For example, in this era, it was already quite common for Chinese people to wear suits, but most people regarded suits as a very formal kind of clothing. Once they put one on, they couldn’t help but act a bit stiff and proper. However, Franklin Turner was able to wear a suit with a touch of casual flair, making people feel instantly refreshed the moment they saw him.

Back then, there wasn’t yet the saying “looks are justice,” but Franklin Turner truly became the center of attention for all the women in Bureau Two. Needless to say, the young girls in the mailroom who had just turned twenty were smitten, and even the older ladies in the records room couldn’t help but flirt with him a little when they saw him.

Franklin Turner had a strong resistance to this kind of old-fashioned “flirting” from the last century. He would nod and smile at every female colleague who greeted him, and sometimes he would even compliment them on their looks and complexion in return. Most of the female staff in the bureau were much older than Franklin Turner, but he didn’t care about their positions or whether they were old enough to be his aunt; he called everyone “sister,” telling women in their fifties they looked like they were in their thirties, and women in their thirties that they looked even younger than him.

Naturally, this honeyed tongue won him countless good reviews in the office. Whenever he needed to get something done, it was often easier for him than for colleagues who had been there for over a decade. For example, he would find excuses to take leave every few days. If it were anyone else, Deputy Director Evelyn Lewis from the Mechanical and Electrical Department, who was in charge of labor discipline, would definitely interrogate them repeatedly and end up giving them a stern face. But when it came to Franklin Turner, Mrs. Lewis was always cheerful and didn’t care at all whether he was using public business as a pretext to earn some extra money on the side.

Knowing that the director was looking for him, Franklin Turner didn’t return to his own office but went straight to Henry Sullivan’s office. Before entering, he wiped away the big smile he’d put on to deal with his female colleagues and replaced it with a serious expression as he appeared before Henry Sullivan.

“Where did you go this time?”

Sure enough, Henry Sullivan was not Evelyn Lewis; he wouldn’t greet Franklin Turner with a mischievous smile. Seeing the beads of sweat still lingering on Franklin Turner’s forehead, Henry Sullivan frowned and questioned him.

The word “again” in his sentence was loaded with malice, because Franklin Turner leaving his post during work hours was not a one-time thing. Although every time he had Evelyn Lewis’s approval and solid reasons, Henry Sullivan didn’t believe any of them, because he was neither stupid nor infatuated.

“I went back to the university to look up some materials. There are some new documents on industrial policy that our bureau’s records room doesn’t have; only the National People’s Congress records room has them.”

Franklin Turner answered confidently. He knew Henry Sullivan didn’t believe his explanation, and he also knew that Henry Sullivan knew he knew this, but he still had to go through the motions and explain—it was a matter of procedure.

Henry Sullivan was quite an authority in the Mechanical and Electrical Department. He didn’t talk much, but he was very strict about work. His professional skills were top-notch and he was highly experienced, so it was almost impossible for his subordinates to fool him. As a result, most people were somewhat afraid of him.

Franklin Turner once gave Henry Sullivan an evaluation: “In society, my Brother Sullivan is tough and doesn’t talk much.” He shared this privately with a few colleagues, and they all agreed.

Franklin Turner was one of the few people in the department who wasn’t afraid of Henry Sullivan. He knew that although Henry Sullivan had a bad temper, he was reasonable, and he always respected those who were more capable than himself.

When Franklin Turner first joined the Mechanical and Electrical Department, Henry Sullivan had tested him with some questions about industry management. Relying on his academic foundation from university and insights thirty years ahead of his time, Franklin Turner always answered brilliantly, leaving Henry Sullivan deeply impressed.

After a few rounds of this, Henry Sullivan’s attitude toward Franklin Turner changed. Although he still looked as unapproachable as ever, Franklin Turner could tell that this old man appreciated him, even showing a faint father-in-law’s fondness for a son-in-law. Hmm, it was said that Henry Sullivan did indeed have a young daughter.

“The national machine tool industry analysis report I asked you to write the day before yesterday—have you finished it?” Henry Sullivan gave up on scolding Franklin Turner and got down to business.

“It’s basically done. I just need to add two more data points. If you need it now, Director, I can bring it to you right away,” Franklin Turner replied.

Henry Sullivan nodded, a hint of satisfaction appearing on his face—something even he didn’t notice. Franklin Turner certainly lived up to his academic credentials; whenever he was asked to write a report, he always finished it quickly and well, often bringing in new perspectives and ideas. It was clear he hadn’t just copied from somewhere else, but had thought things through carefully. When Thomas Sherman assigned Henry Sullivan to be the factory director at Lin Yi Machine Tool Plant, Henry Sullivan didn’t want to bring anyone, but specifically requested to take Franklin Turner along. This was the reason.

“What do you know about Linhe First Machine Tool Plant?” Henry Sullivan asked directly.

“Linhe First Machine Tool Plant?” Franklin Turner hesitated for a moment, not sure why Henry Sullivan was asking about this particular enterprise. Still, since the boss had asked, he had to answer seriously. He thought for a few seconds, organized his thoughts, and replied: