Future Pet Shop

Chapter 93: You Can’t Bring This On the Plane

"Hello, sir. According to civil aviation regulations, pets traveling by plane must be checked in. They can be transported as checked baggage in the aircraft’s pressurized cargo hold. The small animals our airline accepts for transport are domesticated dogs, cats, birds, or other household pets. Wild animals, unusually shaped animals, or animals prone to injuring people, such as snakes, cannot be transported as baggage, but they can be shipped as cargo. Furthermore, we generally do not transport animals that are pregnant, nursing, or have given birth within the last 48 hours." The customer service representative was clearly very experienced, rattling off the procedure smoothly.

"Additionally, the specific procedure is as follows: You need to go to a county-level or higher health and quarantine department to obtain an animal quarantine certificate, which includes a valid health certificate and proof of vaccination. Please note that the quarantine certificate is valid for a maximum of seven days, so your flight date must be within the certificate’s validity period," she continued without giving Shen Yibin a chance to interrupt.

"Then, you need to confirm if your chosen flight allows pets and book a spot in the pressurized cargo hold for your pet three days in advance." ’The process sounds pretty complicated,’ he thought. "Then, you must purchase a special airline-approved crate for the pet, withhold food for three hours before check-in, ensure it has relieved itself, and arrive at the airport two hours early to handle the check-in procedures."

Shen Yibin listened to the customer service representative’s explanation while looking over at Hah’Er. ’Stuff this guy in a crate and fly to Sichuan? I just don’t have the heart to do it. Besides, don’t pandas on TV always get to sit in their own seats when they travel the world?’

"Um, my pet is a bit special," Shen Yibin asked. "Is there any way it could sit in a seat next to me? I’ll buy it a ticket."

"Sir, that’s not allowed. Pets can only stay in the pressurized cargo hold, and they must meet our regulations. May I ask what kind of pet you have? I can see if it’s eligible for transport," the customer service representative replied, rejecting him without hesitation.

"A giant panda. I’ve seen giant pandas traveling in the passenger cabin on TV, haven’t I?" Shen Yibin was slightly frustrated. ’I didn’t expect this to be such a hassle.’

As for Cheeky, it and Sun Qian were currently in the throes of a passionate affair. The two of them, one playing the guitar and the other singing, were having the time of their lives. It had no desire to go out with Shen Yibin at all.

"What? A giant panda?" The customer service representative’s calm tone vanished. She seemed to think Shen Yibin was just some crank caller trying to harass her. She tried her best to control her emotions. "Sir, please don’t joke around."

"How is this a joke? I really need to buy a plane ticket for the giant panda I’m raising." ’Why won’t you believe me?’ "Oh, right, have you seen that talent show from Yunzhong City recently? That giant panda is mine."

"Sorry, I’m not interested in variety shows." ’Well, there goes my previously foolproof method.’

’What should I do now?’ Shen Yibin scratched his head. "Alright, I’ll have someone who can confirm this call you." ’Sigh, looks like I’ll have to bother Professor Wu Gui again. They transport pandas often, so they must have a partnership with the airline, right?’

He hung up and called Professor Wu Gui, explaining the situation. Professor Wu Gui immediately burst out laughing. "Haha, my apologies, Bin. I’m getting old and my mind isn’t what it used to be. I can’t believe I forgot about this. Don’t you worry, I’ll call the airline right away. Also, don’t worry about the tickets. The Base will reimburse you and Hah’Er." And just like that, the problem was smoothly resolved.

Not long after, Shen Yibin received a call from the airline. "Hello, Mr. Shen. Our company just received a notification from the Sichuan Giant Panda Base, stating that you will soon be flying with a giant panda from Yunzhong City to Sichuan. When would you like to purchase tickets? I can arrange it for you."

"The sooner, the better. I see there seems to be a flight to Sichuan at ten o’clock tomorrow morning?" Shen Yibin said, looking it up on his tablet. "It looks like there are still seats available. Could you get me two economy class seats next to each other?"

Hah’Er wasn’t fully grown yet, so an economy class seat should be big enough. Even though Professor Wu Gui was reimbursing him, Shen Yibin felt bad about spending too much money.

"There is indeed a flight to Sichuan at ten o’clock, but there’s no need for economy. Professor Wu Gui told us to book two first-class seats for you. If you could just give me your ID number, I can process it for you. You’ll receive a text message once it’s done," the airline employee said politely. "We have a long-term partnership with the Giant Panda Base, so we give them very favorable prices."

’Poor me, I’ve never even flown first class before. To think my first time would be thanks to Hah’Er.’ After giving his ID number and asking a few more questions, Shen Yibin hung up.

A short while later, he received a text message confirming the booking. ’Now I can start packing.’ "Come on, Hah’Er, let’s see what you need to bring."

He packed a suitcase with a jumble of things for himself and Hah’Er: clothes, toiletries, chargers for his phone and tablet, and so on. Hah’Er was also helping Shen Yibin stuff things into the suitcase.

"Wait a minute, Hah’Er, what are you stuffing in there?" He had just taken some clothes from the closet when he saw Hah’Er stuffing several cans of beer into the luggage. Shen Yibin practically fell to his knees.

’Do you have to love beer this much?’ Shen Yibin was speechless. He was once again filled with immense regret for ever teaching Hah’Er to drink. "Come on, be good. Take them all out. You can’t bring these on the plane."

"Hmph~" Hah’Er clutched the beer cans tightly, refusing to let Shen Yibin take them out.

"They have beer in Sichuan, too. How about I buy you some after we land?" ’You’re not planning on drinking on the plane and then performing drunken boxing, are you?’

It took a great deal of effort and a lot of coaxing to finally convince Hah’Er. He reluctantly took the beer cans out and put them back in the refrigerator, a look of grievance and reluctance on his face.

"Alright, alright, I’ll let you have two bowls tonight." Shen Yibin had to compromise. Only then did Hah’Er’s mood improve a little.

Early the next morning, at seven o’clock, Shen Yibin woke Hah’Er from his sleep. After quickly finishing breakfast, they said their goodbyes to Sun Qian and Cheeky and prepared to leave for the airport. "Qian, Cheeky, I’ll have to trouble you two for the next few days. Call me anytime if anything comes up."

"Go on, go on!" Cheeky didn’t care at all. It waved a wing without even looking up, then went back to eating its figs.

"Have a safe... trip." Sun Qian had started to say ’bon voyage’, but realizing that wasn’t quite right for a plane trip, she quickly corrected herself.

After dragging the suitcase and Hah’Er to the shop’s entrance, they waited for a short while. The private car they had just ordered arrived at the door. Shen Yibin and Hah’Er waved goodbye to Sun Qian and Cheeky and embarked on their journey to Sichuan.