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

In late August, the weather remained hot.

When Lin Fan picked up Zhou Wenyuan in the morning, he noticed that Zhou Wenyuan looked exceptionally energetic today, wearing a dark suit and with his hair neatly combed.

"Brother Zhou, is there an important event today?" Lin Fan asked as he drove.

"This morning, the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee held a special meeting to report on financial work." Zhou Wenyuan adjusted his tie. "Director Yan asked me to give this report on behalf of the bureau."

Lin Fan's heart skipped a beat. The fact that the Standing Committee had the deputy director report instead of the director himself sent a clear signal. It seemed that Zhou Ge's appointment as executive deputy director was almost certain.

"Brother Zhou, you're well-prepared, there won't be any problems."

"We are well prepared, but we can't be careless," Zhou Wenyuan said. "The Standing Committee meeting is attended by city leaders, and their questions may be quite pointed. We need to be able to answer fluently."

When the car arrived at the municipal party committee compound, Zhou Wenyuan got out, while Lin Fan waited in the car as usual. There were an unusually large number of cars in the compound today; the heads of various bureaus and offices had all arrived. Lin Fan recognized several familiar cars and exchanged nods of greeting.

After waiting for more than two hours, Zhou Wenyuan finally came out. He had a smile on his face as he got into the car, indicating that the report had gone smoothly.

"How's it going, Brother Zhou?" Lin Fan started the car.

"It's alright, the leaders basically approve." Zhou Wenyuan loosened his tie. "The mayor even specifically praised our bureau's work in the first half of the year, saying that the reduction in official spending was significant and effective."

"That's great."

"However, the Party Secretary made a request, saying that fiscal funds should be tilted towards people's livelihood, especially education, medical care, and elderly care," Zhou Wenyuan said. "The budget adjustment in the second half of the year should be geared towards these areas."

"Of course, people's livelihood is fundamental."

"Yes." Zhou Wenyuan leaned back in his chair. "Xiao Lin, Director Yan might be transferred soon."

Lin Fan glanced at Zhou Wenyuan in the rearview mirror: "Brother Zhou, then you..."

"The position of executive deputy director should be mine," Zhou Wenyuan said calmly, but with confidence in his voice. "However, Director Yan will not be leaving for the time being; he will be transferred after I am familiar with all aspects of the work. This is the secretary's decision."

"That means I'm saving a seat for you."

"You could say that," Zhou Wenyuan smiled. "So, in the coming period, I need to familiarize myself with all the work at the bureau. You also need to learn a lot so you can help me handle more things in the future."

"I understand, Brother Zhou. I will definitely try my best."

Back at the bureau, Zhou Wenyuan got busy. Besides overseeing the budget and treasury, he was now also involved in the work of other departments. He was reviewing more documents and attending meetings more frequently. Lin Fan was also busy, driving him around during the day and sometimes accompanying Zhou Wenyuan during his overtime work in the evenings.

It was a little after 8 p.m. that evening, and the two had just returned from the municipal government. Zhou Wenyuan was in his office looking at documents, while Lin Fan waited outside. His phone rang; it was Wang Juan.

"Lin Fan, are you still at work?"

"Yeah, I'm keeping Zhou company while he works overtime. What about you?"

"I just got back from the store," Wang Juan said excitedly. "Lin Fan, I have something to tell you. I expanded the store in the Donghe Wholesale Market!"

"Expanded? How were they expanded?"

"I rented the two shops next door and combined them with the old shop. Now it's a big store of 40 or 50 square meters!" Wang Juan said. "It's been renovated and is very bright. From now on, I'll do wholesale from this one store, so it's worry-free."

"That must have cost a lot of money, right?"

"It cost a lot, but it was worth it," Wang Juan said. "Business is good now, and one store isn't enough. Having everything centralized makes management easier, and it looks more impressive to customers."

"It's up to you," Lin Fan said. "By the way, you said you came back from the shop, did you eat?"

"Not yet, I'm waiting for you."

"I'll be right back. Brother Zhou will be done in a minute."

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Wenyuan came out: "Xiao Lin, let's go, that's enough for today."

"Okay, Brother Zhou."

After dropping Zhou Wenyuan off at home, Lin Fan went home by himself. Wang Juan had already prepared dinner—two simple dishes, but steaming hot.

"Eat quickly, it's getting cold," Wang Juan said.

The two sat down to eat. Wang Juan then brought up the matter of the store: "Lin Fan, I've made up my mind. Our next step is to open specialty stores in several prime locations in the city. We'll open large stores in the wholesale market and specialty stores in the city center, focusing on a brand strategy."

"Aren't the costs of running a specialty store high?"

"It's expensive, but the profit margin is also high," Wang Juan said. "Wholesale focuses on volume, while specialty stores focus on price. I've now registered a trademark and have my own brand, so I can give it a try."

"You've thought this through very well," Lin Fan said. "Is the funding sufficient?"

"That's enough. Business has been good these past few months, and I've saved up some money," Wang Juan said. "And I've found a processing factory in Guangzhou that can do OEM manufacturing. I provide the designs, they produce them, and we put our brand on them."

"That's good. We don't need to build our own factory; it's an asset-light operation."

"Yes, that's what I'm thinking." Wang Juan's eyes lit up. "Lin Fan, I can earn around 100,000 yuan a month now, sometimes even more than 100,000. I'm thinking of doing as much as I can while I'm still young."

"Take it easy, don't overwork yourself," Lin Fan said. "You can never earn enough money, but your health is the most important thing."

"I know, I'm aware of the situation," Wang Juan said. "But the opportunity is good now, and I have to seize it. Once the brand is established, things will be easier."

After dinner, the two washed the dishes together. Wang Juan suddenly asked, "Lin Fan, is Director Zhou getting promoted?"

How did you know?

"I heard from someone that Director Zhou is a rising star in the city and will soon be the executive deputy director."

"More or less, but there hasn't been an official follow-up yet."

"Then you'd better work hard," Wang Juan said. "Director Zhou got promoted, and you'll get promoted too."

"Yes, I know," Lin Fan said, "but these things can't be rushed, we have to take it one step at a time."

The next day, Lin Fan drove Zhou Wenyuan to a meeting at the municipal government. The mayor was going to Linxi County to inspect poverty alleviation projects, and Zhou Wenyuan was accompanying him. The motorcade was already prepared in the municipal government compound. The mayor's car was a black Audi Q7, a high-end model, which looked very impressive. Several other cars followed behind, including Zhou Wenyuan's Land Cruiser and cars belonging to several other bureau leaders.

Lin Fan parked the car and got out to stretch his legs. The other drivers also got out and gathered together to smoke.

"See that? The mayor's Q7," a driver said.

"I saw it, it's really nice," another driver said. "I heard it's worth over a million."

"Over a million? That's so expensive?"

"What do you think? Top-of-the-line."

Lin Fan didn't say anything, but thought to himself, "The mayor drives a Q7, and Brother Zhou drives a Land Cruiser—both are nice cars. It seems the leaders' vehicles are all being upgraded."

Just then, the mayor's driver, Lao Liu, arrived. He was in his fifties, not very tall, but very capable.

"Master Lin, are you driving today?" Old Liu asked.

"Yeah, I'll drive the Land Cruiser and keep Director Zhou company."

"The Land Cruiser is a good car, with strong off-road capabilities," Lao Liu said. "We're going to Linxi County today; the roads are bad, so your car will be perfect."

"Master Liu, your Q7 is pretty good too."

"It's alright, just a bit fuel-inefficient," Old Liu laughed. "But as long as the boss is comfortable, it's fine."

At 8:30, the leaders boarded their cars one after another. The mayor was the first to get into the Q7, and Lao Liu started the car and slowly drove out of the compound. The other cars followed in turn.

Lin Fan followed behind, maintaining a safe distance. Once out of the city and onto the highway, the car picked up speed. The mayor's Q7 was driving fast and quickly widened the gap. Lin Fan floored the accelerator to keep up; the Land Cruiser had enough power to keep pace.

But the other cars were struggling. One Passat, driven by Lao Zhang, was on the walkie-talkie: "Lao Liu, slow down, we can't keep up."

Old Liu's voice came through the walkie-talkie: "The mayor is in a hurry, we need to hurry."

Old Zhang muttered to himself, "Even if you're anxious, you can't risk your life."

Lin Fan listened without saying a word. He focused on driving and maintained his speed. The Land Cruiser was indeed impressive; despite the many curves on the mountain roads, it drove steadily and smoothly.

Upon arriving in Linxi County, they first visited the vegetable greenhouses. The mayor got out of the car, with Zhou Wenyuan following beside him to give a report. Lin Fan and the other drivers waited in the car.

The drivers huddled together again. Old Zhang said, "That Old Liu drives too recklessly. My palms were sweaty all day."

Another driver said, "Who can argue with that? The Q7 has great performance; he drives incredibly fast, completely disregarding whether we can keep up."

"Luckily, Master Lin was driving a Land Cruiser; if he were driving an Audi, he wouldn't have been able to keep up."

Lin Fan said, "Perhaps the mayor really has something urgent to attend to."

"What's the rush? He's just showing off his car." Old Zhang snorted. "He never drives this fast when he's driving his Audi A8."

Lin Fan didn't respond. Such discussions are best listened to, but not participated in.

After inspecting the greenhouses, we went to the county finance bureau. We had lunch in the county, a simple working meal. After lunch, we continued to inspect other projects.

On the return trip in the afternoon, the same scene played out again. The mayor's Q7 was driving incredibly fast, with the cars behind desperately trying to keep up. Lin Fan was alright; his Land Cruiser could keep up. But the other cars were in a mess. One driver later told Lin Fan that he almost rear-ended another car.

Back in the city, I drove Zhou Wenyuan back to his office. As he got out of the car, Zhou Wenyuan said, "Thank you for your hard work today. You drove very steadily."

"Of course, Brother Zhou."

"The mayor's car is a bit too fast," Zhou Wenyuan shook his head. "Old Liu is a good driver, but he's too reckless. Leaders who have ridden in his car before all complained that he drives too fast."

"Maybe I've gotten used to it."

"That's a bad habit," Zhou Wenyuan said. "You drive steadily, that's a good thing."

"Thank you, Brother Zhou."

When Lin Fan got home that evening, he told Wang Juan about what had happened that day. Wang Juan listened and said, "Isn't the mayor's driver afraid of causing an accident driving like that?"

"Their skills are good, and their car is good too," Lin Fan said, "but it was indeed a bit risky."

"You need to drive carefully, don't imitate him," Wang Juan said. "Safety first."

"I know, don't worry."

Two days later, Lin Fan attended a class reunion. It was organized by his high school classmates; it had been seven years since graduation, and this was the first large-scale gathering. More than thirty people came, and they booked a large private room.

Everyone greeted each other warmly, catching up on each other's lives. Some worked in government offices, some were business owners, some were teachers, and some were laborers. Their circumstances varied greatly.

Lin Fan was surrounded by several classmates who asked him all sorts of questions.

"Lin Fan, I heard you're doing quite well at the Finance Bureau."

"It's alright, enough to make a living."

"Don't be modest, you're already a team leader, a deputy section chief."

"You're quite well-informed."

"You're the most successful among our classmates, so please take care of me in the future."

Another classmate, who owned an internet cafe, said, "Lin Fan, my nephew wants to transfer to Xinguang Road Elementary School, but I heard it's difficult to get in. Do you have any connections?"

"I'll give it a try; I know someone at the Education Bureau."

Thank you so much.

Lin Fan agreed to each request. He would help with what he could and politely decline what he couldn't. He had a wide network of connections now, but he couldn't help with everything.

The gathering didn't end until 10 PM. Lin Fan drove home, thinking about how his classmates had changed. Seven years had passed, and they had all gone down different paths. Some had had smooth sailing, while others had faced hardships. But they were all striving to live their lives to the fullest.

When Wang Juan got home, she was still awake.

"You're back? You've been drinking?"

"I had a little, not much," Lin Fan said. "It was a class reunion today, and more than thirty people came."

"It's lively, isn't it?"

"It's lively." Lin Fan sat down. "Looking at my classmates, each of them has their own way of living. It's quite interesting."

"Yes, life is full of different kinds of people," Wang Juan said. "But Lin Fan, you're doing well among your classmates now, they must all envy you."

"What's there to envy? Everyone has their own difficulties," Lin Fan said. "I work in a government agency, which seems stable, but the pressure is considerable. You run a business, which seems to make money, but it's also hard work."

"That's true," Wang Juan nodded. "But we're doing quite well as we are now, with stability and development."

"Yes, that's good."

In early September, Zhou Wenyuan officially took over the work of executive deputy director. Although Director Yan had not yet been transferred, he no longer managed the specifics and mainly handed over the work to Zhou Wenyuan.

Everyone in the bureau understood that Zhou Wenyuan was the next director. They respected him even more and reported to him more frequently.

Lin Fan, as Zhou Wenyuan's driver and part-time secretary, was also busy. In addition to driving, he also helped Zhou Wenyuan organize documents, arrange schedules, and sometimes write simple reports.

Zhou Wenyuan trusted him greatly and entrusted him with important matters. Lin Fan lived up to expectations, handling tasks reliably and thoughtfully.

That day, Zhou Wenyuan said, "Xiao Lin, the training course at the provincial department starts next Monday. Get ready, we'll go early on Sunday, and I'll take you to meet a few people first."

"Okay, Brother Zhou."

On Sunday, the two drove to the provincial capital. Upon arrival, Zhou Wenyuan took Lin Fan to meet several section chiefs from the provincial government, as well as several finance bureau chiefs from other cities. These were all Zhou Wenyuan's old connections.

"This is Xiao Lin, my driver, and also the captain of our bureau's fleet," Zhou Wenyuan introduced. "He's a good young man, reliable and hardworking."

Everyone was very polite, shaking hands with Lin Fan and handing him their business cards. Lin Fan respectfully accepted them and greeted them one by one.

During dinner that evening, Zhou Wenyuan said, "Xiao Lin, this training is an opportunity. Study hard and make more connections. These are all key personnel in the finance system; they will be your network in the future."

"I understand, Brother Zhou."

"You don't need to follow me around every day during the training," Zhou Wenyuan said. "I have things to take care of in the provincial capital. You just focus on the classes and go back to the hotel in the evenings."

"OK."

The training course began on Monday. More than fifty trainees from various cities across the province were all key personnel in the finance system. Lin Fan was relatively young, but because of Zhou Wenyuan's connections, everyone treated him with great respect.

The schedule was packed, with classes during the day and sometimes group discussions in the evenings. Lin Fan studied very diligently, taking copious notes. This knowledge would be helpful in his future work.

During the training, Lin Fan met many people, including young cadres from the provincial department and colleagues from other cities. They exchanged work experiences and learned from each other.

Lin Fan went home for the weekend. Wang Juan picked him up in her car.

"How's the training?" Wang Juan asked.

"It's great, I've learned a lot," Lin Fan said. "I've also met a lot of people."

"That's good," Wang Juan said. "Lin Fan, I've decided on the location for my first store. It's on Zhongshan Road, a prime location. Renovations will start next month, and it will open before National Day."

"So fast?"

"Yes, strike while the iron is hot," Wang Juan said. "The big stores in the wholesale market are doing well, with daily turnover of tens of thousands. Once the specialty stores open, the brand image will be established."

"You're really capable," Lin Fan remarked. "My wife is getting more and more competent."

"It's all thanks to your support," Wang Juan laughed. "Without your backing, how could I dare to do this?"

"Support each other."

Back home, Wang Juan prepared a sumptuous dinner. The two ate and chatted, talking about their work and lives.

"Lin Fan, you're now a deputy section chief. Will you be even busier in the future?" Wang Juan asked.

"Maybe. Brother Zhou is in charge of all the work now, so I'll definitely have a lot to do working with him," Lin Fan said. "But I can handle it."

"Yes, I trust you to handle things," Wang Juan said. "Just don't overwork yourself and take care of your health."

"Know."

After dinner, the two sat on the sofa watching TV. Wang Juan leaned on Lin Fan's shoulder: "Lin Fan, I feel really good right now. You're improving, and so am I. Let's move forward together."

"Okay, let's move forward together." Lin Fan put his arm around her. "Juan'er, once the specialty store opens and the brand is established, you'll be able to relax."

"I don't seek an easy life, I just want a fulfilling one," Wang Juan said. "As long as I have something to do, money to earn, and you're here, I'm content."

Lin Fan felt a warmth in his heart. This was the life he wanted: simple, fulfilling, and with something to look forward to.

The training lasted another week, and Lin Fan was going back to the provincial capital the next day. Wang Juan packed his luggage, including a change of clothes and some pickles she had made.

"The food in the provincial capital might not suit my taste, so I'll bring some pickles to go with my rice," Wang Juan said.

"My wife still loves me the most," Lin Fan said with a smile.

Stop being so cheeky and drive carefully.

"Know."

He took a bus back to the provincial capital to continue his training. Lin Fan worked even harder, knowing this was a rare opportunity. He couldn't waste the wonderful conditions that Brother Zhou had created for him.

On the last day of the training, there was a final exam. Lin Fan did well and received the title of Outstanding Student. At the graduation ceremony, provincial leaders presented him with an award and specifically praised him.

"Comrade Lin Fan is young and promising, and a diligent learner. I hope that after returning, he will apply what he has learned to his work and contribute to the cause of finance."

Lin Fan went on stage to accept the award, his heart pounding with excitement. This was the first official honor he had received since his rebirth.

After the training, he returned to the steel city. Zhou Wenyuan listened to his report and was very satisfied.

"Not bad, you didn't embarrass me," Zhou Wenyuan said. "When I get back, I'll write a training report and give a presentation at the bureau so everyone can learn from it."

"Okay, Brother Zhou."

Life returned to its usual rhythm. Lin Fan continued driving for Zhou Wenyuan and managing the fleet. Wang Juan was busy with the franchise store. Days passed, fulfilling and orderly.

At the end of September, Zhou Wenyuan's appointment as executive deputy director was officially announced. On the day the document was issued, the bureau held a general meeting, which was presided over by Director Yan, who announced the appointment.

Zhou Wenyuan sat calmly and composed on the platform. Lin Fan watched from below, happy for him.

After the conference, Zhou Wenyuan called Lin Fan to his office.

"Xiao Lin, now that I'm the executive deputy director, I'm even busier. You have to continue helping me and keeping a close eye on things."

"Don't worry, Brother Zhou, I will do my best."

"Yes, I trust you to handle things," Zhou Wenyuan said. "By the way, I've arranged everything for your wedding during the National Day holiday. You don't need to worry about the hotel, the car fleet, or the MC."

"Thank you, Brother Zhou, for your trouble."

"Don't mention it, your wedding is a big deal," Zhou Wenyuan laughed. "Have a good time, make it a lively and joyous occasion."

As Lin Fan left the office, he felt a warm glow inside. Brother Zhou was truly exceptional to him.

Back in his office, he began writing the training report. He wanted to summarize what he had learned and share it with everyone.

Outside the window, the autumn sky is clear and the air is crisp. Autumn in the steel city is beautiful, with blue skies, white clouds, and fresh air.

Lin Fan put down his pen and looked out the window. This was the third autumn since his rebirth. His job was stable, his family was happy, and everything was moving in a positive direction.

But he knew that wasn't enough. The position of executive deputy director was just a new starting point for Zhou Ge, and for him as well. He needed to continue working hard and taking steady steps forward.

For this family, for this good life.

The steel city outside the window is bathed in perfect sunlight.

Inside the house, everything is fine.

this is life.

This is everything he wants to protect.