He gave me complete freedom in technical decisions, and in private, he would often pat me on the shoulder, half joking, half serious, saying to others, "If only Darlene were half as steady and capable as Harold. Honestly, I'd feel at ease handing both her and the company to him someday."
At that time, Darlene was still studying abroad, and everyone took his words as nothing more than a lighthearted remark.
But to me, his recognition and trust were a source of strength—they made every hardship worthwhile.
However, fate was cruel.
Mr. Schmidt passed away suddenly from illness. Darlene hurried back from overseas, armed with a few years of business and arts education, to take over the company.
At first, she was polite, even respectful—she sought my advice on major technical decisions. But gradually, things began to change.
She introduced a new style of management that emphasized attitude, dedication, and corporate culture, replacing the old pragmatic focus on technology and results.