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

In April, spring was in full bloom in the provincial capital. The plane trees along the roadside were sprouting tender green buds, and the magnolias in the park were in full bloom. The air was warm, but it was still a bit chilly in the mornings and evenings.

Lin Fan's life, like the season, has entered a stable and vibrant rhythm.

At 7:30 a.m. on Monday, he appeared downstairs at Zhou Wenyuan's building on time. After Zhou Wenyuan got into the car, he listened to Lin Fan's report on the important arrangements for the day, as usual.

"At 9:00 AM, the leadership team held its regular meeting, mainly to discuss key projects for the second quarter. At 11:00 AM, we met with the inspection team from China Southern Power Grid. At 2:30 PM, we went to the provincial government to attend the energy security coordination meeting. At 6:00 PM, we had a working dinner with Director Li from the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission," Lin Fan said clearly and logically.

Zhou Wenyuan closed his eyes to rest, and after listening, he hummed in agreement: "I've reviewed the reception plan for the inspection team, and the standards can be raised a bit. China Southern Power Grid is here this time to discuss cross-regional power transmission cooperation, which is a major event."

"Understood, I'll coordinate with the office immediately to adjust the reception plan."

The car smoothly drove into the power company compound. After parking, Lin Fan didn't go to his office immediately, but instead called Wang Xin first.

"Brother Xin, how's the construction site today?"

"Everything is normal!" Wang Xin's voice sounded energetic. "The first shift is hoisting the impeller of the fourth typhoon wind turbine, and the second shift is installing the tower of the third one. The weather forecast says there might be light rain this afternoon, so I told all shifts to make the most of the morning."

"Okay. How's the paperwork for the new equipment going?"

"XCMG said we can pick up the truck this week. By the way, the mobile dormitory vehicle is all set up. I went to see it yesterday, and it's really great! The workers will definitely love it."

"That's good. I'll go check it out this afternoon after I'm done here."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Fan went upstairs to his office. His work style had become naturally switchable: when he was with Zhou Wenyuan, he was a calm and proper assistant; when handling company affairs, he was a decision-maker; and when it came to networking, he became "Xiao Lin," a good listener who knew how to be tactful.

Around 10 a.m., Lin Fan was organizing meeting minutes when his phone vibrated. It was a message from Section Chief Liu of the provincial government: "Section Chief Lin, I heard that the energy meeting this afternoon will discuss wind power grid connection. Our Director Wang asked me to prepare the materials."

Lin Fan's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly replied, "Thank you for the reminder, Section Chief Liu. Is there anything we can do to assist you?"

"No, not yet. Just giving you a heads-up. Your project might be mentioned at the meeting."

"Understood, thank you very much."

Lin Fan put down his phone and pondered for a moment. Wind power grid connection is a technical challenge, involving many aspects such as grid stability, dispatch coordination, and electricity pricing policies. If the province is going to focus on this, it indicates that wind power development has entered a new stage, presenting both opportunities and potential new requirements.

He kept this information in mind, preparing to report it to Zhou Wenyuan when the opportunity arose. Having worked within the system for so many years, Lin Fan deeply understood one principle: information is a resource, and only by grasping information in a timely manner can one plan ahead.

At noon, Lin Fan arranged to have lunch with Director Liu of the Vehicle Management Office. The meeting place was a Hunan restaurant not far from the Vehicle Management Office. The private room was small but quiet.

"Director Liu, have you been busy lately?" Lin Fan poured tea for Director Liu.

"Busy, busy every day." Director Liu waved his hand. "New vehicle registration, annual inspection, traffic violation processing... every single one requires manpower. By the way, Xiao Lin, have you gotten all the paperwork done for your company's new cars?"

"Everything's taken care of, thanks to your help," Lin Fan said sincerely. "I'm treating you to dinner today, firstly to express my gratitude, and secondly because I have a small matter I'd like to consult you about."

"you say."

"Our company has a mobile dormitory vehicle, the kind that's been modified. Are there any special requirements for the vehicle classification of this kind? Will there be any problems driving it on the road?"

Director Liu picked up a piece of food, thought for a moment, and said, "The key to this kind of modified vehicle is the vehicle type on the registration certificate. If it's registered as a 'special-purpose vehicle,' then there's no problem. But you must be careful not to modify it illegally; it must be modified by a qualified manufacturer, and then you need to come to the vehicle management office for re-verification. Does the modification shop you found have the necessary qualifications?"

"Yes, I specifically asked."

"That's fine. Bring your car over later, and I'll have someone check it. Make sure all the necessary paperwork is done so you won't get stopped on the road later."

"Thank you so much!" Lin Fan raised his glass. "Director Liu, let me toast you."

"Don't mention it." Director Liu clinked glasses with Lin. "Xiao Lin, I heard your wind power project is doing quite well?"

"We're just getting started and still figuring things out," Lin Fan said modestly.

"Keep a good job." Director Liu lowered his voice. "I have a cousin who works in the Energy Department of the National Development and Reform Commission. We had dinner together the other day, and he said that the province attaches great importance to new energy and will increase investment in the next few years. You've caught a good time."

Lin Fan's heart skipped a beat. This was another important piece of information. He remained outwardly calm, simply smiling and saying, "Then we'll have to rely on the support of all the leaders."

The meal lasted for over an hour. Before leaving, Lin Fan, as usual, put two bottles of wine and two cartons of cigarettes in the trunk of Director Liu's car. Director Liu declined a couple of times, but then accepted them with a smile.

At 2 p.m., Lin Fan drove Zhou Wenyuan to a meeting at the provincial government. On the way, he casually recounted the news he had heard from Director Liu at noon.

"Brother Zhou, I just had dinner with Director Liu from the Vehicle Management Office. He said the province attaches great importance to new energy vehicles."

Zhou Wenyuan looked out the window and nodded: "Yes, that's the country's general direction. Our company is also going to launch two photovoltaic projects this year."

"Regarding the wind power grid connection..."

"It will be discussed at the meeting." Zhou Wenyuan turned his head and glanced at Lin Fan. "You're quite well-informed."

Lin Fan smiled but didn't reply. He knew Zhou Wenyuan understood what he meant.

After dropping Zhou Wenyuan off, Lin Fan didn't linger in the provincial government parking lot. He drove straight to the wind farm construction site. By the time he arrived, it was already past four in the afternoon.

The construction site was a hive of activity. Three typhoon wind turbines were operating simultaneously, the roar of cranes, the shouts of workers, and the commands from walkie-talkies all mingling together. Wang Xin stood on a high slope, directing operations with a walkie-talkie.

Upon seeing Lin Fan's car, Wang Xin quickly walked over.

"Fanzi, what brings you here? Didn't you say you were busy today?"

"The job's done, come check it out." Lin Fan put on his helmet. "How did it go?"

"It's faster than expected." Wang Xin pointed to the three typhoon wind turbines in the distance. "The fifth turbine will have its rotor installed this afternoon, the sixth turbine's tower has already been erected in three sections, and the seventh turbine is having its foundation laid. If the weather is good, completing all seven turbines this month shouldn't be a problem."

Lin Fan carefully observed the construction site. The workers were all performing their duties in a standardized manner, and the site was orderly. The newly arrived mobile dormitory vehicle was parked next to the living area, and several workers were gathered around looking at it with curiosity.

"Let's go take a look," Lin Fan said.

The two walked to the dormitory truck. It was a completely modified Jiefang heavy truck, with the cargo box converted into a double-layer lifting structure. Wang Xin opened the side door, revealing a hidden space inside.

The lower level is the living area: on the left are six bunk beds, totaling twenty-four beds, each equipped with a charging socket, night light, and storage cabinet; on the right is the washroom area, with four sinks, two shower rooms, two toilets, and a water heater and washing machine. In the middle is an aisle with a television mounted on the wall.

Go up a staircase to the second floor, which houses the rest area and office space. Several folding tables and a dozen chairs provide space for meals, meetings, and card games. A small office with a desk, chairs, and filing cabinets is partitioned off near the window.

"The design is quite good." Lin Fan was satisfied. "What did the workers say?"

"They're overjoyed!" Wang Xin laughed. "Everyone says it's like staying in a hotel now. They're especially happy with the showers and washing machine. Water is inconvenient up in the mountains; before, we couldn't even take a shower once a week."

"The necessary expenses must be spent," Lin Fan said. "Workers need to live and rest well to perform well. Safety must also be guaranteed."

Just then, Master Ma came over from the construction site, looking very serious.

"Mr. Wang, Mr. Lin, there's something I need to report."

"What's wrong, Master Ma?"

"When the impeller of the fifth typhoon turbine was being hoisted, we found that one bolt hole was misaligned," said Master Ma. "It was off by three millimeters. I had them stop, and we are checking whether the problem is with the tower or the impeller."

Lin Fan and Wang Xin exchanged a glance and immediately followed Master Ma to the scene.

The fifth typhoon turbine is located on the mountaintop platform. A 160-ton crane has lifted the rotor into the air, but it is currently suspended there. Several technicians are inspecting the bolt holes at the top of the tower.

"What's going on?" Wang Xin asked the on-site technical manager.

"Mr. Wang, we've measured it repeatedly, and the bolt hole positions on the tower top flange are accurate, but the impeller hub hole positions are slightly off." The technician wiped his sweat. "It could be a manufacturing error, or it could be slight deformation during transportation."

"Can you handle it?" Lin Fan asked.

Master Ma chimed in, "It can be done, but it will take time. We need to fine-tune the bore position on the wheel hub on-site and enlarge the hole with a reamer. It'll probably take half a day."

"Safety first, quality first." Lin Fan immediately made the decision. "Take care of what needs to be done, don't rush the deadline. If it can't be finished today, do it tomorrow. Don't force it."

"Understood!" Master Ma breathed a sigh of relief. He was worried that the leaders would force the construction to proceed in order to meet the deadline.

Lin Fan added, "Furthermore, we need to find out which stage the problem occurred in. If it's a manufacturing issue, we need to contact the manufacturer; if it's a transportation issue, we need to improve the packaging and securing methods. The same problem must not happen a second time."

"yes!"

After dealing with the emergency, it was nearly dusk. Lin Fan didn't leave immediately, but instead wandered around the construction site and chatted with his younger brothers from his hometown.

Lin Xiaobing was conducting a routine inspection next to the 70-ton crane when he saw Lin Fan and smiled shyly: "Brother Fan."

"Soldier, are you adjusting well?"

"I've adapted!" Lin Xiaobing nodded vigorously. "Master Ma has let me operate the 70-ton truck independently. Last week, I lifted three sections of the tower without any problems."

"Well done." Lin Fan patted him on the shoulder. "Keep up the good work and help out the other brothers too. The seven of you came out together, so you need to look after each other, but don't be biased. When it comes to technical matters, you can't be sloppy at all."

"I'll remember that, Brother Fan."

It was already dark when Lin Fan left the construction site. He drove back to the provincial capital and called Wang Juan on the way.

"Honey, I'm heading back now. It'll take about an hour and a half to get home."

"Okay, I'll wait for you to eat. Mom and Dad made dumplings today, with chive and egg filling, your favorite."

"Very good."

Hanging up the phone, Lin Fan felt a surge of warmth in his heart. No matter how busy or tired he was outside, there was always a light waiting for him at home, and a hot meal waiting for him. This was the meaning of his struggle.

It was already 8 p.m. when he got back to the villa. The whole family hadn't eaten and were waiting for him.

"Dad, Mom, you can eat first, you don't need to wait for me." Lin Fan felt a little guilty.

"What are you waiting for? A family meal should be eaten together," Wang Xiuying said while putting dumplings in the pot. "Go wash your hands, it'll be ready soon."

Inside the restaurant, the two children were playing with building blocks, Niu Niu was doing her homework, and Wang Juan was setting the table. Lin Fan washed his hands, came over, picked up his daughter, spun her around, and then patted his son's head.

"Were you good at kindergarten today?"

"Good boy!" the two children said in unison.

During lunch, Lin Fan recounted the day's events at the construction site. Lin Jianguo listened attentively, occasionally asking about technical details. Wang Xiuying, on the other hand, inquired about the workers' living and eating conditions.

"Is that mobile dormitory vehicle really that good?" Wang Xiuying asked.

"Really, Mom, it's like a small hotel," Lin Fan said. "It's not easy for the workers to be away from home. I feel at ease knowing they can stay somewhere nicer."

"That's how it should be," Wang Xiuying nodded. "You have to be kind to others. If you treat others well, they will work hard for you."

Just then, Lin Fan's phone rang. It was his sister, Lin Ping, calling.

"sister."

"Xiao Fan, we're going over there this weekend. Niu Niu said she wants to go to the zoo to see the big tigers. What do you think?"

"Sure, I'm free this weekend. What time are you arriving?"

"Sun Lin will drive on Saturday morning. We'll go back on Sunday night."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Fan told his parents, "My sister and her family are coming over this weekend to take Niu Niu to the zoo."

"That's great!" Wang Xiuying said happily. "Niu Niu has been talking about it for so long. Oh, and there are still some ribs in the fridge. I'll stew them on Saturday."

"Mom, don't overwork yourself, we can go out to eat."

"Eating out is too expensive; home cooking is just as good," Wang Xiuying insisted.

Lin Fan smiled and stopped trying to persuade her. He knew that his mother was expressing her love for her daughter's family in this way.

After dinner, Lin Fan played with the children for a while and then helped Niu Niu with her homework. At 9:30, the children went to bed on time. Only then did Lin Fan and Wang Juan have time to sit down and talk.

"Are you tired today?" Wang Juan massaged his shoulders.

"It's alright, fulfilling." Lin Fan held his wife's hand. "Juanzi, don't you think our life is pretty good right now?"

"Yeah, that's good." Wang Juan leaned on his shoulder. "Your parents are here, the children are healthy, and your career is going well. It's just that sometimes I think you're too busy right now; you need to take care of yourself."

"I know." Lin Fan hugged his wife. "Once the company is on track, I'll be able to relax a bit more. Then I can spend more time with you and the kids."

"I'm not pressuring you," Wang Juan said softly, "I just feel sorry for you. Look at you, you have to take care of Brother Zhou, manage the company, and maintain so many relationships. Even a person made of iron couldn't take it."

"Actually, it's alright." Lin Fan said honestly, "I'm already very familiar with Zhou Ge's work, so I don't need to spend too much energy on it. Xin Ge is in charge of the company's specifics, so I mainly focus on the overall direction. Maintaining connections is actually an investment; spending some time on it now will save you a lot of trouble later."

"As long as you know what's going on," Wang Juan said, looking up at her husband. "By the way, my store's performance this month has been pretty good. Our flagship store in the provincial capital had a net profit of 150,000 last month. I'm thinking of opening another branch in the south of the city. What do you think?"

"Sure," Lin Fan said supportively. "If you're sure you want to do it, just let me know if you need funding."

"We have the funds, but we need to put some thought into choosing a location. I've looked at a few places, but haven't decided yet."

"I'll go out with you this weekend."

The couple chatted for a while longer before going upstairs to rest.

Lying in bed, Lin Fan reflected on his day: handling official business in the morning, expanding his network at noon, resolving construction site issues in the afternoon, and enjoying the warmth of family in the evening. This multi-threaded life, seemingly busy, was actually fulfilling and balanced.

He thought of himself before his rebirth, and now, he faces different challenges, solves different problems, and meets different people every day. His life is full of tension and possibilities.

More importantly, he now has the ability to protect. He can ensure his parents enjoy their later years, his wife realize her dreams, his children receive a better education, his sister's family have a better future, and he can also help his relatives back home develop together.

This kind of real sense of accomplishment is something that money can't buy.

The moonlight outside the window was like water, filtering through the curtains into the room. Lin Fan listened to his wife's even breathing beside him, and felt a sense of peace.

He knew there was still a long road ahead. The company needed to grow, his network needed to be expanded, his family needed to be protected, and there was still much to be done.

But he wasn't in a hurry. Taking it one step at a time, steadily and surely, that was his rhythm.

Ten years after his rebirth, he finally found the lifestyle that best suits him: to develop steadily within the rules, to accumulate resources through human relationships, to draw strength from his family, and to realize his value in his career.

Stability and wealth.

These two simple words contain so much wisdom and hard work.

And now, all of this is slowly becoming a reality.

Lin Fan closed his eyes and quickly drifted off to sleep.

Tomorrow will be another new day.