Chapter 77: 76, Aviation Flight Apprentice, Tung Oil For Airplanes
Golden Buddha statues are extremely precious items no matter where they are. As the saying goes, don’t flaunt your wealth, lest thieves take notice.
Fang Wen carried the wooden box and left the airport as if nothing had happened, as if the box contained only ordinary pastries.
He returned to his residence and saw Shunzi tidying up the room for Shao Sishen.
“Shunzi, once it’s done, accompany Mr. Shao to the airport for a tour and familiarize him with the situation.”
“Young Master.” Shunzi ran over and asked in a low voice: “I heard Mr. Shao say he’s here to teach flight piloting. Is Taishan Airlines recruiting flight apprentices? Can I sign up?”
“Depends on your performance. How’s the security team training going?” Fang Wen asked.
“The instructor said I’m good, and my cultural studies are better than others.” Shunzi boasted proudly to Fang Wen.
“Keep it up, and you’ll have a chance.” Fang Wen patted Shunzi on the shoulder and entered the bedroom.
After closing the door properly, his breathing involuntarily quickened.
He carefully opened the wooden box, took out the Buddha statue covered with brocade cloth, turned on the electric lamp, and under the light, it shimmered with golden brilliance.
These were all mere superficial appearances; the truly valuable thing was inside the golden Buddha.
Fang Wen held the golden Buddha with both hands and closed his eyes.
That continuous faint energy infusion sensation appeared again.
Yes, it was it—the special energy that could enhance his mechanical perception.
Impatiently, Fang Wen tried various ways to absorb the energy from the golden Buddha.
The first method ruled out was non-contact acquisition from a distance. No matter the angle or position, as long as there was a certain distance without contact, it couldn’t be done.
Then test contact methods.
The simplest was hand contact, which could ensure energy transmission.
But arm skin or joint contact could also produce energy transmission.
Time passed slowly. Shunzi and Shao Sishen toured outside and returned, and on the way, they brought back meals from the airline company canteen.
Then, Uncle Fang returned and knocked on the door: “Young Master, the Citibank bill of exchange has been exchanged, a total of 2000 US Dollars.”
Only then did Fang Wen open the door and come out, taking the green banknotes handed over by Uncle Fang.
Although these banknotes were all 10-dollar denominations, there were two styles: the 1929 version was smaller, and the 1922 version was larger.
Huh, why is there one that’s different.
Fang Wen pulled out that one to examine it; it was a 20-dollar gold certificate.
“Uncle Fang, what’s this one about?”
“The bank people said they had no 10-dollar cash, so they used this instead. He said this thing is more valuable than banknotes and can be directly exchanged for gold of equivalent value in US Dollars.”
A note that could be exchanged for gold was acceptable, after all, it was only 20 dollars face value.
Fang Wen didn’t think much more and called to Uncle Fang: “Uncle Fang, there’s something I need to discuss with you. Come in.”
After Uncle Fang entered the room, Fang Wen uncovered the brocade cloth over the golden Buddha on the bed.
The shimmering golden light made Uncle Fang blink involuntarily.
“This is pure gold, right?”
“Yes, a golden Buddha invited from the south. I heard it’s very efficacious, and I want to carry it while flying.”
“The Young Master flying in the sky really should have the Bodhisattva’s blessing.” Uncle Fang nodded.
“The problem is this thing is too eye-catching. I’m afraid it’ll be seen if I take it out.” Fang Wen voiced his concern.
“Make a Buddha niche. With a Buddha niche, firstly, thieves who believe in Buddha won’t dare to mess around; secondly, the Buddha niche has curtain cloth blocking it, so ordinary people can’t see it from the cockpit.”
Fang Wen nodded. Although the idea wasn’t ideal, it was indeed feasible.
After returning from Guangzhou, everything returned to normal.
After training, the Taishan Airlines Security Team was established. They usually carried short wooden sticks as security tools, but the warehouse stored a batch of spears for dealing with sudden dangers.
The security team was responsible for security gate and boarding process safety work, as well as transporting airmail.
Shao Sishen was assigned to the airport flight training center as the flight training director.
Currently, he was the only one, a commander without troops; there were no training equipment or teaching materials.
For this, Fang Wen, as general manager, specially approved 1000 silver dollars for procuring teaching aids and teaching materials.
Shao Sishen threw himself fully into work, taking the company’s shuttle bus into the city every day to find people to purchase.
What he wanted to custom-order were pilot-specific training facilities.
Roller, spiral ladder, and swivel chair.
The roller was used to simulate acceleration and attitude changes in flight, helping pilots improve spatial orientation ability and anti-dizziness capability.
Spiral ladder and swivel chair: used to improve pilots’ vestibular balance ability and spatial perception ability, crucial for pilots to maintain body balance in the air and correctly judge flight attitude.
As for teaching materials, Shao Sishen personally compiled them, incorporating his own experience and past knowledge.
Meanwhile, Fang Wen had a Buddha statue placed in the cockpit.
The company’s staff and passengers were all talking about how this Buddha statue was very efficacious and could protect the airplane from accidents.
Because of this propaganda, some people who originally dared not fly chose to travel on Taishan Airlines airplanes.
Just like that, the uneventful days passed, reaching August 1933.
It was time to deliver the goods.
August 10.
Cargo ships fully loaded with tung oil arrived at the Nanjing dock, unloading all the tung oil into the warehouse.
Near the dock warehouse, Fang Wen and Neil Toledo watched this scene.
“The tung oil has been warehoused. What about the airplanes?” Fang Wen asked.
“Expected to arrive in port in ten days, Mr. Fang. Is it just the 20,000 US Dollar transaction?” Neil Toledo looked at Fang Wen, revealing his inner desire plainly.
Fang Wen clearly knew in his heart but put on an expression of not understanding.
“What do you mean?”
Neil Toledo hurriedly explained: “Don’t misunderstand. I want more tung oil. Currently, our country exports a large amount of industrial goods to the world, and both the shipbuilding industry and weapons preservation require large quantities of tung oil. And the world’s largest tung oil producer is your country.”
“How much do you want?” Fang Wen asked.
“10,000 tons per year.” Neil Toledo stated his envisioned figure.
Fang Wen quickly calculated in his mind.
0.1 US Dollar per pound, 2000 pounds per ton, so 200 US Dollars per ton, 10,000 tons would be 2 million US Dollars in annual trade volume.
The US Dollars of this era were completely different from future ones; gold standard US Dollars were very valuable and stable, hovering around an exchange rate of 1 US Dollar to 1 gram of gold.
This business, even without his involvement, the National Government and US Government would eventually reach a tung oil trade agreement in the future.
But how that money would ultimately be used, Fang Wen speculated most of it would end up in private pockets.
If that’s the case, why not do it himself? At least it could ensure tung oil trade income to support the War of Resistance.
But achieving 10,000 tons of trade volume was not a simple matter.
Fang Wen said solemnly: “Neil, I’m also willing to cooperate with you, but this involves very complex transaction issues. Do you know how many people are in the tung oil business?”
“I don’t know.” Neil Toledo answered frankly.
“Come, let’s sit down and talk.”
Fang Wen sat on a dock stone pier, and Neil Toledo sat beside him.
He recalled the tung oil business situation inquired by Uncle Fang and slowly explained.
“As far as I know, the tung oil business is divided into two parts: merchants acquiring at production areas and coastal traders. Inland mainly in Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, and also Yunnan-Guizhou areas with large tung oil planting, but the terrain there is complex, so acquired tung oil can only be transported by water. This leads to tung oil ultimately being sold in Shanghai and the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region. Local traders there sell part of the tung oil to local workshops for processing, and another part abroad.”
After saying this, he looked at Neil Toledo.
He continued.
“This is already a complete channel. What I can provide you is only scattered supply sources in this channel. For more volume, we need to open up our own integrated procurement and sales channel.”
When Neil Toledo proposed long-term tung oil trade, he actually had no plan in mind; he knew nothing about the tung oil business in China, had no confidence even in Fang Wen, and relied purely on adventurous spirit.
But at this moment, after hearing Fang Wen’s words, he felt the success rate had increased.
So he eagerly asked.
“How can we achieve what you said?”
“We need to create big news to attract enough attention. Then tell them about the huge interests involved behind it, and attract those people to join proactively.”
Neil Toledo didn’t understand; in this era, most business was simple and direct, nothing so complicated.
But after hearing Fang Wen’s plan, he suddenly felt it made sense and immediately agreed to cooperate with the plan.
August 13.
Several Shanghai newspapers simultaneously published a piece of news, or rather, an advertisement.
《Taishan Airlines Recruitment Notice for Flight Apprentices》
Content as follows:
Aviation industry, foundation of the nation, spreading wings to soar high, forging ahead with determination.
Now, due to booming business, urgently need to expand pilots, but capable flyers are few and not recruitable by our company alone, thus specially publishing this notice to recruit several flight apprentices.
Our company seeks apprentices without restriction, selecting solely on talent.
Those aspiring to soar in the blue sky above, aged eighteen and above, thirty and below, may all come try.
Must be physically and mentally healthy, with superior vision, courage, and literacy to qualify.
During apprenticeship, our company will provide comprehensive flight training, including mechanical operation, flight skills, weather observation, physical training, etc., and hire experienced flight instructors for dedicated guidance and full impartation. Upon completion, there will be opportunity to become our company’s formal pilot, soaring in the sky, overlooking all mountains.
Our company offers generous treatment, worry-free food and lodging, and promotion opportunities, awaiting aspiring individuals to challenge. Those interested, please quickly sign up at Taishan Airlines Shanghai Airport headquarters, or mail personal resume to our company; we will promptly arrange interviews.
May you all pursue the dream of the blue sky together, joining hands with Taishan Airlines to create a brilliant future!
Please widely disseminate, thanks immensely.
Taishan Airlines respectfully announces
Year 21 of the Republic of China, August 13
This news aroused widespread attention.
Before Taishan Airlines, learning to fly had doors but no way in; most were shut out.
Now, finally, there was a publicly open opportunity to learn aviation technology, with no family background required; as long as one passed the interview assessment, they could enroll.
People paid close attention to it.
Then, several newspapers published exclusive interviews with Taishan Airlines general manager and flight training director.
Through the interview reports, everyone learned that the Taishan Airlines general manager was the air hero who sank the Izumo, and even the training director was a brave warrior who was heroically wounded and survived that air combat.
This piqued people’s interest even more.
Then, large numbers of Shanghai people, Jiangsu and Zhejiang people, even from the Central Plains, and from the south heading north, came to sign up.
These applicants arrived at Taishan Airlines’ office outside the airport and lined up in sequence.
After filling out personal information and boarding forms, they directly began the preliminary selection.
Preliminary selection required passing:
1. Cultural written test, not requiring profound literary knowledge, but must recognize basic characters on the test paper and be able to read and write.
2. Math exam. Many applicants didn’t understand this; Taishan Airlines staff explained that without math and physics knowledge, one can’t read maps or calculate flight paths, naturally unable to become flight apprentices.
3. Vision check, balance test, spatial test.
This stage tested whether flight apprentices had talent in these areas.
After passing the vision check, they were taken to the back courtyard.
The back courtyard had a roller.
The roller’s basic structure included a central shaft and a ring-shaped part rotating around it.
Pilots stand on the roller, controlling body posture and movements to simulate various maneuvers in flight. This training helps pilots familiarize with dynamic changes like bumps, rotations, and tilts during flight, enhancing balance and spatial perception ability.
But the assessment was different; applicants entered the roller, feet steady, hands gripping, and staff beside pushed it to rotate.
In this process, applicants with poor balance and spatial sense couldn’t endure the dizziness and nausea, losing qualification.
Through a series of tests, the first batch of twenty aviation flight apprentices was selected.
And this was just the beginning; Taishan Airlines even allowed several newspapers to enter the training ground for ongoing tracking interviews.
These articles interviewing the aviation flight apprentice training process successfully attracted many readers, keeping attention hot.
And at this point, a bombshell news was reported through newspapers.
That was, a trading company under Boeing signed a transaction contract with Taishan Airlines for airplanes in exchange for tung oil.
According to the contract in the report, Taishan Airlines would provide large quantities of tung oil to Boeing Trading Company, and in return, the trading company would provide equivalent value airplanes annually.
Through a series of reports, already a high attention point, the tung oil business immediately drew notice from tung oil traders and southwest merchants.
This was Fang Wen’s idea.
In this era, business information was not well-connected; everyone did their own thing, sales depending on personal ability.
Many tung oil businesses had only one partner for life.
Not that they didn’t want to expand sales, but it was hard, fearing deception or payment issues.
Fang Wen’s method was to make Taishan Airlines a nationally known brand, representing strength and credit.
Then leak the tung oil matter through newspapers, so everyone knew Taishan Airlines was doing tung oil business.
Even if Taishan Airlines had no tung oil now, tung oil merchants nationwide would be willing to cooperate with him.
