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

It's the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, two days before Lunar New Year's Eve.

The streets and alleys of the steel city are already filled with the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year. Shops along the streets are adorned with red lanterns, "Fu" characters (福, meaning good fortune), and couplets. The vegetable market is bustling with activity as every household is shopping for New Year's goods—pork must be from the hind leg, fish must be lively and jumping, and vegetables must be fresh and crisp. Children in new clothes run through the alleys, carrying newly bought firecrackers, and the air is filled with the aroma of gunpowder mixed with food.

The office of the Municipal Political and Legal Affairs Commission was still bustling with activity.

Lin Fan sat at his desk, a copy of the case file for Chen Xiaohu spread out in front of him. After a day of reviewing it, he discovered more suspicious points.

First, there's the issue of eyewitnesses. The case file shows that three witnesses identified Chen Xiaohu at the bar on the night of the incident. However, a closer look at their interrogation records reveals that their testimonies are almost identical, with even the details being highly consistent—this is abnormal. Normally, eyewitness testimonies would differ due to the angle of observation and memory lapses. Such highly consistent testimonies suggest a coordinated effort.

Secondly, there's the issue of the case-handling procedure. The incident occurred around 1:00 AM on August 15, 2006. Chen Xiaohu was taken to the police station at 2:00 AM, while the first interrogation record shows the time as 3:00 AM. However, there's no record of this hour in the case file. Procedurally, this period should have been for a physical search and information collection from the suspect, but relevant records are missing.

Thirdly, there was the issue of the lawyers. Chen Xiaohu's defense lawyer, Zhang Ming, presented almost no compelling arguments during the trial, accepting all the evidence presented by the prosecution and only making a token request for leniency. This behavior was extremely unprofessional.

Lin Fan picked up the phone and dialed Zhao Gang's number.

"Director Zhao, have you obtained the original physical evidence in the Chen Xiaohu case?"

"We've got it, but there's a problem." Zhao Gang's voice was somewhat serious. "The murder weapon from back then—that beer bottle—can't be found."

"What?"

"I asked the evidence storage room of the Gangdong branch, and they said that some old evidence was lost when the warehouse was relocated in 2008, including this case," Zhao Gang said. "Now only photos and fingerprint identification reports are left."

Lin Fan frowned. The loss of physical evidence meant that fingerprint identification and trace evidence examination could not be conducted again, greatly increasing the difficulty of reviewing the case.

"Where are the eyewitnesses?"

"We're looking for them. Of the three witnesses from back then, two have left the steel city, and only one is still here. We arranged to meet this afternoon."

"Okay, I'll go with you."

Hanging up the phone, Lin Fan leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples. That's how it is when you re-examine an old case; the longer the time has passed, the harder it is to find evidence, and the more blurred the witnesses' memories become. But the more this is the case, the more meticulous you need to be, because every suspicious point could point to the truth.

The office door was pushed open, and Zhou Wenyuan walked in.

"How's the Chen Xiaohu case going? Any progress?"

Lin Fan reported the situation. After listening, Zhou Wenyuan pondered for a moment: "The loss of physical evidence is a serious dereliction of duty. Investigate who was responsible for its safekeeping back then, and hold those responsible accountable."

"The disciplinary committee has already launched an investigation," Lin Fan said. "In addition, I've discovered something else."

"explain."

"The victim in Chen Xiaohu's case was named Li Qiang. He was 24 years old at the time and a local. But less than three months after the incident, he moved away with his family, and no one knows where they went." Lin Fan opened the case file. "I checked Li Qiang's background. His father was in the building materials business, and his family was well-off. Before the incident, Li Qiang had a few records of fighting, which he always settled by paying compensation."

Zhou Wenyuan's eyes sharpened: "What do you mean?"

"I'm wondering if there's another possibility," Lin Fan said slowly, "that it wasn't Chen Xiaohu who hit Li Qiang, but rather Li Qiang who hit Chen Xiaohu and then framed him?"

"Where's the evidence?"

"Not yet, it's just speculation," Lin Fan said. "But if this speculation is true, many things will make sense—why witness testimonies are so consistent, why lawyers are not fulfilling their responsibilities, and why physical evidence is lost."

Zhou Wenyuan paced back and forth in his office: "Investigate thoroughly. If there is any injustice, it must be corrected. But remember, we only believe in evidence, not speculation."

"clear."

"Also," Zhou Wenyuan stopped, "wouldn't it be too much of a bother if I really came to your house for lunch on New Year's Eve?"

Lin Fan smiled: "Secretary Zhou, it's our honor to have you here. Wang Juan has already prepared the menu, which contains all your favorite dishes."

"Then I'll have to trouble you." Zhou Wenyuan smiled. "By the way, I brought you a bottle of good wine, a Moutai that I've been collecting for many years."

"Then we'll benefit from it."

Two o'clock in the afternoon, in a residential area of ​​the old city of Gangcheng.

Most of the houses here are tenement buildings built in the 1980s and 90s, with mottled exterior walls and tangled electrical wires. But with the end of the year approaching, cured meat and sausages are hanging on the windowsills of each household, and quilts are drying on the balconies, giving the place a lively feel.

Lin Fan and Zhao Gang stopped in front of a six-story building. According to the investigation, Sun Qiang, one of the eyewitnesses from that year, lived here on the fourth floor.

The hallway was dark, and the motion-activated lights were intermittent. The two climbed to the fourth floor and knocked on the door of apartment 402.

After a long while, the door opened a crack, revealing the face of a middle-aged man. The man was in his forties, with thinning hair and deep eye bags, and looked to be in poor health.

"Who are you looking for?" the voice asked warily.

"Is this Sun Qiang? We're from the Municipal Political and Legal Affairs Commission. We'd like to ask you about some things." Lin Fan showed his work ID.

The man's expression visibly tensed: "Wha...what is it?"

"Regarding a case from 2006, the assault you witnessed at the bar."

Sun Qiang's expression changed: "That happened so many years ago, why bring it up again?"

"The case is being reviewed, and some details need to be re-verified," Zhao Gang said. "Can we go inside and talk?"

Sun Qiang hesitated for a moment, but still opened the door.

The house was small, with two bedrooms and a living room. The furniture was old but clean. A woman was sitting on the sofa, presumably Sun Qiang's wife. When she saw the stranger enter, she got up and went to the bedroom.

"Have a seat." Sun Qiang gestured to the sofa and sat down in the chair opposite him. "What do you want to ask?"

Lin Fan produced a copy of the interrogation record from that year: "In the early morning of August 15, 2006, you witnessed a fight at the 'Nightfall' bar. According to the record, you saw Chen Xiaohu injure Li Qiang with a beer bottle, is that right?"

Sun Qiang glanced at the transcript and nodded: "Yes, that's right."

"Could you describe the situation in more detail?" Lin Fan asked.

"It's been four years, I don't remember very clearly." Sun Qiang's eyes flickered. "I just remember there was a fight, and then the police came."

"What were the lights like in the bar back then?"

"It's pretty dark, like all bars are."

"Then why were you able to clearly see the assailant's face?" Lin Fan pressed. "In your statement, you described Chen Xiaohu's appearance, clothing, and even the details of his movements in detail."

Sun Qiang's forehead began to sweat: "Maybe...maybe it's because we're so close."

How far away?

"Just... just a few meters."

"How many meters exactly? Three meters? Five meters?" Zhao Gang asked.

"About... four or five meters." Sun Qiang said impatiently, "What exactly do you want to ask? Wasn't the case already decided?"

Lin Fan put down the notebook and looked directly at Sun Qiang: "Sun Qiang, we've reopened the investigation into this case and discovered some suspicious points. If there were problems with your testimony back then, it's not too late to speak up now. Perjury is a criminal offense."

"I...I didn't commit perjury!" Sun Qiang's voice rose. "Everything I said is true!"

"Really?" Lin Fan said slowly, "We checked. A month before the incident, you owed 30,000 yuan because of gambling, and Li Qiang's father paid it off for you. Is that true?"

Sun Qiang's face turned pale instantly.

"I...I don't know what you're talking about."

"The bank transfer record is still there," Zhao Gang said. "On July 20, 2006, Li Qiang's father, Li Jianguo, transferred 7 yuan to you. You used it to pay off your gambling debts the next day."

The room was eerily quiet. Sun Qiang had his head down, his hands clenched tightly together, his knuckles white.

After a long silence, he finally raised his head, his eyes bloodshot: "I... I had no choice at the time. I was in debt from gambling, and debt collectors were coming to my door every day. My wife wanted to divorce me. Li Jianguo found me and said that as long as I said I saw Chen Xiaohu beating someone when the police questioned me, he would help me pay off my debts."

"So you didn't see it?" Lin Fan asked.

"I saw it, but... but I couldn't see it clearly," Sun Qiang said painfully. "The bar was so dark, I only saw one person hitting another, and then one person fell down. I really didn't see who did it."

"And your testimony..."

"Li Jianguo taught me," Sun Qiang said. "He gave me a picture of Chen Xiaohu and told me to memorize his appearance. He also told me how to say it, and even made up the details."

"What about the other two witnesses?"

"They were also hired by Li Jianguo. One was an employee of his company, and the other was the son of his friend," Sun Qiang said. "The three of us rehearsed our stories beforehand, so our testimonies were identical."

The truth is gradually coming to light.

"How much money did Li Jianguo give you afterward?" Zhao Gang asked.

"I took 40,000 yuan, and the other two each took 20,000 yuan," Sun Qiang said. "After I got the money, I regretted it. For the past few years, I haven't been able to sleep well every night, always feeling sorry for that young man. But I don't dare to appeal the case. Li Jianguo has some influence in the local area, and I'm afraid of his retaliation."

Lin Fan closed his notebook: "Sun Qiang, are you willing to write this down and sign it as proof?"

Sun Qiang hesitated for a long time before finally nodding: "I'm willing. I can't make any more mistakes."

When we left Sun Qiang's house, it was almost dusk. Winter days are short; it was only a little past four in the afternoon when it started to get dark.

"What's the next step?" Zhao Gang asked.

"Find two more witnesses," Lin Fan said. "If their testimonies are also overturned, the case can be reopened."

"What about Li Qiang and his son?"

"Let's not do anything for now," Lin Fan thought for a moment. "We'll wait until we have enough evidence. Li Jianguo has been operating locally for many years, and his network of relationships is complicated. It would be better to alert him."

The two walked to the car and were about to get in when Lin Fan's phone rang.

It was Wang Juan calling.

"Lin Fan, come back quickly! Baby has a fever!"

When Lin Fan arrived home, it was already six o'clock in the evening.

Upon entering, I saw Wang Juan pacing around the living room, holding her baby, while her mother wiped the child's body with warm water. The baby's face was flushed, eyes closed, and breathing somewhat rapidly.

"Have you taken my temperature?" Lin Fan put down his briefcase and walked over quickly.

"I took her temperature, it's 38.6 degrees Celsius." Wang Juan's eyes were red. "She was fine this afternoon, but she started having a fever after waking up from her nap."

Lin Fan took the child and felt that the tiny body was alarmingly hot. The baby seemed to sense that his father had returned, and slightly opened his eyes, whimpering softly.

"Go to the hospital," Lin Fan decided immediately.

"We've already taken her to the community clinic, but the doctor said the pediatric ward is packed. They told us to try physical cooling methods first, and if the fever doesn't go down by tomorrow, we should go back," Wang Juan said. "I asked my dad to buy some fever reducers at the pharmacy, but the baby is too young to take them without consulting a doctor."

Lin Fan looked at the child, then at his wife's anxious face, and made a decision: "Go to the city children's hospital."

"Now?"

"Yes, let's go now," Lin Fan said. "I know the hospitals in the city, but there are few pediatricians during the Spring Festival, and the waiting time is very long. The city children's hospital has good facilities, and I have a classmate who is a doctor there. I'll call and contact him."

Wang Juan hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Ten minutes later, the family of three got into the car and headed to the hospital. Lin Fan called his old classmate while driving.

"Old Chen, my son has a fever, almost 39 degrees Celsius, and we're on our way to the hospital. Yes, he's one year and ten months old. His symptoms are just fever, no cough or runny nose. Okay, I'll be there in about an hour. Thank you."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Fan glanced at the rearview mirror. Wang Juan was sitting in the back seat, holding the baby, gently patting the child's back and humming a lullaby. The baby's eyes were closed, occasionally letting out a sob.

"Don't worry, everything will be fine once we get to the hospital," Lin Fan reassured him.

"I know," Wang Juan said softly, "I just felt anxious seeing him in pain."

The highway was nearly deserted on a winter night. Lin Fan drove very steadily, trying to avoid any bumps. The buildings outside the car window rushed past.

Less than an hour later, the car pulled into the hospital. The children's hospital was located in the city center, and the emergency room was brightly lit. Lin Fan parked the car, picked up the child, and quickly walked into the emergency room lobby.

The lobby was indeed packed with people. Parents holding children, patients pushing IV stands, and medical staff moving about—all sorts of sounds mingled together.

"Lin Fan!" A middle-aged doctor in a white coat walked out from the crowd.

"Old Chen!" Lin Fan greeted him, "Thank you for your help."

"Don't mention it." Dr. Chen looked at the baby. "Come with me, everything's arranged."

Having connections makes things much easier. They bypassed the long queue and went straight into the examination room. Dr. Chen carefully examined the baby, listening to his heart and lungs and checking his throat.

"Your tonsils are a bit red and swollen, which is probably caused by a viral infection leading to the fever," Dr. Chen said. "Let's do a blood test to check."

The baby cried his heart out during the blood draw, and Wang Juan was heartbroken and tears streamed down her face. Lin Fan held the child tightly and gently comforted him.

Twenty minutes later, the results came back. White blood cell count was normal, but lymphocyte count was high, confirming a viral infection.

"It's not a big problem," Dr. Chen said. "I'll prescribe some fever reducers and antiviral medication. Go home, drink plenty of water, and use physical methods to lower your temperature. If the fever doesn't break by tomorrow, or if other symptoms appear, come back for a follow-up check-up."

"Don't I need to be hospitalized?" Wang Juan asked.

"Not for now. Viral infection takes time; it usually takes two or three days for the fever to subside," Dr. Chen said. "Hospitalization involves the same treatment, and there's a higher risk of cross-infection."

After prescribing the medicine, Dr. Chen saw them to the door: "Lin Fan, drive carefully on your way home so late."

Lin Fan said, "Thank you so much this time."

"Don't talk about this among classmates. By the way," Dr. Chen lowered his voice, "I heard you're working at the Political and Legal Affairs Commission now? You're doing quite well."

"It's just a regular job," Lin Fan smiled. "I'll treat you to a meal once the baby is better."

"Okay, I'll wait."

On the way back, the baby took fever-reducing medicine and slowly fell asleep, his breathing becoming more stable. Wang Juan finally breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back in her seat.

"That scared me to death," she whispered.

"That's how all parents are," Lin Fan said. "There will be many more things like this in the future."

The night was deep, and the city lights in the distance gradually blurred. Lin Fan turned on the radio and tuned to a music channel, where gentle melodies flowed through the car.

"Oh, right," Wang Juan suddenly said, "I passed by a few housing developments in the provincial capital today and checked the prices."

"How is it?"

"New apartments in the city center, the better ones cost six or seven thousand yuan per square meter. In the suburbs they're cheaper, some as low as two or three thousand," Wang Juan said. "But after thinking about it carefully, now might not be the right time to buy."

"Oh? Why?" Lin Fan was a little surprised. His wife had been very eager to buy a house before.

"I asked a few friends who work in real estate, and they said that housing prices in the provincial capital have risen too fast in the past two years and there's a bubble. Moreover, the government is regulating the market, so it might cool down soon," Wang Juan said. "We have enough money, but we need to use it wisely. I want to observe for another year or two and buy when prices are reasonable."

Lin Fan nodded inwardly. His wife, being a businesswoman, truly had a keen eye for the market. In fact, according to his memory, housing prices in the provincial capital did experience a slight correction in 2010-2011, before truly taking off after 2012.

"You're right," Lin Fan said. "Buying a house is a big deal, there's no rush. Our current house in Gangcheng is enough. Maybe we'll find a better opportunity in half a year."

"Hmm." Wang Juan looked out the window. "And I'm thinking, instead of buying a house, why not buy a commercial property? The provincial capital's commercial development is rapid, and commercial properties might have greater appreciation potential."

This idea impressed Lin Fan. In his previous life, many people only focused on residential properties, neglecting the value of commercial real estate. In fact, during the urbanization process, the appreciation potential of shops in prime locations often exceeds that of residential properties.

"You can look into it," Lin Fan said. "If a good opportunity arises, we can consider it."

The couple chatted about their future plans as the car drove smoothly through the night. In the back seat, the baby slept soundly, his fever seemingly subsiding a bit.

When I got home, my parents were still awake, waiting. They were only relieved to see their child return safely.

"Did you take your medicine? What did the doctor say?"

"I ate. The doctor said it's a viral infection, just need to drink more water and rest more," Wang Juan said. "Mom and Dad, you should go to sleep now, we still need to prepare for the New Year tomorrow."

After settling the child in, the couple finally lay down, exhausted. Wang Juan fell asleep quickly, but Lin Fan couldn't sleep for a while.

He got up, went to his study, turned on his computer, and began to organize the progress of the investigation into Chen Xiaohu's case.

Sun Qiang's recantation of his testimony is a major breakthrough, but it is not enough to completely overturn the original verdict. They need the testimonies of two other witnesses, they need to find the physical evidence that was lost back then, and they need to find out why Li Jianguo and his son framed Chen Xiaohu.

And then there's lawyer Zhang Ming. What role did he play in this wrongful conviction? Was it simply a lack of professional competence, or did he take money from the Li family?

Lin Fan wrote down several keywords in his notebook: Li Jianguo, Li Qiang, Zhang Ming, lost physical evidence, false evidence.

Behind these clues may lie a much larger network.

What he has to do is to uncover this network bit by bit.

Outside the window, the night was deep.

In the distance, a few lights were still on in the residential buildings. Those were people like him, still awake late at night, perhaps working overtime, perhaps taking care of their families, or perhaps contemplating life.

The nights in this city are never completely quiet.

There are always people busy, always people striving, and always people protecting.

And he was one of them.

It's not for any grand goal, but simply to be true to my conscience, to let those who have been wronged see the light of day again, and to make this society more fair and just.

This is enough.

After shutting down the computer, Lin Fan returned to the bedroom. Wang Juan turned over in her sleep, and he gently lay down, pulling his wife into his arms.

The warmth of his body made him feel at ease.

There's still a lot to do tomorrow.