Spring, 1984.
The nation was at a critical stage of economic development, and everything had to make way for the economy.
Against this backdrop, the major Third-tier Military Factories found their days growing harder and harder.
All Flame Nation military-industrial enterprises that had once enjoyed great glory now faced unprecedented difficulties.
Faced with the grim situation, the higher-ups decided, after careful deliberation, to take a bold measure.
They selected a group of exceptionally talented graduates from major universities and appointed them as the heads of Third-tier Military Factories.
Cough! Cough! Cough!
Lin Chenran coughed violently as he surveyed his surroundings.
The walls around him were an aged grayish white. The white bedsheets seemed somewhat glaring, and the air was thick with the pungent smell of disinfectant.
"This..." Lin Chenran frowned and muttered in confusion, "How did I end up in a hospital?"
He looked around, trying to find an answer, but the scene before him felt both unfamiliar and strangely familiar.
Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind. This did not seem to be an ordinary hospital room.
Lin Chenran began examining the ward closely. He noticed that there was no air conditioning, nor was there an old-fashioned television with only a handful of channels.
A wave of unease immediately rose within him.
Then, a torrent of memories surged into Lin Chenran's mind like a flood.
In an instant, Lin Chenran felt unprecedented pain. He clutched his head tightly and groaned in agony.
Before long, he began adapting to and processing the memories that had flooded in.
Lin Chenran murmured, "Unbelievable. I actually got lucky enough to become one of the transmigrators."
"Huh? Where's the system?"
Lin Chenran suddenly realized something was missing.
"Doesn't every transmigrator come with a system?"
So Lin Chenran began trying all sorts of methods to awaken it. He shouted loudly, silently recited slogans, and even made strange gestures, yet he received no response at all.
"Maybe the system needs some time to wake up. I'll wait patiently." Lin Chenran calmed himself.
He then sorted through his thoughts.
The previous owner of this body had graduated from Yan University and, filled with passion, answered the nation's call to take part in the reform plan to revitalize Third-tier Military Factories.
Lin Chenran before taking office: I'm confident I can help the 077 Machinery Military Factory, the Laiyang Military Factory, overcome its difficulties and flourish into a benchmark for the military industry.
Lin Chenran after taking office: Who the hell signed me up for this?
After Lin Chenran took over the 077 Machinery Military Factory, problems came one after another.
And just like that, Lin Chenran had been angered badly enough to land in the hospital.
The 077 Machinery Military Factory's biggest problems were the loss of personnel, outdated equipment throughout the plant, and the cancellation of the military's previous small projects.
The 077 Machinery Military Factory had lost every possible source of funding.
The Flame Nation military had no choice either. To make way for economic development, its military budget had been slashed by more than half.
Those budget cuts put a whole group of Third-tier Military Factories at risk of shutting down.
The 077 Machinery Military Factory had been affected as well.
Several small projects had been canceled by the military.
Because there was not enough funding to support the operation and development of the Third-tier Military Factories,
the higher-ups had decided to take the risk of adopting an unconventional strategy—selecting a group of talented graduates from major universities and appointing them as the heads of Third-tier Military Factories.
The most pressing problem before Lin Chenran now was the financial situation of the 077 Machinery Military Factory.
The funds on its books were severely insufficient.
It could not even pay the factory workers' wages on time.
Even more urgently, if the funding issue could not be resolved in time, the certificates related to military-industrial production and manufacturing would likely be repossessed by the higher authorities.
Without new military orders, there would be no work for the employees, and then no new products would be produced.
The 077 Machinery Military Factory had fallen into a vicious cycle.
Just as Lin Chenran was caught in a dilemma, an icy mechanical voice suddenly sounded in his mind:
[Ding-dong! Congratulations, Host, on successfully transmigrating to 1984 and awakening the Cross-Dimensional Exchange System.] [As a reward for awakening this system for the first time, the Host has been granted one precious opportunity for Multiverse Travel.]
The sudden system notification sounded like heavenly music.
Lin Chenran felt incredibly exhilarated and excited!
His cheat had finally appeared. Sure enough, web novels had not lied—transmigration required a cheat!
"Cross-Dimensional Exchange System?" Lin Chenran was full of confusion.
"How does the exchange work?" he asked, puzzled.
[In the literal sense. You can travel to other-dimensional worlds and exchange items with the natives of those worlds.]
Lin Chenran was still somewhat confused and continued asking, "What are other-dimensional worlds?"
[Because the worlds you travel to are random, you may go to a future world or the world of another anime. Of course, once both parties become familiar with each other, Host, you can directly summon the other party here for exchanges.]
Lin Chenran suddenly understood. "So that's how it is!"
It was simple, but extremely practical.
At that thought, Lin Chenran became excited at once.
Since that was the case, there was no time to waste. Lin Chenran decisively chose to use his precious first opportunity for Multiverse Travel.
[Does the Host wish to begin Multiverse Travel?]
An icy mechanical voice rang out in his mind.
[Yes or no?]
"Yes!"
Lin Chenran shouted firmly.
Following Lin Chenran's answer,
a powerful force instantly swept over him, making him dizzy and disoriented.
It felt as though the entire world were spinning, and his vision became blurred.
When Lin Chenran opened his eyes again, he was astonished to find that he was no longer in the hospital.
The surroundings had completely changed and were utterly unfamiliar.
This was too incredible!!! Lin Chenran's eyes widened as he stared at the scene before him in disbelief.
"This..."
"Oh no, isn't this the world of Doraemon? Familiar streets, familiar houses."
Lin Chenran was completely stunned.
He then gathered his thoughts and recalled Nobita Nobi's home address.
In the blink of an eye, Lin Chenran arrived at Nobita Nobi's house.
At that moment, a familiar voice rang out.
Looking down, he saw the familiar blue-and-white robotic cat and the familiar Nobita.
"Doraemon, please! Do you have any gadgets that can teach that awful Gian and Suneo a lesson?"
Nobita Nobi pleaded.
"No!"
"Nobita, there's no such gadget at all. Don't even think about it!"
Doraemon refused righteously.
"Fine, don't lend me one. It's not like I want it that badly!"
Nobita Nobi then left his bedroom on the second floor and went to seek comfort from his future wife, Shizuka.
A sense of familiarity immediately washed over Lin Chenran.
Whenever Nobita was bullied by Gian and Suneo, he would go beg Doraemon and then obtain a gadget.
"Doraemon?"
Lin Chenran tried calling out softly.
Before you continue