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

In the steel city in December, the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year is so strong that it's almost overwhelming.

Red lanterns hung along the streets, festive music played on a loop in the shopping malls, and people hurried by carrying large bags of New Year's goods. But for Lin Fan, this December was a time for preparing for farewells.

On January 15th, the transfer letter from the County Party Committee's Organization Department officially arrived at the Finance Bureau. Director Chen was very accommodating, signing it that same day, and the Personnel Department expedited the procedures. Three days later, all of Lin Fan's records were transferred to the Tu County Party Committee Office—as deputy director, a section chief.

"Director Lin, congratulations!" Old Liu, the head of the personnel department, smiled and handed over the letter of introduction. "Although Tu County is a bit far, following Secretary Zhou, your future is limitless."

"Thank you, Director Liu." Lin Fan took the envelope. It felt light, yet heavy. These few thin sheets of paper signified the official end of his four-year career in the steel city.

After leaving the personnel department, Lin Fan went to the team's office. Both Da Liu and Xiao Zhao were there; seeing him enter, they both stood up simultaneously.

"Are the formalities complete?" Da Liu asked.

"It's done." Lin Fan placed the letter of introduction on the table. "I won't be coming to work tomorrow. The fleet... is in your hands now."

A few seconds of silence filled the office. Xiao Zhao's eyes were a little red, and she turned her face away.

"Team Leader Lin, don't worry." Liu's voice was steady. "I will take good care of the convoy. Once you arrive in Tu County, please let me know if you need anything."

"Brother Liu, don't call me Captain Lin anymore." Lin Fan patted him on the shoulder. "Just call me Lin Fan. You're the team leader, so you need to hold onto that position."

"In my heart, you will always be Captain Lin."

Lin Fan didn't correct him anymore. He took one last look at the office he had been in for more than two years—the vehicle dispatch chart on the wall, the group photo of the fleet on the table, the filing cabinet in the corner... everything was so familiar, yet it was about to become the past.

"I'm leaving," he said.

"We'll take you there," Da Liu and Xiao Zhao said at the same time.

The three walked to the entrance of the office building. The afternoon sun in winter was weak, offering little warmth. The Audi A8 was parked in the courtyard, now spotlessly clean—Lin Fan was saying goodbye to it for the last time.

"Take care." Lin Fan shook hands with the two men before getting into the car.

"Take care, Captain Lin."

The taxi slowly drove away from the Finance Bureau. Lin Fan watched the familiar building grow smaller and smaller through the car window, and suddenly felt a little empty inside. Four and a half years had passed. He had worked his way up from a temporary worker to a deputy section chief here, met Zhou Wenyuan, started a family, and built a career... Now, he was leaving.

But he didn't have much time for sentimentality. There were more important things to do next.

Lin Fan didn't go straight home, but instead took a car to the car market. This area houses 4S stores for various brands, and even in the twelfth lunar month, there were still quite a few people looking at cars.

He got out of his car in front of a Lexus dealership. Inside the showroom, a white Lexus LX570 sat quietly under the spotlight, its massive body exuding a sense of composed power, and its spindle grille already showing the beginnings of later generations. This was the 2008 model, recently launched.

The sales manager's eyes lit up when he saw Lin Fan, and he quickly approached, "Sir, are you looking at cars?"

"Take a look at that 570," Lin Fan said, pointing to the center of the showroom.

"Good eye! This is the new model, with a 5.7-liter V8 engine, all-wheel drive, air suspension..." the manager introduced enthusiastically.

Lin Fan barely listened. He walked around the car, opened the door, and got into the driver's seat. The interior was made of beige leather with wood trim, exquisitely crafted, and spacious. The back seats were, needless to say, fully equipped like a boss's seat.

"Do you have a car in stock?" he asked.

The manager was taken aback: "We have a car in stock... a high-spec one, also white, that just arrived."

"This is the one, I'll take it." Lin Fan interrupted him. "Can we pick it up today?"

"Today?" The manager's eyes widened. "Sir, this car would cost over 1.6 million in full, and the paperwork..."

"Full payment." Lin Fan took out his bank card. "Hurry up and complete the formalities; we need to drive it away today."

The manager took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly as he took the bank card: "Please wait a moment, I'll arrange it right away!"

For the next three or four hours, Lin Fan drank tea in the VIP room while the manager and his team busied themselves with various tasks. Temporary license plates, insurance, vehicle purchase tax certificates… all the procedures were processed at an astonishing speed. At one o'clock in the afternoon, the white Lexus LX570 was already parked in front of the store, gleaming after a wash.

"Mr. Lin, the car is ready." The manager respectfully handed over the keys. "All the paperwork is complete. You can get the official license plates yourself later."

Lin Fan took the keys and got into the driver's seat. He started the engine, and the V8 engine roared with a deep, powerful sound. He slowly drove out of the dealership, feeling the solidity of this behemoth—it was indeed more substantial and reassuring than the Audi A8, and felt more powerful than the Land Cruiser 4700.

But he knew that buying the car was only the first step.

The next morning, Lin Fan drove to the Municipal Traffic Police Detachment. He didn't go to the regular window, but went directly to the deputy detachment leader's office—this deputy detachment leader, surnamed Ma, was an old acquaintance of Lin Fan's from the leadership circle. When Zhou Wenyuan was the director of the Finance Bureau, he had approved a lot of funding for the Traffic Police Detachment.

"Team Leader Lin, what a rare guest!" Deputy Squad Leader Ma said warmly. "I heard you're going to Tuxian County? Following Secretary Zhou, your future is limitless!"

"You flatter me, Captain Ma." Lin Fan sat down. "I'm here today to ask you for a favor."

"We said that as long as it doesn't violate principles, we will definitely do it if we can."

Lin Fan placed the car keys on the table: "I bought a car and want to use it in Tu County. I'd like to get a decent license plate."

Deputy Captain Ma took the keys, walked to the window, looked at the white Lexus downstairs, and his eyes lit up: "Great car! A Lexus 570. This car is perfect for places like Tu County—high chassis, plenty of power, driving on mountain roads is a breeze."

"So I'd like to trouble Captain Ma to help me get an internal police license plate," Lin Fan said. "The situation in Tu County is complicated, and having a police license plate will make things easier."

Deputy Chief Ma pondered for a moment: "An internal police license plate..." He paused, "If it's for special work needs, it's not impossible to make an exception. Secretary Zhou is going to be the top official in Tu County, so vehicle security is indeed important."

"That's exactly what I mean." Lin Fan nodded. "Besides, in Tu County, the leaders all use old Santanas. It's inappropriate for Secretary Zhou to ride in those cars. Some people in the city might think that Brother Zhou has fallen on hard times and is no longer valued."

That hit the nail on the head. Deputy Captain Ma slapped his thigh: "That's right! Who is Secretary Zhou? Going to Tu County is for training, it's a sign of important responsibilities! His vehicle must match his status. Here's what I'll do, I'll get you an O plate, an internal police registration number, I'll figure out the number..."

He picked up the phone and dialed a number: "Xiao Zhang, check if there are any other good numbers in the O segment? ...Is 09999 available? Yes? Okay, keep it, I'll have someone process the paperwork right away."

After hanging up the phone, Deputy Chief Ma said to Lin Fan, "How about this number, O09999? It's an internal police number, a four-digit consecutive number. It's prestigious but not too flashy."

"Thank you so much, Captain Ma!" Lin Fan said sincerely.

"Don't mention it." Deputy Chief Ma waved his hand. "When Secretary Zhou was at the Finance Bureau, he took good care of our branch. This is nothing. But Director Lin, there's something I have to say upfront—this vehicle has police plates, so the flashing lights and sirens can't be used carelessly. Unless…"

"Unless it's for work, right?" Lin Fan replied, "I understand. I've already contacted a professional modification shop to install only internal parts, nothing exposed. It'll be a regular car most of the time, and I'll only use it when needed."

"Then there's no problem." Deputy Squad Leader Ma smiled. "Director Lin is very thoughtful. Here's what we'll do: bring the car over this afternoon, and I'll have someone get the license plates done. As for modifications... I know a shop there; they're skilled and discreet."

In the afternoon, following the address given by Deputy Squad Leader Ma, Lin Fan drove his car to a seemingly ordinary auto repair shop. But once inside, he discovered a hidden gem – a professional lift, various modification tools, and even an off-road vehicle being modified.

The shop owner was a middle-aged man in his forties surnamed Wu. He didn't talk much, but he looked like a veteran.

"Team Leader Ma has already given the order." Boss Wu circled the Lexus, looking it over. "What modifications do you want?"

"Built-in police equipment," Lin Fan said. "The front grille will have concealed flashing lights. The front and rear bumpers will have concealed horns. The center console will have control switches, but they can't be conspicuous. Also, we'll install a good dashcam with front and rear cameras."

Mr. Wu nodded. "Can you wait a day?"

"able."

A day later, Lin Fan came to pick up the car. The modifications were completed perfectly—there was nothing wrong with the exterior, but when Boss Wu demonstrated, a blinding blue and red flash suddenly erupted from the front grille, and the horn blared deafeningly. The control switch was hidden in a secret compartment on the left side of the driver's seat, almost impossible to find without careful searching.

Inside, the sound insulation is excellent; with the windows closed, you can barely hear any outside noise. The rear seats are equipped with electric leg and lumbar support, as well as small tables and 220V power outlets, making it a veritable mobile office.

"Thank you, Boss Wu." Lin Fan was very satisfied.

"You're welcome." Boss Wu handed over a business card. "If you need anything in the future, feel free to contact me. A friend of Captain Ma is a friend of mine."

Lin Fan drove away from the modification shop and went straight onto the highway. He was going to Tu County—not to officially report for duty, but to get a feel for the situation first.

Tuxian County is 40 kilometers from Gangcheng, a half-hour drive on the highway, followed by more than 10 kilometers of provincial road after exiting the highway. The road conditions aren't bad, but there are many curves and slopes. The Lexus 570 handles these roads with ease, its V8 power readily available, and the air suspension filtering out most of the bumps.

At 3 PM, the car entered Tuxian County. It was similar to what Lin Fan had seen last time—the streets were narrow, the buildings were not tall, and there weren't many pedestrians. The county party committee and government compound was in the center of the county, an old five-story building. The courtyard was not small, but the cars parked there were indeed shabby: a few old Santanas, a dilapidated Coaster, and a few pickup trucks.

Lin Fan parked his car on the side of the road but didn't go inside. He made a phone call to Zhou Wenyuan.

"Brother Zhou, I've arrived in Tu County. I'm outside the county government compound."

"You're here?" Zhou Wenyuan asked, somewhat surprised. "Are the formalities complete?"

"It's all done, and the car is ready," Lin Fan said. "Brother Zhou, could you come out for a moment? I'll show you the car."

Ten minutes later, Zhou Wenyuan walked out of the county government building. He was wearing a black down jacket and looked a little thinner than when he was at the finance bureau, but he seemed to be in good spirits. He paused for a moment when he saw the white Lexus parked by the roadside, then recognized Lin Fan in the driver's seat.

After getting into the car, Zhou Wenyuan looked around the interior: "This is..."

"A Lexus LX570, the new model." Lin Fan started the car. "Brother Zhou, shall I show you around?"

The car slowly drove away from the county government compound. Zhou Wenyuan sat in the back, enjoying the comfort of the seat and the quietness of the cabin, before finally speaking after a while: "This car must be expensive, right?"

"More than 1.6 million," Lin Fan answered truthfully. "Brother Zhou, I know you're thinking it's unnecessary. But I think it's very necessary."

Tell me about it.

"First, safety," Lin Fan said earnestly. "Tuxian County has many mountainous areas with complex road conditions. This car has full-time four-wheel drive and a high chassis, making it far safer than those old Santanas. Second, comfort. You often travel to the countryside, spending long periods on the road, so a comfortable ride is essential to maintain your performance. Third..."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Thirdly, it's about face. Brother Zhou, now that you've come to Tuxian as the Party Secretary, so many people in the city are watching. If you were to ride in a beat-up Santana, what would they think? They would think you've lost power and are no longer valued. But if you drive this car, they'll know—Zhou Wenyuan is still Zhou Wenyuan, he won't lose face anywhere."

Zhou Wenyuan remained silent for a long time. The car had already left the county town and entered the highway leading to the township. The road surface was quite bumpy, but the Lexus's suspension handled it very well, and the bumps were barely noticeable.

"What about the license plate?" Zhou Wenyuan suddenly asked.

"O09999, an internal police badge," Lin Fan said. "Deputy Chief Ma helped with it. It's also installed on police equipment; it's built-in and can be used when needed."

Zhou Wenyuan sighed, but Lin Fan could tell that there was no blame in the sigh, only感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a feeling of deep emotion or reflection).

"Xiao Lin, you've thought of everything," Zhou Wenyuan said. "I originally thought that I should keep a low profile and live a simple life in Tuxian County... but you're right, sometimes, being respectable isn't about vanity, it's a requirement of the job."

"That's exactly what I mean," Lin Fan said. "Brother Zhou, we won't be ostentatious, but we also can't let people look down on us. Besides, we have money from legitimate sources, so what's there to be afraid of? There's no explicit regulation from the government."

The car stopped on a hillside. From here, one could overlook the entire Tuxian county town—a small place surrounded by mountains, with several main streets clearly visible. It was already evening, and wisps of smoke were rising from the chimneys.

"The situation in Tuxian County is more complicated than I imagined." Zhou Wenyuan looked out the window. "With a population of 300,000, its fiscal revenue last year was less than 200 million yuan, ranking last in the province. It's difficult to even pay civil servants' salaries, let alone invest in people's livelihoods."

Lin Fan listened quietly.

"The leadership team isn't united either," Zhou Wenyuan continued. "The county magistrate was promoted locally and has been working in Tu County for twenty years; he's deeply entrenched. As for me, the parachuted-in secretary, he's polite on the surface, but who knows what he's really thinking? The other standing committee members each have their own agendas."

"So, what are your plans, Brother Zhou?"

"Let's stabilize the situation first," Zhou Wenyuan said. "We won't take any action before the Spring Festival. We'll familiarize ourselves with the situation and conduct field research. We'll make adjustments gradually after the New Year. Xiao Lin, your arrival is timely. As the deputy director of the county party committee office, you'll have access to information from all sides. You need to keep an eye on things for me."

"I see."

"Also, this car..." Zhou Wenyuan patted the seat, "It's best to keep a low profile most of the time and only use it for important occasions or when going to the countryside. In the county town, we'll still ride in the old Passat that the county committee drives."

"I'll follow Brother Zhou's arrangements."

As the sun set and darkness fell, Lin Fan drove Zhou Wenyuan back to the county government guesthouse—Zhou Wenyuan was temporarily staying there until his family home in the compound was ready.

"Where are you staying tonight?" Zhou Wenyuan asked as they got out of the car.

"I'm going back to Gangcheng. I'll officially report for duty tomorrow."

"Don't keep running back and forth, it's not safe on the road," Zhou Wenyuan said. "Just stay at the guesthouse, I'll let the office know."

"Okay then."

That evening, Lin Fan settled into the county government guesthouse. The room was simple but clean. He called Wang Juan.

"Have we arrived in Tu County?"

"We've arrived and met Brother Zhou," Lin Fan said. "He also checked out the car and seemed quite satisfied. I'll officially report for duty tomorrow, and I'll probably stay at the guesthouse for the next few days."

"Don't worry about things at home, I've arranged everything," Wang Juan said. "I visit my parents often, Xiao Lei did well on his final exams, and my sister and brother-in-law are doing well too. You can just focus on helping Secretary Zhou over there."

"Juan'er, thank you."

"Thank you again," Wang Juan laughed. "By the way, is it cold in Tuxian County?"

"It's a bit colder than the steel city, it's in the mountains."

"Then wear more clothes. I packed a few warm clothes for you, I'll bring them with me next time."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Fan stood by the window. The night in Tu County was quiet, the streetlights sparse, and the distant mountain shadows were dark. Compared to the bustling steel city, this felt like another world.

But he felt at ease. The car was ready, the relationship had improved, and Zhou Wenyuan was settled. Next, he needed to help Brother Zhou gain a foothold and make a breakthrough in this unfamiliar place.

Deputy Director of the County Party Committee Office, at the level of a section chief. This position isn't particularly high or low, but the key is the opportunity to access core information and participate in important decision-making. More importantly, he remains Zhou Wenyuan's most trusted person—driver, assistant, and secretary, all in one.

That night, Lin Fan slept soundly. He dreamt that he was driving that white Lexus, with Zhou Wenyuan in the car, on a mountain road in Tuxian County. The road was bumpy, but the car was stable. There was fog ahead, but the headlights were bright.

When Lin Fan woke up, it was just getting light. After washing up, he went to the guesthouse canteen for breakfast—porridge, steamed buns, and pickled vegetables, a very simple meal.

At eight o'clock in the morning, he walked into the county party committee office on time. Director Yang was an elderly comrade in his fifties with gray hair and a kind appearance.

"Director Lin, welcome, welcome!" Old Yang shook hands warmly. "Secretary Zhou instructed that your desk is ready, right across from mine. As for work... no rush, get familiar with it first."

Lin Fan's desk was indeed opposite the director's office, in a small, separate room. On the desk were a new computer, a telephone, a file rack, and a potted plant. Outside the window, one could see the county government compound, with a white Lexus parked in an inconspicuous corner.

"Director Yang, I'm new here and unfamiliar with many things. Please give me your guidance." Lin Fan said politely.

"Let's learn from each other, let's learn from each other." Old Yang smiled. "Secretary Zhou said that you mainly assist him in his work, and there's no rush for you to get involved in things here in the office. That's good, let's get used to it first."

Lin Fan understood that this was Zhou Wenyuan's arrangement—to give him freedom so that he could focus his main energy on his side.

At nine o'clock in the morning, Zhou Wenyuan was going to conduct research in the townships below. Lin Fan drove the car to the office building entrance in advance. When Zhou Wenyuan came out, he was followed by several people—Office Director Lao Yang, Secretary Xiao Chen, and the heads of the Development and Reform Commission and the Finance Bureau.

Upon seeing the white Lexus, the group paused for a moment.

"Secretary Zhou, this car..." Old Yang asked tentatively.

"I borrowed it from a friend," Zhou Wenyuan said casually. "The roads in Tuxian County are difficult to travel on, and this car has a high chassis, so it's safer."

"That's right, that's right." Old Yang nodded quickly, "Secretary Zhou is very thoughtful."

The group got into the car. The Lexus was spacious, and even with six people, it didn't feel crowded. The car drove out of the county government compound and headed towards the mountainous towns.

On the way, Zhou Wenyuan inquired about the situation in each township. Officials from the Development and Reform Commission and the Finance Bureau reported one by one, and Lin Fan listened quietly, taking notes. This information would come in handy later.

When the car arrived at the first township, the township leaders were already waiting at the intersection. The township party secretary's eyes widened at the sight of the impressive Lexus.

"Secretary Zhou, welcome, welcome!"

The investigation went smoothly. Zhou Wenyuan observed carefully and asked in-depth questions, leaving the township officials sweating profusely as they answered. Lin Fan followed beside him, occasionally handing over a document or jotting down key points, speaking little but keeping a close eye on everything around him.

Lunch was at the village canteen—a simple meal of stewed chicken with potatoes, stir-fried vegetables, and rice. Zhou Wenyuan ate with relish, chatting and eating with the village officials in a harmonious atmosphere.

In the afternoon, we visited two more townships. By the time we headed back, it was already late. In the car, Zhou Wenyuan closed his eyes to rest, and the others remained silent. The mountain road wound its way through the darkness, the car headlights piercing the light.

Lin Fan gripped the steering wheel firmly. The car was quiet, with only the low rumble of the engine and the soft sound of the heater. In the rearview mirror, Zhou Wenyuan leaned back in his seat, his brows slightly furrowed, clearly deep in thought.

This day was just the beginning. The work in Tuxian County was multifaceted and complex. Poverty, conflicts, and a complicated situation all required time to sort out and resolve.

But Lin Fan wasn't in a hurry. He was patient, confident, and had Zhou Wenyuan as his pillar of support.

It was already seven o'clock in the evening when the car entered the county town. The streets were dimly lit, and there were few pedestrians. The night in this small town was quiet and profound.

After escorting Zhou Wenyuan back to the guesthouse, Lin Fan returned to his room. He took out his notebook and jotted down his observations from the day: which township had the most difficult roads, which township officials were the most honest, and which township had the most problems…

These details will be useful later.

After finishing his notes, Lin Fan walked to the window. The night sky in Tuxian County was very clear, with far more stars than in Steel City. In the distance, the mountain shadows stretched out like silent giants.

And so, a new life began.

Although the road ahead is unknown, there are cars, people, and a direction.

This is enough.

Tomorrow, there will be even more to do. And even more to go.

But Lin Fan believed that as long as the direction was right, no matter how far the road was, he could reach the end.

Just like this Lexus, it can drive steadily over even the most rugged mountain roads.

Because the driver knows where he/she is going and how to get there.

This is enough.