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

In October, the steel city already had the appearance of late autumn.

The sycamore leaves were beginning to turn yellow, and with a gust of wind, they rustled down, carpeting the streets with a thin layer. The temperature difference between day and night was increasing, and a thin layer of frost would form on the car windows in the morning, forcing Lin Fan to warm up the car a few minutes in advance. Women had switched from summer clothes to trench coats and light sweaters, and the colors had changed from bright and cheerful hues to more subdued shades of brown, gray, and beige.

The days passed by at a leisurely pace, from the restlessness of May to the tranquility of October, as if in the blink of an eye.

It was Thursday, October 15th. At 6:30 a.m., Lin Fan got up as usual and found that Wang Juan was already awake, leaning against the headboard looking at her phone.

"Up so early?" Lin Fan rubbed his eyes.

"I can't sleep." Wang Juan put down her phone, looking tired. "I had a nightmare last night."

"What did you dream about?"

"I dreamt that... all our stores were closed, and the shelves were empty." Wang Juan shook her head. "It's probably because of the stress lately. Registering as a company has actually brought even more things to do. Taxes, social security, employee contracts, a whole bunch of paperwork."

Lin Fan sat up and put his arm around her shoulder: "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. All four stores are operating normally now, and the wholesale business is stable. Take it slow."

"I know," Wang Juan leaned on his shoulder, "It's just that sometimes I feel... I'm moving too fast, and I'm afraid I'll fall behind somewhere and something will go wrong."

"You've done a great job," Lin Fan said earnestly. "Juan'er, you're now the general manager of 'Juanfan Apparel Co., Ltd.,' managing over forty employees and generating millions in monthly revenue. Could you have imagined that three years ago?"

Wang Juan laughed: "I didn't dare to think about it. My biggest wish back then was to have a big stall in the Donghe Market."

"So, you've already exceeded your expectations." Lin Fan stood up. "I'm going to pick up Brother Zhou today, so you can sleep a little longer. Don't overwork yourself during the day, and I'll come back early tonight to have dinner with you."

"Um."

After washing up, Lin Fan went downstairs. It was colder today, so he chose an Audi A8—it's well-sealed and warm. After starting the car, he turned on the heater, and by the time Zhou Wenyuan got in, the car was already warm and cozy.

At 7:25, the car arrived at Zhou Wenyuan's building. Zhou Wenyuan was wearing a dark gray cashmere coat and a scarf, and in addition to his briefcase, he was also carrying a paper bag.

After getting in the car, he handed the paper bag to Lin Fan: "These are Longjing teas that a friend brought from Hangzhou. Here, have two jars to try."

"Thanks, Brother Zhou." Lin Fan accepted the gift. "Where are we going today?"

"Go to the bureau first. We need to go to the municipal party committee at 9:30. The secretary wants to see us." Zhou Wenyuan leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes to rest.

Lin Fan glanced at Zhou Wenyuan in the rearview mirror. Zhou Wenyuan's complexion wasn't good; there were faint dark circles under his eyes, clearly indicating he hadn't slept well the night before. For the past two weeks, Zhou Wenyuan had been like this—appearing normal on the surface, but a closer look revealed fatigue and worry.

The car arrived at the Finance Bureau before eight o'clock. As Zhou Wenyuan got out of the car, he said, "Xiao Lin, I don't have any plans this afternoon. You can stay at the bureau and wait. I'm going to the Municipal Party Committee; you don't need to wait."

"Okay, Brother Zhou."

Lin Fan parked his car and went to the cafeteria for breakfast. Just as he sat down, Da Liu came over with a tray: "Team Leader Lin, good morning."

Good morning, Brother Liu.

Liu looked around and lowered his voice, "Captain Lin, have you heard?"

"What did you hear?"

"The mayor might be transferred." Liu's voice was even lower. "Yesterday, when I took Director Cong to the municipal government, I overheard people in the general office chatting and saying that the mayor might be transferred to another city to serve as the party secretary."

Lin Fan's heart skipped a beat, but he remained outwardly calm: "These kinds of rumors appear every year, and they're not necessarily accurate."

"This time might be different," Da Liu said. "My friend spoke very convincingly, saying that the provincial authorities have already spoken with them and are just waiting for the announcement after the New Year."

Lin Fan recalled Zhou Wenyuan's recent state and suddenly understood something. If the mayor were really to be transferred, the new mayor... the position of finance bureau chief has always been a sensitive one.

"Don't listen to these rumors," Lin Fan reminded Da Liu. "Let's just drive a nice car."

"Yes, yes, I understand." Da Liu nodded, but the worry in his eyes was unmistakable.

Lin Fan was handling vehicle-related matters in his office that morning. Around 10 a.m., Zheng Ming knocked on the door and came in: "Team Leader Lin, Director Zhou asked me to tell you that he won't be back for lunch and might go straight home this afternoon. He said you don't need to wait for him."

"understood."

Zheng Ming didn't leave immediately, he hesitated for a moment: "Team Leader Lin, has Director Zhou been... has something happened lately? He seems a bit off."

"Let's not pry into the leaders' affairs," Lin Fan said. "Just focus on doing our jobs well."

"Yes, I was too talkative." Zheng Ming left sheepishly.

Lin Fan sat at his desk, gazing at the clear autumn sky outside the window. The sun shone brightly, but the wind was strong, causing the sycamore trees to sway incessantly. He recalled Zhou Wenyuan saying that morning that "the secretary was looking for him," and combined with the rumors about Da Liu... it probably wasn't unfounded.

At lunchtime in the cafeteria, the atmosphere was noticeably different from usual. People from different departments would normally chat and laugh during lunch, but today they all lowered their voices, their eyes filled with inquiry and unease. The position of Finance Bureau Chief is a highly influential one—if the bureau chief changes, the section chiefs, department heads, and even ordinary staff members below could face a reshuffling.

After finishing his meal, Lin Fan went to the vehicle team's duty room. Xiao Zhao was there; upon seeing Lin Fan, he hesitated to speak.

"Speak your mind." Lin Fan sat down.

"Team Leader Lin, Deputy Director Zhang also went out this morning. He drove himself and didn't call me," Xiao Zhao said quietly. "I overheard him on the phone; it seemed like he had an appointment with people from the provincial department for dinner."

"Normal business dealings," Lin Fan said casually.

"But..." Xiao Zhao hesitated, "I heard him mention something about a 'new mayor,' although he spoke softly, he definitely said it."

Lin Fan's nerves tightened even more. Deputy Director Zhang's provincial department background meant that if the new mayor was an outsider, and Deputy Director Zhang had already established connections…

"Xiao Zhao, that's enough of that," Lin Fan said sternly. "You're the driver, just serve your superiors well, don't listen to or spread anything else."

"I understand, Captain Lin." Xiao Zhao nodded quickly.

At 3 p.m., Zhou Wenyuan returned from the municipal party committee. Lin Fan saw him get out of the car at the entrance of the office building. His complexion was worse than in the morning, his lips were tightly pursed, and his brows were deeply furrowed.

"Brother Zhou." Lin Fan went up to greet him.

Zhou Wenyuan glanced at him, said nothing, and went straight into the office building. Lin Fan followed him to the director's office door. Zhou Wenyuan pushed the door open and said, "Xiao Lin, come in."

The office door closed. Zhou Wenyuan took off his coat, sat on the sofa, and lit a cigarette. The smoke curled upwards, blurring his face slightly.

"Sit down," Zhou Wenyuan said.

Lin Fan sat down on the sofa opposite him, not daring to speak first.

"The Party Secretary talked to me." Zhou Wenyuan took a drag of his cigarette, his voice a little hoarse. "The Mayor... will be transferred after the New Year to become the Party Secretary of Lincheng."

Although he was somewhat prepared, Lin Fan's heart still tightened upon hearing the confirmation: "Is it true?"

"It's basically confirmed. We're just waiting for the provincial authorities to go through the procedures." Zhou Wenyuan flicked his cigarette ash. "The Party Secretary said that the new mayor might be parachuted in, coming from a provincial department."

Lin Fan held his breath. An outsider mayor meant he would bring his own team. The Finance Bureau chief, the "purse strings," had always been a crucial position for the new mayor to control.

"The Party Secretary confided in me." Zhou Wenyuan looked at Lin Fan with a complicated expression. "He said that the new mayor will most likely put his own people in charge of finances. My position... won't last long."

The office was so quiet you could hear the faint crackling of burning cigarettes. Outside, the autumn wind howled, whipping up fallen leaves that slapped against the glass.

"The Party Secretary said he could help me get a transfer in advance," Zhou Wenyuan continued, "to the provincial government or another city. But the condition is that I have to bring it up myself."

Lin Fan understood. The municipal party secretary was doing him a favor—I'm giving you an early warning and helping you plan your future; you'll remember my kindness. But it also meant that Zhou Wenyuan's political career in the steel city might be coming to an end.

"Brother Zhou, what do you mean...?"

"I haven't decided yet." Zhou Wenyuan stubbed out his cigarette. "Going to the provincial government would be easy, but I wouldn't have any real power. Going to another city would mean starting all over again, and I might not even get a permanent position. Staying in Steel City... when the new mayor comes, I might be marginalized, or even transferred to a sinecure."

Every choice is difficult.

"Xiao Lin," Zhou Wenyuan suddenly looked at him, "what will you do if I leave?"

Lin Fan was taken aback. He had never thought about this question—or rather, he dared not think about it.

From his rebirth until now, three and a half years have passed, and every step he has taken has been closely linked to Zhou Wenyuan. From temporary worker to permanent employee, to taking the civil service exam, to deputy section chief, to team leader... Without Zhou Wenyuan, he might still be doing odd jobs in the logistics department.

"I'm going with Brother Zhou," Lin Fan blurted out.

Zhou Wenyuan smiled, a smile tinged with both relief and bitterness: "Nonsense. You have a family and a career. Wang Juan's business is in Steel City, and your parents and in-laws are all here. How can you leave?"

"I……"

"Besides, if I go to the provincial department, a deputy section chief can't bring a driver." Zhou Wenyuan shook his head. "If I go to other cities, I'll be new here and barely able to take care of myself, let alone you."

Lin Fan fell silent. Zhou Wenyuan was right. He was no longer the carefree temporary worker he was two years ago; he had a family, businesses, and people he needed to take care of.

"Have dinner with me tonight," Zhou Wenyuan said. "Just the two of us, find a quiet place, and we can talk."

"Okay, Brother Zhou, I'll arrange it."

At six o'clock in the evening, Lin Fan drove Zhou Wenyuan to a private restaurant in the west of the city. The place was very hidden, deep in a small alley. The storefront was not big, but the interior was elegantly decorated and the private rooms were very soundproof.

Zhou Wenyuan ordered a few light dishes and a bottle of baijiu (Chinese liquor). Lin Fan originally intended not to drink since he was driving, but Zhou Wenyuan said, "Call a designated driver. Join me for a drink today."

The wine was poured, and Zhou Wenyuan downed a glass in one gulp. After swallowing the spicy liquor, he let out a long breath.

"The secretary phrased it euphemistically, but I understood." Zhou Wenyuan poured himself another drink. "The new mayor has most likely already chosen a candidate for the finance bureau chief. I'll be in this position for at most another six months."

"Is there no way to salvage this?" Lin Fan asked.

"It's difficult." Zhou Wenyuan shook his head. "It's already a huge favor that the Party Secretary told me in advance. His suggestion that I apply for a transfer is to save face for me—it's better to leave with dignity than to be forced out by others."

Lin Fan felt a lump in his throat. He recalled how Zhou Wenyuan had risen from a provincial-level cadre to bureau chief over the past two years; how he had withstood pressure to clear surplus funds; how he had established his authority within the leadership team… He had finally gained a foothold, but it seemed that a single personnel change could undo all his previous efforts.

"Brother Zhou, what if... what if you don't leave and just stubbornly resist?"

"Tough it out?" Zhou Wenyuan laughed, but there was a hint of helplessness in his smile. "Xiao Lin, in the system, the last thing you can tough it out on is personnel matters. When the new mayor comes, there are a hundred ways to replace the finance bureau chief. They can promote him in name only, transfer him to a sinecure, or even find fault with him to punish him. The secretary can protect me for a while, but not forever."

Lin Fan understood. This was reality—no matter how capable you were or how popular you were, if the higher-ups wanted to take action against you, you had no choice but to accept it.

"The Party Secretary gave me a few suggestions," Zhou Wenyuan said, taking a sip of his drink. "One is to go to a provincial department with the待遇 of a full-fledged division chief, but without real power for the time being. The other is to go to a resource-depleted district as its district head."

"Isn't there a better option?"

"The Party Secretary said we could try again to see if there were any available locations in more affluent districts or counties," Zhou Wenyuan said. "But it's difficult, and the competition is fierce."

The food arrived, and the two ate in silence. The private room was quiet; the faint sounds of laughter and conversation from next door only amplified the somber silence.

"Xiao Lin, I'm telling you all this today not to ask for your help," Zhou Wenyuan put down his chopsticks. "It's because I consider you a brother and I'm being frank with you. Your situation in the bureau might change after I leave."

"I understand, Brother Zhou."

"Deputy Director Zhang... keep a close eye on him." Zhou Wenyuan's eyes sharpened. "He's been making a lot of moves lately, frequently contacting the provincial department. If the new mayor really is an outsider, he might very well use this opportunity to rise to power."

Lin Fan recalled Xiao Zhao's words, and his heart sank. If Deputy Director Zhang really became the new director, given his previous performance, he certainly wouldn't give Lin Fan a prominent position—he might even suppress him.

"But don't worry too much," Zhou Wenyuan's tone softened. "You're already a civil servant, a deputy section chief, with a permanent position. Even if the new director doesn't want you, at most he'll transfer you to a sinecure; he can't fire you. Besides, you're young, you have plenty of time."

"Brother Zhou, when are you leaving?"

"It's still uncertain," Zhou Wenyuan said. "The Party Secretary suggested that I apply before the end of the year and complete the formalities after the New Year. This way, I can make it in time for the last personnel adjustment before the new mayor takes office."

In other words, there are at most two months left.

"In the meantime, continue doing what you normally do," Zhou Wenyuan instructed. "Don't show any unusual behavior, and don't tell anyone about this. Especially keep your distance from Deputy Director Zhang, but don't offend him."

"I've got it."

The two drank a few more glasses. Zhou Wenyuan wasn't a big drinker; after half a bottle of baijiu, he became more talkative.

"Xiaolin, you know what? Sometimes I really envy you." He looked at his wine glass. "You have a family, a career, and a stable life."

"Brother Zhou..."

"When I was in my twenties, I also thought about a stable life," Zhou Wenyuan said with a wry smile. "But once you enter this industry, you lose control of your own destiny. One wrong step can lead to complete failure; even if you take every step correctly, a single personnel change can wipe out all your previous efforts."

Lin Fan didn't know how to respond. Since his rebirth, he had always looked up to Zhou Wenyuan—a man of principle, ability, and promising future. But now it seemed that even this goal itself was fraught with uncertainty.

"But then again, I don't regret it." Zhou Wenyuan poured himself another glass. "Over the years, I've handled hundreds of billions of yuan, promoted hundreds of projects, and helped many counties and districts solve their difficulties. It was all worth it."

These words were spoken with nonchalance, but Lin Fan sensed the resentment within them. Zhou Wenyuan was only thirty-six or thirty-seven years old, the prime of his career, yet he might be forced to leave the front lines.

"Brother Zhou, I'll follow you wherever you go," Lin Fan said earnestly.

Zhou Wenyuan looked at him, his eyes a little red: "Good brother. But this time, you have to stay in Steel City. Wang Juan needs you, your family needs you."

"Although I may have to leave, I have been operating in the steel city for more than two years and have some connections and relationships."

Lin Fan: "Brother Zhou, I..."

Zhou Wenyuan waved his hand, "I've seen how hard you've worked for me these past two years. I, Zhou Wenyuan, never mistreat my own people."

The meal lasted until after 8 p.m. Zhou Wenyuan had drunk quite a bit, so Lin Fan called a designated driver to take Zhou Wenyuan home first, and then had the driver take him back to Riverside Garden.

It was already 9:30 when they got home. Wang Juan was watching TV in the living room when she saw that Lin Fan smelled of alcohol, so she quickly helped him sit down.

"Why did you drink so much?"

"Keep Zhou company." Lin Fan leaned back on the sofa. "Juan'er, pour me a glass of water."

Wang Juan poured him some warm water and handed it to him, then sat down beside him: "What happened?"

Lin Fan looked at her and hesitated for a moment. Zhou Wenyuan had instructed them not to tell anyone, but Wang Juan was not an outsider, and this matter concerned their future plans.

"The mayor might be transferred, and a new mayor will be parachuted in," Lin Fan said simply. "Brother Zhou's position... might be in jeopardy."

Wang Juan's eyes widened: "How could that be? Wasn't Director Zhou doing a great job?"

"The new mayor is here, and he wants to use his own people." Lin Fan smiled wryly. "That's the system."

"What about Director Zhou?"

"He might be transferred to the provincial department or another city." Lin Fan held his water glass. "If Brother Zhou leaves, my situation in the bureau... might change."

Wang Juan fell silent. Although she wasn't an official, her two years in business had taught her a lot about human relationships and social dynamics. When your patron falls, those below you naturally suffer.

"But Brother Zhou said he would make arrangements for me before I leave," Lin Fan added. "Besides, I am a civil servant with a permanent position, so the worst that can happen is that I'll be sidelined."

"Do we have enough money?" Wang Juan suddenly asked.

Lin Fan was taken aback: "Enough, why are you suddenly asking this?"

"If... if you're not doing well at the bureau, or if you don't want to work there anymore, will our family's money be enough for us to live a good life?" Wang Juan looked at him earnestly.

Lin Fan thought for a moment. With five properties, stocks worth millions, and Wang Juan's business earning hundreds of thousands a month... even if he didn't work, he could live very well.

"That's enough, more than enough," he said.

"That's good." Wang Juan breathed a sigh of relief. "Lin Fan, I'm not afraid that you earn less, I'm just afraid that you'll feel resentful. If you're not happy at the bureau, then we'll leave. With your skills, you can thrive anywhere."

These simple words warmed Lin Fan's heart. Yes, since his rebirth, he had desperately climbed the social ladder, all so that one day he wouldn't have to be subservient to others.

Now, this goal has been achieved—even without Zhou Wenyuan and a position within the system, he can still provide his family with a stable and wealthy life.

"But it's too early to talk about that now." Lin Fan pulled Wang Juan into his arms. "Brother Zhou hasn't left yet, so there's still a chance. And even if Brother Zhou leaves, I still need to hold my position in the bureau and not let people laugh at me."

"Yes, I support you." Wang Juan leaned against his chest. "No matter what you choose, I'll be with you."

It was late at night. Lin Fan finished washing up and lay in bed, but couldn't fall asleep.

The autumn wind howled outside the window, swirling fallen leaves and tapping against the glass. He thought about what Zhou Wenyuan had said that evening, about the bits and pieces of the past two years, and about the possible changes in the future.

Since his rebirth, he had always believed that as long as he clung to Zhou Wenyuan, his life would be smooth sailing. But now it seemed that even powerful figures could fall, and even those who had relied on others could leave. The only one he could truly depend on was himself.

Fortunately, he already had a solid foundation—a stable family, accumulated wealth, and a network of connections. Even without Zhou Wenyuan, he was confident in facing future uncertainties.

And then there's Deputy Director Zhang... If what Zhou Wenyuan said is true, and Deputy Director Zhang might take this opportunity to rise in rank, then I need to prepare countermeasures in advance.

With this thought in mind, Lin Fan fell into a deep sleep. Outside the window, the autumn night in the steel city was deep and quiet, with only the wind blowing tirelessly, as if foreshadowing something, or perhaps just a natural sound of the changing seasons.