Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 96-95: Flying to Guangzhou for a blind date, Gold and his wife
Fang Wen was pondering Shao Sishen's words.

According to Shao Sishen, the Kuang family has the ability to handle this batch of gold.

But if you want security and insurance, you need a connection, and the best way is through marriage.

Fang Wen felt it was best to go and see for himself before making any decisions.

That would be ideal if things could be done well without marriage.

The term "arranged marriage" might be inappropriate; it should be called "blind date."

A Boeing 247 loaded with gold took off again.

Flying to our next destination, Guangzhou Dashatou Airport.

They had already made advance contact with the Shanghai airport control tower via radio on aviation frequencies, so they could land there. This was thanks to the connections they had built up from their numerous trips to Dashatou Airport.

After a flight of more than two hours, the plane landed at Dashatou Airport.

Shao Sichen limped off the plane and was helped out of the airport by Shunzi.

Fang Wenze and Fang Shouxin waited on the plane, after all, there were 2 tons of gold on the plane, and it couldn't be left unattended.

Feeling uncertain about what was to come, Fang Wen couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

Fang Shouxin hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Young Master, marriage is a serious matter. It requires the consent of both sets of parents and the words of a matchmaker. It's not appropriate for you to meet in private."

"It wasn't my idea. Shao Sicheng said that this was the only way to solve the gold problem."

Have you two met?

"Yes, I've met her before. I flew her back to China from abroad, and she was holding a child in her arms," ​​Fang Wen recalled.

"Has a child? Is she a widow?" Fang Shouxin frowned. "Young master, she can't be a legal wife. Widows are considered unlucky."

Fang Wen couldn't help but smile: "She's not a widow, she adopted a child."

"That's good, but why doesn't she get married?" Fang Shouxin was still a little puzzled. He felt he needed to figure this out, because if the young master brought a wife back to Jiaxing from outside, he wouldn't know how to explain it to the master.

"I don't know either. We didn't talk much back then. Uncle Fang, don't worry about it. We're here mainly to talk about gold, not to discuss marriage."

The two chatted, and time flew by.

Two hours later, Shao Sishen and Shunzi returned.

Shao Sichen said excitedly, "It's all arranged. We'll meet at Shixiang Garden. Let's go now. Manager Fang and Shunzi will stay here to watch the planes. I'll go with you."

"Just like that?" Fang Wen was surprised. In his previous life, he had also gone on blind dates, which felt even more hasty than the future. He hadn't even changed into his flight suit yet.

Shao Sichen hadn't finished speaking when he said, "She's studying painting at Shixiang Garden, so this is the only time she can go out. I bought some Cantonese dim sum at the restaurant, so you can eat and talk at the same time."

Shunzi held up the two food boxes: "Young Master, the food is here."

Fang Wen was feeling hungry, so he took the food box, opened one of the buns, and ate it.

He asked, "Would you like some too?"

"No need, young master, you can go ahead. Shunzi and I will stay here. No one will be allowed on the plane." Fang Shouxin showed the pistol tucked into his waistband, and Shunzi also had one.

"Yes, this isn't just about blind dates," Fang Wen nodded, carrying a food box in one hand and offering Shao Sishen his other.

Shao Sishen waved his hand in refusal and walked out of the airport with Fang Wen, leaning on his cane.

The two hailed two rickshaws outside the airport, headed south, crossed the Pearl River, and entered the old town of Haizhu.

Haizhu Old Town is filled with tall buildings and numerous streets, making it easy for first-time visitors from out of town to get lost. However, rickshaw drivers navigate the old streets with ease.

Finally, we stopped outside a courtyard with blue bricks and green tiles.

Fang Wen got out of the rickshaw, helped Shao Sishen out of the rickshaw, and paid the fare.

"This is Shixiang Garden, the residence of famous people in Guangzhou. Although it is not large, it is very elegant and is a place where literati often gather." Shao Sichen said, leading Fang Wen inside.

The gate was wide open and unguarded. Inside was an open space with a stone table and chairs, where several men in long robes sat and chatted for half a day over a pot of tea.

As you go further in, things get more complicated.

Within an area of ​​several hundred square meters, buildings divide the space, and together with flowers, trees, rockeries, and ponds, an elegant garden landscape is created.

Shao Sichen was very familiar with this place. He walked along the path, turned right, and came to a small pavilion in a courtyard.

There was no one in the pavilion. Shao Sichen slapped his forehead: "She must be waiting somewhere here. The young lady is a little shy. I'll go find her. You go into the pavilion and wait."

Fang Wen then sat down in the pavilion, looking around aimlessly to pass the time.

After a while, Shao Sichen returned, followed by two women.

The tall one is Kuang Mingzhu, and the person next to her should be her maid.

Upon reaching the pavilion, Shao Sishen whispered to the two women. Kuang Mingzhu nodded, and then Shao Sishen dragged the maid away.

Only Kuang Mingzhu remained, and she gracefully approached. Fang Wen rose to greet her.

She was clearly dressed up specially, in an antique style, exuding a more traditional beauty than when we first met.

Fang Wen suddenly realized he couldn't speak.

"Yes, Miss Kuang, please have a seat."

Kuang Mingzhu remained silent and sat on a stone bench in the pavilion, and Fang Wen also sat down immediately.

The two were so embarrassed that they could carve words on the pavilion floor with their toes.

There is a word called experience. Although blind dates are popular in later generations, Fang Wen has never experienced them and does not know how to do them.

Kuang Mingzhu had absolutely no experience in dealing with such situations.

But this matter needs to be started.

Fang Wen spoke up: "I came here on Shao Sichen's suggestion. He said you could help me with this."

Kuang Mingzhu looked up in surprise: "What kind of help?"

“I have a lot of gold that I need to deal with, but I have no one I can trust.”

"Shao Sicheng said I can be trusted?"

"Yes, he said, um, he said you can." Fang Wen couldn't continue.

Behind the pavilion, through the flowers and trees, came Shao Sishen's voice.

"It's driving me crazy! Let me tell you. Kuang Mingzhu, do you like Fang Wen?"

In an instant, Kuang Mingzhu's face turned bright red, down to the roots of her ears.

Shao Sichen continued, "Don't you aspire to be a modern woman? You only have one chance, so you have to seize it, or you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

These words gave Kuang Mingzhu courage, and she said, "Hurry up and go, I know what to do."

Shao Sishen then fell silent and walked away.

Kuang Mingzhu took a deep breath. "Mr. Fang, are you willing to listen to my story?"

Fang Wen nodded, took the food out of the food box, and placed it on the table.

"We talked while we ate."

Kuang Mingzhu smiled, took a crystal bag, and took a bite.

“I am the second child in my family, with an older brother and a younger brother. My father had high hopes for my older brother and sent him back to China early on to study hard so that he could pass the imperial examinations and bring honor to the family. However, twenty years ago, the Republic of China was established, and my older brother’s dream of success came to an end. He disliked the Republic of China and was unwilling to take over the family business. He spent his days playing around and has accomplished nothing so far. My younger brother is still young and was sent by my father to France to study Western knowledge. With no one to take over the family business, my father asked me to take charge.”

Hearing Kuang Mingzhu's words, Fang Wen nodded, having roughly guessed the situation.

When he brought Kwong Ming-chu and her father back, he was deeply impressed by the third son of the Kwong family, who spoke French but was naive, and the eldest son of the Kwong family, who only knew how to talk nonsense.

He didn't interrupt Kuang Mingzhu and continued listening. "I grew faster than other girls from a young age, and by adulthood, I was taller than the average man. My father was always arranging my marriage, but my peers who were of similar social standing disliked that I was too tall, and I didn't like the older ones. I was still unmarried when I was in my twenties."

Saying this was tantamount to exposing her own shortcomings, and Kuang Mingzhu showed a shameful expression.

But Fang Wen thought it wasn't like that at all.

So what if she's 1.75 meters tall? She can be a model, play basketball, and with Kuang Mingzhu's looks, she could easily become a star in the future.

She was harmed by the "marrying someone of equal social standing" principle; she had no other choice.

He then comforted her, saying, "Actually, I think your height is fine, and you're pretty too. You just haven't met the right person yet. Maybe you'll find someone soon."

From a modern perspective, Fang Wen's words are very ordinary and normal.

For example, if a female colleague in the office complains that she doesn't think she's good-looking and that no one likes her, most of the male colleagues would say something like that to comfort her.

Not to mention, Kwong Ming-chu was indeed beautiful in Fang Wen's aesthetic eyes.

However, in the Republic of China era, very few men would say such things, as it would be considered an improper act.

However, the situation is different when it's a single man and woman, and the woman has feelings for the man.

These words gave Kuang Mingzhu tremendous support; she had never heard such praise before.

As the saying goes, a woman dresses up for the one she loves; her eyes brightened, and she looked at Fang Wen.

“Originally, I thought I would either never get married and live for the Kuang family. But that day, when you appeared, I don’t know how to describe it. Anyway, ever since then, your image has always appeared in my heart. Because of this, I even suggested to my father that I go to Shanghai to participate in the flight attendant recruitment of your Taishan Airlines.”

At this point, Kuang Mingzhu's face darkened: "My father disagrees. He saw through my thoughts and wanted me to stay in the Kuang family. He planned to find me a husband who would marry into the family so that I would work for the Kuang family for the rest of my life. I don't want that."

“I understand. This is the last chance Shao Sichen is talking about. If you don’t leave, you’ll have to marry someone you don’t like and regret it for the rest of your life.”

Kuang Mingzhu nodded, "Yes, I'd rather be a regular flight attendant at Taishan Airlines, or leave Guangzhou for abroad." The unspoken understanding between the two was finally revealed.

Fang Wen would be happy to be liked by a beautiful woman, but right now, the most important thing is gold.

He said seriously, "I have a question for you. Is there a way to handle two tons of gold?"

"Two tons?" Kuang Mingzhu was taken aback.

This number is truly astonishing.

But she turned around and showed confidence.

“My family has many businesses in South Asia, one of which is a gold shop. Although two tons of gold is a large amount, it is only equivalent to the amount of gold stored by our Kwong family. Moreover, we Fujian and Guangdong merchants have connections in South Asia and Southeast Asia, and there is a whole set of channels for the circulation of gold from China to foreign countries. It is also possible to liquidate this gold in the name of the Kwong family.”

“What if I just want to find a place to store the gold?” Fang Wen asked.

“Storing gold is even simpler. We can put it in the Kwong family’s vault, and the Kwong family will issue a receipt for the gold. It can be retrieved at any time,” Kwong Ming-chu replied.

Looking at Kuang Mingzhu, Fang Wen finally realized why Shao Sishen insisted that he marry Kuang Mingzhu.

If he doesn't marry her, the gold will remain in the Kwong family. She is the Kwong family's daughter, and the Kwong family's interests will be his primary concern.

If you marry her, she'll be one of your own and will think of you.

Women of this era, although influenced by some Western ideas, were generally traditional, took marriage very seriously, and considered their husbands' needs after marriage.

Thinking of this, Fang Wen gazed at Kuang Mingzhu.

"Would you be my woman?"

In an instant, the blush that had faded from Kuang Mingzhu's face returned.

She nodded, clutching her clothes with both hands.

"What if your father disagrees with my marriage?"

After a moment's hesitation, Kuang Mingzhu replied:

"I'll go with you."

"Alright, you're my woman now, come with me."

Fang Wen stood up, took Kuang Mingzhu's hand, and strode out.

Kuang Mingzhu, who was being pulled along, smiled and took a step to keep up with Fang Wen's pace.

The maid rushed out: "Miss, where are you going? Master said he would come home after finishing his painting lessons."

"I'm not going back." Kuang Mingzhu shouted, defying her father for the first time in her life, like a bird flying out of its cage.

The maid wanted to chase after them, but Shao Sichen stopped her.

Under the watchful eyes of the literati and scholars of Shixiang Garden, Fang Wen led Kuang Mingzhu away.

Overnight, Fang Wen and Kuang Mingzhu disappeared.

The Kuang family searched the entire city but could not find him.

The next morning, Fang Wen took Kuang Mingzhu back to the Kuang family's residence in Guangzhou.

Mr. Kuang stared at his daughter, his eyes wide open.

The daughter has untied her hair, which was originally styled in a bun. This bun was a way of announcing to the outside world that she has changed from a girl into a woman.

Last night, what a misfortune befell our family!
Mr. Kuang was so angry he almost vomited blood.

But what's done is done, what can be done? We can't exactly broadcast our family's shameful deeds to the world.

Master Kuang glared at Fang Wen with murderous intent in his eyes, but then softened.

"Hey, Mingzhu, are you really sticking with him?"

“Yes, the man I’ve chosen, I’ll follow for life. Wherever he goes, I’ll go. I’ll never regret it,” Kuang Mingzhu replied firmly to her father.

Fang Wen added, "We're leaving tomorrow."

Master Kuang sighed deeply: "A daughter is like a tree that cannot be kept at home once she grows up. So today, let's hold a wedding banquet to send my daughter off on her wedding day."

This outing party was naturally not a big affair; it was just a small gathering of family members at one table.

At the dinner table, Fang Wen placed the gold bars on the table.

“Father-in-law, let’s talk about something. This batch of gold came from the Northeast. Now that I’ve married your daughter, we’re family. As family, we don’t need to stand on ceremony. I need to tell you the truth about how the gold came about.”

After hearing Fang Wen's words, Master Kuang realized that he had not only lost his daughter, but was also in deep trouble.

But my daughter is already married to someone else, and she's still devoted to him, so this is the only favor I can do.

And so, the gold on the Boeing 247 finally found its home.

Logging yard in the southeast forest area of ​​Shenyang.

The plane didn't arrive yesterday, and everyone was very anxious, keeping an eye on the telegraph machine.

Manager Liu, who had been waiting by the telegraph machine, finally received the telegram.

He translated it into plain text with proficiency.

Then hand it over to Chief Wang.

Upon seeing the telegram in plain text, Chief Wang was stunned.

He read the telegram aloud to everyone.

"We're getting married tonight, but our flight has been postponed to tomorrow night."

The fact that General Manager Fang got married at this crucial moment has left everyone bewildered.

Helpless, Chief Wang said, "No matter what, marriage is a major life event. It's okay to postpone it for a couple of days."

(End of this chapter)