, knives, metal objects, and valuables such as silver coins and gold bars were found in their luggage and personal belongings.

The knives will be temporarily confiscated and given to Sun Debiao for safekeeping. They will be returned to the owner after disembarking from the plane. Other metal items will not be dealt with once it is determined that they pose no threat.

This unusual inspection method did not cause any resentment among passengers. Instead, they felt that it did provide a guarantee for their safety, since the inspection could confirm that no one was carrying dangerous items, making the travel environment much safer.

These scenes were also captured by the eight reporters behind them and used as material for this report.

After all passengers have completed security checks, they will be guided to board the plane.

The Boeing 80 looks much bigger than the Detroit Piston next to it from a distance, and those who have flown before can't help but wonder what the interior of the Boeing 80 is like.

Upon entering, I saw five rows of neatly arranged seats, which looked as spacious as a train carriage.

Upon sitting down, I discovered it was a soft seat!

The plane then took off, and the elegant flight attendants in the front row proactively announced: "Good morning, passengers. This is a direct flight from Shanghai to Fuyang operated by Taishan Airlines. The flight will last three and a half hours. If you feel thirsty, please let me know. We have hot coffee, hot tea, and warm sugar water on board. As the plane is in the test flight phase, we are not currently serving in-flight meals. Also, there is a pull-out reading light in front of your seats. If you find it too dark or need to read, you can use it."

Xie Yuwen from Juyuancheng Money Exchange is indeed very suitable to be a flight attendant. Her speech is clear and fluent, and her demeanor is generous, which has earned her the respect of passengers.

Some asked her for hot drinks, some asked her how to turn on the reading light, and some reporters wanted to take her picture.

At first, Xie Yuwen was a little nervous and uncomfortable, but gradually she became more at ease.

Sun Debiao, a flight attendant and security guard also sitting in the front row, dared not be careless at all.

He kept a close eye on the movements of the passengers on the plane, putting himself on the most vigilant standpoint.

In the pilot's seat, Fang Wen had a more comprehensive grasp of the aircraft's movements than Sun Debiao.

With his mechanical perception, he has an integrated view of the outside of the aircraft, and he can also clearly perceive the situation in various places inside the aircraft.

Just as he understands the operation of each mechanical component inside an airplane, he also has a grasp of what the passengers are doing.

This result revealed a new ability that Fang Wen had not discovered.

With this, the possibility of Japanese people attacking you on the plane can be better eliminated.

Taishan Airlines' maiden flight has concluded. Ten regular passengers disembarked in Fuyang, while eight journalists returned to Shanghai on the plane.

After disembarking, these reporters wrote articles and published them in newspapers.

Through newspapers, people learned more about Taishan Airlines and the Boeing 80.

Some newspapers published lavish praise.

Some newspapers, however, reported in a more pragmatic manner.

It was those pragmatic reports that made Taishan Airlines very valuable in the eyes of people from all walks of life in Shanghai.

In the report, the reporter gave an example.

In the past, the fastest way to travel to the Central Plains was by train, followed by a journey by water and then by land.

The former takes about two days, while the latter takes three to five days. Regardless of which you choose, the journey is far from pleasant.

You still have to guard against this and that, and various expenses are inevitable.

But now, it only takes three and a half hours to get to Fuyang.

Fuyang has just undergone a bandit suppression operation, so the area is safe. As long as you take the newly established local transportation system, you can travel to surrounding cities.

You can get to your destination in about a day.

This new mode of transportation greatly saves travel time and is also safe.

Compared to this, the airfare of nearly 30 yuan doesn't seem so expensive to some people.

It is precisely because of this that Taishan Airlines' business is booming. Tickets from Shanghai to Fuyang are always sold out in advance, and flights from Fuyang to Shanghai are also more than 80% full.

The only regret was that the Japanese didn't send anyone to cause trouble on the plane. If they had come, Fang Wen would have dared to throw them off the plane.

1932 5 Month 26 Day.

The Boeing 80 returned to Shanghai from Fuyang.

Watching the passengers leave, Fang Wen got out of the driver's seat.

"We've finished flying again. Let's go, it's time for us to go home."

"Alright, wanna get together tonight?" Sun Debiao asked.

“Okay, same place as always,” Fang Wen replied, looking at Xie Yuwen.

"General Manager, I'm not going. My family is waiting for me to come home." Xie Yuwen smiled sweetly. During this time, she has become more and more poised and generous. As she interacts with more people, she has also become more mature. But that's only on the plane. After getting off the plane, she becomes a gentle and elegant traditional young lady again.

Fang Wen understood and didn't say anything more.

He then returned to his residence outside the airport.

Fang Shouxin, who had been waiting at home, immediately reported the news.

"Young Master, we've found the person you asked me to investigate."

Fang Wen was overjoyed. He had asked Fang Shouxin to investigate the person who had given him a warning at the Shiliupu Wharf. If it weren't for his warning, things would have been dangerous.

"Come, sit down and talk."

“During this time, Shunzi and I took turns going to the Shiliupu Wharf to inquire. The local rickshaw drivers were initially very wary of us, but later someone recognized me and gave us a clue. He said that the person was not a local, but he had seen him in Hongkou.”

"Why would he go to the Japanese territory?" Fang Wen asked in surprise.

"That's what I thought too. He helped the young master a lot that day, how could he be related to the Japanese? In order to find out the situation, I went to Hongkou to inquire. As a result, I didn't find anything there, but I was stopped by a stranger who gave me this."

Fang Shouxin took out a wax ball.

Fang Wen took the wax ball and squeezed it hard, causing the outer wax block to crack open and revealing the strip of paper inside.

Unfold the note; it reads:

"Don't look for me anymore, it's dangerous. I'll come find you. Wait for me at the pub you usually go to. If I'm there, I'll be there before 10 o'clock."

Fang Wen took out a windproof kerosene lighter and lit the paper strip.

"Uncle Fang, I won't be having dinner at home tonight."

After saying that, he changed into a long robe, put on a scarf and a wide-brimmed hat, and walked out of the room.

(End of this chapter)