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

A new week begins. Life seems to have returned to its usual routine, but some changes are quietly taking place.

The consensus within the bureau regarding Zhou Wenyuan's "difficult" yet "capable" nature gradually became widespread. His procedures were more standardized and risk control stricter. While some initially found it difficult to adjust, over time, everyone discovered that following his methods reduced subsequent troubles and disputes. Even Director Wu, who initially had some reservations about him, jokingly told Director Du after a bureau meeting, "Zhou is a tough nut to crack, but also a fine steel. Using him well is a blessing for our bureau."

Lin Fan was becoming increasingly adept at his work in the office. Director Du seemed to rely on him more, entrusting him with more and more less important but meticulous and patient tasks. Sister Liu was also happy to have an easier time, often praising Lin Fan as "two men doing the work of one."

Lin Fan's relationship with Zhou Wenyuan entered a more natural and deeper phase. Zhou Wenyuan seemed to genuinely treat Lin Fan as a trustworthy younger brother. After working overtime, he would naturally invite Lin Fan to eat at "Old Chen's Stir-Fry" or some newly discovered small restaurant, chatting about work, his experiences, and occasionally more personal topics, such as family in the provincial capital and some thoughts about the future. Lin Fan always played the role of the best listener and the occasional, cautious advisor.

He discovered that although Zhou Wenyuan appeared cold and serious, he possessed his own ambitions and principles, as well as the worries and weariness of an ordinary person. His success today, besides his abilities and background, stemmed primarily from his almost obsessive self-discipline and unwavering adherence to his principles and bottom line. This adherence often came in solitude.

In mid-October, the main structure of the warehouse was completed. When Lin Fan returned home for the weekend, he saw the huge, dusty cement frame standing on the once barren land, and a sense of accomplishment welled up inside him. His father, wearing a straw hat, squatted by the wall with the foreman, smoking and discussing the details of the roof and interior painting. His face showed a rare, proud, and serious expression. His mother was busy setting up a larger stove to prepare meals for the growing number of workers.

"It'll be finished soon, in another month or so," the father said to Lin Fan as he walked over, his voice full of anticipation.

"Dad, thank you for your hard work." Lin Fan handed him a cigarette.

"What's the hard work? Seeing it up and running gives me peace of mind." The father lit a cigarette, squinting at the warehouse. "It's just... can such a huge thing really be rented out? Can it really bring in tens of thousands a year?"

"Don't worry, Dad. The location is great, close to the train station freight yard, and the road will be repaired soon, so there's no problem finding a tenant," Lin Fan said confidently. He already had some vague information about potential tenants in his mind, including the "Xunjie Printing and Imaging" company he remembered, but he wasn't in a hurry. He would wait until the warehouse was completely finished. Lin Fan remembered that even before the construction was completed, the boss from the south had come to rent it, signing a five-year lease with a rent of 20000 yuan for the first year, increasing by 20% each year.

Back in the city, it was another Monday. In the afternoon, Zhou Wenyuan summoned Lin Fan to his office. This time, it wasn't a chance encounter in the hallway, nor a phone call; he formally had someone from the Treasury Department come to his office to see him.

Lin Fan entered the Treasury Department, where the other staff members were busy. Zhou Wenyuan gestured for him to close the door.

"Sit." Zhou Wenyuan gestured to the chair opposite his desk, put down his pen, leaned back in his chair, crossed his hands over his stomach, and looked at Lin Fan. His expression was calm, but there was something different in his eyes, as if he were thinking or making a decision.

"Brother Zhou, you wanted to see me?" Lin Fan sat down, wondering what it was about. There didn't seem to be any particularly urgent missions at the bureau lately.

"Hmm," Zhou Wenyuan responded, not immediately getting to the point, but instead asking casually, "How's the progress with the family warehouse lately?"

"The main structure is complete, and we're currently working on the interior and roof. It should be finished next month," Lin Fan replied truthfully.

"Will your parents be able to adapt? To suddenly switch from farming to this."

"It's alright. My dad has become quite familiar with the construction team now, and he's always on the construction site. He's more enthusiastic about it than when he's farming. My mom is in charge of cooking, and she's quite happy with it."

"That's good." Zhou Wenyuan nodded, paused for a moment, tapped his fingers lightly on the table, and then changed the subject, "Lin Fan, what are your plans for the future?"

This question came somewhat suddenly. Lin Fan's mind raced, and he answered cautiously, "My plan... is to do my current job well and learn more. Then... I'll see if I can stay in the bureau longer. Becoming a permanent employee would be ideal, but I know it's not easy for a temporary worker to become a permanent one."

He spoke very frankly, without being overly ambitious, and pointed out the core demand—stability and a permanent position.

Zhou Wenyuan looked at him, his gaze seemingly trying to see into his heart. "Getting a permanent position... is not easy. Especially for your current status and education." He spoke frankly, "The bureau's permanent staff must pass an exam to get in, and the requirements are quite high. Even the support staff positions that are given preferential treatment through policy are becoming increasingly rare, and the competition is fierce."

Lin Fan's heart sank slightly, but his expression remained unchanged as he listened quietly. He knew that Zhou Wenyuan had brought up this topic not just to tell him about the difficulties.

Sure enough, Zhou Wenyuan changed the subject again: "However, it all depends on human effort. Roads are made by people walking them."

He sat up straight, placed his hands on the table, and leaned slightly forward—a posture befitting an in-depth conversation. "I've observed your performance lately; you're reliable, clear-headed, and meticulous. Even more commendable is your adherence to rules, your sense of propriety, and your understanding of what is right and wrong. Director Du and Sister Liu have very high opinions of you."

A warm feeling welled up in Lin Fan's heart, but he remained humble: "It's all thanks to the guidance of Director, Sister Liu, and Brother Zhou."

"Stop with the pleasantries." Zhou Wenyuan waved his hand, a faint smile on his face. "I know your abilities. The problem is, your status as a 'temporary worker' is too restrictive. You can't even get a glimpse of many opportunities. Over time, it will wear down your ambition."

He paused, seemingly considering his words: "I have an idea, what do you think? You know the logistics department in the bureau, right? They handle miscellaneous things like vehicle maintenance, office supplies procurement and distribution. Their staffing is relatively flexible, and sometimes they release some 'work-in-place' or special support staff positions. These positions don't count towards the civil service quota, but they're considered regular employees of the bureau, belonging to the public sector. The pay and benefits are much better than temporary workers, and it's more stable."

Lin Fan's heart raced. The Logistics Department! Of course he knew. It was a seemingly insignificant department within the bureau, but one that was actually crucial in its operation. There wasn't much lucrative opportunity (and probably not much under Zhou Wenyuan's nose), but it was stable, offered a wide network of contacts, and allowed him to meet many people. More importantly, he knew about the "special support staff positions" Zhou Wenyuan mentioned; sometimes these were for placing veterans or people with connections but insufficient qualifications. These positions were usually not publicly advertised, leaving more room for internal maneuvering.

"Brother Zhou, what do you mean...?" Lin Fan's voice was a little dry.

"What I mean is," Zhou Wenyuan looked at him sharply, "if you're willing, I can try to find a way to get you a permanent position in the logistics department. That way, I can make your temporary worker status permanent."

He spoke slowly and deliberately, but every word was clear and forceful: "Of course, this takes time, opportunity, and some networking. It won't happen overnight. And even if you get in, you might only be doing errands and odd jobs at first, even more mundane than you are in the office now. But the key is that your status will change; you'll be a full-time employee of the bureau. With this foundation, your future path will be much easier."

Lin Fan felt a surge of warmth rush from his heart to the top of his head. He hadn't expected Zhou Wenyuan to have considered things so deeply and specifically for him! This wasn't just simple care; it was paving a feasible and long-term career path for him!

"Brother Zhou..." Lin Fan was momentarily speechless, a mix of gratitude, excitement, and unease swirling within him. "This...this is too much trouble for you! I...I..."

"What's the trouble?" Zhou Wenyuan interrupted him, his tone returning to calm. "Since I call you brother, it's only right that I help you find a way out. Besides, I think you have potential and deserve a helping hand. It's a waste to keep you as a temporary worker in the office."

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and continued, "However, there are a few things you need to understand and do."

"Brother Zhou, please speak!" Lin Fan immediately sat up straight, his expression extremely serious.

"First, your education level is a major disadvantage. You're currently in high school. Even if you get into the logistics department, if you want to move up, even to a regular staff member position, your education level will be an insurmountable hurdle. You need to find a way to improve your education level as soon as possible. Open university, correspondence courses, self-study—anything is fine. Get a college diploma, or better yet, a bachelor's degree. This is for your own good, and it will also shut others up."

"I understand! Brother Zhou, I've already inquired and am planning to enroll in an open university program in accounting or public administration, so I can work and study at the same time," Lin Fan said immediately. This was exactly part of his plan; he hadn't had the opportunity in his previous life, so he had to make up for it in this one.

"Good, that's good enough." Zhou Wenyuan nodded. "Secondly, once you're in the logistics department, even if it's the most inconspicuous position, you have to do it well. Be clean and honest, keep your mouth shut, and do your job meticulously. Don't touch anything that's not yours. Don't give me anything, and don't cause trouble for yourself. Logistics is a place with many trivial matters, it's easy to make mistakes, and it's easy to be watched."

"I will definitely remember this!" Lin Fan solemnly promised. He was well aware of the sensitivity of the logistics position and Zhou Wenyuan's high regard for his character.

"Third," Zhou Wenyuan looked at him, his gaze deep, "even after you become a permanent employee, don't slack off. Learn more, observe more, and think more. The Finance Bureau is a great university, with many intricacies involved. Once you've mastered the business and understood the interpersonal relationships, I'll help you find a way to transfer to a business department later, or even... pull some strings to get him into the civil service through internal exams or selections. That's a real secure job, and a much bigger stage."

From a manual labor position to having the opportunity to become a civil servant! The blueprint Zhou Wenyuan drew up for him was even more far-reaching and expansive than Lin Fan himself had imagined! This was no longer just "care," but a true "training" and "planning"!

Lin Fan felt his chest fill with a heavy, burning emotion. He looked at Zhou Wenyuan, his elder brother who wasn't much older than him but already held an important position and possessed profound insight. A thousand words stuck in his throat, ultimately coalescing into a single, solemn, and heartfelt statement:

"Brother Zhou, thank you! I've remembered every word you said! I definitely won't let you down!"

Seeing the excitement and determination in his eyes, Zhou Wenyuan finally showed a clear, relieved smile. He stood up, walked around the desk, and stood in front of Lin Fan, patting him firmly on the shoulder.

"Alright, stop making it sound like a vow. We have a long road ahead, let's take it one step at a time. Right now, focus on doing your job well and work on your education. As for the logistics department, I'll find an opportunity to talk to the deputy director and section chief in charge of logistics. We'll make a move when a suitable opening comes up."

"Yes!" Lin Fan nodded emphatically.

Emerging from the Treasury Department and walking down the corridor back to his office, Lin Fan felt a little unsteady on his feet, as if he were walking on clouds, yet his heart was filled with immense peace. Zhou Wenyuan's words were like a guiding light, illuminating not only the path ahead but also showing him a distant future.

His family provided him with a warm anchor, while Zhou Wenyuan provided him with a ladder and a beacon for progress.

This autumn, everything seemed full of hope. He knew that the road ahead would still be thorny and challenging: renting out the warehouse, improving his education, operating the logistics positions... none of these would be easy. But he was no longer afraid, nor was he alone.

He clenched his fist, feeling the real touch on his fingertips.

Take root, grow, and grow upward.

He finally saw the direction clearly on this road, and he had companions to travel with.