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

On Sundays, the steel city has a more relaxed, down-to-earth atmosphere than on weekdays.

Lin Fan got up early and ate a bowl of tofu pudding and two fried dough sticks at a stall outside the guesthouse. The fried dough sticks were fried to a golden brown and crispy, and the tofu pudding was topped with a thick braised sauce, cilantro, and chili oil. Eating it hot made him feel completely comfortable. When he paid, the few coins the stall owner gave him as change jingled crisply in his hand.

Today's goal is clear: buy a house.

He didn't bother his sister and brother-in-law. Firstly, he had just returned home yesterday and had a deep talk with his parents; to immediately drag his sister and brother-in-law to look at houses today would seem too hasty and might easily lead his sister to question him about the detailed source of the money. Secondly, he was confident in his ability to judge properties. His decades of life experience in his previous life, coupled with the documents he had handled at the Finance Bureau these past few days and the bits and pieces of information he had overheard, gave him a clearer understanding of the property values ​​in Steel City, especially in the area surrounding the Finance Bureau, than most people.

The residential complex he had his eye on was called "Anjuyuan." The name was simple, but the location was excellent, about a fifteen-minute walk northeast of the Finance Bureau. It was a new complex built just last year, with six-story slab buildings and beige-painted exteriors, giving it a clean and tidy look. The complex wasn't large, with only five buildings, but the landscaping was decent, with some holly and roses planted. Most importantly, it was very close to the future urban development plan, and the surrounding amenities were excellent—a farmers' market, kindergarten, primary school, and bus stop were all within walking distance, and a newly built park was just across the street.

More importantly, Lin Fan remembered that property prices in this area more than doubled in just two or three years after 2003. Now is the perfect time to buy.

He walked to the entrance of Anjuyuan, where a simple sign stood with red background and white lettering that read "Ready-to-move-in apartments for immediate occupancy," along with a contact number. Next to it was a temporary sales office with its door open.

Lin Fan straightened his shirt collar and went inside.

The sales office was very simple: an old desk, a few folding chairs, and a floor plan of the complex and diagrams of several apartment types hanging on the wall. A man in his forties, wearing a gray jacket and looking somewhat worried, was sitting behind the desk reading a newspaper. When he saw someone come in, he quickly put down the newspaper and stood up.

"Hello, looking to view a property?" The man forced a smile, but his eyes betrayed his weariness. It seemed the property wasn't selling well. In 2003, the people of Gangcheng weren't particularly enthusiastic about buying commercial housing; most were waiting for their work units to allocate housing or to buy subsidized housing.

"Yeah, just looking around." Lin Fan nodded, his gaze falling on the floor plan on the wall. "I heard there are ready-built apartments here?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" The man immediately perked up and walked to the blueprints. "Look, we mainly have two types of apartments here: one is a 60-square-meter two-bedroom, one-living-room unit, and the other is an 85-square-meter two-bedroom, two-living-room unit. Both are well-ventilated with north-south orientation, have bright kitchens and bathrooms, low common area ratio, and high usable floor area!"

Lin Fan's gaze fell on the 85-square-meter floor plan. The layout was square, the living room was spacious, the two bedrooms faced south, and the kitchen and bathroom were also large enough. It basically met his requirements.

"What's the price for an 85-square-meter apartment now?" Lin Fan asked directly.

The man sized up Lin Fan. The young man was dressed simply but cleanly, with a calm demeanor; he didn't seem like someone who was just aimlessly browsing. He quoted a price: "Eighty-five square meters, average price 1,160 yuan, total price 98,600 yuan. But if you're serious about buying, the price is negotiable. Besides, we have all the necessary paperwork, clear property rights, and we can process the certificate at any time."

Ninety-eight thousand six. Slightly higher than Lin Fan's expectations, but there's still room for improvement.

"Can I see the apartment now? Preferably on a middle floor with good natural light," Lin Fan said.

"Of course!" The man took a set of keys from the drawer. "Perfect, it's the second-floor, east-facing unit in building three, unit two, the 85-square-meter apartment. Let me show you!"

The house is indeed very nice. Although it's a bare shell, the walls are smooth, the windows are large, and the sunlight streams in unobstructed, making it bright and airy. Standing by the balcony window in the living room, you can see the lush greenery of the park square and grove of trees not far away. The view is expansive, and it puts you in a good mood.

Lin Fan carefully inspected the place inside and out, knocked on the walls, and checked the pre-installed openings for water pipes and electrical wires. The quality was average for this era, with no major problems.

"This house," Lin Fan said calmly as he walked around the house and returned to the living room, "is too expensive at 98,000."

The man rubbed his hands together: "Brother, this is a new house, and the location is great..."

"The location is good, but your complex is newly completed and hasn't really taken off yet. Also," Lin Fan pointed out the window, "I heard that a factory is going to be built on that empty lot across the street. Won't that cause noise pollution? And what exactly is the shared area of ​​your apartment? When can you be sure you'll get the property ownership certificate?"

The questions he asked all had an expert's touch, pointing out the potential flaws of the house (although the claim of a factory across the street was made up on the spot to lower the price) and addressing the issues of property rights and shared area that homebuyers are most concerned about.

The man was caught off guard by the question, clearly not expecting the young man to be so knowledgeable. "A factory is being built across the street… I haven't heard of that. Our shared area is the lowest national standard, around 10%. Don't worry about the property certificate; our developer has all the necessary qualifications. As long as you pay in full, we'll assist with the processing immediately, at most three months!"

"Words are no proof." Lin Fan shook his head. "How about this, I've found a house I like, but the price has to be reasonable. Eighty-eight thousand. Okay, I'll decide today. If not, I'll look at other properties." He gave a price he was willing to pay, while adopting a "take it or leave it" attitude.

"Eighty-eight thousand?!" The man's voice rose eight octaves, his face contorting in a grimace. "Brother, you've cut that price way too much! We can't even cover our costs at that price!"

"The cost is your problem," Lin Fan said unmoved. "I'm offering this price. You yourself said that houses are hard to sell right now, and you're under a lot of pressure to get your money back, right? I'm offering full payment upfront, so you can get the money immediately. If we drag this out, and the banks tighten their policies, or other new developments open for sale, you'll be stuck with this house and suffer even greater losses."

These words, half analysis and half warning, hit the developers right where it hurt. In 2003, many local small developers were short of funds and were most afraid of being stuck with unsold properties.

The man fell silent, his brow furrowed. He took out a cigarette and offered one to Lin Fan. Lin Fan waved his hand: "No, I won't."

The man lit a cigarette, took a few deep drags, and paced a few steps in the empty, unfinished room. Through the swirling smoke, he could sense that the young man wasn't bluffing; he genuinely understood the market and had decisiveness. Eighty-eight thousand—though considerably lower than expected—was, as the young man had said, a full payment, and immediate cash…

"Sigh!" The man sighed heavily. "Brother, you're good at bargaining. Fine! Eighty-eight thousand it is! Consider it making friends! But let's make it clear, full payment, once the contract is signed, you have to pay in full, no delays."

"No problem," Lin Fan readily agreed. "Can the contract be signed today?"

"Sure! I'll get ready right away!" Seeing Lin Fan's decisiveness, the man perked up. "By the way, brother, the house is unfinished, you'll need to renovate it, right? I know a reliable renovation team, their prices are reasonable and their work is meticulous. Want me to introduce you? Don't worry, they won't take any kickbacks. I'm just doing you a favor since you're so straightforward."

Lin Fan's heart skipped a beat. This would save him trouble. He was just worried about not being able to find a reliable renovation team. The developer's sales staff had long-term dealings with these construction teams, and the ones they recommended were usually not too bad. Moreover, in order to maintain their relationship with the developer, they generally wouldn't dare to do anything reckless.

"That's great." Lin Fan smiled. "Then I'll have to trouble you, brother. If the price is right and the service is good, I'll definitely use them."

"Leave it to me!" the man patted his chest, his attitude becoming even more enthusiastic. Selling a house and getting work for the renovation team he was working with—he'd won on both sides; today was a successful day.

Back at the sales office, the man quickly produced a standard contract. Lin Fan carefully reviewed the terms, paying particular attention to the house's size, location, price, delivery date, timeframe for property registration, and liability for breach of contract. After confirming there were no issues, he signed his name and affixed his fingerprint.

Next came the payment. Lin Fan was prepared; he took out 100,000 yuan in cash from his bag—the very amount he had withdrawn from the bank just before closing time yesterday afternoon. He counted out 88,000 yuan, and stacks of crisp 100-yuan bills piled on the table, creating a striking visual impact.

The salesman's eyes widened, and he quickly found a money counter to carefully check each bill. In this era before widespread credit card payments, large cash transactions, though inconvenient, demonstrated the buyer's financial strength and sincerity.

With the payment settled, the man handed Lin Fan a stack of documents, including the keys, the purchase invoice, and a copy of the contract, beaming, "Brother Lin, congratulations! From now on, you're the owner of this house! I'll call the renovation team right away and have their manager come over to talk to you, okay?"

"Okay, thank you." Lin Fan took the key, the cool metallic touch in his hand bringing a real sense of security. In this reborn world, he finally had a space that was completely his own.

A short while later, a dark-skinned, stocky middle-aged man in overalls arrived on a motorcycle. The salesman introduced himself as Zhao Dayong, saying he had been in the renovation business for over ten years and had a team of experienced contractors working under him.

Lin Fan and Zhao Dayong inspected the house again carefully and stated their requirements: simple and practical, with environmentally friendly and durable materials, and no need for too many fancy decorations, but the water and electricity lines must be done well, and the waterproofing in the kitchen and bathroom must be foolproof. He particularly emphasized that the construction period should be expedited, but there should be no cutting corners or shoddy workmanship in order to rush the work.

After listening, Zhao Dayong took a measuring tape and measured various parts, then asked Lin Fan a few more questions about the details. He then squatted down, took out a notebook, and calculated for a long time before quoting a price: "Brother Lin, according to your requirements, the whole thing, including labor and materials, will cost 20,000 yuan. The construction period will be about a month and a half. Is that acceptable?"

In 2003, 20,000 yuan was a fairly reasonable price for a basic renovation of an 85-square-meter apartment. Lin Fan didn't immediately haggle, but said, "Master Zhao, money isn't a problem. But I have two requirements: quality and the construction period. You need to give me a list of all the material brands; I need to see it. I'll be checking on the work regularly. If it's done well, I'll settle the final payment in advance. If I find any inferior materials or shoddy workmanship..."

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

Zhao Dayong patted his chest and assured him, "Brother Lin, don't worry! I've been working in this area for over ten years, and my reputation speaks for itself! I'll give you the materials list this afternoon; they're all from reputable brands. I'll personally oversee everything, guaranteeing it's fast and good! If I'm not satisfied even a little, you can deduct my wages!"

"Okay!" Lin Fan extended his hand. "Then I'll leave it to Master Zhao. Can we start work tomorrow?"

"Yes! I'll order the materials this afternoon, and the chefs will be on site first thing tomorrow morning!" Zhao Dayong gripped Lin Fan's hand tightly.

And just like that, the purchase of the house and the hiring of a renovation team were all finalized in one morning. The efficiency was so high that both the salesman and Zhao Dayong were secretly amazed, thinking that this young homebuyer was truly decisive and clear-headed, and not easily fooled.

At noon, Lin Fan treated the salesman and Zhao Dayong to lunch at a nearby restaurant. They ordered several hearty dishes and a bottle of local baijiu. The atmosphere at the table became lively. The salesman, surnamed Liu and named Liu Cheng, was the sales manager of the developer and also one of the minority shareholders. He had been struggling financially lately, and Lin Fan's full payment had relieved his immediate crisis. Therefore, he was particularly enthusiastic towards Lin Fan, sharing a lot of "insider information" about Gangcheng Real Estate. Zhao Dayong was also a straightforward man. After a few drinks, he became more talkative, promising to treat Lin Fan's house as if it were his own.

Lin Fan didn't talk much, mostly listening, occasionally asking a key question or two, which would elicit a lot of information. By the end of the meal, he had a more direct understanding of the current real estate situation in Steel City, material market prices, and even some shady practices in construction. These two men, in different fields, had thus begun to establish a connection.

After finishing his meal, Lin Fan declined Liu Cheng's offer to give him a ride on his motorcycle, saying he had some errands to run.

He really needs something. He needs a cell phone.

By 2003, mobile phones were becoming increasingly common in cities, but for him, they were not just communication tools, but also crucial tools for expanding his network, acquiring information, and handling emergencies. He couldn't always rely on office landlines or errand runners.

He walked to the busiest commercial street in the steel city, where there were several large mobile phone stores. The glass windows displayed all kinds of mobile phones: Motorola, Nokia, Ericsson, Samsung... The models were certainly much bulkier than those of later generations, but in this era, they were symbols of fashion and status.

Lin Fan didn't go to the luxuriously decorated counters, but went straight to the Nokia counter. Nokia, reliable in quality, with good signal, and durable, is the first choice for many practical people.

The counter had a wide selection, ranging from high-end feature phones to basic entry-level models. Lin Fan immediately spotted the classic Nokia 3310. Its bulky design, sturdy plastic casing, Snake game, and incredibly long battery life... it was a cherished memory for countless people.

But he didn't choose the 3310. That model was a bit expensive, and for his current needs of "only making calls and sending text messages," it had too many functions.

His gaze fell on an older model in the corner—a Nokia 2100. It had a dark blue body, interchangeable colored covers (though he wouldn't buy one now), a monochrome screen, and extremely basic functions: making calls, sending text messages, a contact list, an alarm clock, and a calculator. But it was cheap, costing only a little over six hundred yuan.

"Hello, let me take a look at this 2100," Lin Fan said to the sales clerk.

The saleswoman was a young woman. Seeing that Lin Fan was dressed casually and went straight for the cheapest model, she didn't show anything unusual and skillfully took out the demo unit.

Lin Fan took it, weighed it in his hand, and found it to be solid. He turned it on, tested the buttons, and found them to be responsive. The signal bars were full.

"I'll take this one. Do you have any new ones?" Lin Fan asked.

"Yes, I'll go get it from the warehouse." The sales clerk quickly brought over an unopened box.

Unboxing, testing the device, applying for a SIM card, inserting the SIM card, and testing making a call. Everything works normally.

Lin Fan paid 680 yuan. He then spent another 50 yuan on a spare battery and a simple travel charger.

Holding the small, dark blue phone in his hand, Lin Fan felt a sense of security. This meant that his "tentacles" could extend to farther places, and his connection with the world could be closer and more immediate.

Stepping out of the mobile phone store, the afternoon sun shone warmly. Lin Fan stood on the street, watching the bustling crowds and traffic, feeling a sense of unreality. In just two days, he had settled major family matters: bought a house, arranged renovations, and acquired a mobile phone. The efficiency was as high as if he had pressed the fast-forward button.

But he knew this was just the beginning. A house is a place to live, a cell phone is a communication tool—these are merely infrastructure. What truly matters is how to make good use of the Finance Bureau platform, how to build his own network of contacts, and how to find his place in the coming era's tides and seize his own opportunities.

He turned on his new phone; the screen glowed a faint green. His contacts were empty. He thought for a moment, then entered his sister Lin Ping's landline number first. Second, he entered the landline number for the Finance Bureau office. Third…

He hesitated for a moment, then entered a name: Wang Juan. There was no number following it.

No rush. Let's take it one step at a time.

He strode towards the Finance Bureau. Tomorrow would be a new week, and the work in the archives would be coming to an end. Director Du had asked him to follow Sister Liu to familiarize himself with the office documents. This was a good opportunity to observe, learn, and build an internal impression.

As I passed by the entrance to the Finance Bureau compound, Old Chen, the man who watched over the bicycles, was still sitting on his small stool at the bicycle shed, reading a newspaper while wearing his reading glasses. He seemed to be there forever, like a silent landmark.

Lin Fan paused, thought for a moment, took out a cigarette from the newly bought cigarette case (prepared for social occasions), walked over, and handed it to Old Man Chen.

"Master Chen, have a cigarette."

Old Chen lifted his eyelids from the newspaper, glanced at the cigarette, then at Lin Fan, his face expressionless, but he reached out and took it, saying in a hoarse voice, "Thanks."

Lin Fan took out a lighter and lit it for him. Old Chen took a deep drag, exhaled smoke, and looked at Lin Fan again through the smoke, this time lingering a little longer.

"Bought a house?" Old Chen suddenly asked, his voice still hoarse and flat.

Lin Fan felt a slight chill in his heart, but remained outwardly calm: "Master Chen has a good eye. It's just been decided, Anjuyuan."

"Hmm, that place isn't bad." Old Chen nodded, took another puff of his cigarette, and stopped talking, his gaze returning to the newspaper.

Lin Fan knew he meant to see him out, so he smiled and said, "You're busy, I'll go back now."

On his way back to the guesthouse, Lin Fan's mind raced. How did Old Chen know he'd bought a house? Maybe he saw him coming back from that direction today? Or did he hear about it from other sources? This seemingly unremarkable old man is surprisingly well-informed.

However, this may not be a bad thing. At least, I've started to come into the sights of some "interested people," even if only as a very peripheral and vague shadow.

Back in his guesthouse room, Lin Fan carefully put away his purchase contract, invoices, cell phone, and other belongings. Then, he took out a pen and paper and began to list his next steps:

1. Work: Perform office paperwork diligently, quickly familiarize yourself with all procedures, and establish a reliable and meticulous image. Observe the work habits and preferences of Director Du, Sister Liu, and others. Continue to observe the situation in various departments through opportunities such as delivering documents.

2. Renovation: Regularly visit Anjuyuan to check on the renovation progress and quality, and maintain good communication with Zhao Dayong.

3. Warehouse: After the father finished harvesting the spinach, immediately contact the construction team to start the construction of the warehouse.

4. Information Gathering: Maintain a regular reading schedule ("Steel City Daily" and "Economic Information Daily"), paying attention to policy trends, economic news, and local updates. Utilize mobile phones and the soon-to-be-established network of contacts to broaden information channels.

5. Networking: Within the company, continue to present a diligent, low-key, and reliable image. Avoid actively seeking favors, but seize opportunities (such as helping the budget department) to naturally build connections. Outside the company, you've made initial contact with Liu Cheng (sales) and Zhao Dayong (renovation). Maintain contact and observe whether further interaction is possible.

6. Wang Juan: ... Postpone for now, but keep an eye out for relevant information. When the time is right, actively seek it out.

7. Funds: A portion of the lottery winnings remains, requiring careful planning. Warehouse construction, final payments for renovations, and living expenses... all need to be budgeted meticulously. Are there other reliable, small-scale avenues for increasing wealth?

As I finished writing this, it was already dark outside the window. The city lights were coming on one by one, and in the distance, I could faintly hear the sounds of televisions and the clatter of pots and pans—the aroma of countless homes at work.

Lin Fan put down his pen and walked to the window.

The steel city, shrouded in darkness, was indistinct yet held endless possibilities. He was like a seed newly planted in this land, carrying memories of his past life and the determination of this one, silently stretching his roots and accumulating strength in the dark soil.

House, cell phone, job, plans... these are all visible "roots".

And more, more intangible roots—insight into people's hearts, familiarity with rules, and grasp of the pulse of the times—are quietly spreading deeper.