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

For Wang Xin, this past month has truly been a period of exhaustion and relentless effort. Company registration is far more complex than simply filling out a few forms.

The first hurdle was the name. "Xinfan Engineering Equipment Leasing Co., Ltd." was rejected during the name verification process at the Industry and Commerce Bureau because the character "Fan" was too common, easily misinterpreted, and had a high rate of name duplication with existing companies. Wang Xin racked his brains, changing it several times, and finally, on Lin Fan's suggestion, settled on "Dingli Special Equipment Leasing Co., Ltd.", which was approved. Just the name verification process alone required three trips to the Industry and Commerce Bureau, each time taking up most of the day.

Receiving the "Notification of Pre-Approval of Enterprise Name" is just the first step in a long journey. Next, a whole host of materials need to be prepared: the company's articles of association, shareholder resolutions, appointment documents for the legal representative, proof of registered address (the lease agreement for the fire department hasn't been formally signed yet, so a letter of intent and a copy of the property certificate are used as a temporary measure), capital verification report (although it's currently a subscribed capital system, Lin Fan decided to make it a paid-in capital to demonstrate strength and facilitate subsequent loans, so the money has to be deposited into a temporary account)... Each document has a fixed format and requirements; even a single typo or missing stamp is unacceptable.

Wang Xin had spent half his life working in the steel factory; he had never encountered anything like this before. Holding a template downloaded from the internet, and comparing it to the list sent by the intermediary, he painstakingly worked on each document, word by word, in the guesthouse room Lin Fan had booked for him. He often worked until midnight, his head spinning.

Running around to the Industry and Commerce Bureau, the Tax Bureau, the Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau, banks… the thresholds for each government office varied, and the attitudes of the staff were unpredictable. Sometimes, with complete materials and a good mood from the clerk, it was done on the first try; other times, even if the materials were prepared according to requirements, the other party could find some inexplicable flaw and make you go back and redo it. Wang Xin was a straightforward person. At first, he tried to reason with people, but after being rebuffed a few times, he learned his lesson. He put on a smile, said nice things, offered cigarettes when appropriate, and waited patiently when necessary. He finally understood that in this provincial capital, getting things done required more than just enthusiasm; you also needed perseverance and a bit of "insight."

The biggest hurdle was still the "Special Equipment Installation, Modification and Repair Permit." This qualification is issued by the housing and construction department, and the review process is extremely strict. There are rigid regulations regarding the company's registered capital, the number of professional and technical personnel, the qualifications of the technical manager, office space, equipment and tools, quality management system, and so on. Following these requirements, Wang Xin began searching everywhere for certified engineers and technicians. There weren't many certified people to begin with, and most already had stable jobs; who would want to work for a new company that hadn't even opened yet? He finally found two retired master craftsmen willing to work under his name, but the "consulting fees" they offered were shockingly high.

Wang Xin was so anxious that he developed blisters on his lips. That night, he called Lin Fan, his voice filled with anxiety: "Fanzi, these qualifications... are too difficult! Just finding the right people is driving me crazy. And then there are all those quality management manuals and safety production regulations—how am I supposed to write those?!"

Lin Fan sounded calm on the other end of the phone: "Brother Xin, don't rush. Qualifications are a threshold, so it's normal that it's difficult. Here's what we'll do: first, prepare the materials according to the most basic requirements, prepare as much as you can. I'll find a way to handle the engineer and technician issues. As for those documents and regulations, I'll have Yang Zhiyuan help find a knowledgeable intermediary or law firm, spend some money, and let them handle it for us. Let professionals do professional things; let's not try to figure it out ourselves."

Sure enough, within two days, Lin Fan introduced Wang Xin to a man surnamed Hu, an intermediary who specialized in helping companies obtain qualifications. He supposedly had connections within the housing and construction system, and Lin Fan had indirectly contacted him through Old Yan, the former branch captain of the steel company. Hu was efficient and charged hefty fees, but he was undeniably professional. After reviewing Dingli Company's basic information, he offered a "step-by-step" plan: first, concentrate efforts on obtaining the most basic level of license, enough to rent out the crane for work; after the company had been operating for a year or two and accumulated experience, then upgrade the qualifications. He could handle personnel affiliation, document preparation, material organization, and application follow-up all in one package, provided that the company's basic conditions (such as site and equipment intentions) were genuine and credible.

Wang Xin grasped at this opportunity like a lifeline and immediately connected with Hu, the intermediary. With professional guidance, things finally started to fall into place. Although each step was still tedious, at least they knew which direction to focus their efforts in.

While Wang Xin was racking his brains over various licenses and qualifications, Lin Fan was making good progress on another "front," and could even be described as riding high.

During this month, he would receive calls from Minister Li or invitations from Director Liu every few days. Sometimes it was a formal dinner with seven or eight people at a table, where he would be introduced to some new friends; other times it was just three or five close friends, who would find a quiet private restaurant or teahouse to drink, chat, and strengthen their relationships.

Through Minister Li, Lin Fan also met the heads of several other departments within the Provincial Fire Brigade, such as those in charge of publicity and those in charge of logistics and procurement. Although not directly related, listening to their discussions about the dynamics and policy trends within the system was still beneficial. Minister Li introduced him to mostly honest and upright people who drank readily and spoke frankly. Lin Fan maintained a good balance, offering toasts when appropriate, listening attentively, and showing support when necessary, without trying to steal the spotlight while also demonstrating his knowledge and sincerity. After several meetings, everyone felt that this young assistant Lin, though young, was composed, sensible, and had a clear background (Zhou Wenyuan's assistant), making him someone worth befriending.

But Director Liu of the vehicle management office had a completely different style. Director Liu had a wide circle of friends from all walks of life, and his dinner parties were often more lively and down-to-earth. Through Director Liu, Lin Fan met several more people: a used car dealer, a driving school principal, an auto parts wholesaler, and even two squadron leaders in charge of traffic enforcement. These people might not be high-ranking, but they all possessed real influence and connections in their respective fields.

Lin Fan adopted a different approach when dealing with these people. He stopped mentioning Zhou Wenyuan excessively and instead used the excuse that "Brother Wang Xin has started a crane company, and we'll be troubling you all a lot in the future," adopting a more humble and down-to-earth attitude. He had a good capacity for alcohol but didn't drink excessively; he was eloquent but not slick. After several drinking sessions, the used car dealer patted his chest and said that if his company needed to replace or dispose of old vehicles, they should contact him, guaranteeing fair prices; the driving school principal said he could help introduce reliable truck drivers; the parts dealer said he would offer the most favorable supply prices; and the two traffic police captains even hinted that as long as the company's vehicles had complete documentation and operated legally, they could make things easier for him with minor issues on the road.

Lin Fan knew that these promises made at the dinner table couldn't be taken entirely seriously, but they couldn't be completely ignored either. It was a way to warm up and lay the groundwork for a relationship. He always did it perfectly—at the end, he'd leave each person's car trunk with two bottles of liquor and two cartons of cigarettes, the value kept to a few hundred yuan—not too much, not too little, just a token of his appreciation; he would never give cash. The other person would politely decline, but then accept it with a smile. Gradually, they went from being "Director Liu's friend" to "Brother Lin."

Of course, Lin Fan adhered to one absolute premise in all these social interactions: he would never use Zhou Wenyuan's name to seek improper benefits, and all interactions would remain within the scope of normal interpersonal relationships, avoiding sensitive topics and never crossing any lines. He knew that his greatest reliance and bottom line was Zhou Wenyuan's trust, which he would never overdraw.

That evening, another small gathering took place. Minister Li hosted, inviting Lin Fan, Director Zhao from the Political Department, and a new friend—a vice president from the Provincial Special Equipment Inspection and Research Institute, surnamed Qian. The location was a very secluded private restaurant.

After a few rounds of drinks, the conversation somehow drifted to the inspection of special equipment. Vice President Qian remarked with some emotion, "The country is tightening its grip on the safety of special equipment, and the inspection standards are getting higher and higher, which is a good thing. But some companies, especially newcomers, always feel that we're holding them back. Actually, we're just following the rules; safety is paramount."

Lin Fan's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately picked up his wine glass: "Dean Qian is absolutely right! Safety is absolutely the top priority! To be honest, I have a brother who is setting up a crane rental company, and all he talks about every day is qualifications and safety. He always says, if you don't even have a good grasp of the equipment, how can you dare to rent it out for work? Wouldn't that be harming yourself and others? But they're just starting out, and they're completely clueless about the ins and outs and standards involved. They're afraid of not doing something properly."

Minister Li chimed in with a smile, "Old Qian, the company Xiao Lin mentioned is the one that rented our old training base. The young men there are quite honest; they're serious about getting things done."

Vice President Qian glanced at Lin Fan and smiled, "Renting your old base? I know the place, it's big enough. It's good that you want to do practical things. The key to special equipment inspection lies in routine maintenance and standardized operation. New equipment is fine, there's factory inspection, but regular supervision and inspection, and the operators' certification are crucial."

Lin Fan quickly poured wine for Vice Dean Qian: "Dean Qian, your words are invaluable! I must have my brother remember them and treat them like sacred decrees! Once the company is truly operational, we'll inevitably need the guidance of experts from our Special Inspection Institute. At that time, please offer your guidance, criticism, and education as needed, and make sure they remain vigilant about safety!"

These words were spoken sincerely, yet conveyed a strong sense of authority. Vice Dean Qian nodded: "It's good that the young man has this attitude. The safety regulations and inspection procedures are all publicly available; just follow them. If you encounter any technical difficulties, you can discuss them as long as it's compliant with regulations."

There was a deeper meaning in those words. Lin Fan understood immediately and raised his glass again: "Then I'll thank Dean Qian on behalf of my brother!"

This dinner yielded far more benefits than expected. It not only strengthened relationships with Minister Li and Director Zhao, but more importantly, it established a connection with the Special Equipment Inspection Institute. In the future, when the company encounters annual equipment inspections, personnel certifications, or even technical hurdles, having a knowledgeable person at the vice president level to offer guidance or expedite the process will be invaluable.

When the event ended, Lin Fan, as usual, prepared a small but thoughtful gift. For Vice Dean Qian, he specially added two boxes of fine tea.

On the way back, Lin Fan sat in the taxi, gazing at the dazzling night view outside the window, lost in thought. While Wang Xin was tackling tough challenges on the front lines, he was laying the groundwork behind the scenes. Licenses and qualifications were the "hard barriers," while these personal connections were the "soft environment." If the hard barriers couldn't be overcome, one couldn't even get in; if the soft environment wasn't handled well, even if one got in, progress would be difficult. The two complemented each other and were indispensable.

He sent Wang Xin a message: "Brother Xin, don't worry too much about the qualifications. Just follow Hu the intermediary's steps. Also, I met a vice president of the Special Equipment Inspection Institute today, which might make things smoother for equipment inspection in the future. Hang in there, the light is at the end of the tunnel."

Wang Xin quickly replied with just one word: "Okay!" followed by a grinning emoji.

Lin Fan smiled too. He could imagine Wang Xin probably still working late into the night, organizing those tedious documents, but with hope, it was all worth it, no matter how tired he was.

When he got home, Wang Juan was still awake and waiting for him in the living room. "Did you drink again?" she asked, smelling the alcohol on him.

"Yes, I had a chat with the leaders from the fire department and the Special Inspection Institute." Lin Fan took off his coat. "Are the kids asleep?"

"I went to bed early." Wang Juan poured him a glass of warm water. "You seem to have been having a lot of social engagements lately? Are you alright?"

"It's nothing, it's all legitimate networking, just paving the way for Brother Xin." Lin Fan took a sip of water, then held Wang Juan's hand. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Once the company is on track, everything will be fine."

Wang Juan looked at his profile, which was a little tired but with clear eyes, and gently leaned on his shoulder: "I know you know what I'm doing. Just don't overwork yourself."

"I'm not tired." Lin Fan hugged his wife, feeling the warmth of home. All the scheming and caution he put into building his network was to protect this stability and warmth. And expanding his network and starting a business were to make this protection stronger and more sustainable.

Night deepened, and the provincial capital gradually fell asleep. But many people like Lin Fan were still soberly planning their future and persevering for their dreams and responsibilities. Their stories intertwined with the pulse of this city, forming its inexhaustible vitality.