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

In mid-July, the list of civil servants recruited was posted.

A notice with red background and black lettering was posted on the bulletin board on the first floor of the Finance Bureau, densely packed with dozens of names. Lin Fan's name was in the middle, followed by the proposed employing unit: Gangcheng City Finance Bureau.

Sister Liu was the first to see the news, and she excitedly ran back to the logistics department: "Xiao Lin! Your name is posted! You've been hired!"

Several people in the office gathered around to congratulate him. Lin Fan was somewhat prepared, but seeing his name still made him a little excited. Three years had passed; from a temporary worker to a support staff position, and now he was finally about to become a civil servant.

"Congratulations, Captain Lin," a young colleague joked.

"Don't shout nonsense, the formalities haven't been completed yet," Lin Fan said.

"It was bound to happen sooner or later. Director Zhou has already decided. You'll be the captain of the logistics team, a deputy section chief," Sister Liu said. "From now on, we'll have to call you Section Chief Lin."

"Sister Liu, please don't say that. I will always be your Xiao Lin."

During lunch, many people in the cafeteria knew about it. One person came over to pat him on the shoulder, another to congratulate him. Lin Fan nodded in response to each person, neither boastful nor overly humble.

Zhou Wenyuan spoke with him in the afternoon: "The public notice period is seven days. If there are no problems, the formalities will be completed in early August. I've discussed the position of team leader with Director Yan; you'll hold it concurrently for now. You'll still be driving for me, but you'll be in charge of the team's affairs."

"Thank you, Brother Zhou," Lin Fan said. "I'll definitely do my best."

"Yes, I trust you to handle things," Zhou Wenyuan said. "The convoy currently has over a dozen people and more than twenty vehicles. As the team leader, your main role is coordination and dispatching, ensuring the leaders have access to vehicles. You won't need to do the specific tasks; Da Liu and the others will handle that."

"clear."

"Salary and benefits will be at the deputy section chief level. A few hundred yuan more a month," Zhou Wenyuan smiled. "Not much, but it's still progress."

"It doesn't matter how much money it is, the key is that you gave me this opportunity, Brother Zhou."

"Opportunities are earned," Zhou Wenyuan said. "You've done a good job these past few years; you're steady and reliable. This is yours."

Stepping out of the office, Lin Fan felt relieved. The position of team leader, deputy section chief, might not sound high, but it was considered a cadre position within the bureau. More importantly, this position wouldn't prevent him from driving for Brother Zhou, and he could still manage some affairs, gaining management experience.

When I got home that evening, I told Wang Juan. Wang Juan was so excited she almost jumped for joy: "Deputy section chief? That's practically a section chief!"

"I guess so, but it's the smallest kind," Lin Fan said. "Managing about ten people and more than twenty vehicles."

"That's still impressive," Wang Juan said. "You've worked your way up from a temporary worker to where you are now, in just three years. Many people work their whole lives and still don't reach this position."

"It's all thanks to Brother Zhou's help."

"You're capable too," Wang Juan said earnestly. "Lin Fan, I'm proud of you."

As the two were talking, Lin Ping called, her voice trembling with excitement: "Xiao Fan! I... I passed the exam!"

Lin Fan was taken aback: "Sis, you posted it publicly too?"

"The results are out! I came in last, but I still passed!" Lin Ping said. "District government office, staff member. Our director just called me personally!"

"That's wonderful!" Lin Fan was genuinely happy for his sister. "Congratulations, sis!"

"Thank you, Xiaofan. If it weren't for your constant encouragement, I probably would have given up long ago." Lin Ping's voice choked with emotion. "I never expected to pass the exam at my age."

"It's good that you passed the exam. You'll be a civil servant now, which is a stable job."

"Yes, our family has had one happy event after another this year," Lin Ping said. "My parents are overjoyed and said they want to celebrate tonight. Why don't you come over?"

"Okay, we'll head over now."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Fan said to Wang Juan, "My sister also passed the exam. My parents invited us over for dinner to celebrate."

"This is truly double happiness," Wang Juan said. "Let's go buy some things to take over."

The couple drove to the supermarket, bought fruit and drinks, and also a toy for Niu Niu. When they arrived at their parents' house, Lin Ping's family was already there. The father was all smiles, and the mother was busy in the kitchen, humming a tune.

"Uncle! Aunt!" Niu Niu ran over.

"Niu Niu, look what your aunt bought for you!" Wang Juan took out a toy.

"Wow! Barbie! Thank you, Auntie!"

Sun Lin walked over and patted Lin Fan on the shoulder: "Xiao Fan, congratulations. Team leader, from now on I'll have to call you Section Chief Lin."

"Brother-in-law, stop fooling around," Lin Fan laughed.

During the meal, the father opened a bottle of wine and poured a little for everyone, even Wang Juan and Lin Ping, who each had a small half-glass.

"I'm so happy today, it's a triple celebration for our family!" Father raised his glass. "Xiao Fan passed the civil service exam and was promoted to deputy section chief; Xiao Ping passed the civil service exam, let's drink!"

"Cheers!"

Everyone drank. The mother's eyes reddened: "It's wonderful, the children have all made something of themselves. Your father and I have lived a worthwhile life."

"Mom, your good health is our greatest blessing," Lin Fan said.

"Yes, good health is the most important thing," the father said. "But Xiaofan, you're a cadre now, you have to be careful. 'An official who doesn't serve the people might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes.' That saying may be old, but it holds true."

"Dad, I understand," Lin Fan said earnestly. "I'm just a squad leader, in charge of a few vehicles. But I'll definitely do my job well and live up to the trust placed in me by my superiors."

"Yes, as long as you know it," the father said.

Lin Ping said, "It's the same on my end. The district government office is full of veteran staff. I'm new here, so I have to keep a low profile."

"Yes, keep a low profile and be steady," the mother said. "We don't care about being rich or powerful, we just want a peaceful life."

The family chatted until late. Lin Fan had drunk a bit too much, so Wang Juan drove them home.

On the way, Wang Juan said, "Lin Fan, your family is really doing well now. You, your sister, and your brother-in-law are all civil servants."

"Yes, my parents are the happiest." Lin Fan leaned back in his seat. "A few years ago, our family lived in the village, and our conditions were just average. Now we've all established ourselves in the city, and my parents have come to live with us. Life is much better now."

"It's all thanks to your leadership," Wang Juan said. "If it weren't for you leading the family forward, things might still be the same as before."

"It's not entirely my doing," Lin Fan said. "My sister worked hard, and my brother-in-law helped me a lot. I just gave her a push."

"You made a crucial push," Wang Juan said. "But Lin Fan, now that you're a deputy section chief, you'll have even more social engagements and more work to do. You need to take care of your health and not overwork yourself."

"I know, don't worry."

Back home, Lin Fan washed up and went to sleep. He woke up the next day with a slight headache. Wang Juan had already prepared breakfast.

"Have some porridge to soothe your stomach," Wang Juan said. "And drink less alcohol in the future."

"Okay, I'll listen to my wife."

After finishing his meal, Lin Fan went to his workplace. The public announcement period still had a few days left, but he was already in the swing of things. He first went to report to Section Chief Jiang in the logistics department.

When Jiang Dayong saw him, he smiled and said, "Captain Lin is here? Have a seat."

"Section Chief Jiang, please don't call me that, I can't accept it."

"I can handle it," Jiang Dayong said. "Director Zhou told me that the fleet will be under your management from now on. Here is the fleet personnel list and vehicle information; please familiarize yourself with it first."

Lin Fan took the materials and read them carefully. The convoy consisted of sixteen people: Da Liu, Lao Zhang, Xiao Wang, Xiao Li, Xiao Zhao, and himself. The vehicles included: an Audi A6, a Prado, a Pajero, a Santana, a Santana 2000, a Toyota Hiace, and others.

"The staff are all experienced drivers, easy to manage," Jiang Dayong said. "You're also familiar with the vehicle situation. Your main task is dispatching, ensuring the leaders have access to vehicles. You can discuss the specific scheduling with Da Liu."

"Yes, Section Chief Jiang."

"By the way, I've arranged an office for you, the small one next to mine. It's not big, but it has a private space, which will make things easier."

"Thank you, Section Chief Jiang."

After leaving Jiang Dayong's office, Lin Fan went to see his new office. It wasn't large, about ten square meters, with a desk, a chair, and a filing cabinet. But the window faced the sun, so the light was good.

He sat in the chair for a while, feeling a bit unreal. Three years ago, he was learning to drive and worrying about finding a job. Now, he had his own office, small though it was, but it was still progress.

Just then, Da Liu knocked on the door and came in: "Captain Lin, congratulations!"

"Brother Liu, don't call me that, just call me Xiao Lin." Lin Fan stood up.

"We still have to call him that," Da Liu laughed. "From now on, you're our leader. Don't worry about the car team; we'll all cooperate."

"Brother Liu, you're a senior, I still have a lot to learn from you," Lin Fan said. "You have experience with scheduling and such, you decide, and I'll cooperate."

"That won't do. You're the captain, so you have to make the decision," Da Liu said. "But I can offer suggestions."

"Okay, let's discuss it together."

The two chatted about the daily operations of the motorcade. It wasn't complicated; the main thing was to ensure the leaders always had a car. Zhou Wenyuan's car was still driven by Lin Fan, while the other deputy directors each had an Audi. A Prado and a Pajero were kept as backups, used by whoever needed a car for a trip to the countryside, and the remaining cars were applied for by the relevant department within the office or department.

"Team Leader Lin, there's something I need to tell you," said Liu. "Old Chen has been discharged from the hospital, but he can't drive anymore. The bureau has assigned him to the guardhouse to watch the gate. He might be a little unhappy about it. Go see him when you have time."

"Okay, I'll go this afternoon."

In the afternoon, Lin Fan bought some fruit and went to see Old Chen. The guardhouse was on the first floor, and Old Chen was sitting inside, reading a newspaper. Seeing Lin Fan, he stood up: "Little Lin… no, now you should call me Captain Lin."

"Master Chen, please don't call me that." Lin Fan put down the fruit. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm much better now. I can walk and move around, but I can't do heavy work," Old Chen said. "Being a gatekeeper is a good job; it's easy."

"That's good." Lin Fan sat down. "Master Chen, about driving..."

"Don't even mention it." Old Chen waved his hand. "I drove for over ten years, and in the end, it all ended in a crash. That was my fate. Now I work as a gatekeeper, which is fine too. I don't have to be exposed to the wind and sun."

"Try to think more positively."

"I'm taking it easy," Old Chen laughed. "Xiao Lin, you're the team leader now, do a good job. The guys in the convoy are all skilled; if you lead them well, Director Zhou won't have to worry about anything."

"I will."

After sitting for a while, Lin Fan said goodbye. Walking out of the guardhouse, he felt a pang of emotion. Old Chen had driven for over a decade, only to end up as a gatekeeper. That's life—unpredictable.

Back in his office, Zhou Wenyuan called: "Xiao Lin, come over here."

"Okay, Brother Zhou."

Upon arriving at Zhou Wenyuan's office, Zhou Wenyuan said, "Come with me to the municipal government this afternoon. The mayor will be listening to a report on financial work. Bring the Land Cruiser; the mayor might ask about off-road vehicles."

"clear."

The mayor personally attended the afternoon briefing. Zhou Wenyuan reported on the fiscal revenue and expenditure situation for the first half of the year, presenting it clearly and logically with accurate data. The mayor was very satisfied.

"Wen Yuan, your bureau has done a good job," the mayor said. "Especially the reduction in the 'three public expenses' (official receptions, official vehicles, and overseas trips) has been very effective and efficient."

"Thank you for your recognition, Mayor," Zhou Wenyuan said. "We will continue our efforts in the second half of the year."

"Yes, do a good job," the mayor said. "By the way, I heard your bureau got new cars? And an SUV with armed police license plates?"

"Yes, Mayor, it was lent to us by the Armed Police detachment," Zhou Wenyuan said. "We often go to the countryside, and the road conditions are bad, so having an off-road vehicle is convenient."

"That's a good idea," the mayor nodded. "Resource sharing makes the best use of everything."

"Mayor, you flatter me."

After the meeting, the mayor kept Zhou Wenyuan behind for a private chat. Lin Fan waited in the car and saw the mayor pat Zhou Wenyuan on the shoulder, very kindly.

On the way back, Zhou Wenyuan was in a good mood: "The mayor was very happy today, saying that our bureau is a benchmark."

"Brother Zhou is a good leader."

"It's not just my achievement; it's the result of everyone's joint efforts," Zhou Wenyuan said. "But Xiao Lin, the mayor specifically asked about you today."

Lin Fan was taken aback: "Ask me?"

"Yes, they asked about your civil service exam and what position they would assign you," Zhou Wenyuan said. "I said I would assign you as the head of the motorcade, a deputy section chief. The mayor said that young cadres should be well-trained."

"Thank you for your concern, Mayor."

"Do a good job and don't let your superiors down," Zhou Wenyuan said. "By the way, did your sister pass the exam too?"

"Yes, it's been announced."

"Okay, the whole family is settled now," Zhou Wenyuan said. "That's a good thing. With a stable family, you can work with peace of mind."

"Yes, Brother Zhou is right."

Back at the station, it was already past closing time. Lin Fan packed his things to leave when Jiang Dayong came over: "Team Leader Lin, are you free tonight? A few of us from the team want to get together and celebrate for you."

Lin Fan thought for a moment and said, "Okay, it's on me."

"We can't let you treat us, the rest of us will chip in," Jiang Dayong said. "There are sixteen of us in our team, plus me, that makes seventeen. Same place, 6:30."

"Okay, I'll definitely be there."

At 6:30, Lin Fan arrived at the "usual place," a Northeastern Chinese restaurant. Jiang Dayong and the 15-person convoy had already arrived, making a total of 17 people including Lin Fan.

"Team Leader Lin is here, take the seat of honor," said Da Liu.

"No, no, no, Section Chief Jiang, please take the seat of honor," Lin Fan declined.

"You're the main character today, please sit down." After some polite refusals, Jiang Dayong took the seat of honor, with Lin Fan beside him.

After sitting down, Jiang Dayong raised his glass: "Today we're getting together for two reasons. First, to celebrate Lin Fan passing the civil service exam and becoming a team leader. Second, to welcome Lin Fan officially into our logistics department family. Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

Everyone drank. Lin Fan said, "Thank you, Section Chief Jiang, and thank you, brothers. I'm young and inexperienced, so I'll need your help in the future. This toast is for everyone."

I drank another glass.

The dishes arrived: braised pork with vermicelli, sweet and sour pork, and stir-fried eggplant, potatoes, and green peppers—all hearty dishes. Everyone ate and chatted.

Da Liu said, "Team Leader Lin, don't worry about the convoy from now on. We'll definitely cooperate. You tell us where to go, and we'll go."

"Thank you, Brother Liu," Lin Fan said. "Actually, the work of the team is mainly coordination. Everyone here is a veteran driver with a lot of experience, and I still have a lot to learn from you all."

"Let's learn from each other," Old Zhang said. "Although Team Leader Lin is young, he's steady. Even someone as picky as Director Zhou is satisfied with him, which shows you're capable."

"It's all thanks to Director Zhou's cultivation."

Xiao Wang said, "Team Leader Lin, if you ever need our help, just let us know. Our team may not be large, but we're all united."

"Thank you, Xiao Wang."

The meal was a lively affair. Lin Fan could tell that these people were all easy to get along with. Da Liu was honest, Lao Zhang was steady, Xiao Wang was quick-witted, Xiao Li was reliable, and Xiao Zhao was diligent. With Section Chief Jiang Dayong looking after them, the work in the motorcade shouldn't be too difficult.

After finishing their meal, it was already past eight o'clock. Lin Fan wanted to pay the bill, but Jiang Dayong stopped him, saying, "We agreed to chip in, so don't worry about it."

"That won't do, it's on me today."

"You treat next time, we'll treat this time," Jiang Dayong said. "It's the custom; when the newcomers come, the elders treat. Next time, you treat us."

"Okay, I'll treat you next time."

Everyone dispersed. Lin Fan drove home; Wang Juan had already returned.

"Have you eaten?" Wang Juan asked.

"I've eaten, it's a get-together with the team," Lin Fan said. "Have you eaten?"

"I ate, I ate at the restaurant," Wang Juan said. "Lin Fan, I've booked our wedding photos for next Saturday. The studio said it'll be done in one day."

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

"Can you take the day off that day?"

"Yes, I can. I'll just tell Brother Zhou."

"Okay, I've ordered three outfits: a Western-style wedding dress, a Chinese cheongsam, and a casual outfit."

"You can decide."

The two sat on the sofa watching TV. Wang Juan leaned on his shoulder: "Lin Fan, everything is fine now. You have a stable job, and my business is doing well. We have a house and a car. Once we take our wedding photos and have the wedding, it will be perfect."

"Yes, that's perfect." Lin Fan hugged her. "But Juan'er, we still have a long way to go. We need to keep working hard."

"I know, I was just reminiscing," Wang Juan said. "Thinking back to three years ago, I was a waitress in a restaurant, serving dishes every day. Now I have my own shop, my own car, and you."

"Having you is my greatest blessing."

"loquacious."

The two snuggled together, watching television. The news was broadcasting the city's economic achievements, a picture of prosperity.

Lin Fan thought, this is the best of times. The economy is developing, society is progressing, and as long as individuals work hard, they will have opportunities.

He seized the opportunity, changed himself, and changed the fate of his family.