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

January 28, 2010 (the 25th day of the 12th lunar month).

The atmosphere in the office of the Enforcement Bureau of the Gangcheng Intermediate People's Court was even more somber than the winter chill outside. A dozen people were crammed into the 30-square-meter room, which was filled with smoke. The desk was piled high with case files and documents, some yellowed and curled at the edges. Zhao Gang, the director of the Enforcement Bureau, stood in front of the whiteboard, drawing a heavy circle on it with a red pen.

"How many is this?" Zhao Gang's voice was hoarse, and his eyes were bloodshot.

"The thirty-seventh," Judge Chen said, flipping through the statistics table. "There are still 213 cases where the defendant has the ability to fulfill their obligations but refuses to do so. The amount involved in the enforcement is..." He paused, "...170 million."

A suppressed sigh echoed in the office.

Lin Fan sat by the window, holding the document Zhou Wenyuan had just approved yesterday—the "Implementation Plan for the Special Campaign of 'Enforcement Offensive'." The document required that within three months, the enforcement rate of unenforced cases in the city's courts should reach over 70%, with 90% of those cases involving people's livelihoods.

"Director Lin, please tell me," Zhao Gang said, looking at Lin Fan. "What specific requirements does Secretary Zhou have?"

Lin Fan put down the documents and stood up. All eyes in the office turned to him. For the past month or so, he had been working with the review team investigating cases within the public security system. Everyone had heard that this director of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission office was decisive and efficient; the Wang Jianguo case was one of his key cases.

"Secretary Zhou's requirements are very clear." Lin Fan looked around at everyone, "The special operation must be serious and forceful. For those who have the ability to pay but refuse to do so, we will seize what should be seized, detain what should be detained, and transfer those whose circumstances are serious and suspected of committing crimes to the public security organs for criminal prosecution."

He walked to the whiteboard, picked up a pen, and said, "I suggest we select a few typical cases and focus our efforts on tackling them. We need to make a strong impression and create a deterrent effect. Let those debtors know that this is not a joke."

"A typical case..." Zhao Gang pondered, "There's a case that's very typical, but also very difficult to handle."

Tell me about it.

"The case of Xinlong Construction Company owing migrant workers wages." Zhao Gang pulled out a file from the pile of documents. "It involves 123 migrant workers, with a total of 2.86 million yuan in unpaid wages. The judgment has been in effect for more than a year, but not a single penny has been recovered."

Lin Fan took the file and opened it. The list of plaintiffs filled three pages, each name followed by the amount of unpaid wages, ranging from several thousand to tens of thousands. The last few pages contained the testimonies of the migrant workers' representatives:

"Zhang Dashan, 45 years old, from Henan: I worked at Xinlong for eight months. They agreed on 150 yuan a day, but they still owe me 12,000 yuan. My child needs to go to school, and my elderly parents need medical treatment; we're counting on this money..."

"Li Xiuying, 38 years old, from Sichuan: My husband fell and injured himself at the construction site. The factory didn't provide any assistance, so we paid for his medical expenses ourselves. Now they owe us 28,000 yuan. They won't answer our calls, and we can't find them at the company..."

"Wang Laoshuan, 52 years old, a local: I brought more than a dozen brothers from the village with me, but now I can't get my money back. I'm ashamed to face my fellow villagers..."

Each sentence was followed by a bright red handprint.

"What's the situation with Xinlong Company?" Lin Fan asked.

"The company's legal representative is Liu Xin, 45 years old, a local." Zhao Gang took out a company information sheet. "The company has a registered capital of ten million yuan, owns three plots of land, five properties, and more than a dozen pieces of engineering equipment. In theory, it has the full capacity to fulfill its obligations."

"Then why can't it be implemented?"

"Liu Xin is a very cunning person," Zhao Gang said with a wry smile. "When the court tried to seize the property, he said the land and buildings were mortgaged to the bank. When they tried to seize the equipment, he said the equipment was rented, not his. Every time we summoned him, he came with a very good attitude, but it all boiled down to two words—'no money.'"

"Are the bank's mortgage documents complete?"

"We checked, and the mortgage contract is genuine, but the mortgage amount is significantly lower than the actual value," Zhao Gang said. "We suspect that he deliberately inflated the mortgage amount to evade enforcement."

Lin Fan closed the case file: "Let's start with this case. Tomorrow, we'll go meet with Liu Xin."

---

Nine o'clock in the morning.

Xinlong Construction Company is located in an industrial park on the southern outskirts of Gangcheng City. It is a three-story standalone office building with a dark blue glass curtain wall on the outside, which looks very impressive. Several Mercedes-Benz and BMW cars, as well as a brand-new Range Rover, are parked in the company yard.

Lin Fan and Zhao Gang, accompanied by two enforcement judges, drove a court police car directly into the company compound. The security guard tried to stop them, but upon seeing the police car, he backed away.

As I entered the office building lobby, the receptionist was a young woman in her twenties. She seemed a little nervous when she saw people in uniform come in.

"I'm looking for Liu Xin," Zhao Liang said, showing his work ID.

"Mr. Liu... Mr. Liu is not here," the girl stammered.

"Not here?" Zhao Gang sneered. "Call him and say you're from the court's enforcement bureau. Tell him to show up within ten minutes. Otherwise, we'll wait here and check the company's accounts while we're at it."

The girl hurriedly dialed the phone. A few minutes later, a middle-aged man strode down the stairs, his face beaming with smiles.

"Director Zhao! What brings you here?" The man, in his forties, slightly overweight, wore an expensive suit and a gleaming gold watch. "Oh, and this is…"

"Director Lin of the Municipal Political and Legal Affairs Commission," Zhao Gang introduced.

Liu Xin's smile grew even warmer: "Director Lin! It's an honor to meet you! Please come upstairs, please come upstairs!"

The group arrived at the general manager's office on the third floor. The office was very large, a full 60 square meters, and luxuriously decorated—leather sofas, mahogany desks, calligraphy and paintings by famous artists on the walls, and a jade sculpture about half a person's height in the corner.

"Mr. Liu's office is nice," Lin Fan remarked, looking around. "That jade carving must be worth hundreds of thousands, right?"

"A friend gave it to me, a friend gave it to me." Liu Xin smiled and offered the cigarette, "Director Lin smokes."

"I won't smoke." Lin Fan waved his hand. "Mr. Liu, we're here today about the migrant workers' unpaid wages. The judgment has been in effect for over a year; when do you plan to comply?"

Liu Xin's smile froze for a moment, then quickly returned to normal: "Director Lin, it's not that I don't want to fulfill my obligations, it's just really difficult. The construction industry has been sluggish these past two years, and the company has been losing money. You see, those cars outside belong to our partners, not me. This office is rented too..."

"Rented?" Lin Fan walked to the window and pointed to the Range Rover in the yard. "What about that car? Was it rented too?"

"That...that belongs to a friend, I borrowed it for a few days."

"Which friend? What's their name? What's their phone number? Let's verify." Zhao Gang took out his notebook.

Liu Xin's expression changed: "Director Zhao, what's wrong...?"

"Liu Xin, stop acting." Lin Fan turned around and looked directly at him. "Your company owns three plots of land, five properties, and over a dozen pieces of equipment. We checked the bank mortgage documents; the mortgaged amount is less than half the actual value. You say the company is losing money, but last year your personal account received over three million yuan. Where did that money come from?"

Liu Xin's smile vanished completely. He sat back in his boss's chair, crossed his legs, and lit a cigarette.

"Director Lin, Director Zhao, since we've come this far, I'll be frank." He exhaled a smoke ring. "I have the money. But why should we give it to them? Those migrant workers slacked off, their work wasn't up to standard, I'm already being lenient by not holding them accountable, and they still want wages?"

"Have you seen the court's verdict?" Lin Fan asked.

"So what if I've seen it?" Liu Xin flicked his cigarette ash. "Just because the court ruled, does that mean I have to pay? There's no such thing as a free lunch. Let me tell you, I, Liu Xin, have been in this steel city for twenty years. I've seen it all. Trying to get money out of my pocket isn't going to be that easy."

The atmosphere in the office suddenly became tense. The two judges clenched their fists.

Lin Fan smiled. He walked to his desk, picked up a crystal ashtray, examined it closely, and then put it down.

"Mr. Liu, is that Swarovski ashtray you're wearing? It must be worth a thousand or two," he said. "That watch on your wrist, a Rolex, must be worth at least a hundred thousand. That Armani suit you're wearing must also be worth ten or twenty thousand. And that chair you're sitting in, it's genuine leather, must be worth at least five thousand."

With each word he said, Liu Xin's expression grew increasingly grim.

"You have money to buy all this, but not to pay the migrant workers' wages?" Lin Fan's voice turned cold. "One hundred and twenty-three migrant workers, two million eight hundred and sixty thousand yuan in wages. This money could be their children's tuition, their elderly parents' medical expenses, their family's living expenses. If you keep delaying payment, how can you sleep at night?"

"I slept like a log!" Liu Xin stubbed out his cigarette. "Director Lin, you don't need to lecture me. I'm just a businessman. The money in my pocket is mine. Want it? Sure, follow the procedures. Seize, confiscate, auction it off, whatever. But let me tell you, all my assets are mortgaged. Even if they're auctioned off, I'll have to pay the bank first. By the time it's the migrant workers' turn, they won't have a penny left."

This is a common trick used by debtors who refuse to pay their debts—transferring assets and mortgaging them at high prices to make enforcement impossible.

"Liu Xin, do you think we can't do anything?" Zhao Gang stood up. "According to Article 313 of the Criminal Law, anyone who has the ability to execute a judgment or ruling of the People's Court but refuses to do so, and whose circumstances are serious, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention, or a fine. In your case, you are suspected of the crime of refusing to execute a judgment or ruling."

"Who are you trying to scare?" Liu Xin scoffed. "I've consulted a lawyer, and for this crime to be established, the circumstances must be 'serious.' I'm experiencing business difficulties, not refusing to comply with the judgment."

"Difficulties in business?" Lin Fan picked up his phone and pulled up a video. "This was filmed yesterday at one of your other construction sites. Construction was proceeding normally, and the workers were at work as usual. If things were really difficult, the site would have stopped long ago."

In the video, machines roared and workers were busy at work. Liu Xin's expression finally changed.

"And another thing," Lin Fan pulled up another bank statement, "this is your son's spending record abroad. Last year alone, he spent over 800,000 yuan in the United States. Tuition fees, rent, car purchases, travel... Mr. Liu, your son is spending money like water abroad, and you're here complaining about being poor and struggling? Is that really reasonable?"

Liu Xin suddenly stood up: "You're investigating my family?"

"This isn't an investigation, it's collecting evidence according to the law." Lin Fan put away his phone. "Liu Xin, I'm giving you one last chance. Transfer 2.86 million yuan to the court's designated account by today. Otherwise, we'll take coercive measures tomorrow."

"What coercive measures?"

"First, we will seize all of your company's assets, including those already mortgaged. Second, we will impound all of your personal property, including the Land Rover. Third, we will place you under judicial detention. Fourth, we will transfer you to the public security authorities for investigation on suspicion of refusing to execute a judgment or ruling."

With each statement Lin Fan made, Liu Xin's face paled a little more.

"You...you dare!"

"Let's see if we dare." Zhao Gang took out the detention order. "Liu Xin, this is a blank detention warrant. I can fill in your name right now. Fifteen days of detention. Think it over carefully in there."

Liu Xin stared at the blank document stamped with the court's red seal, sweat beading on his forehead. He sat down again, his hands trembling slightly.

"I...I need time to raise the money." His voice dropped eight octaves.

"No time." Lin Fan glanced at his watch. "It's 10 a.m. now. If the money isn't in by 4 p.m., we'll take action."

"Two million eight hundred and sixty thousand is no small sum. How can we possibly gather that much in a day..."

"That's your problem," Lin Fan interrupted him. "Aren't you rich? Don't you have lots of friends? You can borrow, lend, sell things, whatever you want. But you have to be here before four o'clock."

Liu Xin fell silent. He took out a cigarette, but his hand trembled so much he couldn't light it. He tried several times before it finally lit.

The office was eerily quiet, with only the ticking of the clock on the wall.

After finishing a cigarette, Liu Xin looked up, her eyes bloodshot.

"I...I'll make a phone call."

He picked up the landline and dialed a number: "Old Li, this is Liu Xin. I need the money urgently, 2.86 million... Yes, today. As collateral? You've always wanted that piece of land belonging to my company, haven't you? I'll give it to you cheaply... Okay, get the paperwork done before 3 PM."

After hanging up, he dialed another number: "Mr. Wang, lend me one million, pay me back in one month, you decide the interest... Okay, transfer it to me at noon."

He made seven or eight phone calls in a row. With each call, his face grew paler. After the last call, he slumped into his chair, as if all his strength had been drained away.

"The money... I can gather it before 3 p.m.," he said weakly.

"Transfer to the court's account." Zhao Gang handed over a slip of paper. "This is the account number."

Liu Xin took the note, glanced at it, and smiled bitterly: "I, Liu Xin, have been in the steel city for twenty years, but I never thought I would be defeated by you."

"You didn't fall into our hands," Lin Fan said. "You fell into your own hands. If you had complied with the judgment sooner, things wouldn't have come to this."

Liu Xin opened her mouth as if to say something, but ultimately didn't.

---

At 3:20 PM, the Finance Office of the Gangcheng Intermediate People's Court.

The accountant, staring at the computer screen, suddenly called out, "Director Zhao, the money has arrived!"

Zhao Gang and Lin Fan walked over quickly. The screen showed that a sum of 2.86 million yuan had just been transferred into the court's special account for enforcement funds.

"Check if it was Xinlong Company that made the call," Zhao Gang said.

The accountant checked the remittance voucher: "Yes, the remitter is Liu Xin."

Zhao Gang breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Lin Fan: "Director Lin, it's done."

Lin Fan nodded, but his face didn't show much joy: "The money has arrived, but that's only the first step. Next, we need to get it into the hands of the migrant workers as soon as possible. It's almost Chinese New Year, and we want them to take the money home with them."

"I've made all the arrangements," Zhao Gang said. "Tomorrow morning, there will be a ceremony at the court to distribute the enforcement funds. All migrant worker representatives will be notified to attend and receive their money on the spot."

"Okay." Lin Fan thought for a moment, "Let's invite the media too. This case needs to be publicized so that other debtors can see what the consequences are for resisting enforcement."

"clear."

It was past four in the afternoon when I left the courthouse. The winter sunset hung obliquely in the western sky, gilding the city with a golden hue.

Lin Fan stood at the entrance of the courthouse, watching the hurried pedestrians on the street. Many people were buying New Year's goods, carrying large and small bags, their faces beaming with the joy of the upcoming holiday.

He remembered the names of the migrant workers in the case file, their red handprints, their owed wages, and their anxiety while waiting.

Now, this money is finally going back into their hands.

Although it was more than a year late, it finally arrived.

My phone rang; it was Zhou Wenyuan calling.

"Lin Fan, I heard there's been a breakthrough in the Xinlong Company case?"

"Yes, Secretary Zhou, the 2.86 million has all arrived and will be distributed tomorrow."

"Good!" Zhou Wenyuan's voice was filled with satisfaction. "This case needs to be carefully analyzed. This is how you deal with debtors who resist enforcement. Everyone needs to know that court judgments are not just a piece of paper, but legal documents that must be obeyed."

"Understood. Secretary Zhou, I suggest we use this case as a model and expose it throughout the city. This will serve as a deterrent to other debtors who refuse to pay their debts."

"I agree. Make arrangements to contact TV stations and newspapers to report on it properly." Zhou Wenyuan paused, then added, "Also, how's the investigation by the public security system progressing?"

"The retrial process for Wang Jianguo's case has been initiated. Other cases are still under review, and three more cases with potential problems have been discovered."

"Keep pushing forward. These two tasks must go hand in hand. The public security organs must clear up historical debts, and the courts must resolve enforcement difficulties. Only in this way can the credibility of the political and legal system be rebuilt."

"Yes, Secretary Zhou."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Fan took a deep breath. The winter air was crisp and clear, and inhaling it made him feel refreshed.

He knew that the Xinlong Company case was just the beginning. There were more than two hundred other cases in the city where companies had the ability to fulfill their obligations but refused to do so, involving an enforcement target of 170 million yuan. These cases all needed to be tackled one by one.

But with this start, the rest of the work will be much easier.

Because people have seen the court's determination and the strength of its enforcement.

Those debtors who are still observing will reconsider – will they take the initiative to fulfill their obligations, or wait for the court to come knocking?

Those who win their cases but don't receive their money will have renewed hope—that the courts are serious and that even deadbeats aren't completely lawless.

This is the significance of carrying out intensive tasks.

It's not simply about recovering some money, but about upholding the dignity of the law, establishing the authority of the judiciary, and rebuilding public confidence in the rule of law.

Lin Fan got into the car and started the engine. The car slowly drove out of the courthouse and merged into the evening traffic.

The shops lining both sides of the street are decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, already filled with the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year. Selling Spring Festival couplets, lanterns, and New Year's goods... people's faces are filled with the joy of the holiday.

The city is preparing to welcome the New Year.

Lin Fan knew that he and his colleagues in the political and legal system were doing their part to add peace, justice, and warmth to the city.

This is his job, and this is his responsibility.

By the time the car arrived at the municipal party committee compound, it was completely dark. Many windows in the office building still had lights on, belonging to people like him who were still working overtime.

Lin Fan parked his car but didn't go upstairs immediately. He stood in the courtyard, looking up at the window of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission office on the fifth floor—the light was still on, and Zhou Wenyuan should still be working.

Along the way, from the Finance Bureau to Tu County, and then to the Municipal Political and Legal Affairs Commission, he followed Zhou Wenyuan, doing the most difficult work and taking on the heaviest burdens.

Sometimes I feel tired, sometimes I feel bitter, and sometimes I feel frustrated.

But whenever he sees a case being corrected, a party getting their money back, or people smiling, he feels it's all worth it.

In this life, he was reborn, possessing the memories and experiences of his previous life.

But he did not choose an easy way of life; instead, he chose this challenging path.

Because this path can truly help those in need, truly change things, and truly realize the value of life.

This is enough.

There are still many tough battles to fight in the future.

But he was already prepared.

Together with Zhou Wenyuan and my colleagues in the political and legal system, we will continue to fight for fairness and justice in this city.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Fan walked into the building.

The elevator is going up.

A new job is waiting for him.