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

In mid-April, the weather in the steel city had already warmed up. The willows along the roadside were sprouting new buds, and the forsythia were blooming in bright yellow.

In the office of the Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Political and Legal Affairs Commission, Lin Fan stood by the window, holding a cup of tea that had gone cold. Three months into his term, this position was busier than he had imagined. Following the exoneration of Chen Xiaohu, a comprehensive rectification campaign had been launched within the political and legal system, with new leads and new problems emerging daily.

A knock came at the door.

"Please come in."

Zhao Gang pushed the door open and came in, holding a file folder in his hand, his face somewhat solemn.

"Secretary Lin, there's been progress on Zhang Jianguo's side."

Lin Fan turned around: "Sit down, and tell me slowly."

Zhao Gang sat down opposite him and opened the file bag: "As you instructed, we conducted a low-level investigation for three months. Starting with the clues provided by Li Jianguo, we also interviewed the parties involved and lawyers in several cases from back then. What we know now is that at least five cases that Zhang Jianguo handled or interfered with during his time as deputy director of the Gangdong branch have problems."

Which five cases?

"Three economic disputes and two criminal cases." Zhao Gang pulled out several documents. "All of them had obvious flaws in the evidence, but a verdict was ultimately reached. The parties involved appealed afterward, but to no avail."

Lin Fan flipped through the materials. One was a contract fraud case; the defendant insisted it was an economic dispute, not fraud, but crucial accounting documents were "lost" during the investigation. Another was an intentional injury case, very similar to the Li Qiang case, with highly consistent witness testimonies and problematic physical evidence.

"What do these cases have in common?" Lin Fan asked.

"The defendants were all ordinary people or small business owners with no background," Zhao Gang said. "The other side, on the other hand, were either locals with some connections or people like Li Jianguo who were willing to spend money."

"Where's the evidence? Direct evidence?"

"There is no direct evidence yet to prove that Zhang Jianguo accepted money," Zhao Gang said. "But there is indirect evidence. We checked Zhang Jianguo's spending records before he was transferred to the provincial department, and there were several large purchases suddenly added to his and his wife's accounts. They bought an expensive watch, the Rolex that Li Jianguo mentioned, which cost over 200,000 yuan. There were also his daughter's overseas study expenses, which cost over 300,000 yuan a year."

"How much is his salary?"

"At the time, he was a deputy director, and his annual take-home pay was only seventy or eighty thousand yuan," Zhao Gang said. "His wife was a middle school teacher, and her income was even more limited. These expenses clearly exceeded their normal income."

Lin Fan closed the materials and leaned back in his chair to think.

Three months of investigation, a low-level investigation, and only this much circumstantial evidence has been found. Zhang Jianguo is very careful, using cash transactions to leave no trace. Moreover, he's now in the provincial department, at the deputy director level, the same rank as Secretary Zhou, making the investigation even more cautious.

"Does Secretary Zhou know?" he asked.

"I haven't reported it yet, but I wanted to tell you first."

"Prepare the materials. I'll report to Secretary Zhou this afternoon," Lin Fan said. "Remember, all investigations must be conducted discreetly, with as few people involved as possible. Zhang Jianguo has worked in the provincial department for two years; his network of connections may have already extended into the province. We can't alert him."

"clear."

After Zhao Gang left, Lin Fan checked the time: 10:00 AM. He picked up the phone and dialed a number.

"Brother Xin, this is Lin Fan. Are you free today? Come with me to the car market."

"Yes, Secretary Lin, what's up?"

"I'm thinking of buying two cars, can you give me some advice?"

"Okay, I'm coming right now."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Fan got up to pack his things. He'd actually been thinking about buying a car for a while. Wang Juan's Honda SUV was several years old, and now that her business was booming, the car was becoming somewhat outdated. His sister's family was even worse off; since the old bureau chief was transferred and his car was confiscated, his brother-in-law, Sun Lin, had been picking up and dropping off his daughter, Niu Niu, every day by bicycle, rain or shine—it was heartbreaking to see.

In his past life, he was too busy with business and neglected his family. In this life, now that he has the means, he wants to make amends.

Half an hour later, Wang Xin arrived at the entrance of the Municipal Party Committee building by car. Lin Fan got into his car, and they headed straight for the auto city.

"What kind of car does Fanzi want to buy?" Wang Xin asked.

"One Range Rover, one Toyota Prado," Lin Fan said. "The Range Rover is for my wife, and the Prado is for my sister."

Wang Xin whistled: "That's a big spender. A Range Rover must cost over a million, right? A Prado would be five or six hundred thousand."

"Pretty much." Lin Fan smiled. "Wang Juan's business is doing well, she should get a better car. My sister's family has always taken good care of Wang Juan and me, now that we can afford it, we should show our appreciation."

When we arrived at the car dealership, we went to look at Land Rovers first. The salesperson at the 4S store was very enthusiastic; when they heard I wanted to buy a Range Rover, they immediately took me to see the latest model.

"This is a new arrival this year, a 5.0L V8, very powerful," the salesperson introduced. "We have two white ones in stock."

Lin Fan looked at it; the white car body had smooth lines and indeed looked impressive.

"This white one will do," he said. "Can the paperwork be completed today?"

"Yes, yes!" The salesperson's eyes lit up. "Full payment or loan?"

"Full payment."

"Okay, I'll go prepare the contract right away!"

Next, they went to look at Toyota. The Prado dealership was right next door, and they had green and white cars in stock. Lin Fan chose white, as it looked more composed and suitable for his brother-in-law.

The two cars, a Range Rover for 1.6 million and a Prado for 600,000, totaled over 2.2 million, which was nothing to Lin Fan. His current assets, including the market value of Moutai and Tencent stocks alone, exceeded 50 million, and Wang Juan's business generated a monthly net profit of around 500,000, making buying two cars a breeze.

The procedures were completed quickly: payment by card, insurance purchase, and temporary license plate application. Wang Xin helped run errands, and by 2 PM, all the paperwork was done.

"Fanzi, how do we get the car back?" Wang Xin asked.

"You drive the Land Cruiser, I'll drive the Range Rover," Lin Fan said. "Let's take it to my sister's house first."

The two cars drove out of the car market, one after the other. The smell of new cars and the smooth sound of the engines were definitely different.

After driving to his sister's building, Lin Fan called Lin Ping.

"Sis, are you home? Come downstairs for a bit."

"I'm here, what's up?"

"You'll find out when you get down."

A few minutes later, Lin Ping and Sun Lin came downstairs. They were stunned to see Lin Fan standing in front of a brand-new black Toyota Prado.

"Whose car is this...?" Lin Ping asked.

"These are yours." Lin Fan handed the keys to Sun Lin. "Brother-in-law, this will make it easier to pick up and drop off Niu Niu from now on."

Sun Lin was stunned and didn't take the key: "Xiao Fan, this...this is too valuable, we can't accept it."

"Why can't I accept it?" Lin Fan forcefully shoved the keys into his hand. "Niu Niu is in elementary school now, exposed to the elements every day. You might not care, but I do. Besides, I've troubled you a lot before. Now that I'm able, what's wrong with giving you a car?"

Lin Ping's eyes reddened: "Xiao Fan, I know how you mean it, but this car is too expensive..."

"It's not expensive, only a few hundred thousand." Lin Fan patted the roof of the car. "Go up and try it out, see if it suits you."

Sun Lin hesitated for a moment, then got into the car. He started the engine, and the sound was steady and powerful. He touched the steering wheel, then looked at the interior; he really liked it.

"This car... is really nice," he said softly.

"It's fine, keep it running." Lin Fan smiled. "Alright, I have something to do, I'll be going now. Wang Juan's car is still downstairs, I need to go back."

"Wait a minute," Lin Ping stopped him. "Come over for dinner tonight?"

"I can't today, I have to go back to work this afternoon," Lin Fan said. "Let's do it another day, I'll bring my baby Beibei over on the weekend."

After leaving his sister's house, Lin Fan drove his Range Rover with Wang Xin to his workplace to pick up the Lexus. The two cars drove to the Riverside Garden building, where Lin Fan called Wang Juan.

"Honey, come downstairs."

"What is it now? I'm changing the children's clothes."

"You'll find out when you get down. That's good news."

A few minutes later, Wang Juan carried Beibei downstairs. The baby followed behind, walking on her own. When she saw Lin Fan standing in front of a white Land Rover, Wang Juan was stunned.

"Whose car is this...?"

"Here you go." Lin Fan smiled and handed over the keys. "Happy birthday, even though it's a bit early."

Wang Juan's birthday is in May, which is a little over a week away.

"Are you crazy?" Wang Juan didn't take the keys. "This car must cost over a million, right? My Honda is perfectly fine, why would I want to switch to another car?"

"It's been five or six years, it's time to replace it." Lin Fan put the keys in her hand. "You have to go to the store every day, go to the provincial capital, and pick up and drop off the kids. Driving a better car will be safer and more comfortable."

Wang Juan looked at the keys in her hand, then at the brand-new white Land Rover in front of her, and her eyes slowly reddened.

"All you do is waste money..." she muttered, but a smile played on her lips.

The baby ran over: "Mommy, new car!"

"Yes, Mom's new car." Lin Fan picked up her son. "Come on, let's try it out."

Wang Juan got into the driver's seat, adjusted it, and touched the steering wheel. The leather seats, wood trim, and large central screen were indeed much more luxurious than her Honda.

"Do you like it?" Lin Fan asked.

"I like it, but it's too expensive," Wang Juan said. "Over a million yuan, how much could that buy..."

"Isn't the point of making money to spend it?" Lin Fan said. "You've worked so hard for so many years, it's time to enjoy yourself. Besides, this car is practical, spacious, and convenient for taking the kids out."

After the test drive, Wang Juan parked the car, still looking a little distressed about the money spent. Lin Fan knew she was just saying that; she was actually happy inside.

"I'm planning to give your Honda to Dad," Lin Fan said. "It's inconvenient for Dad to ride his motorcycle to the traffic police station every day. With a car, it will be easier for him to go anywhere."

Lin Fan said, "I'll take him to practice again tomorrow."

Wang Juan nodded and didn't say anything more. The two children excitedly surrounded their mother, asking about the new car.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Lin Fan dropped Wang Xin off at the factory and then returned to his own workplace. Zhou Wenyuan was waiting for him in his office.

"Have you bought the car?" Zhou Wenyuan asked with a smile.

"How did you know?" Lin Fan was taken aback.

"Xiao Zhao saw you guys go back to the office to pick up your cars. He said you bought a car, over a million yuan," Zhou Wenyuan said. "You're getting more and more generous these days."

"Wang Juan has worked hard; she deserves a better car." Lin Fan sat down. "I also bought my sister a Land Cruiser Prado; they've helped me a lot in the past."

"It's good to know how to be grateful." Zhou Wenyuan nodded. "Let's get down to business. How's the investigation with Zhang Jianguo going?"

Lin Fan recounted Zhao Gang's report in detail. Zhou Wenyuan listened and remained silent for a while.

"There's only circumstantial evidence, no direct evidence," he said. "In this situation, it's very difficult to take action against him."

"I know," Lin Fan said, "so I wanted to ask you, what's the next step?"

Zhou Wenyuan stood up and paced around the office: "Zhang Jianguo is now the head of the Provincial Public Security Bureau's Public Security Corps, a deputy director-level official. Without solid evidence, taking action against him rashly will provoke a reaction from the Provincial Public Security Bureau. Moreover, he has been operating in the steel city for many years, and his network of connections is complex. If we make a move that alerts him, we might not be able to find anything."

"What should we do then?"

"Continue the low-key investigation," Zhou Wenyuan said. "Start from the periphery, investigate those closely related to him: his wife, his daughter, his former subordinates. In particular, investigate the financial records of his daughter's overseas studies. If we can find large remittances from unknown sources, that will be a breakthrough."

"His daughter is in Australia, so it's difficult to investigate."

"We must investigate, even if it's difficult," Zhou Wenyuan said. "I'll contact some friends at the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection to see if we can coordinate with the banks to investigate cross-border fund flows. But this must be done discreetly, without alerting Zhang Jianguo."

"clear."

"Also," Zhou Wenyuan stopped, "you need to be careful. If Zhang Jianguo realizes he's being investigated, he might do something desperate. Didn't Li Jianguo warn you before that someone wanted to get you? I suspect he was referring to Zhang Jianguo's people."

Lin Fan nodded: "I'll be careful."

"Work is important, but safety is also crucial." Zhou Wenyuan patted him on the shoulder. "Now that you're the Deputy Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, at the level of a full-fledged division chief, you're a bigger target. When you go out on business, try to bring a driver with you and don't go out alone."

"it is good."

After leaving Zhou Wenyuan's office, Lin Fan returned to his own. Zhao Gang was already waiting for him.

"What did Secretary Zhou say?"

"Continue the low-key investigation, starting from the periphery," Lin Fan said. "Focus on investigating Zhang Jianguo's family, especially the source of his daughter's overseas studies funds. Also, investigate his former subordinates, what their current positions are, and whether they have any problems."

"Okay, I'll arrange it right away."

"Be careful with your methods," Lin Fan instructed. "All investigations must have a legitimate reason; you can't let people know that you're targeting Zhang Jianguo."

"clear."

After Zhao Gang left, Lin Fan checked the time; it was almost time to get off work. He picked up the phone and called his father.

"Dad, are you free tonight? I'd like to practice driving with you."

"Practicing driving? What kind of driving?" The father didn't understand.

"You can drive Wang Juan's Honda from now on," Lin Fan said. "I'll practice with you and help you get used to it."

"Oh dear, why would I drive a car? Riding a motorcycle is just fine..."

"Motorcycles aren't safe," Lin Fan said. "Just listen to me, I'll practice with you tonight."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Fan started packing his things. His phone rang; it was Wang Juan.

"Are you coming home for dinner tonight?"

"Yes, I'll practice driving with Dad first."

"Okay, I'll wait for you."

After I got off work, my father was already waiting downstairs. He seemed a little embarrassed when he saw me.

"Really open?"

"You'll get used to it after a while," Lin Fan said with a smile. "Come on, get in the car."

The Honda was parked on the side of the road. Lin Fan sat in the passenger seat, and his father sat in the driver's seat. He fastened his seatbelt, started the engine, and shifted gears.

"Drive slowly, drive around the neighborhood twice first," Lin Fan instructed.

My father drove very carefully and at a very slow speed. But after a few laps, he gradually got the hang of it.

"Not bad," the father said with a smile.

"This car is yours from now on," Lin Fan said. "It'll be convenient for you to go wherever you want."

"You're always wasting money," the father said. "But it's good to have a car. Sometimes when your mother wants to visit her old friends in the village, I can take her."

After practicing for more than an hour, it got dark. Lin Fan asked his father to drive back to Riverside Garden.

When they arrived home, the food was already on the table. Wang Juan was feeding the child, while her mother was serving soup in the kitchen.

"How's your practice going?" Wang Juan asked.

"It's fine, Dad drives well." Lin Fan washed his hands and sat down. "The car is his from now on."

"Is Dad happy?"

"I'm happy. I say I'm wasting money, but I'm actually quite pleased with myself."

After dinner, they put the child to bed. Lin Fan and Wang Juan sat on the sofa, watching the news on TV.

"How's the renovation of the store in the provincial capital going?" Lin Fan asked.

"It's almost done, it should be finished before May Day," Wang Juan said. "You have to come when we open on May Day!"

"I'll definitely go," Lin Fan said. "By the way, when it opens, should we invite Secretary Zhou to cut the ribbon? To give you some support."

Wang Juan thought for a moment and said, "Forget it, Secretary Zhou is so busy, let's not bother him. Besides, being too high-profile isn't good either. We're in business, so we should keep a low profile."

"That's true." Lin Fan nodded. "Then let's have a family celebration."

The news was broadcasting an economic case involving bribery of officials. Lin Fan watched, and suddenly thought of Zhang Jianguo.

"Wife, why do you think people are greedy?" he asked.

Wang Juan was taken aback: "Why are you suddenly asking this?"

"It's just a thought," Lin Fan said. "People like Zhang Jianguo, whose salaries aren't low, why do they still need to take money? Is it worth it to live in fear and anxiety after taking the money?"

"Maybe... at first you didn't think much of it, but then you couldn't stop," Wang Juan said. "Or you felt that everyone else was doing it, and you would be losing out if you didn't. Or maybe someone had some leverage over you and you had no choice but to do it."

Lin Fan thought about it and realized it made sense. Corruption is something you get into step by step. At first, it might just be having a meal or receiving a small gift, and you don't think much of it. Later, you get bolder, you start taking money to do favors, and eventually it becomes a habit; if you don't take it, it feels abnormal.

"It's better this way," he said, holding Wang Juan's hand. "We earn clean money and sleep soundly."

"Yes," Wang Juan leaned on his shoulder, "It doesn't matter how much money you have, what matters is that you feel at ease."

The news on TV finished, and they started showing a drama series. Lin Fan wasn't interested in watching it; his mind was preoccupied with Zhang Jianguo's situation.

Indirect evidence is available, but direct evidence is hard to find. Zhou Wenyuan said he wanted to investigate the source of his daughter's overseas study funds, which is a breakthrough, but it will take time.

Furthermore, if Zhang Jianguo really does realize this, what will he do? Will he retaliate? Will he hire someone to deal with him?

Li Jianguo's reminder and Zhou Wenyuan's admonition were not unfounded.

But he wasn't afraid. Having chosen this path, he was determined to continue.

In this life, he sought a stable and wealthy life. But stability is not retreat, and wealth is not weakness. What needs to be done must still be done.

"What are you thinking about?" Wang Juan asked.

"It's nothing," Lin Fan smiled. "I'm tired, let's go to sleep."

After turning off the TV, Wang Juan washed up and went to bed. She fell asleep quickly, but Lin Fan couldn't fall asleep for a while.

He got up, went to his study, turned on his computer, and reviewed Zhang Jianguo's materials again.

The five problematic cases spanned from 2004 to 2008, involving amounts ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of yuan. Although none of them provided direct evidence pointing to Zhang Jianguo, there were too many suspicious points.

After watching for a while, he turned off the computer and went back to his bedroom.

Wang Juan turned over in her sleep, and he gently lay down and pulled his wife into his arms.

The warmth of his body made him feel at ease.

No matter what storms lie ahead, with family by my side, there's nothing to fear.

Work must be done, and cases must be investigated.

But life must go on.