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

The green train, like a tireless iron dragon, races across the winter fields day and night. Inside the hard sleeper carriage, the smells of instant noodles, sweat, and cigarettes mingle with the occasional whiff of fruit. The clanging of wheels against the rails becomes a constant white noise in the background.

This was Wang Juan's first time traveling this far, and her first time riding in a sleeper berth. She curled up in the middle bunk, mostly lying on her side with her face towards the partition, seemingly asleep or perhaps silently contemplating the increasingly unfamiliar southern scenery rushing past the window. Occasionally, Lin Fan would peek down from the upper bunk and see her with her eyes open, her long eyelashes trembling slightly in the dim light, lost in thought. Her nervousness and restraint were obvious; even while eating or washing up, she tried to remain in her small space, speaking very little.

Lin Fan didn't deliberately try to chat with her. He knew that for a girl of her age and in her situation, too much attention would only be a burden. He simply handed her a bottle of water when she came down to make instant noodles; reminded her to be careful of the children running around in the aisle when she went to the restroom; and whispered, "Make sure you're covered up well tonight, don't catch a cold," before the lights in the carriage were turned off at night. These subtle acts of care, like warm water, slowly eroded the invisible barrier between them.

As the long journey came to an end, perhaps out of sheer boredom, or perhaps because she had lessened her fear of the unknown Guangzhou, Wang Juan began to occasionally take the initiative to speak a few words with Lin Fan.

"Brother Lin, is Guangzhou... especially hot?" she asked softly, leaning on her bunk.

"It should be warmer than where we are now, but it's winter now, so it won't be too hot." Lin Fan leaned against his bunk, holding a book about clothing fabrics (which he bought before leaving) and flipping through it casually.

"Is that wholesale market... really that big? Bigger than the Donghe Market?"

"Much bigger. I heard it's dozens of times the size of Donghe Market, and a lot of clothes from all over the country come from there."

Wang Juan let out a soft "wow," her eyes revealing a simple longing and a hint of timidity.

"Don't be afraid," Lin Fan closed the book and looked at her. "When the time comes, come with me, observe more, listen more, and talk less. Watch how I talk to people and how I select goods. The first time is mainly for learning."

"Mmm!" Wang Juan nodded vigorously, like a primary school student. This expression reminded Lin Fan of how his son listened attentively to his explanations in his previous life, and his heart softened involuntarily.

On the morning of the third day, the train finally pulled into Guangzhou Station, panting heavily. The humid and warm air, mixed with the unique hustle and bustle of a southern city, mingled with various smells, and hit them in the face. Wang Juan followed closely behind Lin Fan, dragging her small suitcase, her eyes taking in the crowds of people hurrying by in the station, listening to the Cantonese announcements she couldn't understand at all, her face filled with curiosity and bewilderment.

Lin Fan, familiar with the area (thanks to his past life's memories and prior preparation), led her onto a bus near the Thirteen Factories. Along the way, the towering buildings, bustling streets, and dazzling shops left Wang Juan completely mesmerized. She had never imagined that a city could be so big, so lively, so… different.

They found a clean and inexpensive little hotel near the wholesale market to stay in. Lin Fan asked for two single rooms. After settling in, he and Wang Juan ate something simple and then headed straight for the Thirteen Factories Clothing Wholesale Market.

Even with mental preparation, Wang Juan was still deeply overwhelmed when she actually found herself in that colossal complex of countless stalls, people, goods, and shouts. The passageway stretched as far as the eye could see, flanked by densely packed stalls laden with all sorts of clothing. The air was thick with the smell of new fabrics and the cacophony of bargaining. Buyers dragged large black plastic bags or trolleys, weaving quickly through the crowd; stall girls rattled off prices at breakneck speed, calculators clicked rapidly… everything seemed efficient, direct, and full of tension.

Lin Fan had a clear goal. Relying on his vague memory and information gathered beforehand, he found the "Qili Fang" sign in a relatively central area deep within the market. It was a stall of about thirty square meters, more refined than the surrounding area. The walls and shelves were filled with the latest seasonal styles, mainly casual women's clothing. The styles were indeed as he remembered: fashionable but not over-the-top, with bright colors and good-looking fabrics. Several young girls were busy serving customers.

Lin Fan didn't rush forward. Instead, he led Wang Juan to observe the crowd from a distance for a while, watching the flow of customers, listening to their conversations with customers, and noting the styles they were promoting. Then, he straightened his clothes, gestured for Wang Juan to follow, and walked over.

"Boss, let's check the goods." Lin Fan spoke in Mandarin, but his tone was calm, and his gaze fell directly on a middle-aged woman who looked like a manager and was sorting goods in the stall.

The woman looked up, glanced at Lin Fan, then at Wang Juan, who seemed a little uneasy behind him, and gave a professional smile: "Where are you from, boss? What kind are you looking for?"

"North of here, in the steel city. I'm interested in wholesale. Have you taken a look at your casual women's clothing?" Lin Fan said succinctly, his eyes already scanning the shelves. "I've heard your 'Qilifang' has good designs and workmanship."

Upon hearing that the customer was from the north and wanted to do wholesale, the woman became more serious: "Boss, you have excellent taste. Our designs are all custom-made by skilled craftsmen, and our workmanship has a good reputation in the Thirteen Factories area. These are all new styles, mainly targeting a young and casual demographic, good for high-volume sales. What price range are you looking for, Boss?"

Lin Fan didn't immediately answer the price. Instead, he stepped forward, touched the fabric of several garments, examined the loose threads, and gestured for Wang Juan to come and take a look as well. "What do you think of these?" he asked Wang Juan in a low voice.

Wang Juan was taken aback when Lin Fan asked her that question. Her face flushed slightly, but she still mustered her courage and, imitating Lin Fan, touched the fabric and carefully examined the style. She whispered, "This...this crew neck sweatshirt looks pretty good, and the color is bright. And this knitted cardigan, it's simple in design and seems pretty easy to match with clothes..."

Although her voice was soft, her comments were quite insightful and naturally presented from a female perspective. Lin Fan nodded and said to the woman, "My sister has a good eye. Boss, what's the wholesale price for these items? What about bulk orders?"

Next came the specific negotiations. Lin Fan seemed very familiar with the rules of the wholesale market, asking only the essential questions: minimum order quantity, package price, replenishment cycle, return and exchange policy, availability of stock, logistics arrangements… He was calm and composed, but every word he uttered revealed his expertise and sincerity. The woman (later identified as Ms. Chen, the stall manager) saw that he genuinely wanted to buy goods for business and offered a relatively reasonable price.

Wang Juan listened intently, trying to remember every detail. She watched as Lin Fan compared the cost-effectiveness of different styles and skillfully negotiated lower package prices and better return and exchange policies, secretly admiring him. Brother Lin knew so much, and his calm and confident demeanor during negotiations was completely different from his gentle manner at the Finance Bureau.

In the end, Lin Fan selected a batch of new spring styles, including the pieces Wang Juan had her eye on, ordering a total of 50,000 yuan worth of goods. This amount wasn't a huge order for "Qilifang," but as a newly developed client in the north, it was still worth taking seriously. Manager Chen readily signed a simple order form with him, arranging for the goods to be shipped out in three days, and promising to prioritize future restocking, while also sending him the new style catalog as soon as possible.

Stepping out of the "Qili Fang" stall, Lin Fan let out a long sigh of relief. Things had gone more smoothly than expected. Wang Juan followed beside him, her eyes sparkling, still immersed in the tense business atmosphere from just moments before.

"Brother Lin, you're amazing! You got it in no time!" she whispered, her voice filled with admiration.

"Mainly because their products are really good." Lin Fan smiled. "Come on, we've completed more than half of our mission for today. I'll take you to eat something good, and then... explore Guangzhou?"

For the next two days, Lin Fan took Wang Juan around Guangzhou like a true tourist. They went to Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street, admiring the rows of arcade buildings and time-honored shops; they took a ferry and enjoyed the night view of the Pearl River; they even visited the newly built Tianhe City shopping mall to experience its grandeur. Wang Juan was like a bird released from its cage. Although she remained frugal (reluctant to buy anything), she smiled more and talked more, pointing at novel things and asking Lin Fan what they were, and quietly marveling at Guangzhou's prosperity.

Lin Fan also took the opportunity of shopping to buy gifts for his family. He bought his father a good quality jacket, his mother a soft wool scarf and several boxes of Cantonese dim sum, his sister a set of skincare products, and his brother-in-law a designer belt. He also didn't forget Zhou Wenyuan, carefully selecting two boxes of fine Phoenix Dancong tea and a set of Kung Fu tea utensils, knowing that Zhou Wenyuan had a taste for it.

Of course, he also bought some clothes and shoes for Wang Juan and himself. He bought Wang Juan two sets of casual winter clothes suitable for her age and a pair of comfortable leather shoes, saying that "work requires it, and appearance is also important." Wang Juan couldn't refuse, and accepted them with a blush, touching the soft fabric with undisguised joy in her eyes. Lin Fan also bought himself two decent shirts and a pair of leather shoes.

On their last night, the two dined at a small restaurant near the hotel. The few days they'd spent together had largely melted away the initial awkwardness between them. Under the lamplight, Wang Juan's face appeared soft and vibrant.

After much deliberation, Lin Fan decided to lay some things out before returning.

"Wang Juan," he put down his chopsticks, his tone becoming serious, "there's something I want to tell you."

Wang Juan looked up at his serious expression, and her heart tightened for no reason: "Brother Lin, what's wrong?"

"That stall at Donghe Market," Lin Fan looked into her clear eyes, "actually... there's no such 'friend.' I bought the stall, and the business is something I wanted to do."

Wang Juan was stunned, her mouth slightly open, and she didn't react for a long time.

Lin Fan continued calmly, "You know my job at the Finance Bureau is government-funded. There are regulations that prohibit public officials from engaging in business or running enterprises. Therefore, I can't handle this business myself. I need someone I can absolutely trust to manage everything in front of me."

He paused, watching the changing expressions on Wang Juan's face, from shock to confusion, and then a hint of realization: "I've been observing you for a long time. I think you're diligent, reliable, and intelligent. Most importantly, you're kind-hearted and trustworthy. That's why I wanted to give you this opportunity, and also... I'm asking you to do me this favor."

Wang Juan's heart pounded wildly. The stall belonged to Brother Lin! The business belonged to Brother Lin! He had chosen her, not to offer her a job, but... to entrust her with something!

A complex mix of emotions welled up inside me: the dizziness of being overwhelmed by such trust, the surprise of learning the truth, and the heavy pressure, but more than anything, there was an indescribable warmth of being recognized and needed.

"Brother Lin..." Her voice trembled slightly, "I...I'm afraid I won't do well and will let you down..."

"No one is born knowing how," Lin Fan said gently but firmly. "I will help you. I'll find the suppliers, manage the overall direction, and provide the funding. All you need to do is learn how to manage the stall, how to lead people to sell the goods, how to deal with customers, and how to keep accurate accounts. If you encounter any difficulties, feel free to ask me. I believe you can do it."

He looked at Wang Juan with unwavering trust and expectation in his eyes: "This stall is my hope, and it's also a business opportunity for you. If you do it well, the income will be substantial. More importantly, you'll learn skills and be able to support yourself. Are you... willing to help me?"

Wang Juan's tears fell without warning. Not from resentment, but from gratitude, from the sudden excitement of seeing a path forward. She forcefully wiped away her tears, looked at Lin Fan, nodded firmly, her voice choked with emotion yet exceptionally clear: "Brother Lin, I'm willing! I will do everything in my power to help you make your business a success! I will never let you down!"

At this moment, the thin veil that separated them—the employer-employee relationship, the helper-the-helper relationship—was completely torn away. A closer bond, based on trust and shared goals, was quietly established.

On the train ride home, the atmosphere was different. Wang Juan was no longer always huddled up; she would proactively discuss with Lin Fan which styles might sell well, whether they could learn from the store displays they saw in Guangzhou, and she even took out a small notebook to jot down some simple accounting methods and customer communication skills that Lin Fan taught her. Her eyes shone with light, she had a goal, and she seemed much more vibrant.

Several days later, Lin Fan returned to Steel City. Without pausing, he immediately began making arrangements.

He first took Wang Juan to see the stall in the Donghe Market that already belonged to them. It was a little over ten square meters, square and well-located. Wang Juan stroked the brand-new roller shutter door, looked at the empty shop, and her eyes were filled with anticipation and a sense of responsibility.

Next, Lin Fan took out the simple design he had drawn up earlier, found a familiar renovation team (again, Zhao Dayong), and quickly set up the stall: whitewashed the walls, installed bright fluorescent lights and spotlights, custom-made clothes racks and display shelves, and hung a sign that read "Juanzi Clothing" on the storefront (using Wang Juan's name was more friendly and also avoided any suspicion). The style was simple and bright, highlighting the clothing itself.

Meanwhile, through acquaintances in the market, Lin Fan rented a two-bedroom apartment on the ground floor of an old residential building adjacent to the market. The room was a bit old, but it was spacious enough and had good lighting. He had it simply painted, set aside one bedroom for Wang Juan, and used the living room space as a warehouse and packing area. This way, Wang Juan could live close to the stall, making it convenient for her to look after the goods, while also ensuring the storage and safety of the goods.

While setting up the stall, Lin Fan asked Wang Juan to recruit people in the market. Soon, two clever and reliable-looking girls of about eighteen or nineteen, who were also migrant workers from out of town, were hired. One was named Xiao Fang, and the other Xiao Li. Following Lin Fan's instructions, Wang Juan gave them basic training in reception etiquette, clothing size knowledge, and packing skills.

The goods arrived from Guangzhou. Fifteen large bags of clothes filled the newly rented "warehouse." Wang Juan, along with Xiao Fang and Xiao Li, sorted the clothes by style, color, and size, hanging them on the racks at the stall. Seeing the once empty stall filled with a dazzling array of new clothes, Wang Juan felt a sense of accomplishment that kept her awake all night.

Before the opening, Lin Fan called Wang Juan aside and handed her an envelope.

"This is your salary for this month, plus some start-up capital. Take this first. Daily expenses for the stall, like utilities, bags, change, etc., will come from here. Record every expense in this notebook." Lin Fan handed her a brand-new ledger as well. "Keep a clear record of your daily business income as well. Every few days, we'll reconcile the accounts. You keep the required working capital, and we'll discuss how to handle the remaining profits."

Wang Juan's hands trembled as she took the thick envelope and ledger. This was not just a month's salary, but a weighty trust and authorization.

"Brother Lin, I..."

"Don't be nervous, take your time." Lin Fan patted her shoulder. "We open tomorrow. Remember to be enthusiastic, patient, and honest. I've set a bottom price for you, but you have some room for negotiation. Don't be afraid of difficult customers, I'm here for you. I'll try to come over and check things out tomorrow."

On opening day, a red sign reading "New Arrivals, Wholesale and Retail Welcome" was hung under the "Juanzi Clothing" signboard. Wang Juan, dressed in the latest spring styles and new leather shoes, her hair neatly combed, tried her best to smile and greet customers as they entered the store, despite her sweaty palms from nervousness. Xiao Fang and Xiao Li quickly settled into their roles as well. The novel styles, good quality, and fair prices, coupled with the trio's increasingly skilled salesmanship, quickly attracted many wholesalers and retail customers from the market. Although the first day was incredibly busy, the first day's sales turned out to be surprisingly good.

That evening, in the warehouse-cum-bedroom, under the dim light, Wang Juan carefully wrote down her first income in the ledger. Although her handwriting was immature, each stroke was deliberate and meticulous. She knew this was not just a business deal, but also Lin Ge's trust in her, and a new starting point in her life. She secretly vowed to make this place a thriving success.

Lin Fan, carrying tea and teaware he had bought for Zhou Wenyuan in Guangzhou, knocked on Zhou Wenyuan's dormitory door. Zhou Wenyuan was somewhat surprised to see him.

"Brother Zhou, I brought back a little something from Guangzhou, just a small token of my appreciation." Lin Fan handed over the packaged tea and tea set.

Zhou Wenyuan took it, opened it, and raised an eyebrow: "Phoenix Dancong? This is good. You've gone to so much trouble."

"It's no trouble at all, just something I brought back," Lin Fan said with a smile. "When you go out, you should bring back some local specialties for you."

Zhou Wenyuan didn't refuse much. He picked up the tea set, looked at it, and nodded, "Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Please sit down, I'll try your tea."

Amidst the fragrant steam of tea, Lin Fan briefly recounted his observations in Guangzhou (omitting business details), while Zhou Wenyuan chatted about the situation at the bureau over the past few days. The atmosphere was harmonious and relaxed.

Emerging from Zhou Wenyuan's place, Lin Fan walked in the cold winter night wind, yet his heart was filled with warmth. His trip to Guangzhou had not only secured his supply but also forged a strong bond of trust with Wang Juan. The smooth start of his stall provided him with another stable source of income. And with Zhou Wenyuan, their relationship had grown increasingly close and natural.

Several lines were running smoothly on their respective tracks, and began to subtly intertwine and resonate. He was like the director standing behind the stage, watching the stage lights come on one by one, the actors gradually getting into their stride, and a grand drama of his own, with its profound and unpretentious flow, was slowly unfolding, its curtain rising to reveal even greater splendor.