Chapter 103: 102, Flying Over The Indochina Peninsula, Observations In Kolkata
Fang Wen, under the guidance of airport staff, parked the airplane.
Next, he encountered the most enthusiastic welcome in domestic flight.
A large group of people, including reporters, officials, and military officers.
They surrounded a bald middle-aged man wearing small round glasses and a Zhongshan suit.
From the scene, Fang Wen could already guess it was King of Yunnan Long Yun.
He came down from the airplane and shook hands with the other man.
Reporters picked up their cameras, a burst of flashes flickered, capturing a photograph of the two shaking hands.
Afterward, it was Long Yun’s speech.
“This is the air hero Fang Wen who bombed and sank the Japanese Army’s Izumo cruiser. You Dian Army aviation soldiers must learn from him.”
The officers who came with him stood at attention and said in unison: “We will not fail our mission.”
After doing these things, the reporters left, and then it was time for business.
Fang Wen repeated verbatim what he had said at Wuhan Airport, introducing the various performance aspects of the P-26 series fighter jet.
The other side listened and also gave their own judgments.
“Since it focuses on agility and maneuverability, it’s more suitable for reconnaissance and harassment interception. Main attack might not work.”
Fang Wen nodded in response: “It depends on the environment. The P-26 series has high maneuverability and short range, which means this airplane is only suitable for army aviation. Over the ocean, if this airplane deviates from course, it can only crash into the sea.”
“Then why could your airplane fly to Europe?” Long Yun asked puzzled.
“I made some modifications, adding auxiliary fuel tanks to the airplane, so it can balance attack while ensuring combat power.” Fang Wen explained.
“I see. Then if I buy P-26 fighter jets and modify them with auxiliary fuel tanks, couldn’t they fly even farther?”
This idea was not professional, Fang Wen explained:
“I’m afraid not. The P-26’s design maximizes its strengths, and it’s inherently not suited for long-range flight combat. My modification is only a temporary measure. During combat, the auxiliary fuel tanks need to be jettisoned, and it also sacrifices the carrying capacity for two aerial bombs.”
Fang Wen was holding back in saying this; his Shrike Hao’s auxiliary fuel tank had a hidden mechanism inside with napalm, so it was not without bombing capability.
But this was his secret, of course he wouldn’t tell outsiders.
After a conversation, the big shots left, leaving airport military officers to receive Fang Wen.
After following them to dinner, Fang Wen didn’t chat much and directly asked them to arrange accommodation.
In the airport’s temporary accommodation room, Fang Wen took out the telegraph machine and sent a telegram.
“Have arrived in Kunming.”
Neil replied.
“For the next leg of the flight, you will contact the embassy. Good luck.”
Fang Wen took out the telegram book, checked the information in the first column, then adjusted the frequency and sent a telegram to the Kolkata side.
The other side replied.
“Airport pickup tomorrow.”
Confirming someone would receive him in Kolkata, Fang Wen breathed a sigh of relief.
Next, he waited until 8:30.
A telegram came from Shanghai.
“The matter has been investigated. It was not Sixth Miss’s teacher who acted. Both sides were arguing at the time, the Japanese suddenly fell to the ground claiming to have been attacked, which is why they were taken away by the police. We are trying to resolve it.”
To be blackmailed by a Japanese businessman.
Fang Wen didn’t care about the money, but he was worried this was the Japanese targeting his family.
But he couldn’t go back himself, so he could only have his wife rescue the person first and talk about it when he returned from Europe.
He sent a reply telegram.
“About to leave the country, next contact in three days.”
The reason for setting it three days later was that the entire overseas flight path was expected to take 3 days. Fang Wen didn’t plan to report safe every night to his family; he believed he could absolutely complete the entire flight.
Telegram communication ended, but this time Fang Wen did not go to sleep immediately.
Because the next flight path might have poor sanitary conditions, no showers or clean drinking water, he had to prepare.
For example: take a shower, prepare more drinking water, bring some rations.
The next day, Fang Wen got up early. His luggage had more items: a leather water bag for water, and ten jin of Yunnan ham.
According to the airport military officer, these two things were essentials for long-distance travel.
Putting the items in the cockpit, Fang Wen waved goodbye to the airport people, started the airplane, taxied onto the runway, and took off.
The airplane flew southwest.
Through dense forest, Laos Plateau, into Bay of Bengal.
In several hours of flight, it passed cool Yunnan and humid Indochina Peninsula.
When coming out of the Laos Plateau, a heavy rain appeared.
The airplane continued flying undaunted by the heavy rain. A few minutes later, sunlight suddenly shone everywhere, and the air took on a somewhat salty taste.
Fang Wen flew the airplane along the Bay of Bengal coastline and finally arrived at Kolkata Airport.
This place, during British India times, had been the capital. The seaport on the city edge sustained a large amount of colonial trade, so it was also prosperous.
Fang Wen found the airport location and turned on the radio.
Called in English.
Amid the static of the radio device, no response.
He continued calling repeatedly.
The other side finally responded.
“Shrink Hao heard, please respond. We have not received your landing permission.”
What the hell is Shrink Hao?
Fang Wen continued communicating with the ground.
It took some effort to understand.
The other side’s Indian-style English pronunciation hadn’t understood Fang Wen’s words.
They had heard Shrike as shrink.
The two pronunciations are similar; the former is a bird, the latter means contraction.
After explaining clearly, the ground finally approved.
The airplane dived downward, preparing to land on the airport runway.
A group of dark-skinned children shouted and ran below the airplane.
When the airplane landed and taxied to the maintenance area, these children actually passed through the airport’s useless fencing, came onto the airport runway, and surrounded Shrike Hao.
The children spoke words Fang Wen completely couldn’t understand, reaching out their hands.
Airport staff explained in Indian-style English.
“They are begging from you. Please give them a little food, or money is fine too.”
Looking at the children below, Fang Wen reached into the right storage compartment of the cockpit, preparing to grab a handful of maltose lollipops for them.
A voice appeared.
“Don’t do anything merciful. Your mercy won’t be rewarded and will only bring trouble.”
Fang Wen looked over; another person had arrived below the airplane.
Wearing a white small suit, breeches, a beret, leaning on a symbolic cane.
The perfect image of an old-school British noble gentleman.
The other man had a point.
With these children freely entering the airport, who would protect the things on his airplane?
If he gave them candy, someone might climb into the airplane at night to steal things.
Fang Wen put down the maltose stick in his hand.
He climbed down the boarding ladder and shook hands with the other man.
“Hello, I’m Fang Wen.”
“Hell, Kolkata cultural researcher. Very pleased to meet you.”
The other man stated a very strange position, but Fang Wen had no interest in asking more about it; he cared more about the next flight.
Worried about the security here, he simply didn’t leave and communicated with the other man under the airplane.
“Can I go to Delhi today?”
“Why not stay here a day? Your expenses here can be reimbursed.”
Fang Wen looked back at the children being driven away by airport staff.
“The problem is, can I feel at ease leaving the airplane overnight here?”
Hell nodded: “I understand your concern. No problem. They may be cunning at times, but they have a very effective class system. You just need to pay a fee to hire two noble security guards, and the problem is solved.”
Noble security guards, a strange combination of words.
Fang Wen, from the internet era, figured it out.
Perhaps referring to India’s caste system.
He asked: “Brahmin?”
Hell shook his head: “Brahmins don’t do security. It’s Kshatriya.”
Saying this, he said to the staff member who had driven away the children: “Go call Desai and Ram.”
The staff ran off, and after a while, two men with lighter skin and tall stature came over.
Fang Wen said quietly: “How much?”
“Do you have rupees?” Hell took out local banknotes, which surprisingly had an English-style king portrait.
“No, is 1 British pound okay?” Fang Wen took out a small-denomination banknote and gave it to Hell.
He thought this banknote was enough to pay two Kshatriyas to guard overnight.
After all, before departing, he had specifically checked the exchange rate for the British pound.
Due to US dollar devaluation, the current rate was 1 British pound to 4.2 US dollars.
Hell took the banknote: “Enough.”
He took out several rupees, hiring the two Kshatriyas to guard the airplane.
The two were very satisfied with the reward. One stood guard while the other ran back to fetch two spears, then they stood post beside the airplane, one with a spear on his back.
“Don’t they need to take turns guarding?” Fang Wen asked surprised.
“After we leave, they will. Let’s go, take your valuables, we’re leaving here.” Hell replied.
Fang Wen nodded, climbed onto the airplane, and brought his canvas bag, water, and Yunnan ham.
As for those precious US Treasury bonds, they were hidden in a secret spot only he knew; to steal them would require completely dismantling the entire airplane.
If it really came to that, Fang Wen could only accept it.
The two walked on the Kolkata Airport runway.
Hell was very interested in the ham Fang Wen brought.
“I’ve eaten this kind of cured meat in the Netherlands; you can slice it very thin with a knife and eat it directly.”
“Really? Mine is called Yunnan Xuanwei ham, also eaten directly. Do you want some?”
“That would be great. I have a suggestion: let’s go to the restaurant first to eat.”
Fang Wen hesitated.
He wasn’t afraid of harsh conditions in high-altitude flight, but he feared getting sick from food in Kolkata.
In pre-transmigration internet videos, there were extremely vivid reports on the delicacies here.
It was precisely because of that concern that he brought his own food and water for the flight.
But facing the other’s enthusiastic invitation, Fang Wen still agreed.
Hell took him to a building outside the airport that looked like a temple.
Inside, many people were eating, sitting on the floor, grabbing food from plates with their hands, eating and talking loudly. Fang Wen even saw the spit flying when they spoke.
“Better not, I’m not used to the food here.” Fang Wen decisively refused.
“What a pity, the food here is very delicious.” Hell said regretfully.
“I’ll just ask you directly: will it cause diarrhea?” Fang Wen was straightforward.
Hell thought for a moment, as if recalling some bad memory: “Oh, alright, we won’t eat here.”
“Not this one or any other. I’m going back. If you want, I can treat you to ham and others.”
In the end, Hell accepted Fang Wen’s suggestion.
He took Fang Wen back to the airport and arranged accommodation.
Inside it was fairly clean, but two issues: quite hot, lots of flies.
Closing the doors and windows, Fang Wen took food from the canvas bag.
Chongqing spicy peanuts, Hechuan peach slices.
Shanghai pastries: flaky pine cakes.
The bag had other food too, but Fang Wen wouldn’t take it all out.
To ensure food hygiene, he shared half the food with Hell, and used his small knife to cut two long strips from the ham.
Pastries and snacks with ham strips counted as dinner today.
After eating the food Fang Wen shared, Hell suddenly sighed.
“I miss home.”
“Why?” Fang Wen asked.
“The fried fish at home is so delicious; it’s been a long time since I had it. And I’m tired of the work here.” Hell explained.
Fang Wen inwardly evaluated: a very dull and boring old-style Englishman.
For the European trip, Fang Wen planned to communicate more with this man.
He cut two more ham slices, one for each.
“Hell, aren’t you afraid of war if you go back?”
“War? We just ended a world war; how could war break out again?” Hell said surprised.
Perhaps his reaction was the common view of Europeans at the time.
World War I was only 15 years past; 15 years wasn’t enough to heal the wounds of war—how could another war break out?
Fang Wen continued the conversation.
“Because of the economic crisis? All countries in Europe are suffering now; war is the fastest way to solve problems.”
Hell shook his head firmly: “You don’t understand Europe. The economic crisis is temporary. Our British Commonwealth has abundant resources to cope with this crisis. France is the same; their previous overseas investments still yield rich returns. The Weimar Republic is also about to emerge from economic difficulties; it’s said their unemployment rate has already risen this year.”
Such a firm judgment made Fang Wen decide not to continue on this topic and switch to the next.
“Heard of penicillin?”
“No.”
At this point, Fang Wen lost interest in talking with the other man.
He politely got up to see Hell out, ending the conversation.
It was time to contact the Delhi side.
Fang Wen took out the telegraph machine, adjusted the frequency, and sent a telegram to Delhi.
The other side replied on time, confirming tomorrow’s flight.
With things to do done, in this boring place with no leisure, it was time to rest.
He took a blanket from the canvas bag, spread it on the wooden bed, and slept in his clothes.
Hot subtropical climate, seaside, and a city with human gatherings.
Meant this night would be hot, with mosquito attacks.
The buzzing sound constantly lingered by his ears, with occasional bites.
Impossible to sleep; Fang Wen got up several times in the middle of the night. Suddenly he remembered his wife’s instructions when preparing his luggage: “Your trip to Europe is far; you’ll definitely encounter many discomforts along the way. I’ve prepared some food and travel items for you.”
He’d seen the food himself; where were the items?
He quickly got up, opened the canvas bag, and from the very bottom took out a fragrant satin bag.
Inside were many trinkets.
Mosquito-repelling and mind-clearing Dragon Tiger brand Feng You Jing, cold remedy Baoji Pills, Ren Dan for heatstroke.
And bundled mugwort rolls.
His wife had thought of everything. Fang Wen lit the mugwort, applied Feng You Jing, and finally got some peace.
Finally enduring until dawn, Fang Wen immediately got up and went to check the airport runway side.
The two Kshatriyas were sleeping back-to-back under the airplane.
But from the airplane’s condition, no thieves had come last night.
He turned back, woke Hell in the next room, and had Hell handle the airport fuel supplies.
Then, without preparing breakfast in Kolkata, he directly boarded and took off, flying to the second Indian stop, Delhi Palampur Airport.
