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

On Monday morning, the conference room on the third floor of the Gangcheng City Finance Bureau was packed with people.

The first plenary meeting of the special inspection team for budget execution began promptly at nine o'clock. Zhou Wenyuan sat in the main seat, Lin Fan sat to his left, and Li Bin, the deputy section chief seconded from the budget department, sat to his right. Zhao Xiaowen sat in the back row to take notes.

The meeting room was filled with smoke. A dozen or so people drawn from various departments were either looking down at materials or whispering among themselves. Some looked expectant, while others frowned—everyone knew this was a job that would offend people.

"Everyone's here, let's start the meeting." Zhou Wenyuan tapped the table, and the meeting room fell silent.

He got straight to the point: "This special inspection is to implement the provincial department's requirements on strengthening budget execution supervision, and it is also an important deployment of the bureau's party group. The purpose is not to find fault, but to help various units standardize management and improve the efficiency of fund use."

As soon as the words were spoken, some people nodded slightly, while others remained expressionless.

"The inspection team is divided into three groups," Zhou Wenyuan continued. "The first group is responsible for the municipal departments, with Deputy Section Chief Li Bin as the group leader; the second group is responsible for the counties and districts, which I will be directly in charge of; and the third group is responsible for materials and logistics, with Comrade Lin Fan as the group leader."

All eyes were on Lin Fan. This twenty-year-old sat there calmly, showing neither pride nor nervousness.

"Although Xiao Lin is young, he has a clear mind and considers issues thoroughly," Zhou Wenyuan added. "He drafted the inspection team's specific work plan. If you have any questions, you can ask him."

Lin Fan stood up and bowed slightly: "Dear leaders and colleagues, the work plan has been distributed to everyone. I would like to add a few specific arrangements..."

His voice was not loud, but his points were clear: "First, the inspection will be divided into three stages: self-inspection, spot checks, and follow-up inspections after rectification. Each stage has clear timeframes and task requirements. Second, we have set up a hotline and mailbox for reporting violations, which will be answered and registered by Xiao Wang in the office. Third, the inspection results will be included in the annual performance evaluation and linked to the budget allocation for the following year."

Someone raised their hand: "Team Leader Lin, what if the unit being inspected doesn't cooperate?"

"First, try to communicate. If that fails, report to the inspection team leader. If that still fails, report to the Party Committee of the Bureau," Lin Fan replied. "But I think that as long as we have the right attitude and the right methods, most units will cooperate."

Another person asked, "What happens to the problems discovered during the inspection?"

"We categorize them into three types," Lin Fan said. "For general issues, we point them out on-site and set a deadline for rectification; for more serious issues, we issue rectification notices and follow up on the rectification; and for those suspected of violating regulations or discipline, we transfer them to the discipline inspection department according to procedures."

The answer was crisp and concise, without a single wasted word. The initially dismissive glances in the meeting room gradually turned serious.

Zhou Wenyuan saw this and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

The meeting lasted two hours. After the meeting, each group held separate meetings to implement the decisions. Lin Fan called the five people from the third group to the small conference room—in addition to Zhao Xiaowen, there was Xiao Wang from the office, Lao Zhang from the information center, Xiao Liu from the finance department, and Xiao Chen, who was seconded from the audit department.

"Our group has a heavy workload, but it's also the core team," Lin Fan said bluntly. "Xiaowen is responsible for compiling all the materials and writing the report, Xiao Wang is responsible for logistical support and liaison, Lao Zhang is responsible for data statistics and analysis, Xiao Liu is responsible for financial auditing and oversight, and Xiao Chen is responsible for the preliminary verification of the clues."

He gave everyone a task list: "This is the specific work for this week. Report your progress to me before leaving get off work each day. Communicate promptly if there are any problems. Report to me if you can't solve them, and report to Section Chief Zhou if I can't solve them."

Zhao Xiaowen took the list, which clearly stated: the final version of the self-inspection form should be completed on Monday, the notice should be issued on Tuesday, the self-inspection reports should be received starting on Wednesday, and the problems should be initially identified on Thursday...

"Team Leader Lin, isn't time a bit tight?" Xiao Liu asked.

"It's urgent, but it must be completed," Lin Fan said. "The provincial department requires a report on the first phase by the end of the month, and we can't hold the whole department back. Of course, if anyone has any difficulties, please bring them up now, and I will coordinate a solution."

No one spoke.

"That's settled then." Lin Fan glanced at his watch. "It's 11 a.m. now. After lunch at the cafeteria, we'll meet back here at 1:30 p.m. and start working."

Everyone dispersed, but Zhao Xiaowen stayed behind.

"Team Leader Lin, I revised the self-inspection form again last night, adding a few indicators. Please take a look." She handed over a few sheets of paper.

Lin Fan reviewed it carefully: "Not bad, it's more detailed now. But be careful, more indicators aren't necessarily better; you need to focus on the key ones. For example, this 'funding arrival rate' should be statistically analyzed in different time periods to better reflect the problem."

"I understand." Zhao Xiaowen quickly wrote it down.

"Also," Lin Fan said, "report templates should be prepared in advance. Different types of issues require different wording. Use 'suggestions' for general issues, 'requests' for more serious issues, and 'requests for verification' for issues involving suspected violations. The wording must be accurate and unambiguous."

"Okay, I'll write it down for you to see today."

At lunchtime in the cafeteria, Lin Fan and Zhao Xiaowen sat together eating. People kept glancing over—the inspection team had just been formed and had already become the focus of the bureau.

"Team Leader Lin," Zhao Xiaowen lowered her voice, "I heard... some people aren't too optimistic about our inspection this time."

"That's normal," Lin Fan said while eating. "Touching vested interests is harder than touching the soul. The problem with budget execution is often not a lack of understanding, but rather a reluctance to change."

"Can we push this forward?"

"It depends on the approach," Lin Fan said. "A direct confrontation won't work; we need to be strategic. Section Chief Zhou put me in charge of materials and logistics, which is essentially making me a lubricant—to be accurate in identifying problems, tactful in pointing them out, and resolute in pushing for rectification."

Zhao Xiaowen seemed to be deep in thought.

After finishing his meal and returning to his office, Lin Fan called Wang Juan. The West District store opened today, and he wanted to inquire about the progress.

The phone rang several times before being answered; the other end was bustling with voices.

"Lin Fan!" Wang Juan's voice was filled with excitement. "Great success for the opening! We sold more than thirty items this morning, and one customer bought five at once, saying they were gifts."

"Congratulations." Lin Fan smiled. "Do you have enough manpower?"

"That's enough. Xiao Yan has been transferred here, and she brought someone else from the old shop. It's just that..." Wang Juan paused, "...the people from the Industry and Commerce Bureau came again this morning."

Lin Fan frowned: "What did you say?"

"They didn't say anything, just looked at it and said our hangtags were well rectified," Wang Juan said. "But I always feel... they'll come back."

"We'll deal with whatever comes our way," Lin Fan said. "You can continue operating as usual. Call me anytime if anything happens."

"Okay. You go ahead with your work, I won't bother you anymore."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Fan stood by the window, watching the traffic below. The matter with the Industry and Commerce Bureau felt like a thorn in his heart. But he knew now was not the time to resolve it—the inspection team had just started, and he couldn't afford to be distracted.

At 1:30 p.m., the third group held its meeting on time. The five people each performed their duties, and the office was filled with the sounds of keyboards, telephones, and discussions.

Lin Fan himself was extremely busy. He had to review the report template written by Zhao Xiaowen, coordinate with the office to arrange vehicles, communicate with various groups about their progress, and prepare materials to report to Zhou Wenyuan the next day.

At four o'clock, Section Chief Wu from the Budget Department pushed open the door and came in.

"Kobayashi, are you busy?"

"Section Chief Wu," Lin Fan stood up, "Please have a seat."

"I can't sit down any longer, I have something to say." Section Chief Wu, in his early fifties with graying hair, was a veteran in the bureau. "Your inspection team wants to check budget execution, and our budget section fully supports you. But we have a suggestion..."

"Please speak."

"Investigating problems is fine, but we must also consider the actual situation at the grassroots level," said Section Chief Wu. "Some units are indeed facing difficulties and are short of funds, so they have no choice but to misappropriate funds. If we apply strict measures to all cases, it may affect our work."

Lin Fan understood the underlying meaning. The budget department was in charge of fund allocation and maintained close ties with various departments; Section Chief Wu was giving advance notice.

"Don't worry, Section Chief Wu, we will be pragmatic," Lin Fan said sincerely. "The purpose of the inspection is to standardize management, not to condemn everything. For units that are genuinely facing difficulties, we will clearly document the situation and suggest that the bureau coordinate a solution."

Section Chief Wu's expression softened somewhat: "That's good. Young man, you know your limits."

After seeing Section Chief Wu off, Zhao Xiaowen whispered, "Team Leader Lin, what's wrong with Section Chief Wu...?"

"That's normal," Lin Fan said calmly. "The inspection team has taken away someone's interests, so naturally someone will plead on their behalf. We'll follow the rules, but we also need to know how to be flexible."

"To what extent should we be flexible?"

"The bottom line cannot be crossed," Lin Fan said. "Misappropriation of special funds must, in principle, be rectified. However, the rectification period and method can be discussed. This is a compromise."

Zhao Xiaowen nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

It was already 6:30 when Lin Fan left work. He was the last to leave the office, turning off the lights and locking the door. The corridor was empty, except for the light in the duty room.

He walked to the door of Zhou Wenyuan's office. The door was ajar, and light was shining from inside.

I knocked on the door.

"Enter."

Zhou Wenyuan was still looking at the documents, with a thick stack of materials piled on the table.

"Section Chief, you haven't left yet?"

"I'll leave after I finish reading this." Zhou Wenyuan took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "How was today?"

Lin Fan gave a brief report on the work progress and also mentioned that Section Chief Wu had come to plead for leniency.

After listening, Zhou Wenyuan smiled and said, "Old Wu is getting restless. His budget department has countless connections with the subordinate units. If the investigation goes too deep, he'll lose face."

"Then let's..."

"We still need to investigate," Zhou Wenyuan said. "But we can give him some face—the units he's contacted should inform him beforehand if they discover any problems, so he can be prepared. This way, we can uphold principles while leaving room for maneuver."

Lin Fan noted it down. This is the wisdom of working in an organization: principles must be upheld, but methods must be flexible.

"Oh, right," Zhou Wenyuan said, taking a file folder out of the drawer, "take a look at this."

Lin Fan took the letter; inside were several anonymous complaint letters, but the issues raised were very specific: a county education bureau misappropriated funds intended for dilapidated housing renovation to pay salaries, and a district health bureau falsely reported projects to embezzle funds…

"This is……"

"It was received in the complaint box," Zhou Wenyuan said. "Have Xiao Chen do a preliminary verification. If it's true, then it should be a key target for investigation."

"Yes."

"Also," Zhou Wenyuan paused, "there's been progress on the matter with the Industrial and Commercial Bureau."

Lin Fan's spirits lifted.

"That deputy director Liu Jianguo definitely has problems," Zhou Wenyuan said calmly. "I had someone investigate indirectly, and it turns out he's done a lot of extortion and bribery during his years at the Donghe Industrial and Commercial Bureau. Some people have reported it, but it's all been suppressed."

Why?

"His brother-in-law is the deputy secretary-general of the Donghe government," Zhou Wenyuan said. "He's not a high-ranking official, but he oversees several departments, including industry and commerce and taxation, so he has some influence."

Lin Fan understood. This was the source of Liu Jianguo's arrogance.

"However," Zhou Wenyuan took a sip of tea, "his brother-in-law hasn't been having an easy time lately either. The district is reorganizing the division of labor, and he might have to go to the CPPCC. When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter, and then..."

He didn't finish speaking, but his meaning was clear.

"Section Chief, I understand," Lin Fan said. "No rush."

"Yes, no rush." ​​Zhou Wenyuan glanced at his watch. "Let's go, time to clock out. We'll be busy tomorrow."

The two went downstairs together. It was late at night, and the courtyard was quiet.

"Xiao Lin," Zhou Wenyuan suddenly said, "the inspection team is a platform. Do a good job. If you do well, the next step of becoming a civil servant will be a natural progression."

"Thank you for your guidance, Section Chief."

"It's not that you've been cultivated, it's that you've proven yourself." Zhou Wenyuan patted him on the shoulder. "When I was your age, I wasn't as composed as you. Keep up the good work, you have a bright future ahead of you."

Lin Fan felt a surge of warmth in his heart. In his previous life, he had heard too much empty talk, but he believed Zhou Wenyuan's words.

On his way home, Lin Fan recalled the scenes from the day: the scrutinizing gaze in the conference room, Section Chief Wu's plea for leniency, the issues in the whistleblower letter, and Zhou Wenyuan's words, "a promising future."

This path within the system is not easy, but he has found his rhythm.

Be patient and composed, neither arrogant nor humble, uphold your principles, and know how to be flexible.

This is what Zhou Wenyuan taught him, and it's what he's putting into practice.

As Lin Fan entered the residential complex, the light in his parents' room was still on. He didn't go upstairs immediately.

He took out his phone and sent Wang Juan a text message: "You've worked hard today, get some rest."

She replied quickly: "You too. Are you busy tomorrow?"

"Busy, the inspection team just started."

"Then I won't bother you anymore. Good night."

"Good night."

Putting his phone away, Lin Fan looked up at his window. The light there was warm and steadfast, just like his heart at that moment.

The road ahead is long, but every step is taken with firm footing.

This is enough.