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

Five o'clock in the morning.

It was still dark at Beijing West Railway Station.

Zhou Wenyuan and Lin Fan stepped out of the station, a cold wind hitting them. They wrapped their coats tighter and got into a pre-arranged black car.

"Go to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection," Zhou Wenyuan said to the driver.

As the car entered Chang'an Avenue, the capital's streets were empty and quiet in the early morning. Tiananmen Gate Tower showed its solemn outline in the morning light, and the flag-raising team had already begun their training.

Lin Fan looked out the window, his feelings complicated.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection's office area is an inconspicuous gray building.

Zhou Wenyuan presented his credentials and, after undergoing a strict security check, was led by staff to a small conference room.

"Governor Zhou, please wait a moment. The leaders are having a morning meeting, and they will see you as soon as it ends," the staff member said politely.

"OK, thanks."

There were only the two of them in the meeting room.

The clock on the wall ticked away, and every second seemed to drag on forever.

Zhou Wenyuan closed his eyes to rest, but his slightly trembling fingers betrayed his inner tension.

Lin Fan checked the materials again to make sure nothing was missing.

At 7:30, the door opened.

The man who entered was an elderly man around sixty years old, with gray hair and a thin build, but with eyes as sharp as an eagle's.

Zhou Wenyuan immediately stood up: "Secretary Wang."

The visitor was Wang Zhenshan, Deputy Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, who was in charge of major cases.

"Comrade Wenyuan, please sit down." Wang Zhenshan waved his hand and sat down in the main seat. "You came to Beijing in such a hurry, it seems the situation is quite serious."

"Secretary Wang, this is a detailed report." Zhou Wenyuan handed over a thick folder. "We've made a major breakthrough in the medical corruption case in our province, but the people involved... are too high-ranking for us to handle."

Wang Zhenshan took the report, put on his reading glasses, and began to read it.

The only sound in the conference room was the turning of pages.

As Wang Zhenshan read on, his expression grew increasingly grave.

His hand stopped when he saw the name "Qianqianqian".

"Has all of this evidence been verified?"

"The core evidence has all been verified," Zhou Wenyuan said. "The testimonies of Chen Zhiqiang, Liu Zhentao, and others corroborate each other, and the documentary and physical evidence, such as bank statements, surgical records, and chat logs, is complete. The only thing missing is evidence that directly proves that General Qian was aware of or instructed the operation."

Wang Zhenshan took off his glasses and rubbed his temples.

"Comrade Qianqian...I know him." He began slowly. "He distinguished himself in the Sino-Vietnamese War and led a team during the 98 flood relief efforts. He's a capable and decisive cadre. I heard he had surgery last year, and I even went to see him. I never expected..."

He didn't continue.

But the meaning is clear—if such a decorated general were really involved in a case, it would have a terrible impact.

"Secretary Wang," Zhou Wenyuan said, "the evidence we have now only proves that the organ trafficking ring tried to find organ donors for him, not that he himself was aware of or involved. However, five million for surgery is no small sum. Would his subordinates dare to do this without his authorization or tacit approval?"

This is a crucial issue.

Wang Zhenshan pondered for a long time: "Alright, you should stay in Beijing for now. I need to report this case to the top leaders. Before the central government makes a decision, you must not disclose any information to the outside world."

"clear."

"Furthermore," Wang Zhenshan added, "your province's investigation can continue. But regarding the part involving Comrade Qian Qianqian, don't delve too deeply for now; wait for instructions from the Central Committee."

"it is good."

After leaving the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, Zhou Wenyuan and Lin Fan checked into a hotel arranged by the Commission.

The room was ordinary, but it was quiet.

"Governor Zhou, what do you think... the central government will do?" Lin Fan asked.

"It's hard to say," Zhou Wenyuan shook his head. "General Qian's identity is too special. But this is a new era, and the central government is very determined to fight corruption. 'No matter who is involved, we will investigate to the end,' this is not just empty talk."

"How long will we have to wait?"

"I don't know. It could take a few days, or it could take a few weeks," Zhou Wenyuan said. "Let's wait patiently. In the meantime, let's review the other clues again."

For the next three days, Zhou Wenyuan and Lin Fan stayed indoors, spending their days reviewing materials and analyzing the chain of evidence.

During this period, Chen Jianguo made one phone call to inquire about the situation in Beijing.

Zhou Wenyuan only said that he was "awaiting a report" without revealing any specific details.

Chen Jianguo didn't ask any further questions, only saying, "Be careful and come back soon."

February 8th, 2 PM.

Wang Zhenshan's secretary called: "Governor Zhou, the leader requests your presence now."

Zhou Wenyuan and Lin Fan immediately rushed to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

This time it wasn't in the conference room, but in Wang Zhenshan's office.

Besides Wang Zhenshan, there were two other people in the office. One was wearing a military uniform with the rank of major general; the other was wearing a Zhongshan suit and had a calm demeanor.

"Comrade Wenyuan, let me introduce you," Wang Zhenshan said. "This is Deputy Director Liu of the Central Military Commission's Discipline Inspection Commission, and this is Director Zhao of the General Office of the Central Committee."

Zhou Wenyuan felt a chill run down his spine—the fact that people from the Central Military Commission's Discipline Inspection Commission and the General Office of the Central Committee had come meant that the Central Committee attached great importance to the matter.

"Governor Zhou, please have a seat," Deputy Director Liu said in a loud voice. "We have carefully reviewed the materials you provided. The central leadership has instructed that this matter be investigated and dealt with seriously in accordance with the law and regulations, without any leniency."

This statement set the tone.

"However," Director Zhao continued, "Comrade Qian Qianqian's situation is rather special. He is a senior leading cadre and an active-duty military officer. The investigation into him must be conducted strictly in accordance with Party procedures and military discipline. Your local discipline inspection commission should not intervene directly."

"That……"

"The Central Military Commission's Discipline Inspection Commission has established a special task force to investigate him," said Deputy Director Liu. "At the same time, the Central Committee has decided that a joint investigation team composed of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the Central Military Commission's Discipline Inspection Commission, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, and the Ministry of Public Security will be sent to your province to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the medical corruption case. You must fully cooperate."

Zhou Wenyuan breathed a sigh of relief.

The central government has intervened, and with considerable force.

"We will definitely cooperate fully," he said.

"Furthermore," Wang Zhenshan added, "we investigated the matter of Comrade Qian Qianqian needing an organ transplant. He himself was indeed unaware of it. It was his secretary and his personal physician who contacted Chen Zhiqiang privately. The five million yuan was also misappropriated by the secretary from Qian Qianqian's 'health care funds.' Currently, the secretary and his personal physician have been detained."

This result was both unexpected and reasonable.

Qianqian may have genuinely been unaware of the situation; it was likely that his associates acted on his own initiative in an attempt to curry favor with him.

Even so, he also bears responsibility for oversight.

"And General Qian himself..."

"He has been removed from his post and is under investigation," said Deputy Director Liu. "If it is found that he has other problems, he will be dealt with according to the law. If not, his leadership responsibility will still be investigated."

This punishment was severe, but it also reflected the principle of "learning from past mistakes to avoid future ones and curing the disease to save the patient."

"And then there's that child, Zhang Hao's case," Director Zhao said. "The Ministry of Public Security has set up a special task force to reinvestigate the case. We will definitely get to the bottom of it and give the family an explanation."

"Thank you, Central Government," Zhou Wenyuan said sincerely.

"Don't thank us," Wang Zhenshan said seriously. "If you want to thank someone, thank this era, and thank the Party Central Committee for its determination to fight corruption. Comrade Wenyuan, you did a great job this time. You dared to confront the tough issues and upheld principles, demonstrating the responsibility of a Communist Party member."

"It's what I should do."

"However," Wang Zhenshan changed the subject, "this case has had a huge impact. It must be kept strictly confidential until it is officially closed. After you return, continue to push forward the special rectification campaign within the medical system, but do not publicly mention Comrade Qian Qianqian's situation. Wait for the central government to release the information."

"clear."

I returned from Beijing on February 15th.

The province's special campaign to rectify medical issues has entered a more complex phase.

Under the guidance of the central investigation team, the investigation and handling of the case has been accelerated across the board.

The director of the provincial health commission and three deputy directors have been placed under investigation.

Of the presidents and vice presidents of the seventeen top-tier hospitals in the province, twenty-three have been placed under detention.

Thirty-one pharmaceutical companies involved in drug kickbacks have been investigated and punished, with the amount involved exceeding one billion yuan.

The deputy director of the provincial medical insurance bureau and five division chiefs have been transferred to judicial authorities.

At the same time, a healthcare reform plan is being formulated intensively.

On March 5, during the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (NPC and CPPCC) sessions, the province issued "Several Opinions on Deepening the Reform of the Medical System".

The core content includes:

First, we will fully implement centralized bulk procurement of medicines and medical consumables to eliminate price gouging.

Second, we need to reform the doctor's salary system, increase transparent income, and sever the direct link between doctors' salaries and revenue from drugs and examinations.

Third, strengthen the supervision of medical practices, promote payment by disease type, and curb excessive medical treatment.

Fourth, improve the medical dispute mediation mechanism and improve doctor-patient relationships.

Fifth, establish a blacklist system in the medical field, and ban medical personnel and institutions that seriously violate regulations from the field for life.

These measures are incisive and directly target the root cause of the problem.

Although it affected the interests of many people, the general public applauded it.

On March 15, the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission released the following message:

"Liu, former vice chairman of the CPPCC of a certain province, Zhang, former director of the health department, Wang, former director of the medical insurance bureau, and 12 others were expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office for serious violations of discipline and law, and were transferred to judicial organs for handling."

The news report did not mention the organ trafficking case, but those in the know understand that this is the outcome of that case.

As for Qianqianqian, there has been no public information.

However, there are rumors that he has retired from active service and is "recuperating" in a retirement home in Beijing.

On March 20th, Zhang Hao's father, Zhang Aiguo, was discharged from the hospital.

Although he was left with permanent scars, he survived.

Zhou Wenyuan personally went to the hospital to pick him up and told him the latest developments in the case.

"Master Zhang, the murderer who harmed your son has been caught. The main culprits, Chen Zhiqiang, Liu Zhentao, Wang Jianjun, and others, will be severely punished by law. The general who needed an organ transplant has also been dealt with."

Tears streamed down Zhang Aiguo's face: "Governor Zhou, thank you... thank you for getting justice for my son..."

"It's what I should do." Zhou Wenyuan held his hand. "If you encounter any difficulties in the future, feel free to come to me."

"I...I want to go back to my hometown," Zhang Aiguo said. "Staying in the city is filled with memories, I can't stand it..."

"Okay, I'll arrange it for you."

Three days later, Zhang Aiguo returned to his hometown mountain village with his son's ashes.

When the villagers heard that he had returned, they all came to see him.

When they learned that his son's innocence had been redressed, everyone said, "Heaven has eyes."

April 1st is April Fool's Day.

But on this day, the provincial party committee convened a very serious meeting.

Li Zhenghua presided over the meeting and announced the Central Committee's decision:

Comrade Zhou Wenyuan, due to his outstanding performance and courage in the medical corruption case, has been appointed as the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee by decision of the Central Committee, in charge of Party affairs, political and legal affairs, and discipline inspection.

This appointment came as a surprise to many.

Zhou Wenyuan was only 45 years old when he became the deputy secretary of the provincial party committee and executive vice governor, entering the core decision-making level of the provincial party committee.

But upon closer examination, it makes perfect sense.

Despite immense pressure, Zhou Wenyuan investigated this medical corruption case thoroughly and ultimately achieved a major victory with the support of the central government.

This demonstrates his political steadfastness and outstanding competence.

The central government needs cadres like this.

After the meeting, Li Zhenghua called Zhou Wenyuan to his office.

"Wen Yuan, congratulations," Chen Jianguo said with a smile. "You truly deserve this deputy secretary position."

"Thank you, Governor Li," Zhou Wenyuan said, "but what I really want to say is... thank you for your continued support."

These words are sincere.

"I'm not supporting you, I'm supporting justice." Li Zhenghua waved his hand. "This case has served as a wake-up call for me. As the top official of the provincial government, if I don't hold those around me and my relatives to high standards, big problems will inevitably arise sooner or later. Chen Zhiqiang's case has been a wake-up call for me."

Wen Yuan, from now on you'll be in charge of discipline inspection, so you need to be even stricter. You must supervise me and the Standing Committee. We must build a truly clean and honest leadership team to set an example for all cadres in the province.

I will do my best.

"Okay." Li Zhenghua patted Zhou Wenyuan on the shoulder. "There's one more thing. Lin Fan, that young man, is quite good. He made a great contribution to this case. I suggest promoting him to deputy director of the provincial government office, so he can continue to work under you. Such cadres should be well nurtured."

"I agree."

April 5th, Qingming Festival.

Lin Fan and Zhou Wenyuan went to sweep Zhang Hao's grave.

On the tombstone, the boy's bright smile is forever frozen at the age of fifteen.

"Xiao Fan," Zhou Wenyuan said, looking at the tombstone, "tell me, was everything we did worth it?"

"It was worth it," Lin Fan said firmly. "Although Zhang Hao is not coming back, at least his death had meaning. Because of him, a criminal network was destroyed, the medical system was reformed, and there may never be another child who dies unjustly like him."

"Yes," Zhou Wenyuan sighed, "but the price is too high. A child's life, exchanged for all this... it's too heavy a burden."

"So we must remember this," Lin Fan said, "remember this lesson, remember this weight. In the future, we must be more cautious and responsible in our actions. Because every decision we make can affect the fate of many people."

Zhou Wenyuan nodded: "You're right. Xiao Fan, you've matured."

Upon returning from the cemetery, Lin Fan received his official appointment: Deputy Director of the General Office of the Provincial Government, at the deputy ministerial level.

At 34, he was the youngest deputy director-general in the entire province.

But he didn't feel much joy.

He knew that this position meant greater responsibility.

When Wang Juan got home that evening, she prepared a lavish dinner to celebrate.

My parents and my sister's family all came, it was a lively and joyous occasion.

"Xiao Fan, you're in charge now, so you need to be even more careful," his father admonished. "Our family doesn't crave great wealth or status, we just want stability. You can't afford to make any mistakes."

"Dad, don't worry," Lin Fan said. "I know what to do."

After finishing his meal, Lin Fan stood on the balcony, looking at the city's night view.

Behind every single light in the myriad homes lies a family and a story.

And now he has the ability to protect these lights.

It's not about power, but about responsibility and conscience.

My phone rang; it was a text message from Zhou Wenyuan:

"Xiao Fan, a new job has begun. Let's work together to make this province a better place. For those who trust us."

Lin Fan replied:

"Okay, Secretary Zhou. Let's go together."

The night sky was clear, and the stars twinkled.