Chapter 9: Arriving In Shanghai, Joining The Airline Company
Seeing off Shen Shuyun and her mother as they left by car, Fang Wen carried his handbag out of the train station.
This is the most bustling city in China, and also the place where Eastern and Western cultures collide.
But do not underestimate it because of its surface prosperity.
This is also the most chaotic and dangerous place, with gangs everywhere and pickpockets and thugs all around.
Looking at the crowd in front of him, and among them those few men whose eyes always casually glanced at others’ pockets.
Fang Wen couldn’t help but grip his handbag tightly.
Inside it was all his worldly possessions; he couldn’t have made it safely all the way here only to stumble at this point.
What he needed to do now was make a telephone call to the airline company side and have them send someone to pick him up.
Before coming, he had inquired and learned that there was a telephone company business hall nearby at the train station, where public telephones could be used.
Fang Wen looked around, and on a distant building, a sign for the telephone company stood out.
He crossed the street and entered the telephone company.
There were many people inside. On one side wall were six wall-mounted telephone machines hung up, with some people making calls and others queuing to wait.
Making a call required tokens, which had to be purchased from the counter service personnel.
Fang Wen went to the counter and purchased two tokens.
One token allowed for one call; if more time was needed after it ran out, another token had to be added.
After queuing for over ten minutes, it was his turn.
Inserting the token, Fang Wen directly picked up the microphone.
At this time, it was still the operator-assisted call mode, without direct dialing.
The operator’s voice came through the microphone: “Please state where you wish to call.”
“Hello, I want to call China Airlines.”
“I’ll connect you right away.”
After a brief wait, the call connected.
“Hello, this is the China Airlines Shanghai office.”
“My name is Fang Wen, coming from Beiping. I am the flight commissioner appointed by the Ministry of Communications.”
“Oh, Mister Fang Wen. Where are you now? I’ll send someone to pick you up.”
“At the door of the telephone company at the train station.”
“Please wait a moment; someone from the company will be there soon.”
Ending the call, Fang Wen walked out of the telephone company and waited roadside.
This wait lasted forty minutes.
A black Pontiac sedan drove up.
A middle-aged man got out of the car and looked toward Fang Wen.
“Are you?”
“Fang Wen. This is my appointment letter.” After taking out the appointment letter and showing it to the other man, he had thus confirmed his identity.
The other man immediately broke into a smile.
“I am the company manager, Wen Helin. We’ve been expecting you for a long time. We finally have our own pilot. Please get in the car quickly; I’ll take you to your place.”
Thereupon, Fang Wen got into the car and headed toward the French Concession.
Amid small talk along the way, Fang Wen also learned about the organizational structure of China Airlines.
The company had three managers: Manager Wen Helin, Finance Meng Lizhi, and Business Zhu Zhongxuan.
Below them was one business hall, which employed a total of 3 ticket sales personnel.
There were a total of 6 airplanes, all Detroit-style civil airliners.
There was only one flight path: Shanghai to Nanjing.
There were no service personnel on the airplanes, only one pilot.
This time, taking advantage of two American pilots being sick and returning to their country, and under strong insistence, a piloting qualification was finally obtained.
At this point, Wen Helin looked at Fang Wen meaningfully.
“Commissioner Fang, your responsibility is great. Not only do you have to pilot one airplane to complete daily flights, but you also have to train a batch of qualified air drivers. The higher-ups’ arrangement is that your airplane will have only 5 passenger seats, with one seat for a flight cadet. He will learn on the plane and also provide service for passengers. There will be two in total, taking turns in shifts.”
“Do they have any foundation? You know my situation: I can pilot airplanes, but teaching is not my strong suit. If they have no foundation, I’m afraid it will be difficult for me.” Fang Wen answered truthfully.
“Rest assured, these two people both studied at professional flight schools abroad; they won’t be hard to teach. We’ve arrived at the French Concession. Settle in first, and tomorrow I’ll come over to give you the entry and exit identification.”
The car stopped at the concession entrance, and after Wen Helin showed his identification, they passed through.
Afterward, they drove all the way to 270—273 Rue Albert in the French Concession, the China Airlines Pilot Villa.
Following Wen Helin, Fang Wen arrived at the house on the second floor to the left.
After opening the door and entering the room, Wen Helin said in a low voice: “Those drivers don’t get along with us, and there’s usually no communication. At this hour, some are flying, some are out getting drunk; anyway, no one will come back until late at night. These two keys: one is for the main door, and one is for your own bedroom door.”
Taking the keys, Fang Wen asked: “Does Smith live here too?”
“Yes, he lives here. Try to maintain a good relationship with him; he schedules the flight matters.”
“Understood.”
“Then I’ll head out first. Tomorrow at 9 a.m., I’ll come over to bring you the concession identification.”
“Thank you.”
Seeing off Wen Helin, Fang Wen put away the two keys and looked toward his room.
The house was fairly spacious: a small living room and a bedroom.
In the living room near the window was a table with two long-legged armchairs; on the right-side wall was a small bookshelf.
Between the living room and bedroom was a sliding door; when fully opened, the two sides could connect together.
On the bedroom side was a large wooden bed, with bed sheet and bedding prepared.
Not bad; he could unpack and move in directly.
Putting down the handbag, Fang Wen relaxed all over and fell straight back onto the soft bed.
Over fifty hours of fatigue from travel made drowsiness rise, and unknowingly, he fell into a deep sleep.
He slept until the door was knocked on, at which point Fang Wen woke up.
Sitting up from the bed, he straightened his clothes and got up to open the door.
At the door were Wen Helin and Smith.
Wen Helin handed the items to Fang Wen.
“This is the concession pass, and the company work identification. The subsequent aviation flight work will be arranged by Smith; I’ll head back first.”
“Thank you, Manager Wen.”
“No need to thank me; I’m off.”
After Wen Helin left, Smith spoke up.
“You have no problem piloting the Detroit. You can start flying tomorrow. My suggestion to you is to fly seriously for five years, and my position will be yours.”
“Thank you, but possibly in a year, I won’t be at this company anymore.” Fang Wen replied in English.
“Why? From what I know, this kind of job is the best here.” Smith was very puzzled, unable to understand why anyone would give up such good welfare.
How could foreigners like them who came to Shanghai to make a fortune possibly know what situation China would face in the future.
Fang Wen did not explain this, but changed the topic instead.
“Smith, what do you think of China since coming here?”
“The East is very mysterious and very charming; I like it here. Especially the food here—I love it to death.”
“Since you like Eastern food, how about we go to your favorite restaurant so I can try it too.”
“Great, I think you’ll like it.”
The two left the French Concession in plainclothes and dined at a nearby local restaurant.
This was a very simple way to build rapport, perfectly suited for establishing a good relationship with Smith and taking the first step for Fang Wen to integrate into the flight piloting environment.
