"Director, you can't be serious, can you? I... I really feel like I'm still lacking in ability, and I'm afraid I'll let the organization down. If I could get a few more months of experience before becoming the factory director, it might be more reliable." Franklin Turner uncharacteristically became bashful, while calculating in his mind whether he should refuse three times before accepting, or just symbolically decline once and then agree. Being the director of a large state-owned factory was, after all, a very attractive job.

"What are you thinking!" Henry Sullivan poured cold water on him and said sternly, "I'm officially notifying you: the bureau's party committee has already discussed and decided that I will serve as both the director and party secretary of Lin Yi Machinery, and your appointment is as assistant to the director of Lin Yi Machinery, mainly to assist me in my work. You have one week to prepare. On the 25th of this month, we'll head to Linhe together."

"No way!" Franklin Turner jumped up from the sofa like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "Director, I was just talking nonsense earlier. I'm just someone who studied economics, and it was planned economics at that. I really can't handle enterprise management."

"You have excellent business acumen, and your analysis of Lin Yi Machinery just now was spot on. You said it yourself: with Lin Yi Machinery's situation, it doesn't matter who goes—only you can bring it back to life."

"I didn't say that..." Franklin Turner was on the verge of tears.

"That's exactly what you meant."

"But I'm not used to the climate in Dongye Province."

"I've checked your file. Your place of origin is Tunling City, Dongye Province, isn't it?"

"I've been studying in the capital for many years now, I'm not used to it anymore..."

"Then get used to it again."

"Also, my family wants me to stay in the capital. If I go back to Dongye, my parents will be disappointed."

"Your household registration and file will remain in the ministry. In a few years, once Lin Yi Machinery turns a profit, the ministry will transfer you back."

"...Is there any room for discussion on this?"

"No, this is the decision of the bureau's party committee!"

"A melon twisted off by force is not sweet."

"But it quenches thirst... By the way, isn't that something you always say yourself?"

"Oh, why do I have such a big mouth!"

Franklin Turner let out a long sigh toward the sky.

When Franklin Turner left Henry Sullivan's office, he no longer had the air of someone riding high on success; his face was full of dejection. He knew there was no way to turn this around now, unless he had the courage to resign on the spot.

Of course, there was some good news. Henry Sullivan told him that as assistant to the factory director, he would enjoy the same benefits as a division-level cadre in the enterprise. If he performed well at Lin Yi Machinery, when he returned to the Ministry of Machinery in the future, he would at least be given a deputy division-level position—something others would have to work hard for and wait a long time to get.

Henry Sullivan also said that the ministry's tolerance for Lin Yi Machinery's current situation would last about three years at most. Within three years, either Lin Yi Machinery would turn a profit and Henry Sullivan and Franklin Turner would return with honors, or Lin Yi Machinery would go bankrupt and the two of them would come back in disgrace.

Three years—not entirely unacceptable.

Franklin Turner comforted himself inwardly. The real reason he didn't want to leave the capital was, of course, that he couldn't let go of the business at Feihai Company. But he had quickly calculated just now and figured that he could temporarily hand the business over to Jack Warren, manage things remotely from Linhe, and come back from time to time to give some guidance—that would work too.

Lin Yi Machinery was a large state-owned enterprise, a good platform. If he worked hard as assistant to the director, maybe he could build up some connections, which might be helpful for starting his own business in the future. Didn't the sages say, "Misfortune may be the foundation of fortune, and fortune may be the lurking place of misfortune"? Who knew whether this change was a blessing or a curse?

"Xiao Tang, I heard you're going to Linhe?"

"Xiao Tang, congratulations on your promotion!"

"Xiao Tang, don't forget to come back and visit often."

"In the future, if your big sister goes on a business trip to Linhe, don't pretend you don't know me..."

By now, the news that the bureau's party committee was sending Henry Sullivan and Franklin Turner to Linhe had spread throughout the bureau. All kinds of greetings—regretful, envious, secretly affectionate, or gloating—filled Franklin Turner's ears.

Most people didn't believe that Henry Sullivan and Franklin Turner could turn things around at Lin Yi Machinery. The most optimistic estimate was that they might reduce losses, straighten out internal management, and then the Second Bureau could hand Lin Yi Machinery over to Linhe City to get rid of this burden. In that case, the two of them would just stay in Linhe for a year or two, come back, and each get a promotion—a pretty good assignment.

Some people thought Lin Yi Machinery was a mess, Henry Sullivan was stubborn, and Franklin Turner was all show and no substance. The two of them might even make things worse. If they didn't have to take responsibility, that would already be lucky; their career prospects would definitely be affected. Of course, those who said this were the ones who usually couldn't stand Franklin Turner's playboy ways. Hmm, they would never admit they were just jealous of Franklin Turner's popularity with women.

"Hmph, they're really underestimating your brother's abilities!"