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

March 1st, at six o'clock in the morning, just as dawn was breaking.

Lin Fan drove his white Lexus LX570, with Wang Xin in the passenger seat. The two drove out of the provincial capital and headed northwest along the highway. The wind farm was located in the mountainous area at the provincial border, about 200 kilometers from the provincial capital, a two-and-a-half-hour drive.

Wang Xin was wearing a brand new set of work clothes today, and his hair was neatly combed, but the dark circles under his eyes revealed that he hadn't slept well last night.

"Nervous?" Lin Fan glanced at him and asked with a smile.

"A little," Wang Xin honestly admitted. "Although I've done a lot of odd jobs before, I'm still not confident about working on such a big project for two years."

"That's normal." Lin Fan handed him a bottle of water. "The first time I went to Tu County with Brother Zhou to take up my post, I woke up three times that night."

Wang Xin took a sip of water and a deep breath: "But seeing those six vehicles drive into the base in such a neat line makes me feel more at ease. Fanzi, do you think we can take this first step steadily?"

"Whether we can proceed steadily depends not on words, but on actions." Lin Fan looked ahead, his tone calm. "We bought the best equipment, trained our personnel for several months, and did all the necessary preparations. The rest is about discovering and solving problems in real-world practice."

Wang Xin nodded and stopped talking, only watching the scenery rushing past the window.

At 7:30, the car exited the highway and entered a mountainous county road. The road conditions deteriorated significantly, with more curves and steeper slopes. After driving for another forty minutes, a wide valley appeared ahead. In the distance, dozens of white wind turbine bases stood on the mountain ridge.

"We've arrived." Wang Xin sat up straight.

The car turned onto a newly constructed access road and bumped along. A large blue sign stood by the roadside: "Construction Site of Section 1, North China Wind Power Base, State Energy Group".

After driving for a few more minutes, a temporary construction area came into view. Dozens of prefabricated houses made of corrugated steel sheets were neatly arranged, divided into several areas: the project headquarters, construction headquarters, supervision headquarters, and living quarters. Various construction vehicles were parked on the open ground: excavators, loaders, concrete mixer trucks, dump trucks...

Lin Fan parked the car in front of the project site's prefabricated houses. The two got out of the car, and Wang Xin took out two safety helmets from the trunk—orange ones with the words "Dingli Lifting" printed on them.

I put on a safety helmet and entered the project office. Upon entering, I saw a project schedule, safety regulations, and an organizational chart hanging on the wall. Several technicians in overalls were busy at work.

"Is Manager Liu here?" Wang Xin asked a young technician.

"Manager Liu is holding a morning meeting in the conference room on the second floor. You are..."

"We are from Dingli Lifting Company, and our equipment is arriving on site today," said Wang Xin.

The technician looked them up and down, then pointed to the stairs: "Second floor, turn left, first room."

The two went upstairs and waited for a while at the conference room door. The door opened, and more than a dozen people wearing hard hats filed out. The last one to come out was a middle-aged man in his forties, of medium build, with dark skin, clearly someone who spent most of his time on construction sites.

"Hello Manager Liu, I am Wang Xin from Dingli Company." Wang Xin stepped forward and handed over his business card.

Manager Liu took the business card, glanced at it, and then looked up at Lin Fan: "And this is...?"

Manager Liu's eyes lit up, and he immediately extended his hand enthusiastically: "Section Chief Lin! It's an honor to meet you! The director called me yesterday, saying you were coming to visit today. Welcome, welcome!"

Lin Fan shook hands with Manager Liu: "Manager Liu, you're too kind. We're just here to check in. We hope you'll take care of us for the next two years."

"Don't mention it! It's all for the project's benefit." Manager Liu smiled sincerely. "Come on, let's sit in my office."

Manager Liu's office wasn't large, containing only a desk, a few chairs, and a filing cabinet. Various blueprints covered the walls. He personally made tea for the two of them, then sat down: "Has the equipment arrived?"

"The first batch of four units has arrived at the base and will be ready to be driven over today," Wang Xin said. "The remaining two units will arrive tomorrow."

"Okay, okay." Manager Liu opened the construction plan on the table. "According to the schedule, your first work area is on the mountaintop platform, mainly for hoisting the first section of the wind turbine tower. The site has been leveled, and the embedded parts have been checked. The weather forecast says there might be gusts this afternoon. If the wind force exceeds level four, work must be suspended. Safety first."

"Understood." Wang Xin nodded. "Our people all have high-altitude work permits, and they've received thorough safety training."

"That's good." Manager Liu looked at Lin Fan. "Section Chief Lin, rest assured, this project is a key project for the group, and everyone from top to bottom attaches great importance to it. The director has given instructions, and I will definitely give my full support to Dingli Company's work. If you encounter any difficulties, feel free to contact me."

Lin Fan knew that this politeness was mostly out of respect for Zhou Wenyuan. But he also realized that Manager Liu was a genuine person, not the kind who just talked a good game.

"Manager Liu, it's most important to keep things strictly business," Lin Fan said earnestly. "Although our company is just starting out, we understand the rules. We will do our job well; and we will fully cooperate where cooperation is needed."

These words were spoken neither humbly nor arrogantly, expressing both attitude and hinting at the bottom line.

Manager Liu nodded appreciatively: "Section Chief Lin is a sensible man. That's for the best. To be honest, I'm most afraid of partners who act recklessly just because they have connections. There's no room for carelessness when it comes to engineering matters. If you follow the rules, I guarantee there won't be any obstacles or difficulties."

The three chatted about the project details for a while, and then Manager Liu called over the head of the construction department, an engineer surnamed Zhao, who was in his thirties, wore glasses, and looked very capable.

"Mr. Zhao, this is General Manager Wang from Dingli Company. Take them to the site to take a look and hand over the work area," Manager Liu instructed.

"Okay, Manager Liu." Engineer Zhao turned to Wang Xin and Lin Fan, "Gentlemen, please follow me."

As they left the project site, Engineer Zhao led the way in a pickup truck, with Lin Fan following behind in his car. The construction access road was even more rugged, and the car bounced violently.

After driving for about twenty minutes and climbing a hillside, the view suddenly opened up. It was a leveled mountaintop platform, about the size of two football fields. On one side of the platform, some large components were already piled up: the first section of a silver-white wind turbine tower, which looked to be more than thirty meters long and over four meters in diameter; and several boxes of auxiliary equipment.

At the edge of the platform, a dozen workers were making final preparations. Seeing Zhao's vehicle, a foreman-like man ran over.

"Engineer Zhao!"

"Old Chen, this is General Manager Wang from Dingli Lifting Company," Engineer Zhao introduced. "Their equipment arrived today; they're responsible for the tower hoisting. Please hand over the work area and explain all the important points."

Old Chen was a worker in his fifties, his face etched with deep wrinkles. He shook hands with Wang Xin, his voice booming: "Mr. Wang, everything is ready on site. The foundation bearing capacity has been tested, and there are no problems. There are just two things to note: First, the wind is strong on this mountaintop; we can't work if the wind exceeds level four. Second, there's a small slope on the west side of the platform, so we need to be especially careful with the crane outriggers."

Wang Xin listened attentively, nodding occasionally. Lin Fan, on the other hand, carefully observed the surrounding environment. The view from the mountaintop was excellent, overlooking the entire valley, with construction machinery roaring in the distance, a scene of bustling activity.

"Mr. Wang, when will your equipment arrive?" Engineer Zhao asked.

Wang Xin glanced at his watch: "They should be here soon. They left the base at five in the morning, so..."

As they were talking, a heavy roar of engines came from down the mountain. Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw four yellow XCMG truck cranes slowly driving up the winding mountain road. Leading the way was the 160-ton behemoth, followed by two 70-ton cranes and one 30-ton crane.

The vehicles drove onto the platform and stopped in sequence. Eight drivers jumped out of the cabs, all from Dingli Company. The leader was a seasoned driver in his forties surnamed Ma, whom Wang Xin had poached from a state-owned enterprise with a high salary; he was very experienced.

"Master Ma!" Wang Xin greeted him.

"Mr. Wang!" Master Ma took off his helmet and wiped his sweat. "I encountered a small problem on the road, which delayed me by twenty minutes. But it's all resolved."

"Are the people and the vehicle alright?"

"All is well," said Master Ma.

The drivers gathered around, and Lin Fan noticed that the seven "younger brothers" from his hometown were among them. After several months of training, they looked much more mature, dressed neatly in their work clothes, and their eyes showed seriousness.

"This is Engineer Zhao from the project team, and this is Old Chen from the construction team," Wang Xin introduced them. "From now on, we'll be working here. Follow orders, safety first, got it?"

"Got it!" the drivers and safety officer answered in unison.

The handover officially began. Old Chen, along with Master Ma and several key drivers, inspected the site and explained the precautions. Wang Xin listened attentively, occasionally interjecting to ask questions about details. Lin Fan and Engineer Zhao stood aside, observing the entire process.

"Section Chief Lin, your General Manager Wang is very professional," Engineer Zhao suddenly said.

"Oh? What do you mean?"

"It's clear he's not the type to just wash his hands of things," Engineer Zhao said, adjusting his glasses. "His questions are spot-on, and he pays close attention to detail. This is the kind of partner we welcome most."

Lin Fan smiled and said, "President Wang has over ten years of experience managing a fleet in a state-owned enterprise, so he has a wealth of practical experience. Although our company is new, we dare not be careless in our work."

"That's good." Engineer Zhao nodded. "Wind turbine hoisting may seem simple, but it's actually very technically demanding. A single section of the tower weighs over a hundred tons, and when hoisted to a height of tens of meters, the bolt holes must be precisely aligned; even a centimeter's difference won't work. Moreover, the weather on this mountain changes rapidly, alternating between sunshine and rain, making it difficult to determine the optimal working window."

As they were talking, it seemed that Master Ma had encountered a problem. He and Old Chen were standing on the west side of the platform, pointing at the small slope and arguing about something.

Lin Fan and Engineer Zhao walked over.

"What's wrong?"

"General Manager Wang, Section Chief Lin, there's a problem here." Master Ma frowned. "Although this slope isn't very steep, one of the 160-ton crane's outriggers is right at the edge of the slope after it's deployed. I'm worried that the load-bearing capacity isn't enough, and what if it settles during operation..."

Old Chen said, "We've tested it, and the foundation's bearing capacity is fine. Besides, this location was designed this way; if we moved it, the crane's boom wouldn't be able to reach the lifting point."

Wang Xin crouched down and carefully examined the ground. Lin Fan also observed it: the slope was about five degrees, and the surface was compacted gravel and soil. Theoretically, it should be fine, but as Master Ma said, safety is paramount.

"Master Ma, based on the most conservative estimate, how much load can this location withstand?" Lin Fan asked.

Master Ma did some mental calculations: "The crane's own weight plus counterweight is about 120 tons. Assuming a maximum lifting load of 100 tons, the most unfavorable outrigger might experience a force of up to 60 tons. If the ground bearing capacity is uniform, there's no problem. But this is the edge of a slope, so I'm worried about localized settlement."

"Could we add a backing plate?" Engineer Zhao suggested.

"We definitely need to add a base plate, but the key is the foundation underneath it," Master Ma said cautiously.

The situation reached a stalemate. Wang Xin checked his watch; it was already 10 a.m. If this problem wasn't resolved, work might not be able to begin today. A stalled first task on the first day was not a good sign.

Lin Fan pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Old Chen, does your construction team have any small geological drilling equipment?"

Old Chen was taken aback: "Yes, there are, but..."

"Could we drill two test holes at the outrigger location to take a soil sample? It doesn't need to be too deep, two or three meters will do," Lin Fan said. "If there's no weak layer below, we'll proceed; if there is, we'll figure something out."

Engineer Zhao's eyes lit up: "This is a great idea! It's intuitive and convincing. Old Chen, can your equipment be used immediately?"

"Yes! I'll have someone go get it right away!" Old Chen turned and ran.

Twenty minutes later, a small drilling rig was delivered to the site. The workers drilled two test holes at the locations designated by Master Ma and took out soil samples. Master Ma carefully examined the soil samples: they were all dense gravelly soil, without silt or loose layers.

"Now I'm relieved." Master Ma finally smiled. "The foundation is fine. Adding two more layers of roadbed slabs will give us double the protection. We can get started!"

With the problem solved, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Wang Xin gave Lin Fan a grateful look—at this crucial moment, it was still Fanzi who had the solution.

Next came the actual hoisting operation. The four cranes were positioned according to the pre-arranged plan, their outriggers extended, and the support plates in place. Master Ma served as the overall commander, coordinating the actions of each crane via walkie-talkie.

"Car number one, lift the hook!"

"Car number two, make a U-turn!"

"Car number three, slow down, keep in sync!"

The first section of the massive tower was slowly lifted off the ground, and with the coordinated operation of four cranes, it rose steadily into the air. Everyone held their breath, looking up at this behemoth moving through the air.

Lin Fan also looked up. The sunlight was dazzling, and he squinted as he watched the tower slowly move under the blue sky, its shadow cast on the hillside like a giant pendulum. Master Ma's steady commands came through the walkie-talkie, the crane engine emitted a deep roar, and the steel cable made a rhythmic sound as it rubbed against the pulleys.

At that moment, he suddenly understood what Wang Xin meant when he said he was "not confident." This wasn't just hoisting a shipping container on flat ground; it was suspending hundreds of tons of weight dozens of meters in the air with equipment worth tens of millions of yuan. The slightest mistake could lead to a major accident.

But he also saw hope. He saw the drivers' focused expressions, Master Ma's skillful command, and Wang Xin's calm demeanor despite his nervousness. This team, after several months of integration and training, had acquired the ability to fight tough battles.

The tower smoothly moved above the foundation and began its slow descent. The workers below looked up, using hand gestures to direct the fine-tuning. Five centimeters, three centimeters, one centimeter…

"In position!" came the shout over the walkie-talkie.

The tower was placed steadily on the embedded parts, with the bolt holes precisely aligned. A brief cheer erupted from the site.

"Great!" Engineer Zhao clapped his hands loudly. "Successful on the first try! Beautiful!"

Old Chen also gave a thumbs up: "Master Ma, your skills are superb!"

Master Ma wiped the sweat from his brow, a relieved smile spreading across his face. Wang Xin was even more excited, giving each driver a high-five in celebration.

The first lift was successful.

The rest of the work went much more smoothly. By noon, they had successfully hoisted three tower sections. Although the speed wasn't fast, they proceeded steadily and prioritized safety.

At lunchtime, Lin Fan and Wang Xin ate in the project's canteen. The canteen was a temporary shed with dozens of long tables. The workers lined up with their trays to get their food, which was very simple: two meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, rice, steamed buns, and soup.

Lin Fan noticed that the drivers from Dingli Company were sitting together, discussing the operational details from the morning while eating. The youngest, Lin Xiaobing, was taking notes in his notebook while eating.

"The soldier is very serious," Lin Fan said.

"Yes, this kid is willing to learn." Wang Xin nodded. "Master Ma likes him quite a bit, saying that although he lacks experience, he is meticulous and obedient. I plan to focus on training him."

As we were eating, Manager Liu came over with his tray: "Section Chief Lin, General Manager Wang, do you mind if I sit here?"

"Please have a seat, Manager Liu." Lin Fan shifted his position.

Manager Liu sat down, took a bite of food, and said, "I listened to the report this morning, and the hoisting process was very standardized. Especially the foundation treatment, you handled it very professionally. To be honest, I was a little worried before that you got in through connections, but now it seems I was overthinking it."

"Manager Liu, you flatter me," Wang Xin said. "We're just following the rules."

"Just follow the rules," Manager Liu said earnestly. "This project has a two-year construction period, spanning spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and we might encounter any kind of weather. The most difficult part of construction in mountainous areas isn't the technology, but dealing with emergencies. You'll encounter strong winds, heavy rain, dense fog, and even snow in the future. But as long as you adhere to the principle of safety first and follow the procedures, there won't be any major problems."

"We've got it," Lin Fan said.

Construction continued in the afternoon. After hoisting two more tower sections, the weather, as predicted, picked up and became windy. The anemometer showed gusts reaching level five.

"That's it!" Master Ma decisively ordered.

The crane began to retract its boom and legs, and the equipment was moved back to a safe area. The workers also began to descend the mountain. Although the first day's work only lasted half a day, it was a good start.

On the way back, Wang Xin sat in the passenger seat, looking tired but with bright eyes.

"Fanzi, you've passed the first test today."

"Yeah, we passed." Lin Fan said, driving. "But this is just the beginning. Manager Liu is right, anything can happen in two years. You need to be prepared."

"I was prepared." Wang Xin looked out the window at the mountains rushing past. "Actually, what I'm most gratified about today isn't how well we did the job, but the performance of our team. Master Ma gave excellent command, the drivers cooperated seamlessly, and even those few newbies didn't let us down. This shows that our previous training wasn't in vain."

"This is all thanks to you, Mr. Wang," Lin Fan said with a smile.

"No, it's all thanks to everyone," Wang Xin said earnestly. "Fanzi, to be honest, when I saw the tower being hoisted up today, I suddenly felt that all the hard work these past few months had paid off. Our company is really getting things done."

Lin Fan didn't reply, but simply smiled and nodded.

Yes, they've started.

From conceiving the idea last June to having equipment delivered this March, in just nine months, a new company went from nothing to something, obtaining the necessary qualifications, purchasing equipment, building a team, and signing a 50 million yuan contract. Today, standing atop the wind farm, they completed their first lift using their own equipment.

This process was filled with hard work, anxiety, and sweat, but in the end, they stood here.

It was already 7 p.m. when they returned to the provincial capital. Lin Fan drove Wang Xin back to the company base and then drove home himself.

The villa was brightly lit. As soon as you entered, you could smell the aroma of food.

"Daddy's back!" Baby and Beibei ran over and each hugged one of his legs.

"Were you good today?" Lin Fan picked up one of them in each arm.

"Good boy!" the two children said in unison.

Wang Juan came out of the kitchen, wearing an apron: "How was the site visit today?"

"Everything went smoothly." Lin Fan put the child down and went to his wife's side. "The first attempt was successful."

Wang Juan smiled: "That's good. Go wash your hands, it's time to eat."

In the restaurant, the parents had already set out the table. Niu Niu was doing her homework when she saw Lin Fan and called out, "Uncle."

The family sat down for dinner. Lin Fan recounted his experience at the scene that day, and his parents listened attentively, occasionally asking a few questions.

"That crane really weighs 160 tons?" Lin Jianguo asked curiously.

"It really is, it's huge." Lin Fan gestured, "With the boom fully extended, it's seventy or eighty meters long."

"You have to be careful, safety first," Wang Xiuying advised.

"Don't worry, Mom, we'll follow the rules."

After dinner, Lin Fan played with the children for a while, then went upstairs to take a bath. Lying in the bathtub, he reflected on everything that had happened that day.

The wind on the mountaintop, the roar of the crane, the shadow of the tower in the air, the focused expressions of the drivers, and Wang Xin's relieved smile...

All of this is real and powerful.

Nine years have passed since his rebirth. From a junior driver at the Finance Bureau to Zhou Wenyuan's assistant, and now to an investor standing on a wind farm, he has walked this path steadily and surely.

He knew that this was just the beginning.

Two years of wind power projects have only been Dingli Company's first pot of gold. In the future, there will be even more opportunities and a bigger stage to perform on.

But no matter how far he goes, he will never forget his original aspirations: stability and wealth; family and brothers; and steady progress.

The water in the bathtub gradually cooled down. Lin Fan got up, dried himself off, and changed into his pajamas.

Stepping onto the balcony, I gazed at the night view of the provincial capital. Behind every single light, a family, a story, lay a myriad of lights.

And he has his family, his story, and his path.

He will continue down this path.

Take it one step at a time, and make steady progress.

For that stability, for that wealth, and even more so for the people he loves and who love him.

The night wind blew by, carrying the chill of early spring.

Lin Fan turned around and went back into the house, gently closing the balcony door.

Inside, it was warm and cozy, like springtime.