Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 7, Part 7: A Thousand Miles in the Republic of China Era - A Unique Train Journey
Having received the letter of appointment, I had less than seven days left to report to Shanghai.

Although there is plenty of time, going early has its advantages. You can learn about the situation there in advance, which will make it easier to start working after you join the company.

Fang Wen still follows the same approach to joining a new company, but he doesn't know how that will be in this day and age.

He carefully put away the letter of appointment, packed his personal belongings into a small suitcase, and set off lightly without taking anything else.

Teacher Liu, who was waiting outside the dormitory, handed him two paper tubes containing silver dollars.

"Here are 120 silver dollars, including a 100-dollar stipend from the Ministry of Transportation and a 20-dollar bonus from the school. You can use this before next month's paycheck."

120 silver dollars is equivalent to a teacher's monthly salary. To receive this bonus before even starting work shows that the benefits are excellent.

Fang Wen carefully put away the silver dollars and, accompanied by Instructor Liu and his fellow students, boarded a military vehicle and headed to Beiping Railway Station.

The military vehicle stopped outside the train station, and the group got out and escorted Fang Wen into the waiting room. While waiting for the train, they exchanged pleasantries.

After a while, a station staff member called out through a loudspeaker.

"The train to Tianjin is about to leave. Take your tickets and line up to enter the station."

Fang Wen said goodbye to his teachers and classmates, and filed into the back of the line. When he got to the ticket inspector, a corner of the ticket stub was cut off with a pair of scissors, which was considered a ticket check.

The crowd entered the platform, where a train was already waiting. Passengers found their carriages and boarded.

Fang Wen boarded the train in carriage number three and looked around the carriage.

Because it was a premium carriage, the ticket price was twice that of a regular ticket. The environment here was nice, and although it was full, it wasn't crowded.

He found his seat, a window seat in the middle of the carriage.

Beside him was a middle-aged man in a suit and leather shoes, and opposite him were a woman with her hair in a bun and a girl in a school uniform.

He walked over, sat down in his seat, and placed his suitcase on his right side, close to the carriage wall.

beep.
As the train whistle sounded and the carriages began to sway, the passengers gradually became more lively.

The middle-aged man took out a small bamboo basket, took out some dried fruits, peanuts and other snacks, and placed them on the shelf in front of him.

"Here are some snacks my wife prepared. Since you are my fellow travelers and friends, why don't you try some?"

Fang Wen waved his hand in refusal.

The female student opposite reached out her hand, but before she could take it, the woman with her hair in a bun slapped her hand and pulled it back.

The woman smiled and said, "Sir, you're too kind. Are you from Tianjin?"

"Go over there to transfer, I have business in Shanghai," the middle-aged man replied.

The woman with her hair in a bun revealed a hint of joy: "We're also going to Shanghai to visit relatives, so we can travel together."

The middle-aged man looked at the two women in surprise: "Fifty hours, and there will be delays along the way. It could take up to three days if things go slowly. How did you two frail women come up with the idea of ​​traveling alone? Isn't that a bit reckless?"

“My dad is seriously ill over there, of course I have to go and take care of him,” the female student replied.

"So that's how it is. Your filial piety is commendable. Leave this to me. Just follow me closely along the way." The middle-aged man patted his chest and assured her, which made the woman with her hair in a bun feel warmer.

Fang Wen watched coldly from the sidelines.

From an outsider's perspective, he felt that the middle-aged man was a bit problematic. Most people are very cautious when they go out, and it's rare to find someone so enthusiastic.

But you can't just guess about these things; what if they're genuinely kind-hearted?

Therefore, he didn't get involved and turned to stare blankly at the scenery outside the window.

I could hear the conversation between the three of them from time to time.

Along the way, the middle-aged man actually became acquainted with the mother and daughter, until the train arrived at Tianjin Station.

After getting off the train, Fang Wen took out his itinerary for his trip south.

In this day and age, traveling thousands of miles is not so convenient.

Although there are trains, many sections of the route are not continuous, requiring several transfers.

Taking the train from Beijing to Tianjin is the first stop.

Then transfer to the Jinpu Railway in Tianjin to reach Pukou in Nanjing.

Then take a boat from Pukou across the Yangtze River to Xiaguan.

Take the Ninghu Railway again from Xiaguan; Ninghu is the railway from Nanjing to Shanghai.

The entire journey involves three transfers and a boat trip across the Yangtze River. As the middle-aged man said, it should take over 50 hours, which is probably correct. If there are delays or missed trains, the journey will take even longer.

Fang Wen couldn't help but sigh that, given the current transportation situation, taking an airplane was indeed the most convenient and fastest way to travel.

He thus understood the importance of China Airlines. Although it could only carry 6 passengers at a time, wealthy people would never care about such a thing.

Regaining his composure, he went to the ticket office and bought a ticket for the Jinpu section of the train, but he still had to wait three hours before departure.

There's nowhere to go for the next three hours; I can only sit in the waiting room and wait.

The middle-aged man and the mother and daughter also bought tickets and entered the waiting room.

The middle-aged man glanced at Fang Wen, such a warm-hearted person, but did not greet Fang Wen who had come on the same train. Instead, he led the mother and daughter to another direction in the waiting room.

The female student, however, saw it.

"Mom, isn't that the guy sitting across from us? He looks like he's going the same way as us."

"Why do you care about others? By the way, Uncle Ye is such a kind person, willing to help my daughter and me. Go outside and buy some food so we can eat together on the way. Here, take these few silver dollars, don't lose them."

"I understand, Mother. I am a student at Beiping Girls' High School. I am sensible and reasonable, unlike you pampered young ladies."

"Shut up and go when I tell you to."

The female student walked out of the waiting room with a smile, holding the silver dollar.

After hesitating for a moment, Fang Wen picked up his briefcase and followed them out.

He watched the female student walk to the grocery store outside the station and wondered whether he should remind her.

But how to put it? She has no evidence to prove that the middle-aged man had ulterior motives, but if she does nothing, it's too bad that the mother and daughter were cheated out of their money and sexually assaulted; they could be trafficked to some poor, remote place and suffer for the rest of their lives.

Just then, the female student came over carrying food.

These are all local specialties, wrapped in oiled paper and tied with hemp rope.

She walked quickly and carelessly, and the things she was carrying got caught on other passengers, scattering all over the floor.

Fang Wen squatted down, helped pick it up, and handed it to her.

"Thank you." The female student looked up. "I've seen you before; you were sitting across from me. Were you also taking the Jinpu Railway?"

"Hmm," Fang Wen replied, standing up from the ground.

"Then we're going the same way. You're not going to Shanghai too, are you?" The female student seemed to like Fang Wen quite a bit, and they actually started chatting.

"Yes."

What are you going to Shanghai for?

"Flying a plane," Fang Wen answered truthfully.

The female student couldn't help but smile. "You're lying. I don't talk to liars."

She then carried her things back to the waiting room.

Fang Wen was speechless. The real swindlers had fooled the mother and daughter, but he was treated like a swindler for telling the truth.

He shook his head, walked out of the station, and prepared to go to the grocery store to buy some food and drinks.

I picked out some twisted dough sticks and had the waiter wrap them up. Then I saw something new and interesting on the shelf.

Soft drinks.

These days, there are even carbonated drinks.

Its name is Shanhaiguan Soda.

When I asked the guy, he said it was produced in a local factory in Tianjin, and it's quite famous there.

I bought five bottles as a hydration drink and had the guy tie them together with hemp rope.

With two bundles of things in his left hand and a suitcase in his right, Fang Wen returned to the waiting room.

As soon as he sat down, he saw the female student glare at him with an expression that said, "You're a liar, I'm ignoring you."

Fang Wen suddenly found it a little funny.

Alright, it won't be long before we find out who the real liar is.

(End of this chapter)