radicalducati Chapter 155 My First First-Class Experience in the 50s
Chapter 155 My First First-Class Experience in the 50s
Chapter 158: My First First-Class Experience in the 1950s
After the basketball game ended, the enthusiasm of the audience seemed to linger in the air, refusing to dissipate for a long time. Many excited fans gathered near the auditorium exit, excitedly discussing the historic game they had just played, reluctant to leave. Lin Yan, Li Wenbin, Zheng Jiaming, and the others followed the slowly moving crowd, inching along the auditorium's passageway towards the exit.
Li Wenbin was still immersed in extreme excitement. He grabbed Zheng Jiaming and excitedly recounted the thrilling moments of the game: "Jiaming, did you see that! Baylor's turn, my god, it was like a gust of wind! And that layup, the defenders were stunned!"
Although Zheng Jiaming wasn't as outgoing as Li Wenbin, his eyes still gleamed with a sense of unfinished excitement. He smiled and nodded in response, "It was truly spectacular, especially against a strong team like the Celtics, which really highlights the value of this victory and record."
Back in the car, Ethan smoothly merged into traffic and sped towards the Hyatt Hotel. The street scenes outside the window rushed past, while Li Wenbin's incessant chatter about the competition still echoed inside the car.
Back in their hotel room, Lin Yan said to the two, who were still buzzing with excitement, "There's another great game in Philadelphia in two days, between the Philadelphia Warriors and the New York Knicks. They say the Warriors' rookie center, Wilt Chamberlain, is a monster. Are you interested in going?"
Li Wenbin practically jumped up, his face beaming with excitement, saying, "Go! Of course I'll go! Chamberlain, right? I've heard of him, he seems really good! Seeing players of that caliber compete is such a rare opportunity!"
Zheng Jiaming, on the other hand, was relatively calm. He considered things more thoroughly and looked at Lin Yan, asking, "Only two days from Minneapolis to Philadelphia, isn't that too rushed? Can the itinerary be arranged?"
Lin Yan said, "There's enough time, it mainly depends on the availability of flights." After he finished speaking, he turned to Ethan, who had been waiting quietly beside him, and instructed, "Ethan, go and check the flight information from Minneapolis to Philadelphia right away, find the one that departs the earliest, and also plan out the rest of the itinerary."
"Yes, young master." Ethan bowed and accepted the order, then quickly left the room.
About half an hour later, Ethan returned to the room, extremely efficient. He reported, "Young Master, I've found out. The earliest flight that meets your requirements is at 6:15 PM today, operated by Delta Airlines, a direct flight from Minneapolis to Philadelphia, with a flight time of approximately 3 hours. There's plenty of time to book now."
Lin Yan glanced at his watch, then handed the decision over to the two guests, smiling, "How about it? The timing is perfect. Let's pack our things now and head to the airport to catch our flight."
Upon hearing this, Li Wenbin immediately looked at Zheng Jiaming with expectant and pitiful eyes, as if to say, "Go, go."
Seeing Lin Yan's expression, Zheng Jiaming smiled helplessly. He was actually also looking forward to the next match, but worried about troubling Lin Yan too much. However, seeing how easily and calmly Lin Yan had arranged everything, he no longer hesitated and nodded, saying, "Since you've arranged everything, Ayan, we'll naturally oblige. To be honest, I haven't had enough of watching yet."
"Great!" Li Wenbin cheered.
Seeing that both of them agreed, Lin Yan nodded to Ethan. Ethan immediately said, "Please have the young masters pack their luggage and documents. I'll go and make a call to book a hotel in Philadelphia right away."
"Wait," Lin Yan called out to Ethan, who was about to turn around, and put Xiao Qi in his arms, adding, "Take Xiao Qi with you. Same as always, arrange for someone to 'drive' her to Philadelphia." He deliberately paused slightly on the word "drive".
Ethan immediately understood his young master's meaning—to temporarily store Young Master Qi in his spatial storage to ensure a smooth journey. He nodded calmly, "Understood, young master, I will arrange everything properly."
Everyone quickly packed their simple belongings. When they went downstairs to the lobby, Ethan was already waiting there, and everything was arranged.
"Young Master," Ethan stepped forward and reported concisely, "This time there are jet planes, so I booked first class for everything. The hotel we booked is a suite at the Valac Hotel in Philadelphia, the same one you stayed in last time. The car 'escorting' Young Master Qi has already departed (Young Master Qi is currently inside the spatial dimension). Our car is right outside the door, ready to head to the airport at any time. However, I suggest we stop at the airport for a short while, have some light food, and then board the plane, otherwise we might miss the normal dinner time when we arrive in Philadelphia."
Lin Yan gave Ethan an approving look: "Very thoughtful." Although he could now abstain from grains, Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming were mortals and needed to eat regularly. However, he immediately remembered that this era was the "golden age of luxury" for the American aviation industry, renowned for its exquisite in-flight meals, so he waved his hand and smiled: "However, I've heard that in-flight meals in this era are quite good, comparable to fine dining. Why don't we just board the plane and have dinner on board, letting the two of them experience it too?"
Upon hearing this, both Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming showed expressions of curiosity. First class was undoubtedly a novel and luxurious experience in this era.
"Okay! We'll do as Ayan says and eat on the plane!" Li Wenbin immediately agreed.
Seeing that his young master had made up his mind, Ethan said no more and bowed, "Yes, young master. Then let's head to the airport now."
The group got into a car and drove towards Minneapolis Airport.
I didn't have to wait long at the airport before boarding. The plane climbed smoothly to cruising altitude, and the moment the seatbelt reminder light went out, this "luxury club" located in the clouds quietly unveiled itself.
The cabin exuded an air of understated luxury. Gentlemen in well-tailored suits and impeccably styled hair conversed quietly with ladies in elegant suits or dresses, their laughter restrained and polite. The expensive watches on their wrists and the amber wine in their crystal glasses shimmered under the lights. It felt less like an airplane cabin and more like an extension of a top-tier club in New York or Chicago.
Li Wenbin's eyes were practically glued to the screen. He leaned closer to Zheng Jiaming, his voice low but barely concealing his excitement: "Jiaming, look over there! There's a small bar! And people are chatting with drinks in hand! This isn't like taking a plane, it's like attending a cocktail party!" Although Zheng Jiaming was more composed, his eyes also betrayed his astonishment. He straightened his suit and tie slightly and said in a low voice, "It's truly unique, completely different from the flights we've taken before. Ayan's arrangements always surprise us."
Lin Yan leaned back leisurely in the spacious armchair, which was large enough to recline, savoring the unique luxury of this era that would be difficult for later generations to replicate. Unlike the first-class cabins of later generations that he remembered, which focused more on privacy and technology, the core here was social interaction and experience.
At that moment, a graceful flight attendant in a well-fitting uniform approached. She addressed them precisely as "Mr. Lin," "Mr. Li," and "Mr. Zheng," as if they were already familiar with each other. "Gentlemen," she said, "we have prepared meals for you during the flight. Here is the menu. Would you like some champagne before your meal? Or perhaps try our special martini?" Her smile was sincere but not overly enthusiastic, and her service was just right.
Soon, the folding table, covered with a snow-white tablecloth, was unfolded, revealing heavy sterling silver cutlery neatly arranged. The appetizers were smoked salmon rolls and caviar served on toast in exquisite porcelain dishes. Li Wenbin, imitating an elderly gentleman next to him, carefully spread the caviar on the toast, put it in his mouth, and his eyes lit up immediately. He nodded vigorously to Lin Yan and Zheng Jiaming.
The choice of main courses was even more astonishing. Lin Yan opted for pan-seared filet mignon, the meat tender and cooked to perfection; Zheng Jiaming ordered roasted lamb ribs, the aroma of spices just right; while Li Wenbin showed great interest in the Maine lobster on the menu. Even Lin Yan was somewhat surprised when the onboard chef, dressed in a white chef's uniform, pushed a food cart and cut a large, whole ham for them right there in the air. This sense of ceremony, usually only found in high-end restaurants on the ground, had been brought to an altitude of 10,000 meters.
"Ah Yan, this...this steak is even more tender than the one we had at the restaurant yesterday!" Li Wenbin exclaimed as he cut into the juicy lobster meat. Zheng Jiaming nodded slightly, elegantly cutting the lamb chop with his knife and fork, and said in a low voice, "The tableware and plating are also extremely exquisite. It seems that the airline really wants to replicate the experience of a top-notch restaurant on the plane."
Just as everyone was enjoying their meal, the plane suddenly encountered turbulence and began to shake slightly. The flight attendants reacted swiftly and calmly, immediately securing the food carts and reassuring the passengers in gentle but firm voices: "Ladies and gentlemen, please don't worry, we've just encountered a little turbulence. Please remain in your seats and fasten your seatbelts." Their faces showed no panic; their professional demeanor immediately calmed the slight commotion in the cabin. One flight attendant quickly approached and helped Lin Yan and the others secure the wine glasses and other fragile items on the tray tables, her movements swift and unhurried.
After the turbulence subsided, service continued. Dessert was a flame cake drizzled with rich chocolate sauce, which the flight attendants finished on-site, the blue flames leaping and eliciting a few soft gasps. After the meal, holding a cup of black tea served in an exquisite porcelain vessel, Li Wenbin leaned back in his chair with satisfaction and whispered to Lin Yan, "Yan, I've learned something new. Traveling with you has really broadened my horizons."
Lin Yan smiled but didn't speak, his gaze fixed on the dark night sky and the faint city lights below through the porthole. The three-hour flight passed quickly in this extraordinary experience.
The plane landed smoothly at Philadelphia International Airport. Ethan, as precise as a clock, immediately stood up and whispered to Lin Yan, "Young Master, I'll go meet the convoy first." He then quietly disappeared into the crowd.
As Lin Yan, dressed in a long coat to suit the season, emerged from the terminal with Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming, who were still savoring their aerial feast, under Lin Gang's protection, a cool Philadelphia night breeze caressed their faces. Ethan was already waiting beside a black sedan, followed by two Lincolns with their doors open, as if silently welcoming them into the next leg of their journey.