Reborn in 2000: I'm the Boss's Driver

One afternoon in mid-March, Lin Fan was organizing Zhou Wenyuan's schedule for the following week in his office when his phone vibrated. It was a call from Xiao Sun, the company's finance officer.

"Mr. Lin, the advance payment for the wind power project has arrived!" Xiao Sun's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement. "Fifteen million, not a penny less!"

Lin Fan tightened his grip on his phone, but his face remained expressionless: "Okay, I understand."

Hanging up the phone, Lin Fan leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh. Although the contract had been signed long ago, he still felt uneasy until the money was in his account. Now that 15 million yuan had been deposited into his account, it meant that Dingli Company had truly overcome the most difficult hurdle in its early stages.

He glanced at the calendar; today was March 18th. From the start of preparations last June to the launch of the major project this March, nine months had passed. This pace was even faster than he had anticipated.

But Lin Fan wasn't blinded by greed. He knew that this 15 million wasn't profit, but rather the start-up capital for the next two years of work. Equipment needed maintenance, staff salaries needed to be paid, fuel and spare parts needed to be purchased, various taxes and fees needed to be paid... This amount of money seemed like a lot, but it could be spent very quickly if needed.

More importantly, the project has only just begun. According to the contract, this advance payment is 30% of the total amount of 50 million. Subsequent payments will be made according to the progress of the project, at designated milestones. If the project goes well, the subsequent payments will be received smoothly; if it doesn't go well, or if any unforeseen circumstances arise, this money may not even be enough to cover the losses.

"Take it easy and proceed cautiously; don't be reckless." Lin Fan repeated his principle to himself.

He picked up his phone and called Wang Xin. It rang several times before being answered, with the background sounds of howling wind and the roar of cranes.

"Fanzi!" Wang Xin's voice was loud, clearly afraid of being drowned out. "What is it?"

"The prepayment has arrived," Lin Fan said succinctly.

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, then Wang Xin's voice came through: "That's great! Now I can finally relax!"

"Brother Xin, you need to go back to the provincial capital tomorrow," Lin Fan said. "There are some things that need to be discussed in person."

"Tomorrow? We're busy here, installing two typhoon turbines at the same time. Master Ma said the schedule is being pushed very hard..."

"Even if things are tight, one more day won't make a difference." Lin Fan interrupted him. "Master Ma is at the construction site, so there won't be any problems. Now that you're back, we need to plan our next step."

Wang Xin sensed the seriousness in Lin Fan's words and stopped insisting: "Okay, I'll make arrangements and head back tomorrow morning."

"Be careful on the road."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Fan continued working on his tasks, but his mind was already back at the company. He scribbled in his notebook, listing a series of things that needed to be done immediately.

The next morning at ten o'clock, Wang Xin rushed back to the provincial capital, covered in dust. He drove directly from the highway exit to the place Lin Fan had arranged to meet—a teahouse near the car city.

Lin Fan was already there, sitting in the private room with a notebook open in front of him. Seeing Wang Xin enter, he looked up and smiled, "Brother Xin, you've worked hard."

"What's so tiring? It's just the car ride that's exhausting." Wang Xin took off his coat, plopped down, and took a big gulp of tea. "Fanzi, why did you call me back so urgently? Is it because the money arrived and we need to split it?"

"There's no rush to split the money." Lin Fan pushed the notebook over. "Take a look at this."

Wang Xin took the notebook, which contained several items handwritten by Lin Fan:

1. New vehicle procurement: 2 pickup trucks and 1 heavy-duty semi-trailer truck (to be converted into mobile dormitories)

2. 增购吊车：160吨1台、70吨1台、30吨1台

3. Personnel Training and Team Reorganization: The goal is to establish three independent construction teams.

4. Fund Allocation Plan

5. Upgraded logistical support

"This is..." Wang Xin raised his head, his eyes shining.

"The company's next development plan," Lin Fan pointed to his notebook. "We currently have six cranes, all at the wind farm. At the current pace, installing two wind turbines simultaneously, we can finish a maximum of four per month. But there are over a hundred wind turbines waiting to be installed at the entire wind farm; at this rate, it won't be finished in two years."

Wang Xin nodded: "Master Ma also mentioned this to me. He said that with our current setup, we're still working too slowly. If we could add more equipment and manpower, and divide into several shifts to work simultaneously, the progress could be doubled."

"So we need to expand," Lin Fan said, "but not blindly. You see, these points I've made are all based on careful consideration."

He explained point by point: "First, buying two pickup trucks is to solve the commuting and procurement problems on the construction site. Right now, whenever there's something going on at the construction site, we have to drive our Great Wall trucks to pick up people and transport goods, and we can't keep up with the demand. We'll have two pickup trucks specifically assigned to us, one to pick up and drop off personnel and the other to handle parts procurement."

"Secondly, the conversion of heavy-duty semi-trailer trucks into mobile dormitories is very important," Lin Fan emphasized. "Currently, the workers live in temporary prefabricated houses, which are not only in poor conditions but also inconvenient for each relocation. If we had a mobile dormitory truck equipped with beds, air conditioning, and a simple toilet, the workers could stay wherever they went, which would improve their living conditions and increase the efficiency of relocation. In the future, if we need to take on other construction sites, this truck can be driven directly there."

Wang Xin nodded repeatedly: "That's good! The workers' biggest complaint right now is about their accommodation. It's cold on the mountain at night, the prefab houses are drafty, and they can't sleep well."

"Third, we need to purchase more cranes," Lin Fan continued. "One 160-ton crane, one 70-ton crane, and one 30-ton crane, giving us nine cranes in total. We can divide them into three shifts: one 160-ton crane, one 70-ton crane, and one 30-ton crane for each shift, which will perfectly meet the complete requirements for wind turbine installation. If all three shifts can operate normally, we can theoretically install six typhoon-caused wind turbines per month, thus speeding up the progress."

"What about the staff?" Wang Xin asked. "Right now, we only have twelve drivers at most, divided into three shifts, with four people in each shift. That's not enough."

"That brings us to the fourth point: personnel training." Lin Fan was prepared. "Those seven younger brothers back home, after several months of training, can they operate independently now?"

"Three of them are good enough," Wang Xin said. "Lin Dazhuang can operate a 70-ton crane without any problem, and Lin Erqiang can also operate a 70-ton crane. Although Lin Xiaobing is young, he learns quickly and can now operate a 30-ton crane very steadily. The remaining four still need more practice."

"That's enough," Lin Fan calculated. "Each shift will have four drivers: one experienced driver and one novice. The experienced driver will operate the large-tonnage vehicle and oversee the overall operation; one will operate the medium-tonnage vehicle; one will operate the small-tonnage vehicle; and there will be one more for support or assistance. That way, with three shifts, we'll need twelve drivers. We currently have eight experienced drivers, plus three younger drivers who can operate independently, so we're still one short."

"We can hire a few more from outside," Wang Xin said. "Or... let me think. Master Ma said he has an apprentice who works at another company and has always wanted to work for him."

"We can make contact," Lin Fan nodded, "but the prerequisite is that they have good character and excellent skills. Better to have none than to have the wrong one."

"clear."

"Besides drivers, we also need safety officers, maintenance workers, and logistics personnel," Lin Fan continued. "These all need to be prepared in advance. My idea is to take advantage of the fact that the project has just started and the workload is not yet at its peak, and use the time to train and build new teams. Once the new equipment arrives and the new teams are well-integrated, we can put them directly into work."

Wang Xin became more and more excited as he listened, but quickly calmed down: "Fanzi, with such an expansion, is there enough money? Although 15 million has arrived, buying this equipment is not cheap."

"I know what the money is all about." Lin Fan turned to the next page of his notebook, which contained a detailed budget. "Two pickup trucks, a heavy-duty semi-trailer truck with modifications, three cranes, plus personnel training, salaries, and spare parts reserves, a total of ten million will be set aside."

"We still have five million left out of the fifteen million." Wang Xin breathed a sigh of relief. "That's enough to get by."

"The remaining five million cannot be touched," Lin Fan shook his head. "It needs to be set aside as a risk reserve. Things on the construction site are unpredictable. If we encounter bad weather that causes work to stop, or equipment malfunctions, or the client delays payment, we will need money to keep things afloat. We must keep at least six months' worth of operating funds."

Wang Xin looked at Lin Fan with admiration: "Fanzi, you've thought this through. If it were me, I probably would have invested all the money in buying equipment."

"You learn from your mistakes," Lin Fan chuckled. "When I was in the Finance Bureau, I saw too many companies go bankrupt because of broken cash flow. They looked thriving, but they were just robbing Peter to pay Paul, and they collapsed at the slightest sign of trouble. We don't do that kind of thing."

The two discussed every detail in detail until after noon.

"Let's go eat first, then we'll take care of our business." Lin Fan closed his notebook.

They had a quick lunch near the auto city and then headed straight to XCMG's sales company in the provincial capital.

The sales manager was a middle-aged man in his forties surnamed Xu, who had a distant family relationship with XCMG Group. He had dealt with Lin Fan before when he bought those six cars and knew about his background, so he was very enthusiastic.

"President Lin! President Wang! What brings you two here?" Manager Xu greeted them with a broad smile.

"Manager Xu, I'm here to patronize your business again." Lin Fan shook hands with him.

"Welcome, welcome! Please come in!"

Upon entering the office, Manager Xu personally brewed tea. Lin Fan didn't beat around the bush and directly stated his purpose: he wanted to buy three more cranes, one each of 160 tons, 70 tons, and 30 tons.

Manager Xu's eyes lit up: "President Lin is truly a man of big business! It's only been a few months, and he's already buying more equipment!"

"It's necessary for the project," Lin Fan said calmly. "Manager Xu, we're old friends, so you'd better be reasonable with the price, and the payment method will remain the same as before."

"Manager Xu, this isn't our first time working together," Lin Fan said, looking at him. "Last time you bought six vehicles, and this time you're buying three more. You're practically a major client, aren't you? Besides, wind power projects are key national projects, and our company has long-term, stable business with them. Shouldn't a client like this deserve some discounts?"

Manager Xu thought for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Okay! I'll go and ask my supervisor! It shouldn't be a problem!"

"Then I'll wait for your good news." Lin Fan stood up. "Also, I need two pickup trucks and one heavy semi-trailer truck. Do you have any partner dealers here? Could you please introduce me?"

"Yes, yes, yes! I'll call right away!"

It was 3 PM when they left the XCMG sales company. Manager Xu was very efficient; he had already contacted the pickup truck and heavy truck dealers. Lin Fan and Wang Xin went to two more places and placed their orders for the vehicles.

The pickup trucks are the latest Great Wall models, two in white, and the heavy truck is a Jiefang J6P, with a chassis cab, a customized cargo box, and interior decoration.

"The carriage needs to be well-designed," Lin Fan instructed the technicians at the modification shop. "It should be divided into four areas: a dormitory area, a washing area, a rest area, and a storage area. The dormitory area should be able to accommodate twenty or thirty people, with bunk beds, and each bed should have a charging port and a night light. The washing area should have a water heater, a sink, and a simple shower. The rest area should have a few tables and chairs, where people can eat and play cards. The storage area should be used to store tools and accessories."

The technician nodded as he took notes: "Don't worry, Mr. Lin, we specialize in modifying these kinds of construction vehicles and have experience. We guarantee the workers will be comfortable!"

How long will the construction take?

"The carriage conversion will take twenty days, and with the interior decoration and facility installation, it will take a total of one month."

"Okay," Lin Fan nodded. "The quality must be guaranteed."

By the time everything was finished, it was already past 5 p.m. The two were exhausted, but felt at ease.

"Let's go back to the company base and see how the training is going," Lin Fan said.

Training is still underway at the base. The four new drivers are practicing precision hoisting operations under the guidance of experienced operators (using a second-hand crane), attentively listening to the instructors explain the key points of operation.

When Lin Fan and Wang Xin returned, everyone gathered around.

"President Lin! President Wang!"

Lin Fan greeted everyone. "How's your studies going lately?"

"Don't be nervous." Lin Fan patted him on the shoulder. "I heard from General Manager Wang that you're operating your 30-ton crane very steadily now?"

"Yes, the foreman said we can use the 30-ton truck for auxiliary work. Last week at the construction site, we even helped lift a few parts."

"Okay." Lin Fan nodded. "Would you like to operate independently?"

Everyone was taken aback for a moment, then nodded vigorously: "Yes!"

"Then I'll give you a task," Lin Fan said. "For the next month, you'll learn how to operate a 70-ton crane from the experienced master operator. Once the new equipment arrives, if you pass the assessment, you'll be allowed to drive the 70-ton crane. How about that?"

Everyone was so excited their faces turned red: "President Lin, we will definitely study hard! We won't let you down!"

Lin Fan raised his voice and addressed all the young drivers present, "You lot, I'm giving you this opportunity, but whether you seize it is up to you. The company is expanding and forming new teams, which requires more drivers capable of operating independently. Whoever learns well and performs well will be promoted. Salary and position will be linked to ability. Understand?"

"Understood!" the young men answered in unison, their eyes filled with determination.

Watching from the sidelines, Wang Xin was deeply moved. Lin Fan's move not only gave the young people hope but also ignited their enthusiasm. More importantly, this open and transparent competition mechanism could avoid potential conflicts between relatives.

"Brother Xin, you have a lot of work to do over the next month," Lin Fan said. "I'll oversee the equipment procurement. Your focus is on personnel training and team building. Especially those seven younger brothers, you need to train them quickly. Also, safety training is crucial; you need to emphasize it every day."

"Don't worry, I understand." Wang Xin nodded. "But Fanzi, managing three teams at the same time will be much more difficult. I can manage one construction site now, but if three are working at the same time, I'm afraid I won't be able to handle it."

"I've thought about this," Lin Fan said. "You still need to stay at headquarters and oversee the overall situation. Assign a site supervisor to each construction site, and you will conduct regular inspections. Master Ma is very experienced, so we can let him lead one team; and we can recruit a few more experienced people from outside to lead the other two teams."

"Okay, I'll think about it and see who I can choose."

The car stopped at the entrance of the residential complex where Wang Xin rented an apartment. Before getting out, Wang Xin suddenly said, "Fanzi, after running around like this today, I suddenly feel that our company is really getting bigger and bigger."

"This is just the beginning." Lin Fan looked at him. "Brother Xin, remember our principles: steady progress, one step at a time. No matter how big we get, safety first, quality first, and reputation first."

"I've got it."

Watching Wang Xin walk into the residential area, Lin Fan didn't leave immediately. He sat in his car, lit a cigarette, and quietly pondered.

In just one day, a procurement plan worth millions was finalized, and the company's development roadmap for the next six months was outlined. Before his rebirth, he wouldn't have dared to even imagine such speed.

But he didn't panic. He carefully considered every step; every decision was based on sound reasoning. This feeling of being in complete control was wonderful.

My phone rang; it was Wang Juan calling.

"Honey, aren't you done yet?"

"Just finished, I'm going back now."

"Mom and Dad made your favorite braised pork and are waiting for you to come home for dinner."

"Okay, I'll be home in twenty minutes."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Fan started the car. Outside the car window, the city lights were just coming on, and traffic was flowing like a river.

He's been in this provincial capital for less than a year, but he's already put down roots. He has a career, a family, brothers, and a future.

All of this stems from a decision made nine years ago: to be reborn, not seeking great wealth and status, but only a peaceful and stable life.

Now, stability is assured, and wealth is on its way.

But he knew that true wealth was not about how much money he had in his account or how many people he had under his command, but about inner fulfillment and satisfaction.

The car merged into the evening rush hour traffic and moved slowly forward.

Lin Fan looked at the road ahead, his eyes calm and resolute.

He will continue down this path.

Take steady and cautious steps, proceeding cautiously and methodically.

For that peace, for that wealth, and even more so for this life, to leave no regrets.