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

It was 6:30 pm on the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month.

When Lin Fan pushed open the door to the Political and Legal Affairs Commission office, Zhou Wenyuan was standing by the window, holding a cup of tea and gazing at the darkening sky outside. The main light in the office was off, with only the desk lamp and a few spotlights in the bookcase providing soft, quiet light.

"Secretary Zhou," Lin Fan said softly.

Zhou Wenyuan turned around, his face showing a hint of fatigue, but his eyes remained sharp: "You're back? You handled the Xinlong Company matter very well."

"It's mainly because Zhao Gang and his enforcement bureau did a solid job in the early stages." Lin Fan put down his briefcase. "The enforcement payment ceremony will be held tomorrow morning, and we have already notified the migrant worker representatives and the media."

"Okay." Zhou Wenyuan walked back to his desk and sat down. "Sit down, tell me about the situation with the police."

Lin Fan sat down in the chair opposite him and took out a report from his briefcase: "This is the latest development in Wang Jianguo's case. The procuratorate has formally filed an appeal, and the court has decided to retry the case. Liu Zhiqiang is suspected of torture to extract confessions and bending the law for personal gain, and has been transferred to the Discipline Inspection Commission. The next step is the judicial process."

Zhou Wenyuan took the report and flipped through it: "This case must be handled flawlessly. The chain of evidence must be complete, the procedures must be standardized, and there can be no flaws."

"Understood. The entire interrogation was recorded, and all evidence was double-backed." Lin Fan paused. "In addition, the review team discovered several suspicious cases. I think one of them requires special attention."

"explain."

"A case of intentional injury from 2006." Lin Fan took out another file. "The defendant, Chen Xiaohu, was 23 years old at the time. He was accused of getting into a fight with someone in a bar and hitting the other person with a beer bottle, causing serious injury, level two. He was sentenced to six years in prison in the first instance, and the second instance upheld the original sentence. He is currently serving his sentence in the Second Prison."

"What's the problem?"

"There are a few suspicious points in the case file." Lin Fan opened the file and pointed to several marked areas. "First, the eyewitness testimonies are inconsistent. The bar was dimly lit on the night of the incident, but the three witnesses were able to clearly describe the details of Chen Xiaohu's actions, even specifying the color of his clothes. Second, there are flaws in the fingerprint identification of the murder weapon. The report shows that there are Chen Xiaohu's fingerprints on the beer bottle, but it also mentions that the fingerprints are incomplete and overlap. Third, Chen Xiaohu consistently denies guilt, saying that he was drunk that night and couldn't remember what happened at all."

Zhou Wenyuan carefully examined the case file: "Which unit is handling this case?"

"The Gangdong branch was handled by Liu Zhiqiang," Lin Fan said. "He was also the presiding judge of this case."

Zhou Wenyuan put down the file and tapped his fingers lightly on the table. This was a habitual gesture of his, indicating that he was deep in thought.

"How is Chen Xiaohu now?"

"He has behaved well in prison and has already had his sentence reduced once. But he keeps protesting his innocence and writes appeals every year," Lin Fan said. "The prison says he's usually very honest and doesn't seem like someone with violent tendencies."

The office fell silent for a moment. Outside the window, the city lights gradually came on, and the faint sound of firecrackers drifted from afar—the New Year was approaching, and some impatient children had already started setting off firecrackers.

"Go see him," Zhou Wenyuan finally spoke. "Tomorrow, go to the Second Prison and ask him about the situation in person. If there are any doubts, reopen the investigation. But remember, do it according to the law and regulations, and don't be prejudiced."

"it is good."

"Also," Zhou Wenyuan picked up his teacup, "the New Year is just around the corner. Go home early tonight and spend time with your wife and children."

Lin Fan smiled: "Secretary Zhou, you should rest too. My sister-in-law called me yesterday and said you haven't eaten at home for a week."

Zhou Wenyuan waved his hand: "I'm busy. Let's talk about it after the New Year."

Lin Fan knew he couldn't persuade him otherwise, so he stopped talking. He packed up his documents and was about to leave when Zhou Wenyuan called him back.

"Lin Fan".

"Um?"

"You've had a tough journey," Zhou Wenyuan said, looking at him. "From the Finance Bureau to Tu County, and then to the Municipal Party Committee, you've always followed me, doing the hardest work and shouldering the heaviest responsibilities. Sometimes I wonder if I've held you back? If you had chosen a different path, you might be living a more relaxed and prosperous life now."

Lin Fan shook his head: "Secretary Zhou, I've never thought that way. This is the path I chose myself, and I think it's worth it."

"worth?"

"Yes," Lin Fan said earnestly, "Seeing Wang Jianguo exonerated and released from prison, seeing his mother crying and thanking us; seeing migrant workers receive their back wages and smiles on their faces; seeing those violated rights being protected—I feel that this is more meaningful than how much money I make."

Zhou Wenyuan was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Go ahead. Drive carefully on the road."

"You should get some rest too."

At 7:30 p.m., Lin Fan returned to Riverside Garden.

As soon as he parked the car, he heard his two children laughing from home. A smile involuntarily spread across his face, and the day's fatigue seemed to vanish.

As the door opened, warm light and the aroma of food wafted out. In the living room, Bao Bao and Bei Bei were playing with building blocks on the carpet, while Wang Juan and her mother watched. Hearing the door open, the two children turned their heads simultaneously, then wobbled to their feet and ran towards the door with outstretched arms.

"Daddy! Daddy!"

Lin Fan squatted down and picked up his two sons, one in each arm. The children, almost two years old, were already quite heavy, but he held them steadily.

"Did you miss your dad?" He kissed the two children's chubby cheeks.

"Yes!" the two children said in unison.

Wang Juan came out of the kitchen, wearing an apron and holding a spatula: "You're back? Dinner will be ready soon. Go wash your hands first."

"What delicious food is Mom making?" Lin Fan put the child down and headed to the kitchen.

"Sweet and sour pork ribs, steamed sea bass, garlic broccoli, and your favorite lotus root and pork rib soup," Wang Juan said while stirring the vegetables in the wok. "Why are you so late today? Working overtime again?"

"Okay, I'll report to Secretary Zhou." Lin Fan washed his hands, walked behind his wife, and gently hugged her. "You've worked hard, honey."

Wang Juan leaned against him, relaxing for a moment: "You've worked hard too. I know the political and legal system has been very active lately, and I know you're all busy."

"The Lunar New Year is almost here, things should be a bit easier after then," Lin Fan said. "By the way, how's business on your end?"

"That's great. The end of the year is the peak season for clothing sales, and this month's turnover is 30% higher than last month." Wang Juan turned off the stove and put the dishes on plates. "I went to the provincial capital branch yesterday. The store manager there, Xiao Xu, is very capable. He has already expanded the business to two surrounding cities."

"Impressive, Mr. Wang," Lin Fan joked.

"Get lost," Wang Juan said with a laugh, giving him a push. "By the way, there's something I want to discuss with you."

"explain."

"I want to buy a house in the provincial capital," Wang Juan said. "I travel to the provincial capital frequently now, and staying in hotels every time is inconvenient. Besides, the quality of education in the provincial capital is better for my baby's future schooling."

Lin Fan thought for a moment: "Okay. What's the current housing price level in the provincial capital?"

"Good locations in the city center are around 6,000 to 7,000 yuan per square meter, while those in the suburbs are 2,000 to 3,000 yuan per square meter," Wang Juan said. "I looked at a few properties, and there's a nice one called 'Jinxiu Garden,' which has a good school district. A six-bedroom apartment of 320 square meters costs about 2.3 million yuan."

"I'll buy it." Lin Fan said without hesitation. "Cash or loan?"

"I'll take out a loan; interest rates are low now. Thirty percent down payment, the rest in monthly installments. My business makes a net profit of around 500,000 yuan a month, no problem at all," Wang Juan said. "Besides, I've calculated that housing prices in the provincial capital will definitely continue to rise, so this is also an investment."

Lin Fan smiled: "As expected of a businessman, you know how to calculate. Go ahead and take care of it when you have time. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"You have to come with me when we sign the contract."

"it is good."

The food was served, and the family sat down together. Wang Juan's parents also arrived, and the family ate together in a lively atmosphere. Baby Beibei could already eat with a spoon by herself. Although she made a mess of the table, Wang Juan was very patient and taught her little by little.

"By the way, how's Xiaolei's preparation for the high school entrance exam going?" Lin Fan asked his mother-in-law.

"That's great, she ranked tenth in the whole school in the mock exam." Wang Juan's mother had a proud smile on her face. "The teacher said that getting into a top high school is no problem."

"That's good." Lin Fan put a piece of pork rib on his mother-in-law's plate. "When Xiao Lei gets into high school, let's celebrate properly."

"No need, no need, just focus on your studies," the mother-in-law waved her hands repeatedly. "You're all busy with work, don't worry about these things."

After dinner, Lin Fan volunteered to wash the dishes. Wang Juan played games with the two children, and laughter could be heard from the living room. Such evenings, ordinary yet warm, were precisely the moments Lin Fan cherished most.

In his past life, he was so busy with business that he neglected his family. By the time he wanted to turn back, it was too late.

In this life, he will never repeat the same mistakes.

After washing the dishes, Lin Fan returned to the living room. The two children were already a little sleepy, leaning against him and Wang Juan with their eyes half-closed.

"Tomorrow is the 27th of the twelfth lunar month," Wang Juan said softly. "Mom said she's going to buy New Year's goods. If you're free, would you like to come along?"

"I have to go to the prison tomorrow morning," Lin Fan said. "I should be free in the afternoon."

"To prison?"

"Yes, there's a case I need to verify." Lin Fan didn't elaborate. "I should be back before 3 PM."

Wang Juan nodded, not asking any further questions. Over the years of their marriage, she had grown accustomed to the unusual nature of her husband's work. There were certain things she shouldn't ask; this was a matter of self-awareness for spouses of people working within the system.

"Then this afternoon, Mom and I will go shopping for New Year's goods, and you will stay home and take care of baby Beibei?" Wang Juan said.

"Okay." Lin Fan kissed his wife's forehead. "By the way, I'd like to invite Secretary Zhou over for dinner this Chinese New Year."

"Okay, when?"

"It was around noon on New Year's Eve. He was home alone; his sister-in-law had gone to her parents' house."

"Okay, I'll prepare in advance," Wang Juan said. "What does Secretary Zhou like to eat? I'll write it down."

"He prefers mild flavors and doesn't eat spicy food. He likes fish, preferably steamed. He also likes braised pork, but not too sweet..."

The couple whispered to each other; their two children were already asleep. The night sky outside the window was dotted with stars, peaceful and beautiful.

It was 9:00 AM on the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month.

The Second Prison of Gangcheng City is located 20 kilometers on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by rolling hills. On a winter morning, the fog had not yet lifted, and the prison's gray walls were faintly visible in the mist, creating a solemn atmosphere.

Lin Fan's car was parked outside the prison gate. Zhao Gang was already waiting for him, along with Lao Zheng, a prosecutor from the municipal procuratorate—this was specially arranged by Zhou Wenyuan, who requested a joint investigation by the public security bureau, the procuratorate, and the court to ensure procedural fairness.

"Director Lin," Zhao Gang greeted him, "the prison has made arrangements; we'll meet in the interrogation room."

"Have you found out about Chen Xiaohu's situation?" Lin Fan asked as he walked.

"Understood," Zhao Gang said. "He has behaved well during his years in prison and had his sentence reduced by six months last year. He now works in the prison's printing plant as a key technical staff member. The prison guards say that he is not talkative, but he is conscientious in his work and has never violated prison rules."

The three passed through layers of security checks and entered the prison. Inside the high walls was another world—neat cell buildings, clean cement roads, and people in prison uniforms moving around in the exercise yard.

The interrogation room was on the first floor of the office building. The room was small, with a table, a few chairs, and a surveillance camera on the wall.

After waiting for ten minutes, the door opened. A young man in prison clothes walked in, led by a guard. He looked older than his actual age of 27, but his eyes were bright and his figure was thin.

"Chen Xiaohu, this is Director Lin from the Municipal Political and Legal Affairs Commission, Director Zhao from the Municipal Court, and Prosecutor Zheng from the Municipal Procuratorate," the guard introduced.

Chen Xiaohu stood at the door, somewhat hesitant. He glanced at the people inside, his eyes filled with wariness and unease.

"Have a seat," Lin Fan said, pointing to the chair opposite him.

Chen Xiaohu slowly sat down, placing his hands on his knees, his body taut.

"Don't be nervous. We're here today to understand the details of your case," Lin Fan said calmly. "You can tell us the truth."

Chen Xiaohu remained silent for a moment before finally speaking, "Are you... here to reinvestigate my case?"

"We received the appeal materials and believe there may be some doubts about the case, so we came to verify them," Lin Fan said. "You can say anything you want to say."

Chen Xiaohu took a deep breath, raised his head, and looked directly into Lin Fan's eyes: "That night, I drank too much. I only remember someone coming over and hitting me without saying anything. He punched and kicked me, and then I don't remember anything else. When I woke up, I was already at the police station. They said I hit someone with a bottle, but I really didn't."

"The case file shows that there are eyewitnesses who identified you," Lao Zheng said.

"I don't know any of those witnesses," Chen Xiaohu said, his voice trembling with emotion. "Didn't they see that I was the one who got beaten?"

"The case file says there were your fingerprints on the beer bottle," Zhao Gang said.

"I was drinking all night, so of course there are my fingerprints on the bottle," Chen Xiaohu said. "But I didn't use it to hit anyone. The police said there were fingerprints on both the bottle neck and the bottle body, but when a normal person drinks, the bottle neck and the bottle body will touch each other."

This rebuttal makes sense. Lin Fan noted it down.

"Why didn't you hire a lawyer back then?" Old Zheng asked.

"I did hire one," Chen Xiaohu said with a wry smile. "My family spent 20,000 yuan to hire a lawyer, but during the trial, he barely defended me at all. Later I found out that the lawyer knew the police officer handling the case."

"What's the lawyer's name?"

"Zhang Ming seems to be from the 'Justice Law Firm'."

Lin Fan glanced at Zhao Gang, who understood and memorized the name.

"Have you been appealing?" Lin Fan asked.

"Yes, I write appeals every year," Chen Xiaohu said. "I know the chances are slim, and I accept being beaten for no reason. But I really didn't hit anyone. My parents sold our house for my case and now they're renting. My sister was supposed to go to university, but because we don't have the money, she has to work..."

As he spoke, his eyes reddened: "For the past few years, I've thought about this every day while I was inside. If I really did it, I'll admit it. But I didn't, so I can't admit it."

The room fell silent. Only the faint hum of the security camera operating could be heard.

Lin Fan looked at Chen Xiaohu. In the young man's eyes, there was resentment, grievance, but also a stubbornness. He had seen that look in Wang Jianguo's eyes as well.

That was the look in the eyes of someone who had been wrongly accused.

"Chen Xiaohu, we will reopen your case," Lin Fan said. "If what you said is true, we will clear your name."

Chen Xiaohu was stunned, seemingly unable to believe it: "Really...really?"

"Really." Lin Fan closed the file. "But investigations take time and require evidence. You need to be patient."

"I'm patient! I've waited for years, a few more years won't matter!" Chen Xiaohu stood up excitedly, only to be forced back down by the guards. "As long as the truth can be found out, I can wait!"

"Also," Lin Fan said, "behave well in prison and follow the rules. This is not only for your own good, but also beneficial to the investigation."

"I know, I know," Chen Xiaohu nodded repeatedly. "I will definitely do my best."

After the conversation, Chen Xiaohu was taken back to the prison area. Before leaving, he looked back at Lin Fan, his eyes filled with hope.

"What do you think?" Lin Fan asked Zhao Gang and Lao Zheng.

"There are indeed many suspicious points," Lao Zheng said. "The testimonies, fingerprints, and injuries all have problems. Moreover, the person handling the case is Liu Zhiqiang, who is already under investigation. This case is very likely to have issues."

"I suggest we start from several angles," Zhao Gang said. "First, re-interrogate the eyewitnesses from that year. Second, re-examine the fingerprints and the murder weapon. Third, investigate the relationship between the lawyer Zhang Ming and the police officers handling the case. Fourth, it would be even better if we could find new evidence or witnesses."

Lin Fan nodded: "Old Zheng, you're in charge of coordinating with the procuratorate to initiate the trial supervision procedure. Zhao Gang, you contact the police to retrieve the original case files and physical evidence. I'll coordinate with all parties and hold regular meetings to report on the progress."

"OK."

The three walked out of the prison. The fog outside had dissipated, and the winter sun shone on them, bringing a touch of warmth.

Before getting into the car, Lin Fan glanced back at the high prison walls.

There are many people imprisoned there. Some deserve their fate, but perhaps there are also those like Chen Xiaohu who have been wrongly accused.

His job is to find these wronged people and clear their names.

This is a heavy responsibility, but also a glorious mission.

The car drove away from the prison and returned to the city.

Lin Fan checked the time; it was 11:30 AM. He sent Wang Juan a text message: "Come back for lunch, and I'll go shopping for New Year's goods with you this afternoon."

Wang Juan quickly replied, "Okay, I'll wait for you."

The car accelerated and headed towards home.

There were warm lights, hot meals, and the smiling faces of his wife and children.

That was the meaning of his struggle, and also his safe haven.

And there is much more work to be done ahead of him.

But he was already prepared.

as always.