Chapter 357 - 357: Palace in the Sky
“Mr. Zhou, hello. I’m your dedicated pilot, Saxon Dole. We’ve already arrived at Hongqiao Airport. Could you let me know when you’ll be available for a handover?”
“The plane has already arrived at Hongqiao Airport. Great, I’ll be right there!” Zhou Chao’s face lit up with a happy smile.
After hanging up the phone, Zhou Chao patted Lin Wu’s shoulder.
Let’s go, stop staring!”
“Sure thing, Boss!” Lin Wu glanced back once more and then quickly followed Zhou Chao towards the parking lot.
Zhou Chao drove straight to Hongqiao Airport.
The closer they got to the airport, the more excited Zhou Chao felt. After all, he was about to see a big treasure, one of the very few private planes of this grandeur in the country.
They soon arrived at the airport, and Zhou Chao used his black card privileges to meet with the relevant authorities directly.
“Mr. Zhou, your plane is currently at the private apron. I’ll arrange for someone to take you there!” The airport executive was very cordial, as he had just learned that a private jet worth billions had landed at Hongqiao!
“Thank you!” Zhou Chao, with Lin Wu in tow, followed the airport personnel on a small shuttle towards the private apron.
“Boss, Boss, is that the Boeing 747 you mentioned?” Lin Wu excitedly pointed to a plane parked on the apron in the distance. Its exterior was adorned with vibrant blue colors and featured a cute panda graphic.
It should be!” Zhou Chao’s excitement mirrored Lin Wu’s. As they drew closer to the plane, his face was filled with a beaming smile.
The shuttle soon came to a stop in front of the enormous aircraft. Three individuals disembarked from the plane, and it appeared that one of them was his dedicated pilot.
“Hello, Mr. Zhou. I’m a representative from Boeing, and I’m here to oversee the handover of the aircraft.” A well-dressed professional extended his hand for a handshake.
“Hello!” Zhou Chao politely shook his hand.
“Mr. Zhou, let me introduce you to the features of this aircraft.”
“Please, go ahead.” Zhou Chao nodded, ready to listen.
“Mr. Zhou, this Boeing 747-8VIP has a total price of 800 million USD, with a cabin space of approximately 4,700 square feet (about 436 square meters). It has three floors and is equipped with a 14-person dining room, two kitchens, a meeting room, a lounge, and an office.
The Boeing 747-8VIP is powered by four General Electric GE11X-2B67 engines, each producing 66,500 pounds of thrust, based on the engines used in the 787 Dreamliner.
The empty weight is 185,972 kilograms, maximum takeoff weight is 439,985 kilograms, maximum fuel capacity is 216,840 liters, and it has a maximum range of 14,815 kilometers (8,000 nautical miles) with a typical cruising speed of 0.85 Mach.
There have been eight 747-8VIP aircraft delivered worldwide, and your aircraft, Mr. Zhou, is one of the most luxurious among them.
Additionally, it has a length of 76.4 meters, making it the longest aircraft in the world. Mr. Zhou, please come aboard and take a look!”
Zhou Chao, who had been eagerly waiting, was the first to step onto the aircraft.
As he did, he felt a slight sense of awe. It was incredibly luxurious, and he couldn’t find the words to describe it. Walking into the cabin, there was a meeting room on the right and an office on the left.
“Luxurious, absolutely luxurious!” Even Zhou Chao, who was accustomed to lavish mansions and villas, couldn’t help but marvel at the opulence of the aircraft’s interior.
As he gazed at the palace-like plane, Zhou Chao, led by the staff, took a tour around, exploring every corner.
“Why isn’t there anywhere to sit here?”
“Are you referring to passenger seating, Mr. Zhou?”
“Yes.”
“Mr. Zhou, we are currently on the uppermost floor. The passenger seating is on the lower level. This aircraft can accommodate up to 40 passengers.”
“I am very happy with the plane. This must be my dedicated pilot, Saxon Dole, right?”
“Yes, Boss!”
“From now on, 1’11 entrust the plane to you!” Zhou Chao proactively extended his hand and shook hands with Dole.
Zhou Chao looked at the palace-like plane and nodded in satisfaction.
“I’m very pleased. Let’s proceed with the handover.”
With delight, the staff member took out a signing agreement from his briefcase, and Zhou Chao quickly glanced over it before signing his name.
“Mr. Zhou, here’s my business card. If you encounter any issues with the aircraft, feel free to contact me anytime!” Lin Wu, standing nearby, took the staff member’s business card and placed it in his pocket.
Seeing this, the staff member gave a slight nod and then left with his assistant.
Now, there were only Zhou Chao, Lin Wu, and Captain Dole on the plane.
The three of them arrived at the lounge area, and Zhou Chao found a chair to sit in. It was incredibly soft, making him feel like he was sitting on a cloud. He could only describe it in two words: “very comfortable.”
Seeing the two standing nearby, Zhou Chao waved his hand, signaling them to sit down.
Dole, what about the others? Are you the only one on the plane?”
“Boss, do you want to meet them? I’ll call them up right away. They’re all currently in the lounge on the third floor!”
“Alright, have them come up as well.” Dole promptly got up and headed towards the front of the plane.
Soon, Dole returned with seven or eight people in tow. Zhou Chao counted them, and including Dole, there were nine people in total.
Two men and seven women, all of them were handsome and beautiful. Zhou Chao couldn’t help but notice that the women were looking at him, their eyes shining brightly.
“Allow me to summarize briefly. Your yearly salary will receive a ten percent boost. Secondly, stick to your job and avoid any other distractions.
Furthermore, Dole, please have the aircraft inspected and inform Lin Wu if any adjustments are necessary. In a few days, we’re heading to the Hawaiian Islands. You’ll have some leisure time there, and all expenses will be on me!”
“Wuhu! Long live the boss!” All the crew members were thrilled and respectful.
“Alright, you all can go about your tasks. If any of you want to explore Modu, feel free to do so. Lin Wu, later, give each of them 100,000 as a meeting gift!”
“Thank you, boss!” The crew members left in high spirits.
“Dole, I’m not very familiar with the aircraft. You’re in charge of liaising with the airport staff and determining the necessary expenses. Let Lin Wu handle it. Lin Wu will give you a business card with both our names on it. For routine matters, contact him. If there’s an emergency, call me. Understand?”
“Boss, don’t worry. I’ll handle it properly!” Despite his somewhat unpolished Mandarin, Dole smiled.
“Mmm, I’ll take my leave for now. The day before departure, 1’11 have Lin Wu notify you. Additionally, I don’t want any hanky-panky on my plane. Even if you want to have fun, it should be done in a hotel. You’ll inform the others about this when the time comes!” Zhou Chao looked at Dole with a stern expression, and the cold glint in his eyes sent shivers down Dole’s spine.
Lowering his head, Dole quickly responded, “Rest assured, boss, there won’t be any issues.”
‘All right then, I’ll head back now.” Zhou Chao stood up, glanced at the luxurious interior of the cabin, and then left the plane with Lin Wu.
They boarded the shuttle bus, which had been waiting for some time, and headed towards the airport exit.
As Zhou Chao’s departing figure was visible, Dole muttered to himself, “My boss seems quite formidable.”
“Thank you for your trouble!” Zhou Chao expressed his gratitude to the middle-aged driver as soon as they boarded the shuttle. Lin Wu also handed a pack of green panda cigarettes to the man.
Watching the shuttle bus drive away, Zhou Chao and Lin Wu continued their journey back home.
Time had slipped away, and it was already five in the afternoon. He was uncertain if Jiang Li had returned home yet.
This time, Lin Wu took the driver’s seat, as Zhou Chao hadn’t driven for quite a while. When they left the airport, Zhou Chao took out his phone and started chatting in the Modu Second Generation chat group.
“Has anyone been on a trip recently? I’m thinking of going on one!”
Before long, members of the Second Generation chat group began to respond.
“Young Master Zhou, where are you planning to go?” Si Cong suddenly joined the conversation.
“Hawaiian Islands, anyone interested in joining?”
“I’d love to go to Hawaiian Islands, but I’ve been swamped lately and can’t get away!” Hou Ting lamented.
“What are you so busy with? You’ve sold your company to Zhou Chao!” Qin Fen immediately retorted.
“Do you think I’m like the two of you who can just sit around doing nothing? My old man’s company needs me to take charge!”
Si Cong and Qin Fen exchanged hand gesture emojis with the text “You’re strong!” Both of them knew there wasn’t much for them to do since they had handed most of the work to professional managers.
“Young Master Zhou, I’m free!” Qin Lang suddenly chimed in, indicating he had been lurking in the conversation for a while.
“You’re free? You sure you’re not busy?” Qin Fen immediately blocked Qin Lang’s plan for leisure.
“I just got back from the Maldives a month ago, and you guys are planning a trip to Hawaiian Islands?” Li Yang also joined the conversation.
“Big Brother, Uncle Li said you could take a break!”
“Second Brother, you’re getting more and more powerful, and I regret not being there at that time!”
“What happened?”
“What’s going on?”
“Yeah, what happened?”
The rest of them asked.
“I can’t discuss it here, I’ll tell you when we’re on the trip. It’s absolutely mind-blowing!”
“Big Brother, don’t be modest; maybe Zhang Wenxuan will join us on the trip!”
“Alright.” Li Yang understood a little of what was going on.
“Zhang Wenxuan? The Young Master of Modu Green Emperor, I’ve only heard of him, haven’t met him yet!” They were all aware of the name since they were part of Modu’s second generation elite.
“Since you all have time, I’ll make arrangements later. I’ve already decided on the departure date; 1’11 let you know!”
“Sounds good!” Si Cong, Li Yang, and the others replied and then went silent.
By this time, Lin Wu had already arrived at the garage of the Huazhou Juntian Residence.
“Ah Li is already back?” Zhou Chao noticed Jiang Li’s car parked in its spot.
“Boss, I’ll head back now!”
“Yeah, go ahead. I’ll call you later!”
“Alright, boss!”
Zhou Chao then took the elevator back to the villa and found Jiang Li in the kitchen, washing vegetables.
“Why are you in the kitchen again?”
“Well, you weren’t at home, and 1 didn’t want to order takeout.”
“I just got back, and I have some good news for you!”
“What good news?” Jiang Li asked, curious.
“We’re going to Hawaiian Islands, and we’ll take the opportunity to have our wedding photos taken!”
Really?” Jiang Li exclaimed excitedly.
“Absolutely!” Zhou Chao replied with a serious expression, and Jiang Li eagerly embraced him..