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

October 3, 2009, 5 p.m.

The light was still on in room 306 of the Tuxian County Party Committee Guesthouse. Lin Fan sat at his desk, a newly compiled report on the night market's April operations spread out in front of him. The report was very detailed, down to the turnover, foot traffic, complaints, and rectification records of each stall... a thick stack of more than twenty pages.

The data is impressive—the total transaction volume of the night market in April exceeded 150 million yuan, directly creating over 30,000 jobs and indirectly creating nearly 100,000 jobs. Revenue from parking management fees, sanitation fees, and other sources totaled 420,000 yuan; after deducting management costs, a surplus of 180,000 yuan was turned over to the treasury. Even more encouraging is that the county's total retail sales of consumer goods continued to lead the province in growth rate in the first quarter.

Any one of these figures would be enough to impress higher-ups. But as Lin Fan looked at them, his brows gradually furrowed.

He picked up his pen and wrote down a few questions in the blank space of the report:

1. Has the night market's customer traffic reached its ceiling?

2. Can products from Tuxian County be sold outside of Tuxian County?

3. After the economic downturn, how long will the night market remain popular?

These three questions were like three thorns stuck in his heart.

The faint sounds of the night market drifted in from outside the window. Although it was already eleven o'clock, the weekend night market usually stayed lively until two or three in the morning. Lin Fan walked to the window and drew back the curtains. In the distance, the lights along Renmin Road were bright, casting a warm yellow glow across the night sky. That was the prosperity he had cultivated with more than a year of hard work, the livelihood of 300,000 people in Tu County.

But the more prosperous the place, the stronger his unease became.

No matter how good the night market is, it still has physical boundaries—Tuxian County is only so big, and the population of the surrounding banners and counties is only so big. The current daily visitor flow of tens of thousands is already close to saturation. Moreover, the consumption of night market is mainly low-priced, immediate products, with a low average transaction value, so its contribution to the county's economy is limited.

More importantly, the economic trends in China during the fourth quarter of last year—the stimulus of the four trillion yuan investment, the impending infrastructure boom, and the accelerated urbanization process—raise the question: can Tuxian County, with its economy relying on traditional night markets, maintain its competitiveness?

He needs a new engine.

Returning to his desk, Lin Fan turned on his laptop, connected it to the internet, and opened several web pages.

Alibaba China website. Taobao. HC360.com. These weren't as household names in 2009 as they would later become, but in coastal areas, astute businessmen had already begun to test the waters.

Lin Fan browsed through them one by one. On Alibaba, there were shoes and clothing from Fujian, small commodities from Zhejiang, electronic products from Guangdong... a dazzling array of goods, with many manufacturers achieving monthly sales of hundreds of thousands or even millions. On Taobao, individual sellers were springing up like mushrooms after rain; although their order volumes were not large, their product categories were diverse and their business models flexible.

He clicked on a food shop on Taobao—it sold Sichuan spicy beef jerky, with monthly sales of over 300 units and good reviews. Looking at the product details page, the pictures were so-so, and the description was very simple, yet people were still buying it.

Lin Fan's heart skipped a beat.

What does Tuxian have? Aunt Wang's chili sauce, Uncle Li's straw weaving, Aunt Zhang's fermented bean curd, Brother Zhao's walnuts... Can these products that sell well at the night market also be sold online?

Once this idea takes hold, it grows wildly like weeds.

He immediately began searching for similar products. Chili sauce—Lao Gan Ma was undoubtedly the leader, but many local brands were also doing well, selling hundreds or even thousands of bottles a month. Bamboo woven products—online stores in Zhejiang and Hunan sold them, priced high but with decent sales. Pecans—Lin'an pecans were the leading brand, but other producing areas also had a market…

The more Lin Fan looked, the brighter his eyes became.

Tuxian County's products are unique, have compelling stories, and enjoy a good reputation. What's missing? Distribution channels, packaging, and effective operations.

The internet, however, can solve these problems.

Looking at his watch, it was already one in the morning. Lin Fan was wide awake. He closed the webpage, opened a new Word document, and typed in the title bar: "Preliminary Ideas on the Development of E-commerce in Tuxian County".

He wrote until four in the morning.

In the document, he analyzed in detail the advantages and disadvantages of developing e-commerce in Tuxian County, proposed a three-stage development plan, and designed specific measures such as organizational structure, policy support, and financial guarantees. Finally, he wrote the following:

"Night markets solve immediate livelihood issues, while e-commerce determines future development. Tu County cannot remain at the 'street stall' stage forever; it must embrace the internet and sell its products nationwide and globally. This is not only a necessity for economic transformation but also an opportunity for ideological liberation."

As he finished writing the last word, dawn was breaking. Lin Fan stood up, stretched his stiff neck, and walked to the window. The lights of the night market in the distance had gone out, and the streets had returned to tranquility. A new day was about to begin.

And perhaps a new chapter for Tuxian County will begin on this day.

At eight o'clock in the morning, Lin Fan arrived at the county party committee office on time. He first dealt with routine documents, and then, holding the "Preliminary Ideas on the Development of E-commerce in Tuxian County," he knocked on the door of Deputy Secretary Zheng Guoqing.

Zheng Guoqing, in his early fifties, was a cadre who had risen through the ranks in Tuxian County. He was known for his steady demeanor and pragmatic work style. After Zhou Wenyuan went to study, he took charge of the county party committee's daily operations.

"Secretary Zheng, I have an idea I'd like to report to you," Lin Fan said, getting straight to the point.

Zheng Guoqing put down the documents in his hand: "Sit down, Director Lin. What are your thoughts?"

Lin Fan handed over the materials. Zheng Guoqing took them, put on his reading glasses, and carefully read through each page. He read for a full twenty minutes without saying a word, only occasionally drawing a circle on the paper with his pen.

Finally finished reading, he took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Lin Fan, your idea... is very bold," Zheng Guoqing said slowly. "Selling things online, I've heard of that. But in our Tu County... is it feasible?"

"I think it can work." Lin Fan leaned forward. "Secretary Zheng, we have products—chili sauce, straw crafts, walnuts, fermented bean curd, these are all unique items. We have a reputation—the night market has been popular for half a year, and many products have already gained some fame. What we lack is someone who understands the internet and knows how to operate."

"Where do people come from?" Zheng Guoqing asked bluntly. "In our county, there aren't many people who can use a computer, let alone open an online store."

"That's my second point." Lin Fan turned to the second page of the document. "I suggest selecting a group of young people from across the county for intensive training and focused development. These individuals can be selected from recent college graduates, drawn from enterprises and institutions, or recruited from the community."

Zheng Guoqing pondered, "Training costs money, equipment requires investment, and we may need subsidies in the initial stage... The county's finances are not tight."

"The initial investment won't be too large." Lin Fan was prepared. "We can use the computers that are not currently in use by various units. We can hire teachers from universities in the city for training, or bring in knowledgeable people from outside. As for subsidies... isn't there a surplus in the night market management fees? We can use a portion of that for a pilot program."

"What if it fails?" Zheng Guoqing asked practically. "Money's been spent, time's been invested, and in the end it didn't work out—how will you explain that?"

"It won't fail." Lin Fan's tone was firm. "Secretary Zheng, I know what you're worried about. But I can guarantee that as long as we follow my plan, even if we can't scale up immediately, we'll definitely see results. Moreover, this isn't gambling; it's an investment—an investment in the future of Tu County."

Zheng Guoqing looked at Lin Fan, a young man not yet thirty, whose eyes held a maturity and confidence beyond his years. He recalled Zhou Wenyuan's instructions before leaving: "Secretary Zheng, Lin Fan is a young man with ideas and ability. When I'm not around, listen to his opinions on important matters."

"Alright then," Zheng Guoqing finally relented, "You start a pilot program, don't make it too big, choose ten or eight products, and find a dozen or so people to try it out. Make a list of what kind of support you need, and I'll discuss it with the team members."

"Thank you, Secretary Zheng!" Lin Fan stood up. "I will definitely make the pilot project a success!"

After leaving Zheng Guoqing's office, Lin Fan immediately took action. He first went to the Organization Department and reviewed the files of all university graduates in the county over the past three years. Although Tu County was poor, it still had two to three hundred university graduates every year, many of whom went to other places or stayed at home unemployed because they couldn't find suitable jobs.

He narrowed down the list to fifty people—no specific major required, but basic computer skills are required, applicants must be under thirty years old, and those with entrepreneurial aspirations will be given priority.

Next, he went to the personnel bureau to coordinate the transfer of personnel from various units. This was more difficult—all units were short of staff, and who would be willing to release young key personnel? But Lin Fan had a way; he took Zheng Guoqing's instructions and talked to each unit one by one.

"Director Zhang, just borrow me for three months to attend e-commerce training. Once I've completed the training, I'll return you to you, and you'll have gained a valuable skill."

"Director Li, this is a key task for the county party committee, personally overseen by Secretary Zheng. Would you like to offer your support?"

"Dean Wang, does your hospital have any young people who are interested in computers? This could be a great opportunity."

After three days of persistent pleading, we finally gathered twenty people – ten college graduates and ten young people drawn from various organizations.

On May 10th, the first e-commerce training course opened at the county party school. Lin Fan personally delivered the first lecture.

Twenty young faces sat in the classroom, some curious, some doubtful, some expectant. Lin Fan stood at the front of the class, with the words "The future of Tuxian County is in your hands" projected on the screen behind him.

"Hello everyone, I'm Lin Fan." He started simply, "I've invited you all here today to do something together—to sell the products of Tuxian County online and across the country."

Some people in the audience were whispering among themselves.

"I know many people have questions: Is selling things online reliable? Will anyone buy things from Tuxian County? Can we learn from them?" Lin Fan paused. "I've had those questions too. But I want to tell everyone that in Yiwu, Zhejiang, an online sock store sells millions of pairs a year; in Quanzhou, Fujian, an online shoe store has monthly sales exceeding one million yuan. If they can do it, why can't we?"

He turned on his computer and projected the pages of Taobao and Alibaba.

"This is Taobao, where individual consumers buy things. This is Alibaba, where businesses do business with each other. These two platforms are our future battleground."

Next, he showed pictures of some products from Tuxian County—Grandma Wang's chili sauce, Grandpa Li's straw crafts, Aunt Zhang's fermented bean curd, Brother Zhao's walnuts...

"These products sell well at our night market. But the night market can only reach a radius of a few dozen kilometers, while the internet can reach the whole country, and even the world." Lin Fan's gaze swept across the audience. "Our mission is to bring these products online, so that more people will know about them, like them, and buy them."

The first lesson lasted an hour and a half. By the end, the young man's eyes were shining.

The training that followed was intensive. Lin Fan invited a computer teacher from the city to teach basic computer operation and network knowledge; he also invited a professor majoring in marketing from Gangcheng University to teach product packaging, brand building, and customer service; and through connections, he contacted an e-commerce operation agency in Hangzhou, which agreed to send two experienced operations personnel to provide guidance for a week.

The training consisted of classes during the day and practical exercises at night. Lin Fan converted a meeting room in the county government guesthouse into a temporary "e-commerce incubation center," setting up twenty computers—some were old computers discarded by various units, and some were newly purchased cheap ones, but at least they were usable.

In the evenings, twenty young people would study and practice here. Lin Fan stayed with them almost every night, answering any questions they had and resolving any difficulties they encountered.

On May 20th, the first batch of online stores went live.

Wang Da Niang's chili sauce shop on Taobao is named "Tuxian Wang Ma Chili Sauce." The main photo, taken by someone from the county cultural center at Lin Fan's request, shows Wang Da Niang making chili sauce at her own stove, with the green mountains and clear waters of Tuxian County in the background, giving it a rustic feel. The product description is detailed, highlighting the characteristics of "handmade," "additive-free," and "traditional craftsmanship." The price is reasonable, a little more expensive than at night markets, but shipping is free.

Grandpa Li's straw weaving shop is called "Caoyun Tuxian" (Straw Charm of Tuxian). The product photos are meticulously taken, with professional lighting and angles—Lin Fan specially hired a photographer from the city to shoot them. The straw baskets, straw hampers, and straw handicrafts appear rustic and elegant under the lens. The product page also includes a short video of Grandpa Li weaving straw; although the image quality is average, it feels very authentic.

Aunt Zhang's fermented bean curd, Brother Zhao's walnuts, Sister Liu's embroidery, Uncle Sun's honey... a total of twelve products, with eight Taobao stores and four Alibaba stores.

On the first day of launch, everyone was glued to their computers, refreshing the backend data. From morning till night, the number of orders was zero.

"Director Lin, is it because we didn't do a good job?" A young man named Xiao Wang asked, somewhat dejected.

"Don't rush, it's only the first day," Lin Fan reassured her. "Online stores need time to build up their presence and attract traffic. Let's take it slow."

Even so, Lin Fan was anxious. But he knew that being anxious was useless; he had to think of a solution.

On May 22nd, Lin Fan, accompanied by two others, went to Steel City. He was looking for someone—Wang Qiang.

Wang Qiang is now Wang Juan's right-hand man in her business, in charge of warehousing and logistics. Hearing that Lin Fan had arrived, he went straight from the warehouse to the teahouse where they were to meet.

"Brother Fan! What brings you here?" Wang Qiang was as enthusiastic and genuine as ever.

"I need your help." Lin Fan didn't beat around the bush. "Tuxian County is developing e-commerce and wants to sell its products online. But right now, they lack traffic and operational experience."

Wang Qiang was taken aback: "E-commerce? Selling things online? This... I don't understand."

"You don't understand, but Juan'er does," Lin Fan said. "Her clothing business has already opened a store on Taobao. Although the volume is not large yet, she already has experience."

Wang Qiang suddenly realized: "You want to ask Sister Juan for help?"

"It's not just Juan'er," Lin Fan said. "I'd like you to connect Juan'er with her suppliers and partners in Guangzhou, especially those already in e-commerce. Could you send someone over to provide guidance? Or, could we send someone over to learn from them?"

Wang Qiang thought for a moment: "Well... I'll have to ask Sister Juan. But Brother Fan, I think it's a good idea. Sister Juan has been saying she wants to help Tuxian County promote its products. So, I'll call her tonight."

"Also, there's something else," Lin Fan said in a low voice. "I'd like to ask you to help me find a few people—people who understand online marketing, can create graphics and videos, preferably young people with ideas and a willingness to take risks. I can offer a higher salary, and the job will be paid from Tu County."

Wang Qiang laughed: "Brother Fan, are you recruiting soldiers?"

"Yes, we need to recruit talent," Lin Fan said earnestly. "To develop e-commerce in Tuxian County, we can't rely on locals alone; we need to bring in talent from outside. Salaries are negotiable; the key is competence."

"Sure, leave it to me!" Wang Qiang patted his chest confidently. "I've known quite a few young people in the past few years in Steel City. Some are studying computer science, some design, some marketing... I'll help you find someone!"

Returning from the steel city, Lin Fan felt more at ease. Wang Qiang was reliable; with his help, the talent problem could at least be alleviated.

On May 25th, good news arrived—Wang Da Niang's chili sauce shop received its first order!

The buyer, an office worker from Hangzhou, Zhejiang, left a message saying, "I tried it at a friend's house, and the taste is very authentic. I'll buy a few more bottles."

Although it was just one order—three bottles of chili sauce, totaling twenty-one yuan—the entire "e-commerce incubation center" was abuzz with excitement.

"We've got an order! We've got an order!"

"People are actually buying it!"

"Quickly, pack and ship it!"

Lin Fan was also excited, but he reminded everyone, "Calm down, calm down. This order is just the beginning, not the end. We need to ensure product quality, ensure fast delivery, and ensure customer satisfaction. Only by doing this order well can we have the next one, and the one after that."

He personally supervised the packaging—the chili sauce was carefully wrapped in bubble wrap, placed in a cardboard box, stuffed with filler, and labeled with a shipping label. Before shipping, a handwritten card was also included: "Thank you for your purchase. This is the first order of Wangma Chili Sauce from Tuxian County. We will work even harder!"

Although this transaction didn't generate profit (it was basically at cost price after packaging and shipping), it was significant. It proved one thing: products from Tuxian County are indeed sold online.

After the first order, more orders came in gradually. Although not many, only three to five orders a day, at least it wasn't zero anymore.

On May 30th, Wang Juan returned from Guangzhou. She didn't go back to Gangcheng, but came directly to Tuxian County.

When I met Lin Fan, she had already been back at work for two months after giving birth.

"Why are you here?" Lin Fan asked.

Wang Juan laughed, "My husband is doing something important, how could I not come and see?"

Lin Fan felt a warmth in his heart: "What's the big deal? It's just the beginning, it's tough."

"I'm not afraid of difficulties, what I'm afraid of is not daring to start." Wang Juan took out a list from her bag. "These are several e-commerce companies I've contacted in Guangzhou, as well as two online marketing teams. I've talked to them, and they're willing to send people to provide guidance, with a discount on the fees."

Lin Fan took the list, his eyes welling up with tears: "Juan'er, thank you."

"No need for thanks, we're family." Wang Juan grasped his hand. "Lin Fan, I know what you want to do. You want to add fuel to the fire in Tu County before Secretary Zhou returns, and give Secretary Zhou another big gift. I support you."

"You knew all along?"

"Wang Qiang told me everything." Wang Juan nodded. "Lin Fan, you did the right thing. Secretary Zhou has been kind to us, and now he's at a crucial stage in his career. We have to help him. The better Tu County develops, the more solid Secretary Zhou's achievements will be, and the wider his future path will be."

This is the unspoken understanding between husband and wife. Some things don't need to be said; a single glance is enough.

Wang Juan stayed in Tuxian County for three days. During those three days, she was busy. During the day, she taught young people at the "E-commerce Incubation Center," teaching them how to take product photos, how to write product descriptions, and how to communicate with customers. In the evenings, she and Lin Fan studied the development trends of e-commerce and formulated the next steps.

Before leaving, she said to Lin Fan, "I've found two people for you. One is an operations manager who came back from Guangzhou and has three years of Taobao experience; the other is a professor at Gangcheng University who specializes in online marketing. They'll be here next week."

"Juan'er, you really are..."

"Alright, stop getting sentimental," Wang Juan laughed. "Take care of yourself, don't overwork yourself. I'm waiting for you to come back; the two babies miss their dad."

After seeing Wang Juan off, Lin Fan felt a surge of renewed energy. With the support of his family and a clear goal, what difficulties couldn't he overcome?

In June, e-commerce in Tu County began to accelerate.

The two people Wang Juan introduced were indeed professional. When Operations Assistant Chen arrived, her first task was to "diagnose" all the online stores – the main image was no good, so she reshot it; the product detail page was too simplistic, so she rewrote it; the pricing was unreasonable, so she adjusted it; the customer service scripts were unprofessional, so she provided training.

Professor Liu from Gangcheng University brought a systematic marketing theory. He proposed that Tuxian County's products should not only be sold as "products," but also as "stories," "culture," and "sentiments."

"Take this straw weaving, for example. You can't just say it's 'handmade' or 'durable'," Teacher Liu said during the training. "You have to say it's made from medicinal herbs from the mountains, that it's a legacy passed down by a seventy-year-old craftsman, and that each piece is a unique work of art. Consumers aren't just buying straw baskets; they're buying stories, sentiments, and culture."

Once this idea was opened up, the young people's creativity burst forth.

The copywriter begins by digging into the story behind the product—how Grandma Wang learned how to make chili sauce from her mother, how Grandpa Li persisted in weaving straw for fifty years, how Aunt Zhang's fermented bean curd recipe was passed down for three generations...

The graphic designers started by creating packaging with a more cultural feel—handwritten labels on chili sauce bottles, landscape backgrounds for straw products, and rustic kraft paper bags for walnuts…

The videographers started shooting a short documentary—the equipment was rudimentary, but the footage was authentic. The sweat of Aunt Wang cooking soy sauce at the stove, Uncle Li's calloused hands, Aunt Zhang getting up at dawn to make tofu… these images were more convincing than any other video.

On June 15th, Lin Fan made a bold decision—to send an inspection team to Hangzhou.

"Hangzhou is the e-commerce capital. Alibaba's headquarters are there, and Taobao's base is there." He said in his report to Zheng Guoqing, "If we want to really succeed, we must learn from them, seek their advice, and establish connections."

Zheng Guoqing hesitated: "Sending people out to learn will cost money and take time. Moreover, it's hard to say what they will learn."

"Secretary Zheng, this money must be spent," Lin Fan insisted. "You can't build a good car by working behind closed doors. If we don't see how others do it, we'll never know where the gap is or where the direction is."

How many people are going?

"Six. I'm leading the team, plus Xiao Chen from operations, and four other young people."

"How long will it take?"

"One week. Mainly studying the operating models of Alibaba and Taobao, contacting some suppliers and partners to see if we can find traffic support."

"What about the funding?"

"It will come from the surplus of the night market management fees. I've calculated it, and it'll be enough."

Zheng Guoqing considered it for a long time before finally nodding: "Okay, you can go. But remember, you're going to learn, not to travel. You need to submit a report when you come back, and you need to produce results."

"Don't worry, Secretary Zheng!"

On June 20th, Lin Fan led a six-person inspection team to Hangzhou by train. This was the first inspection team in Tuxian County's history specifically sent to learn about e-commerce.

Hangzhou, Alibaba headquarters.

Standing before that building that would later become an internet landmark, Lin Fan felt an indescribable surge of emotion. In 2008, Alibaba wasn't yet as massive as it would later become, but it already exuded an aura of dominance. People came and went, their steps hurried, their eyes reflecting the restlessness and yearning of this era.

They contacted Alibaba's corporate liaison department in advance. They were received by a manager surnamed Ma, who was in his thirties and very capable.

"Tu County? Never heard of it." Manager Ma was very direct. "What products do you have? Are you looking to do wholesale or retail?"

Lin Fan had his assistant, Xiao Chen, show him the product samples and brochures. Manager Ma glanced at them, his attitude becoming more serious: "The product has unique features, but the packaging is too tacky, the pictures are poor, and the description is too simplistic. Such a product won't be competitive online."

"That's why we're here to learn and improve," Lin Fan said sincerely. "Manager Ma, we're a poor county, lacking funds, talent, and experience. But we have good products and young people eager to get things done. We hope Alibaba can give us some guidance and support."

Manager Ma glanced at Lin Fan, then at the group of young men behind him—they were simply dressed, but their eyes shone with light.

"Alright, I'll arrange for you to attend the merchant training session tomorrow," Manager Ma said. "In addition, I can introduce you to a few successful merchants who sell similar products. But whether you can learn anything and whether you can reach an agreement on cooperation depends on yourselves."

"Thank you, Manager Ma!"

The next day, Alibaba held a training session. The conference room, which could accommodate two hundred people, was packed. The instructor was a senior operations manager from Alibaba, who talked about practical topics such as store optimization, traffic acquisition, and customer management.

Lin Fan and his friends sat in the last row, listening intently. Everyone was taking notes rapidly in their notebooks, and when they encountered something they didn't understand, they discussed it quietly among themselves.

After class, the two businesses introduced by Manager Ma arrived. One was a condiment manufacturer with annual sales exceeding ten million yuan; the other was a handicraft manufacturer, primarily engaged in foreign trade.

Lin Fan seized the opportunity to ask detailed questions. From product positioning to pricing strategy, from traffic acquisition to customer maintenance, he inquired in great detail. The two merchants were also very honest, sharing everything they could and teaching him everything they could.

"The most important thing in e-commerce is perseverance," said the owner of a condiment business. "When I first started, I didn't make a single order for three months. But I didn't give up. I improved little by little and accumulated experience step by step. Now look, I've made it big."

"Products need to be differentiated," said the owner of a handicraft shop. "Why do my bamboo weaving products cost more? Because I emphasize culture, design, and craftsmanship. Consumers are willing to pay for these things."

Lin Fan kept these words in mind.

During their five-day visit to Hangzhou, the delegation spent their days learning and exchanging ideas, and their evenings back at the hotel holding meetings and summaries. Everyone shared their takeaways and offered their thoughts. Lin Fan required that upon returning, each person write an improvement plan and implement it in their specific online store.

On June 25th, the last day of the inspection, Lin Fan made a decision—he wanted to meet someone.

Through a network of connections, he finally got in touch with an operations manager at Taobao. The manager was very busy and only gave him twenty minutes.

The meeting place was a coffee shop. The other person's surname was Zhang, and he was very young, but already a senior employee of Taobao.

"Manager Zhang, I'm Lin Fan from Tuxian County." Lin Fan got straight to the point. "Our county is developing e-commerce and wants to sell our local specialties online. But we're an impoverished county, lacking resources and traffic. Could Taobao offer us some support?"

Manager Zhang glanced at the product information Lin Fan brought: "Your products... are unique, but too niche. Taobao is currently focusing its support on major categories like clothing, cosmetics, and digital products."

"Small counties have their own way of life," Lin Fan said. "We're not aiming to grow big overnight, we just want a start. Manager Zhang, could you give us some traffic support? Even just a little bit, to give us hope."

Manager Zhang pondered for a moment: "How about this, when you go back, select two or three products, optimize your store, and improve your product detail pages. In early July, Taobao has a 'Authentic China' event, which specifically promotes local specialties. If your products meet the requirements, I can consider giving you a display slot."

"Really?" Lin Fan's eyes lit up.

"But the premise is that the product must be excellent and the store must be well-regulated," Manager Zhang said earnestly. "If you get the traffic but can't handle it, you won't have another chance."

"Understood! We will definitely do our best!"

Stepping out of the coffee shop, Lin Fan let out a long sigh of relief. This trip to Hangzhou had been worthwhile.

Upon returning to Tuxian County, Lin Fan immediately convened a meeting of all e-commerce personnel.

"During our trip to Hangzhou, we saw the gap, but we also saw hope." Lin Fan stood at the front of the conference room. "The gap is huge—our product packaging isn't as good as theirs, our store design isn't as good, and our operational experience isn't as good. But the hope is also great—our products are unique, our young people are energetic, and we have the opportunity to receive support from the platform."

He announced several decisions:

First, immediately begin store optimization. For all online stores, redesign the main image, product detail page, and store layout according to the standards learned in Hangzhou.

Second, establish a product development team. Develop new products and packaging suitable for e-commerce, taking into account the characteristics of online sales.

Third, establish a customer service training system. All customer service personnel must undergo training before starting work, and service standards should be aligned with those of larger stores.

Fourth, strive for a display position in Taobao's "Authentic China" campaign. This is the first major opportunity for Tuxian's e-commerce, and we must seize it.

For the next two weeks, the temporary "e-commerce incubation center" at the Tuxian County Party Committee Guesthouse was brightly lit. More than twenty young people, along with several other talents from other places who joined later, began working overtime like crazy.

The main image isn't good enough? Reshoot it! Lin Fan hired a professional photographer from the city, rented a simple photography studio, and took photos of the product to make it look like a blockbuster film.

The product details page is too simple? Rewrite it! Teacher Liu and the copywriting team meticulously crafted the product story word by word, making it vivid and moving.

The packaging is too outdated? Redesign it! A designer brought in from the steel city combined cultural elements from Tuxian County to design a series of packaging that is both distinctive and modern.

Unprofessional customer service scripts? Training! Xiao Chen has compiled a complete customer service manual, covering everything from greetings to answers to questions, from order follow-up techniques to after-sales handling.

On July 5th, the first batch of optimized stores went live again. The changes were immediately apparent—beautiful main images, richer product detail pages, unified store design, and rapid customer service response.

On July 10th, Taobao's "Authentic China" event opened for registration. Lin Fan personally oversaw the process and selected three products to submit: Tuxian Wangma Chili Sauce, Caoyun Tuxian Straw Weaving, and Qinling Mountain Walnuts.

On July 15th, good news arrived—all three products passed the review and were granted display slots for the event!

"Director Lin, we're in! We're really in!" Xiao Chen's voice trembled with excitement.

Lin Fan looked at the "Authentic China" event page on his computer screen. Three products from Tu County were listed, though not in a prominent position.

"Notify everyone to prepare." Lin Fan tried to remain calm. "The event will last for three days. We must give it our all during these three days."

The "Authentic China" event officially began on July 18th.

The first day went poorly. Orders for all three products combined were less than a hundred. But Lin Fan wasn't worried. He knew that traffic needed to be built up and word-of-mouth needed to develop.

The next day, things started to improve. A food blogger's recommendation article suddenly went viral, mentioning Wangma Chili Sauce from Tuxian County. That day, inquiries to the chili sauce shop surged, and orders exceeded two thousand.

On the third day, it exploded. It's unclear which link in the chain worked, but sales of straw weaving and pecans surged. Customer service was constantly ringing on Taobao, and the packing area was overflowing with goods ready to be shipped.

The statistics after the event left everyone in disbelief—in just three days, the total number of orders for the three products was 131,863! The total sales revenue was 1,327,000 yuan!

Although this number may not seem like much in a big city, it is a huge encouragement for Tu County and for this group of young people who are just starting out.

"We did it! We really did it!"

"One million three hundred thousand! One million three hundred thousand in three days!"

"So selling things online really works!"

Cheers erupted at the "E-commerce Incubation Center." Some people hugged each other excitedly, some secretly wiped away tears, and some called home to share the good news.

Standing in the crowd, looking at these young faces, Lin Fan felt a surge of warmth in his heart. This was not just a sales figure of 1.3 million; it was hope, confidence, and the limitless possibilities for the future of Tuxian County.

After the event ended, sales did not decline but instead maintained steady growth. Word-of-mouth began to spread, and repurchase rates gradually increased. By the end of July, the monthly sales volume of Tuxian e-commerce had exceeded five million yuan.

More importantly, some unexpected effects began to appear.

The booming sales of straw-woven products have boosted the livelihoods of Grandpa Li's village. Previously, Grandpa Li was the only one weaving, but now he has organized the village's elderly residents to work together, establishing a straw-weaving cooperative and solving the livelihood problems of over a hundred senior citizens.

After the chili sauce sales picked up, Aunt Wang actually rented a factory, hired workers, and started a small food processing plant. In addition to making chili sauce, she also developed new products such as fermented bean paste and mushroom sauce, creating jobs for more than thirty people.

With more orders for pecans, Brother Zhao started buying them from other farmers, handling the processing, packaging, and sales all at the same time. And just like that, a small industrial chain was formed.

In August, Lin Fan struck while the iron was hot and launched his second batch of products—Tuxian embroidery, handmade cloth shoes, wild honey, and Chinese medicinal herbs. At the same time, he began to try new platforms—in addition to Taobao and Alibaba, he also joined emerging e-commerce platforms such as JD.com and Dangdang.

On August 15th, Lin Fan made another decision—to establish the Tuxian E-commerce Association.

"We want to transform scattered, disorganized forces into a regular army," he said at the founding ceremony. "The responsibilities of the e-commerce association are: to set industry standards and regulate business practices; to organize training and learning to improve operational capabilities; to coordinate resources from all parties and strive for policy support; and to build regional brands and enhance overall competitiveness."

The association unanimously elected Lin Fan as its president. Vice presidents included several successful business representatives such as Aunt Wang, Uncle Li, and Brother Zhao, while the secretary-general was Xiao Chen.

The first thing the association did after its establishment was to formulate the "Tuxian County E-commerce Product Quality Standards". Clear requirements were set forth for everything from raw material procurement to production and processing, from packaging and storage to logistics and delivery.

"We want to do long-term business, not one-off deals," Lin Fan said at the standards launch conference. "Quality is our lifeline, and reputation is our moat. Whoever ruins Tuxian's reputation is a sinner to the entire county."

The standards had an immediate effect after their release. Consumer reviews were filled with positive feedback praising the "good quality," "exquisite packaging," and "fast delivery." The reputation of Tuxian e-commerce grew like a snowball.

By the end of August, the monthly sales volume of e-commerce in Tuxian County had exceeded ten million yuan. More than two hundred people were directly engaged in e-commerce, and it indirectly created more than one thousand jobs. More importantly, e-commerce has begun to support agriculture—the purchase price of many agricultural products has increased, and farmers' enthusiasm for planting has also increased.

In early September, an unexpected opportunity arose.

The Provincial Department of Commerce is preparing to hold a "Provincial E-commerce Development Experience Exchange Conference," inviting cities and prefectures to recommend typical cases. The Gangcheng City Bureau of Commerce hadn't originally planned to report on Tuxian County—after all, Tuxian is too small and too remote. However, after receiving the news, Lin Fan rushed back to Gangcheng overnight and went directly to the director of the Bureau of Commerce.

"Director Liu, please give Tuxian County a chance." Lin Fan handed over the prepared materials. "This is a detailed report and data on our e-commerce development."

Director Liu glanced at the materials, somewhat surprised: "Tuxian County's e-commerce monthly sales have exceeded one million? Really?"

"Absolutely true," Lin Fan said. "Director Liu, you can go and see for yourself. We not only have good data, but our model is also innovative—government guidance, association organization, public participation, and platform support. This model can serve as a reference for the development of e-commerce in impoverished areas."

Director Liu reviewed the materials carefully again and finally nodded: "Okay, I'll submit it for you. Whether it gets selected depends on the provincial department's opinion."

A week later, good news arrived—Tuxian County was selected as one of the ten typical cases in the province and will speak at the exchange meeting.

On September 15th, a provincial conference on e-commerce development experience was held in the provincial capital. Lin Fan, representing Tuxian County, delivered a 15-minute speech.

He spoke very practically—he didn't preach grand theories, but simply talked about how Tuxian County started from scratch, how it trained talent, how it optimized its products, how it attracted traffic, and how it established standards. He talked about the difficulties, but also about the solutions; he talked about failures, but also about successes.

The speech was met with enthusiastic applause. Afterwards, several business officials from different places gathered around, asking for contact information and wanting to learn from the experience.

A deputy director of the Provincial Department of Commerce specifically sought out Lin Fan: "Director Lin, your Tuxian County has done a good job. In particular, the model of government guidance and association organization is very innovative. The Provincial Department is prepared to make you a key support target. If you need anything in the future, you can contact me directly."

"Thank you, Director! We will definitely continue to work hard!"

Upon returning from the provincial capital, Lin Fan knew that the spring of e-commerce in Tuxian County had truly arrived.

On September 20th, Zhou Wenyuan finished his studies at the Central Party School and returned to Gangcheng.

He didn't return directly to Tuxian County, but instead reported to the Organization Department of the Municipal Party Committee. The head of the Organization Department spoke with him, revealing the next steps—he might leave Tuxian County for a more important position.

After leaving the Organization Department, Zhou Wenyuan called Lin Fan: "I'm back. I'll be going back to Tuxian County tomorrow."

"Brother Zhou, welcome back! We're waiting for you in Tuxian County!"

The following afternoon, Zhou Wenyuan's car entered Tuxian County. He didn't go directly to the county committee, but instead had the driver drive around the county town.

As he wandered around, he noticed changes—many shops on both sides of the street now had signs for "Taobao Shop" or "E-commerce Supply Point"; there were more courier tricycles shuttling through the streets and alleys; and some shops had piles of packed cardboard boxes in front of them, waiting for couriers to come and collect them.

Even more noticeable were the people—many young people, riding electric bikes with large and small bags on the back, hurrying along, but with a radiant glow on their faces.

"This is..." Zhou Wenyuan asked the driver.

The driver, a native of Tuxian County, smiled and said, "Secretary Zhou, you don't know, e-commerce is booming in our county now! Lots of people are selling things online, earning several thousand yuan a month!"

Zhou Wenyuan's mind raced: "Go to the county committee."

When the car arrived at the county government compound, Zhou Wenyuan got out. Zheng Guoqing and his team members were already waiting in front of the office building.

"Secretary Zhou, welcome back!"

"Secretary Zhou, you've worked hard!"

Zhou Wenyuan shook hands with everyone one by one, and when he finally shook Lin Fan's hand, he shook it vigorously: "Lin Fan, you've worked hard."

"Secretary Zhou has worked so hard."

After a brief welcoming ceremony, Zhou Wenyuan returned to his office. As soon as he sat down, Zheng Guoqing handed him a document: "Secretary Zhou, this is a report on the county's work during your study period. The focus is on the latter part, specifically the development of e-commerce."

Zhou Wenyuan opened the document and went straight to the e-commerce section. As he read, his expression changed from calm to surprise, and then from surprise to delight.

Monthly sales exceeding ten million?

More than 200 people were directly employed?

Typical cases from across the province?

Is this a key area of ​​support from the Provincial Department of Commerce?

"Are these... all true?" Zhou Wenyuan looked up at Lin Fan.

Lin Fan nodded: "It's all true, Secretary Zhou. We've been doing this for the past fifteen months since you left."

Zhou Wenyuan stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the county town outside. After a long while, he turned around, his eyes slightly moist: "Lin Fan, you...you've given me such a wonderful surprise."

"It was Brother Zhou who laid a solid foundation," Lin Fan said sincerely. "Without the popularity and reputation built up by the night market, e-commerce wouldn't have taken off. Without the efficient team of cadres you established, the work wouldn't have been able to move forward. I've simply taken one more step forward based on what you've built."

"No, this isn't just taking one more step, it's taking a giant leap." Zhou Wenyuan walked back to his desk, picked up the materials again, and said, "The night market solves our immediate livelihood problem, and e-commerce opens up the path to the future. Lin Fan, you've thought long-term and acted practically."

At this moment, Zheng Guoqing said, "Secretary Zhou, there's something else I need to report to you. The Provincial Party Committee Office just called; the Provincial Party Secretary and the Governor will be visiting Tuxian County next week, and they specifically requested to see the night market and e-commerce."

Zhou Wenyuan was stunned: "The provincial party secretary and the governor... came together?"

"Yes, let's come together." Zheng Guoqing was also very excited. "He said he read the report from the Provincial Department of Commerce and was very interested in the development model of Tuxian County. He wants to come and see for himself."

A few seconds of silence followed. Zhou Wenyuan took a deep breath and looked at Lin Fan: "This is an opportunity you earned for Tuxian County, and it's also an opportunity I've earned for myself."

"It's the result of everyone's joint efforts," Lin Fan said.

"Get ready." Zhou Wenyuan regained his usual composure. "The provincial party secretary and the governor are coming. This is a major event for Tu County. We can't afford any mistakes."

In the following days, everyone in Tuxian County became busy again. But this time, the busyness was different from the last time—last time it was for showcasing, this time it was for reporting; last time there was tension, this time there was confidence.

Lin Fan was in charge of the e-commerce preparations. He selected three locations: the e-commerce incubation center, Wang Da Niang's chili sauce factory, and Li Da Ye's straw weaving cooperative. Each location needed to have a display, explanation, and interactive elements.

On September 28, the provincial party secretary and governor arrived in Tu County.

The inspection route was carefully designed: first, visit the night market to experience the lively atmosphere of Tuxian County; then, explore e-commerce to appreciate Tuxian's innovation; and finally, examine the industries to understand Tuxian's driving force.

The night market was still the same, but more organized, cleaner, and more orderly. The provincial party secretary walked among the crowd, stopping occasionally to talk to the vendors.

"How's business?"

"Great! It's better than working in a factory!"

"I heard you've opened an online store too?"

"It's open! It's open! Night markets sell local products, online stores sell nationwide!"

After leaving the night market, I went to the e-commerce incubation center. More than twenty young people were busy—some were answering inquiries in front of their computers, some were packing and shipping orders, and some were designing new products.

Lin Fan explained it personally. He spoke vividly, from the initial idea to learning from Hangzhou, from the surprise of the first order to the breakthrough of monthly sales of one million, from personal efforts to the formation of the model.

The provincial party secretary listened attentively, occasionally asking questions such as, "How will you solve the logistics problem?", "Where will you find the talent?", and "How will you control product quality?"

Lin Fan answered each question one by one. His answers were straightforward, without any platitudes or empty words.

Next, let's look at Grandma Wang's chili sauce factory. What used to be a small workshop has now become a respectable little factory. A dozen workers are busy at the production line—washing chilies, stir-frying, bottling, labeling, and packaging.

Grandma Wang was a little nervous seeing so many high-ranking officials, but when it came to chili sauce, she became quite talkative: "Before, I made it all by myself, a few dozen bottles a day. Now that I have a factory, I can make several thousand bottles a day, selling them all over the country. Several of the women in the village work for me, earning over two thousand yuan a month!"

Grandpa Li's straw weaving cooperative particularly interested the leaders. Seventy or eighty elderly people sat in the courtyard, skillfully weaving straw ropes in their hands. Beside them were piles of finished products—straw baskets, straw hampers, and straw handicrafts—a dazzling array.

"These can all be sold online?" the governor asked.

"Yes! They're very popular!" Grandpa Li laughed. "City people love handmade things; they say they have warmth and sentiment."

At the conclusion of the inspection, the provincial party secretary delivered a brief speech.

"I was deeply moved and inspired after visiting Tuxian County today," he said. "What moved me was that, under such difficult economic circumstances, the cadres and people of Tuxian County did not wait for handouts but took the initiative and forged a new path. What inspired me was Tuxian County's development model—stabilizing people's livelihoods through night markets, promoting development through e-commerce, combining tradition with modernity, and linking offline and online channels. This model has reference value for impoverished counties throughout the province."

He looked at Zhou Wenyuan: "Comrade Wenyuan, your work in Tuxian County has been solid, innovative, and effective. Especially in the last six months, you've made distinctive progress in Party building, achieved notable economic development, and improved people's livelihoods. Very good!"

The governor also said, "The experience of Tuxian County should be carefully summarized and promoted throughout the province. The province will provide greater support to Tuxian County in terms of policies, funding, and projects."

After seeing off the provincial leaders, the officials of Tu County were overwhelmed with emotion. Both the provincial party secretary and the governor affirmed that this was an honor Tu County hadn't received in decades.

That evening, Zhou Wenyuan called Lin Fan to his office.

"Lin Fan, you heard what the provincial party secretary said today." Zhou Wenyuan poured Lin Fan a cup of tea. "You deserve a lot of credit for Tu County's current situation."

"Brother Zhou, please don't say that..."

"Let me finish." Zhou Wenyuan waved his hand. "I may have to leave Tuxian County. The organization has already spoken to me. My next step is to go to Gangcheng City Party Committee to serve as a member of the Standing Committee and Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission."

Although he had expected it, hearing the confirmed news still stirred up a complex mix of emotions in Lin Fan—a mix of relief, reluctance, and anticipation.

Congratulations, Brother Zhou.

"Congratulations? It's just that the responsibility is even greater now." Zhou Wenyuan took a sip of tea. "Lin Fan, what are your plans after I leave?"

Without a second thought, Lin Fan replied, "Of course I'll go with Brother Zhou."

Zhou Wenyuan laughed: "But to be honest, I did want to take you with me. However, this business in Tuxian County is just getting on track and needs someone to oversee it. Although Zheng Guoqing is steady, he's not as familiar with e-commerce as you are. I think... you should stay in Tuxian County for a while longer and help establish e-commerce as a major business."

"Okay, I'll listen to Brother Zhou."

"Also," Zhou Wenyuan paused, "there's something I've always remembered."

He took a piece of paper from the drawer; it contained information about his stock account.

"At the end of 2007, we sold all our stocks and had cash on hand," Zhou Wenyuan said. "In October 2008, we each invested 20 million to buy them back." Have you seen it recently? We've each made over 40 million now. Zhou Wenyuan and Lin Fan exchanged a smile.

But what makes them even happier than making money is that e-commerce in Tuxian County has truly taken off.

In November, the monthly sales of e-commerce in Tuxian County exceeded 50 million yuan. On Singles' Day, although Taobao had not yet launched its later shopping festival, Tuxian's online stores also experienced a small peak—single-day sales exceeded 5 million yuan.

In December, Tuxian County was named a "National Demonstration County for E-commerce in Rural Areas" by the Ministry of Commerce. This is a national honor, and only three counties in the entire province were selected.

At the awarding ceremony, Lin Fan spoke on behalf of Tuxian County. He put it simply: "E-commerce is not magic, it's a tool. This tool allows products from the mountains to leave the mountains, fills farmers' pockets, and lets young people's dreams take flight. We will continue to work hard to let the spark of e-commerce spread to every corner of Tuxian County."

The applause of the audience was thunderous.

After the ceremony, Lin Fan received a call from Zhou Wenyuan.

"Lin Fan, congratulations."

"Brother Zhou, this is the result of everyone's hard work."

"Next Monday, the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee will discuss personnel adjustments. Your transfer order should be arriving soon."

"So fast?"

"Your e-commerce in Tuxian County is doing so well; you deserve a bigger platform," Zhou Wenyuan said. "Come to the city; I need you."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Fan stood by the window. Outside, the winter night in Tu County was quiet and deep. The lights of the night market in the distance were still warm and bright.

That year in Tuxian County, he rose from deputy director of the county party committee office to a leading figure in the county's e-commerce industry. He witnessed the development of the night market from scratch, the growth of e-commerce from zero to one, and the transformation of Tuxian County from poverty to prosperity.

More importantly, he helped Zhou Wenyuan write a remarkable chapter in his resume in this remote county.

Now, a new journey is about to begin.

Go to the city, follow Zhou Wenyuan, and stand on a bigger stage.

But he knew that no matter where he went, the past six months in Tuxian County would be the most valuable experience of his life. Because here, he truly participated in the change of a place, truly helped those in need, and truly practiced the most important responsibility and value in the "stability and wealth" he had pursued since his rebirth.

This is enough.

The road ahead is still long.

But he and Zhou Wenyuan were ready to continue their journey.

Because if you're heading in the right direction, you don't have to worry about how far the road is.

Because I have trustworthy people around me, a warm home, and a career worth striving for.