Chapter 247: 246, Cross-national Betting, Lin Shuiwang’s Scheme Makes The General Manager Famous In The United States, Airline Meals: Instant Noodles
United States New York, Taishan International office building.
This listed company, revived through innovative means such as restructuring, refinancing, and issuing new shares, has recently been at the center of public attention.
This year the Hoover Dam was completed, construction workers left, yet it did not cause Las Vegas to decline.
On the contrary, people from the entire West Coast, even the Midwest, came flocking.
By airplane, train, or self-driving, after arriving in Las Vegas, their first top choice target was Taishan Paradise, then they would play a couple of hands at Taishan Casino.
Only then could it be considered that they had been to Las Vegas.
（1935 Las Vegas）
It was precisely because Taishan gambling company became a landmark of Las Vegas, with business booming incredibly, that its parent company’s stock price soared.
So, in these days, almost every day there were reporters wanting to interview every staff member of Taishan International.
Among them, Taishan International President Lin Shuiwang was naturally the one they most wanted to interview.
But Lin Shuiwang did not want to, dodging reporters’ entanglements time and again.
Until he received a telegram from the East.
“A challenge?!” Lin Shuiwang scratched the back of his head.
Everything said in the telegram was a bit tricky.
Pan American Airways is no small company; the big shots behind it are Rockefeller and the Whitney family.
One controls the steel industry, the other controls railroad and munitions—these two behemoths backing Pan American Airways.
Not to mention, with their immense power, they also gained the support of the US Government.
Now, in the airmail business across North and South America, Pan American Airways holds a large share.
The general manager actually wants to challenge such a behemoth.
Lin Shuiwang’s head hurt.
He felt he couldn’t even meet face-to-face with Pan American Airways executives.
Got it.
He suddenly thought of a method.
September 21, Taishan International suddenly revealed a message to the public.
The company president is willing to accept an interview.
Instantly, New York reporters flocked over.
These reporters originally thought it was by appointment, then select one for a solo interview, but unexpectedly, all were invited.
In the company’s large room, Lin Shuiwang had a conversation with the reporters.
He told a polished story, the legend of an Eastern pilot.
This kind of story was far more interesting than interviewing a business company boss; the reporters listened with great interest to Lin Shuiwang.
Lin Shuiwang, with his language talent, was also a good speaker, vividly describing to the reporters Fang Wen’s participation in the war, establishment of the airline company, adventure across the Eurasian continent, adventure across the Atlantic Ocean, traversing North America, establishing Taishan Casino, acquiring a bankrupt listed company and bringing it back to life.
Of course, all polished—what to say he said, what not to say he didn’t mention a word.
These words gave the reporters rich material to report on; they just needed to pick a few from it to publish in the newspaper.
A reporter, very interested in this, asked: “Can I write a personal biography for him?”
Lin Shuiwang was stunned: “I think not. He’s only in his twenties; aren’t biographies written by elderly people?”
Everyone suddenly realized, yes, that made it even more interesting—such rich life experiences concentrated in a young man; publishing it might make him a new idol?
Reporters needed subjects that could be continuously reported on; the person Lin Shuiwang mentioned fit their requirements perfectly.
This made Lin Shuiwang a bit afraid he couldn’t rein it in, so he quickly stated the reason for calling the reporters this time.
“He now wants to bet against Pan American Airways; the bet is to see who completes the trans-Pacific flight first.”
Lin Shuiwang wanted to make Pan American Airways know about this through reporters’ reports.
He succeeded, and also successfully made Americans of this era aware of an Eastern pilot.
In the United States, just recovering from the Great Depression, not only was economic recovery needed, but people also needed spiritual pillars.
Such a magical person was just like a magical hero in a comic book.
But more real than characters in comics.
People eagerly talked about the legendary deeds of the Eastern pilot and wondered if Pan American Airways dared to accept this challenge.
Thus, the pressure was on Pan American Airways.
Pan American Airways had prepared much for the trans-Pacific flight, so how could they be willing to join this inexplicable gambling match.
But its shareholders did not think so.
A showdown between Eastern and Western airline companies, a contest for the honor of being first across the Pacific, was far more interesting than successfully completing the Pacific flight.
Subsequently, at the request of Pan American Airways’ major shareholder, this bet was established.
Taishan International President Lin Shuiwang, representing his boss Fang Wen, signed the trans-Pacific bet with Pan American Airways executives in front of numerous reporters.
This news also quickly spread to Shanghai via transoceanic radio waves.
Newspapers in Shanghai also wrote articles publicizing the matter.
《Bet》
Hereby, Chinese enterprise Taishan Airlines and American enterprise Pan American Airways shall, on November 4, 1935 in the Western calendar, take off simultaneously from our country’s Guangzhou and the United States San Francisco, to engage in a competition of speed and endurance. Both parties, upholding the spirit of fair competition, hereby establish this aerial bet to determine superiority.
Both parties must obtain confirmation stamps from telegraph offices along the way or personal signatures from locally renowned figures as fair proof. This is to demonstrate the event’s transparency and ensure the flight path is indisputable.
Though the bet between the two companies lacks drawn swords, it does have a prize.
Both parties agree to an equity bet: if Taishan wins, it gains 3% shares of Pan American Airways; if Pan American wins, it gets 10% of Taishan shares.
This bet is announced publicly, everyone can supervise; any violator will have their credit ruined.
The matter of Taishan Airlines betting against Pan American Airways fermented instantly through newspapers and telegrams.
Not only in China and the United States, but other regions also began paying attention to this event.
The wider the spread, the clearer the details became.
People discovered that both airplanes were passenger aircraft.
Pan American Airways’ China Clipper, 18 passengers, 4 crew members.
Taishan Airlines’ Xuanming, 16 passengers, 3 crew members.
This meant that, besides the pilot and crew members, more people could participate in this race.
People always have aspirations for adventure, especially crossing Earth’s first ocean.
Now it could be realized, and there were many bold people.
Neither airline company missed this extremely effective propaganda method.
Pan American Airways took the lead, publicly recruiting passengers via newspaper ads.
They quickly selected passengers, including reporters, tycoons, writers, painters, and more.
Fang Wen’s side was only half a step behind.
Passenger recruitment was launched simultaneously in Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Beiping.
But compared to the United States, this batch of passenger recruitment was much more cautious; after all, there was a Little Japanese stirring trouble—if Japanese sneaked in to sabotage, it would definitely cause trouble.
For this, the entire recruitment process carefully examined passengers’ backgrounds and selected 16 reliable passengers.
Time passed, and before they knew it, November 4 arrived.
That day, Guangzhou Dashatou Airport gathered many people.
Dashatou Airport has land airport and seaplane airport; everyone was at the seaplane airport side.
As the pilot, Fang Wen was doing pre-takeoff work, checking the airplane’s condition.
No problem.
Fang Wen went down to the cabin and talked with the two crew members.
Flying with him were Wu Yingzong, now promoted to chief instructor of Taishan Volunteer Army, and his wife Zhao Wanping.
“All set, open the hatch, let passengers in.”
The two then opened the hatch in the aircraft belly, placing the extensible board on the shoreline.
Passengers held onto the airplane’s side, carefully boarding; but someone behind shouted: “General Manager Fang, at least accept an interview before departure, otherwise there’s no atmosphere at all.”
It was a Guangzhou reporter shouting; for the company, Fang Wen got off the plane to deal with it.
Reporters asked questions noisily; he answered them one by one.
“President Fang, can your airplane win?”
“It can win; if it couldn’t, why would I fly it.”
“Americans’ technology is very strong; how do you have confidence.”
“Americans’ technology is indeed strong, but we have legs—we’ll keep chasing and eventually catch up.”
While answering the reporters, Kuang Shanming and his daughter Kuang Mingzhu were watching nearby.
Kuang Shanming beamed: “This son-in-law, the more I look, the better he is. Daughter, your eyesight is really good.”
Kuang Mingzhu smiled without speaking; she still remembered the scene back then clearly—in truth, it seemed she did nothing, just muddled along and eloped with her husband. Thinking back now, she still felt a bit dazed.
Ten-odd minutes later, the interview ended.
Fang Wen went to bid farewell to his wife and the subordinates seeing him off.
Takeoff time had not yet arrived.
Both sides agreed to depart simultaneously at 9 a.m., with total duration calculated by each’s arrival time.
Everyone looked westward; on the distant riverbank stood a large bell tower.
That was one of Guangzhou’s landmark buildings: Guangdong Customs Building.
（Now at No. 29 Yanjiang West Road, Guangzhou City, Customs Museum）
Time came, the customs building bell rang nine times; Fang Wen started the engine to prepare for takeoff.
At this moment, Kuang Shanming, with a face full of joy, waved to Fang Wen from the shoreline. “Son-in-law, it’s done—today Legal Tender is issued.”
Kuang Shanming’s words were understood only by Fang Wen and the bosses of over twenty Gold Firms in Guangzhou involved in the matter.
With the issuance of Legal Tender, silver’s value expectation would gradually decline.
Once confirmed that the United States would not repurchase overseas silver, Japanese would panic-sell their silver holdings.
But this would take a process; by the time Fang Wen flew across the Pacific and returned, it still wouldn’t be done.
Thus, Fang Wen didn’t pay too much attention.
He controlled the airplane to accelerate, going upstream; water splashed to the shoreline, greeted by cheering crowds running along the coast.
When speed reached takeoff state, Fang Wen pulled the control stick, and the airplane soared into the air over the Pearl River.
Until 3000 meters altitude, the airplane steadily flew toward the southeast.
At this time, the passengers in the airplane finally relaxed.
16 passengers, respectively in the front cabin and middle cabin; since it was a long-haul flight, there were no seats in the cabin, but berths one by one.
One cabin 8, exactly 16.
They stood up from the berth beds but didn’t dare move around.
Tall and sturdy Zhao Wanping and Wu Yingzong, in flight attendant uniforms, explained to passengers in the front and middle cabins.
“Everyone don’t be afraid; now you can move around in the airplane. But note, no jumping, and no loud noise. Jumping affects airplane flight, loud noise affects other passengers.”
Hearing this, everyone instantly relaxed and moved around in the airplane.
The civilian-modified airplane had all functions life-oriented.
Besides berths for rest, there was a water room and restroom.
Zhao Wanping continued: “The water room can brew tea or coffee.”
“Then what do we eat?” a passenger asked.
Wu Yingzong took a bag, opened it, took out the noodle cakes inside, plus dried vegetable packs, seaweed shrimp skin packs, and salt sauce packs.
He put all these into a round iron box, then turned on the hot water pipe and added water.
“This is instant noodles; wait a bit for it to soak and it can be eaten.”
Everyone stood still, just like that for five minutes, until Wu Yingzong lifted the lid.
The noodles really soaked open, and the smell was quite fragrant.
One passenger, probably hungry, eagerly requested to try it.
“A bit hot, use a wooden board.” Zhao Wanping took a pad, placed the instant noodle iron box on it, and handed it to the passenger.
The passenger took the iron box, ate a bite, and uncontrollably finished it all, not even leaving soup.
Seeing this, Wu Yingzong couldn’t help picking up the wired telephone in the cabin to report to Fang Wen.
“General Manager, passengers really like instant noodles.”
“Oh, got it.”
Fang Wen hung up and continued flying.
But his mind was a bit distracted because of it.
Instant noodles were a product from researching portable military rations.
When making fried rice and rice cakes as military rations for the Red Army, Fang Wen had thought about whether instant noodles could be made.
He assigned this idea downward, and later it really was produced.
Fried noodles could be stored long-term, baked-dried vegetables and garlic restored flavor in hot water, seaweed shrimp skin and cooked kelp powder made the umami pack, plus lard-fried sauce pack—once making Fang Wen think it was the best military ration.
But all that lost meaning after Fang Wen invented compressed biscuits using a cold heading machine.
Compressed biscuits had much higher nutritional value, portability, and practicality than instant noodles; for marching and fighting, naturally use the best.
So, the researched instant noodles were eliminated but became a new direction for airline meals of this era.
As for the hot water in the water room, it was even simpler.
All from the auxiliary cooling water of the two 800-horsepower engines.
This water, after flowing through the engine, not only cooled it but became boiling drinking water and the best way to soak instant noodles.
Thinking of this, Fang Wen couldn’t help smiling; after coming to this era, it seemed the entire era was being changed by him.
He picked up the wired telephone: “Wu Yingzong, soak a bowl of instant noodles for me too.”
（Berths inside Martin M130, Xuanming front and middle cabins also arranged this way.）
A few minutes later, Wu Yingzong soaked the instant noodles, specially fanning them a bit cooler to avoid scalding the general manager, then put the noodle box in the hanging basket and tugged to remind above.
Fang Wen lifted the hanging basket, half his energy in mechanical perception state, half eating instant noodles.
It was spicy flavor, with stir-fried Sichuan blue and white pepper, paired with extremely aromatic Erjing strip chili peppers, very appetizing.
While eating instant noodles, Fang Wen didn’t relax his awareness of the surroundings.
Now, after 2 hours of flight, at 200 km cruising speed, only over 400 km covered, still not out of Chinese territorial waters.
He needed to fly 14 hours today to reach Guam in the western Pacific.
That would be the first stop.
