Chapter 6: Family Letters With Good News, Ministry Of Communications Appointment Letter Issued
The remaining letters, from the sender’s address on the envelopes, were of two types: one from Jiaxing, Zhejiang, and the other from Changde, Hunan.
He first looked at the one from Jiaxing, Zhejiang.
Based on the salutations, they were all family letters to his parents. Besides reporting safety, they were filled with everyday matters and inquiries about the family’s situation.
From these contents, it could be seen that Fang Wen’s native place was in the Jiaxing area, and his family was in the rice business. They were not extremely wealthy, but their income was quite substantial.
Additionally, the letters indicated that Fang Wen was the fifth child in the family and the eldest son of the third wife.
He imagined the internal family dynamics must be very complicated, possibly even leading to conflicts, which made Fang Wen’s head ache.
He put down the family letters and opened the last category of mail.
The letters from Changde, Hunan, were correspondence from his fourth sister.
His fourth sister was his full biological sister, who was married to a tung oil merchant.
Consequently, she lived with her husband in Changde year-round, where he procured tung oil.
Fang Wen did not understand the tung oil business; neither did the original Fang Wen.
In the letters, his fourth sister specifically explained the tung oil business.
Dear Fifth Brother:
I hope this letter finds you well. Since we last met, I have married and become someone else’s wife. It is a pity that you couldn’t attend my wedding due to your studies.
Whenever I think of our childhood days together, my heart is always filled with concern. Today, I have some free time and am writing this letter.
Mother is in good health and enjoys chatting with neighbors daily, which keeps her in good spirits. Father is the same as always, frequenting the rice business and then visiting old friends for leisure. With you away for your studies, the house lacks laughter, but knowing your aspirations for the future brings me comfort.
You asked about the tung oil business, so I will explain it in detail. Your brother-in-law has been in the tung oil business for several years. While this industry is not highly profitable, it is stable. Tung oil is a necessary coating for woodworking, shipbuilding, and other applications, with extensive demand. Your brother-in-law procures tung oil from southwestern Hunan, transports it to Shanghai for refining and processing, and then sells it to various regions. Although there is much hardship in this process, it is also the means by which we support our family.
In recent years, your brother-in-law has intended to expand his operations, seeking cooperation with merchants in neighboring prefectures and counties to jointly develop the market. Although there are risks, there are also opportunities. The family also supports his idea, hoping to seize this chance to elevate the business to a higher level.
Fifth Brother, you are in a foreign land, so you must study diligently and not forget the expectations of your family.
The letter is short, but my feelings are long; words cannot express everything. I eagerly await the day when I can see you return home and we can share the joys of family life. Please take care of your health and achieve success in your studies.
Fourth Sister
March 15th, the 19th year of the Republic of China
So that’s what tung oil is.
Fang Wen remembered.
He recalled that before he transmigrated, he had heard a friend mention investing several acres of land to grow tung oil trees.
At that time, his friend had spoken a lot about the uses of tung oil and also briefly mentioned the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union in China’s tung oil trade during World War II.
It could be said that tung oil played a very important role in China’s international relations during World War II.
It seemed to be because tung oil has anti-corrosive properties, which can be used to protect military facilities and weapons from oxidation and corrosion, and it can also be used in the manufacturing of ammunition and other military equipment.
In addition to this, it can also be used as a coating, medicine, ink, and for other widespread uses.
Putting down the letters, Fang Wen wanted to write two family letters back to the family of this body, explaining that he had graduated early and joined China Airlines as a civil aviation pilot. He also wanted to urge his fourth sister to invest more in the tung oil business, so as not to miss out on this good business that remained strong even during wartime.
But how could he write letters?
Although through the residual memories of this body, he had gained the ability to pilot aircraft.
However, writing traditional Chinese characters and imitating the specific writing style of the Republic of China era would be difficult.
In this era, the vernacular spoken and the language used in letters were quite different.
He sat up in bed and looked at the students in his dormitory, but he had no intention of asking them to write for him. Instead, he left the dormitory and wandered in Nanyuan Town outside the school.
Nanyuan, during the Qing Dynasty, was a royal garden, meaning a hunting ground.
Now, in the Republic of China era, people had gradually moved in to reside, and it had formed a considerable town.
Walking through Nanyuan Town, Fang Wen searched for what he wanted.
To write family letters for others.
This was a means for impoverished intellectuals in ancient times to make a living. It was available in many places and had become the most convenient way for illiterate people to contact their families.
He walked to the latter half of the street and saw an elder wearing a cotton-padded jacket and robe, with a cloth curtain hanging behind him, on which was written “Family Letters Written.”
Fang Wen walked over and sat down in front of the elder.
The elder looked at Fang Wen with some surprise but said nothing.
“How much to write two family letters?” Fang Wen asked.
The elder stroked his chin beard. “One silver dollar.”
“I’ll state it, and you’ll refine it. Is that acceptable?”
“Of course, that’s what I do.”
The elder was displeased by Fang Wen’s questioning and immediately ground his ink, holding his brush ready.
With his thoughts, Fang Wen expressed what he wanted to convey in the vernacular.
“Father, Mother, hello. I have already graduated early. I have also obtained a job and will be a flight pilot at China Airlines in Shanghai. Time is a bit tight, and I have to report within half a month, after which I will need to undergo flight training. I won’t have time to come home for a while. I am writing this letter to inform you both.”
The elder wrote without thinking. After he finished, Fang Wen looked at it.
“Your son has graduated early and obtained a position, serving as a flight pilot at China Airlines in Shanghai. This is truly my honor, and it also brings glory to our family name. However, time flies, and there is no room for slackening. I must report within half a month, and afterward, there are still the important tasks of learning ahead of me.
Recalling this, I feel a sense of urgency and am temporarily unable to return home. Therefore, I have written this letter to inform my parents. I hope my parents will not worry, as I will work diligently abroad and not disappoint you.
Shanghai is a bustling yet noisy city. Although I miss the warmth and tranquility of home, my responsibilities require me to be away from my loved ones. Once my career is successful and my job is stable, I will choose a time to return home and share the joy of family life with you.
I pray for my parents’ good health and long life. Although I am far away, my heart is with our home, and I constantly think of you both. I hope you will take care of yourselves and not worry about me.”
After this polishing, the same meaning conveyed a different feeling.
It should be fine.
Fang Wen then asked the elder to polish and rewrite the vernacular content he had written for his fourth sister. Afterwards, he took both letters back to the school.
Once the letters were mailed, the family matters were considered resolved.
Next, he was waiting for the appointment letter from the Ministry of Communications.
Three days later, a black sedan drove into the school.
The school principal and instructors came out to welcome him and then summoned Fang Wen to the school auditorium.
At the same time, the students from the same cohort also came to witness the ceremony.
In the small auditorium, the representative from the Ministry of Communications produced a framed appointment letter.
“Today, we are hereby issuing an appointment letter to Fang Wen, appointing him as a special commissioner for flight piloting at China Airlines, responsible for flight piloting and subsequent training matters.”
Amidst applause, Fang Wen accepted the appointment letter, marking his first job after his rebirth.
