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

On the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month, the first snow of the winter fell in Tuxian County.

The snowflakes were small and fine, falling densely on the withered grass in the county government compound, quickly accumulating into a thin layer. The heating in the office building was insufficient, and the windowpanes were covered with condensation, through which the hazy gray sky could be vaguely seen.

Zhou Wenyuan had been standing by the office window for almost half an hour. He hadn't even noticed the cigarette he was holding had burned down to the end until the ash fell on the back of his hand, at which point he suddenly came to his senses.

The documents on his desk were piled high—year-end summaries from various townships, budget reports from various departments, and draft work plans for next year. He needed to read, approve, and make decisions on each one. But the more he read, the heavier his heart became.

The poverty of Tuxian County is written in every single number.

The county's GDP is less than 3 billion yuan, ranking fifth from the bottom in the province; its fiscal revenue is 180 million yuan, but its expenditure is more than 200 million yuan, and it relies on transfer payments to fill the gap every year; it is common for civil servants and teachers to be in arrears with their salaries, and last year it was delayed for three months, almost causing a mass incident.

The leadership team is even more problematic. County Head Li Jianguo is a native of the area, having risen through the ranks from a township clerk to county head, having cultivated his influence in this remote county for over twenty years. He is in charge of the economy and has a group of long-time subordinates, with key departments from the Finance Bureau to the Development and Reform Commission all staffed by his people. Zhou Wenyuan, the parachuted-in Party Secretary, is nominally the top leader, but in reality, he has limited resources at his disposal.

"Knock knock." A knock on the door.

"Enter."

Lin Fan pushed open the door and came in, holding a teacup in his hand: "Brother Zhou, have some tea to warm yourself up."

Zhou Wenyuan accepted the tea, which was just the right temperature. He took a sip; it was Longjing tea that Lin Fan had brought from Steel City, with a delicate fragrance and a slightly bitter taste.

"Sit down," Zhou Wenyuan said, gesturing to the sofa.

Lin Fan sat down without speaking. He knew what Zhou Wenyuan was thinking—he had been in Tuxian County for over a month, but the situation hadn't improved, the work was stalled, and he was being hindered at every turn. This feeling was unpleasant.

"We had another argument at the county head's office meeting today." Zhou Wenyuan sat down opposite Lin Fan, rubbing his temples. "County Head Li wants to launch that stone processing plant project, saying it will create jobs and increase tax revenue. But after reading the feasibility study report, I found that the environmental impact assessment wasn't done properly at all, and the wastewater treatment plan is just a sham. I raised my concerns, and he immediately turned hostile, saying, 'Secretary Zhou doesn't understand the situation.'"

Lin Fan listened quietly. He had been following Zhou Wenyuan these past few days and had a basic understanding of the situation. Li Jianguo was a pragmatist, but also impatient for quick results, sometimes disregarding everything for the sake of political achievements. That stone factory might indeed produce short-term results, but the pollution risk was too great; if something went wrong, it would be a major problem.

"The economy is hard to revitalize," Zhou Wenyuan sighed. "County Chief Li controls the economic affairs. I want to get involved, but he says I don't understand; if I don't get involved, I can't bear to see those problematic projects being launched. Being this Party Secretary is... frustrating."

Lin Fan waited for him to finish speaking before saying, "Brother Zhou, I have an idea."

"you say."

"Since the economy is not doing well for the time being, and the county head is in charge of it, it's really inappropriate for you to interfere," Lin Fan said carefully, choosing his words. "But the responsibilities of the county party secretary aren't limited to managing the economy, are they?"

Zhou Wenyuan looked up at him: "You mean...?"

"Party and government building, and the building of spiritual civilization, are the primary responsibilities of the Party Committee," Lin Fan said. "County Head Li may say you don't understand economics, but can he say you don't understand Party building?"

Zhou Wenyuan's eyes slowly brightened.

Lin Fan continued, "It's a fact that Tuxian County is poor, but poverty doesn't mean it can't achieve results in other areas. If Party building work is done well and spiritual civilization construction is done well, that's also a political achievement, and a solid and long-term one at that."

"Tell me more about it."

"I've been following your research during this period and have also learned some things privately." Lin Fan leaned forward. "Although Tu County is economically backward, it has several characteristics: First, the people are simple and honest; second, it has abundant revolutionary resources, serving as a base area during the War of Resistance Against Japan and producing many heroes; third, although the grassroots cadres are not highly skilled, most of them are down-to-earth and hardworking."

Zhou Wenyuan listened attentively: "Continue."

"We can start from these points," Lin Fan said, his thoughts becoming clearer. "First, we can excavate revolutionary resources and create a revolutionary education base. We can integrate those scattered revolutionary sites and apply for provincial-level patriotic education base status. This doesn't require too much money; it mainly involves organizing materials, repairing sites, and training guides."

"Second, we need to improve the work style of our cadres. The biggest problem with the cadres in Tu County is their laziness and inefficiency. We can launch an 'Efficiency Improvement Year' campaign to rectify the work style of the government and establish an accountability mechanism. You can personally take charge of this, which is perfectly legitimate."

"Third, we should promote the development of spiritual civilization. There are still many outdated customs and bad habits in the rural areas of Tuxian County—lavish weddings and funerals, high bride prices, and many superstitious activities. We can conduct pilot projects to change these customs and select civilized villages and towns and civilized families. If we do this well, the higher authorities will definitely pay attention."

Zhou Wenyuan listened more and more intently, even forgetting to light a cigarette: "These... are indeed tasks that the Party Committee should be responsible for. Moreover, they don't require much financial investment; they mainly rely on organization and mobilization."

"That's right." Lin Fan nodded. "More importantly, these tasks demonstrate the Party Secretary's leadership skills and political acumen. If economic work is done well, people might say the county head is capable; but if Party building and spiritual civilization are highlighted, that's the Party Secretary's achievement."

The office fell silent, save for the occasional soft click from the radiator. Outside, the snow continued to fall silently.

After a long while, Zhou Wenyuan slowly exhaled, and a genuine smile appeared on his face for the first time in a month.

"Xiao Lin, your thinking... has opened up." He stood up and paced around the office. "I was stuck in a rut before, always thinking about achieving economic results and competing with County Chief Li. Now it seems that changing the track might allow me to run faster."

"Of course, we should also focus on economic work, but there's no rush," Lin Fan added. "Once you've established yourself firmly in Tu County and built up your authority, it's not too late to gradually get involved in the economy. By then, even if County Chief Li wanted to stop you, he wouldn't be able to."

"That makes sense." Zhou Wenyuan stopped at the window, looking at the snow outside. "Party building and spiritual civilization... they may sound abstract, but when implemented, they are not abstract at all. They are the foundation and a long-term plan."

He turned around, his eyes sharpening again: "Lin Fan, help me come up with an outline. It should follow these three points you mentioned—red education, improving work style, and changing customs and habits. I want to propose it at the county-wide cadre meeting after the Spring Festival as a key task for this year."

"Okay, I'll get it done tonight."

"No rush, let's eat first." Zhou Wenyuan glanced at his watch; it was already 12:30. "Let's go to the cafeteria and chat while we eat."

The county government canteen was a single-story building behind the compound. The conditions were simple, but the food was affordable. Zhou Wenyuan and Lin Fan got their food and found a corner to sit down.

He had only taken a few bites when County Head Li Jianguo came over with his tray: "Secretary Zhou, are you eating?"

"County Magistrate Li, please have a seat." Zhou Wenyuan politely gestured for him to sit.

Li Jianguo sat down and looked at Lin Fan: "And this is...?"

"Deputy Director Lin from the County Party Committee Office has just been transferred here," Zhou Wenyuan introduced. "Lin Fan, this is County Head Li."

"Hello, County Chief Li." Lin Fan nodded in greeting.

"Deputy Director Lin is young and promising," Li Jianguo said meaningfully. "I heard he used to work at the Steel City Finance Bureau?"

"Yes, I came with Secretary Zhou."

Li Jianguo said "Oh," and didn't ask Lin Fan any more questions. He turned to Zhou Wenyuan and said, "Secretary Zhou, I still need to report to you about the stone factory this morning. We'll redo the environmental impact assessment to ensure it meets the standards. But this project really can't be delayed. The investors said that if it's not finalized before the New Year, they'll consider moving to a neighboring county."

Zhou Wenyuan picked up a piece of green vegetable and said slowly, "County Chief Li, regarding the project, just follow the procedures. As long as the environmental impact assessment is sound and the paperwork is complete, I support it."

Li Jianguo was taken aback, not expecting Zhou Wenyuan's attitude to change so quickly.

"However, there's something I have to say upfront," Zhou Wenyuan put down his chopsticks. "Economic development is important, but environmental protection must also be upheld. Although Tuxian County is poor, we cannot follow the old path of polluting first and then cleaning up. This bottom line cannot be crossed."

"That's right, that's right, don't worry, Secretary Zhou." Li Jianguo nodded repeatedly, but inwardly he was wondering—why is Secretary Zhou suddenly so easy to talk to?

"Furthermore, after some consideration, I've decided that you will take the lead in economic work, and I will fully support you," Zhou Wenyuan continued. "I want to focus my main energy on Party building and the development of socialist culture and civilization. Tuxian County has a weak foundation, but its spirit cannot be broken. We must put in the effort in this regard."

Li Jianguo's eyes darted around, and he understood—this was about decentralization. You handle the abstract stuff, I'll handle the concrete stuff. Good, it'll save us from being hindered at every turn.

"Secretary Zhou, you have a brilliant vision!" Li Jianguo's smile became more sincere. "Party building is indeed important, and as the secretary, it's perfectly legitimate for you to take charge of this. If you need any cooperation from the government, just let us know."

"Then thank you in advance, County Chief Li." Zhou Wenyuan smiled as well. "I'm working on the specific plan, and we'll discuss it at our team meeting later."

The meal was outwardly harmonious. Li Jianguo left first, his steps light as he went—as long as Zhou Wenyuan didn't interfere with the economy, everything else was fine.

After Li Jianguo walked away, Lin Fan whispered, "Brother Zhou, he's taken the bait."

"He didn't fall for the trap; he just thinks I've given in," Zhou Wenyuan sneered. "Fine, let him lower his guard for now. Party building work... he'll soon find out that if done well, its power is no less than that of the economy."

Back in his office after lunch, Lin Fan began drafting a proposal. He didn't use a computer; instead, he found a notebook and wrote with a pen—this allowed for a better thought process.

The first page is titled: "Some Thoughts on Strengthening Party Building and Spiritual Civilization Construction in Tuxian County".

Then it is divided into three parts:

I. Explore revolutionary resources and build educational bases

1. Conduct a comprehensive survey of all revolutionary sites in the county and establish archives.

2. Select 3-5 key historical sites for restoration and protection.

3. Train a team of dedicated tour guides and compile standardized tour scripts.

4. Coordinate with provincial and municipal Party history research offices to apply for provincial-level patriotic education base status.

5. Organize regular visits and learning sessions for all Party members and cadres in the county, and incorporate them into the Party School training curriculum.

II. Vigorously improve work style and enhance administrative efficiency

1. Launch the "Efficiency Improvement Year" campaign, establish a leading group, and appoint the Party Secretary as the group leader.

2. Establish a mechanism for both overt and covert investigations to expose and hold accountable those responsible for problems with the work style of government agencies.

3. Simplify procedures and promote "one-stop" service.

4. Establish files on cadres' work style and link them to performance evaluation and promotion.

5. Hold a review meeting on work style improvement every quarter, and issue rankings and reports.

III. Promote the transformation of social customs and cultivate civilized rural atmosphere

1. Select 2-3 townships as pilot areas for changing customs and habits.

2. Formulate village rules and regulations to provide guidance and restrictions on the scale of weddings and funerals, and the standard of bride price.

3. Carry out the selection activities of "Civilized Family" and "Good Daughter-in-law and Good Mother-in-law".

4. Organize cultural activities in rural areas and build village-level cultural squares and rural bookstores.

5. Combat feudal superstition and gambling to purify social atmosphere.

It was already four o'clock in the afternoon when he finished writing. Lin Fan carefully checked it over and added a few more implementation details before taking the manuscript to Zhou Wenyuan's office.

Zhou Wenyuan was reading a document. He took the paper and carefully read it from beginning to end. He read it for a full twenty minutes without saying a word, only occasionally drawing a circle or writing a few words on the paper.

After finally finishing reading, he looked up, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration.

"Xiao Lin, you really are..." Zhou Wenyuan couldn't find the right words. "This plan is very comprehensive, both insightful and practical. In particular, the combination of revolutionary resources and cadre education is a great point."

"Brother Zhou, you flatter me. My thoughts are all based on the actual situation."

"No, it's because you put your heart into it." Zhou Wenyuan carefully folded the manuscript and put it in the drawer. "Here's what you'll do: tonight, refine it further, listing out the implementation steps, timelines, and responsible units for each point. Let's meet again tomorrow morning."

"OK."

"In addition," Zhou Wenyuan thought for a moment, "you can privately find out who in our county party committee and department heads is suitable to take charge of these tasks. We need capable people to promote party building."

"I see."

Lin Fan returned to his office and, instead of immediately refining the plan, made a few phone calls. He called veteran comrades in the county's Organization Department, Publicity Department, and Party History Office, ostensibly to seek their advice, but in the process, he gathered information through casual conversation.

After an afternoon, he had a basic understanding of the situation: Zhao, the executive deputy director of the Organization Department, had been working in organization for more than 20 years and was principled, but had always been sidelined; Sun, the deputy director of the Propaganda Department, was young and had ideas, but lacked a platform; and Qian, the director of the Party History Office, was an old scholar who knew the local revolutionary history like the back of his hand, but had little influence.

All three of these people can be used.

That evening, Lin Fan continued working in his guesthouse room. He refined the plan into a detailed implementation schedule, clearly defining the timeline, responsible person, and performance evaluation criteria for each step. He finished at eleven o'clock, but instead of feeling sleepy, he was wide awake.

I opened the window; the snow had stopped. The night in Tuxian was unusually quiet, with only the occasional bark of a dog in the distance. The night sky was clear, dotted with stars—a scene completely different from that of the steel city.

Lin Fan recalled his past life, the one who died suddenly at the age of forty-five. If he had known then that he would be reborn into such a remote county, following a secretary facing difficulties, and planning a seemingly "illusory" job... what would he have thought?

You'd probably find that unbelievable.

But Lin Fan now knows that the more seemingly "intangible" the work, the more it tests wisdom and demonstrates value. Economic work has indicators and figures, making it easy to achieve results, but also easy to run into problems. On the other hand, Party building and spiritual civilization, when done well, subtly influence and solidify the foundation for long-term development.

This is the true path to "stability"—avoiding short-sighted gains and reckless advancement, but laying a solid foundation.

My phone vibrated; it was a text message from Wang Juan: "Are you asleep? Is it cold in Tuxian?"

Lin Fan replied, "I'm still awake, writing some materials. It's snowing in Tuxian County, it's quite cold. How's things at home?"

"Things are fine at home. Mom and Dad made dumplings today, and Xiaolei ate two bowls. He said he missed you."

"I miss you all too. I'll come back to see you during the Spring Festival."

"Okay, I'll wait for you. Go to sleep early, don't overwork yourself."

"The same to you."

Putting down his phone, Lin Fan walked to the window and took a deep breath of the crisp, cool air. The coolness in his lungs made his mind clearer.

In this life, he chose to follow Zhou Wenyuan, choosing this seemingly difficult path. But he doesn't regret it—money can bring material security, but spiritual fulfillment and a sense of value cannot be bought with money.

Moreover, he had confidence. He had confidence in Zhou Wenyuan, confidence in himself, and confidence in this path.

The next morning, Zhou Wenyuan reviewed the revised plan and was very satisfied.

"That's settled." He made the decision. "I'll raise this as a key topic at the first Standing Committee meeting after the Spring Festival. Lin Fan, you should give Old Zhao, Little Sun, and Old Qian a heads-up beforehand and see what their attitudes are."

"Okay, Brother Zhou."

"In addition, in the few days before the Spring Festival, we'll visit a few more townships," Zhou Wenyuan said. "Not to investigate the economy, but to check the foundation of Party building, visit revolutionary sites, and observe local customs and traditions. This is to prepare for our work after the Spring Festival."

"clear."

Over the next few days, Lin Fan drove his white Lexus, taking Zhou Wenyuan to the most remote townships in Tu County. Instead of listening to economic reports, they visited Party branch activity rooms, revolutionary sites, and chatted with the local people.

In Qingshan Township, they discovered a well-preserved site of a command post from the War of Resistance Against Japan, but it was abandoned and firewood was piled up at the entrance.

In Dahe Town, they heard that an old Red Army soldier was still alive, 102 years old, but his family was poor and his son was chronically ill.

In Hongqi Village, they saw that the village committee wall was covered with various certificates of merit, but the branch activity records were completely blank.

Lin Fan carefully noted down all these details. As Zhou Wenyuan read them, his brows furrowed and relaxed at times.

On the 27th of the twelfth lunar month, after visiting the last township, on the way back to the county seat, Zhou Wenyuan suddenly said, "Lin Fan, I think I know what to do."

"What are your thoughts, Brother Zhou?"

"We can't just shout slogans; we have to do real things," Zhou Wenyuan said. "Repairing revolutionary sites, helping elderly Party members in need, rectifying weak and disorganized Party branches... we have to do these things one by one. Once we accomplish them, people will believe in us."

"Yes, the biggest enemy of Party building is formalism."

"After the Spring Festival, let's start with these few things." Zhou Wenyuan looked out the window at the fields rushing by. "Let's get things done first and let the cadres and the masses see the changes. Prestige is built up little by little."

It was already dark when the car entered the county town. Red lanterns were hung on both sides of the street, and the atmosphere of the New Year was finally starting to emerge in this remote little county.

"I'm going back to the steel city tomorrow," Zhou Wenyuan said. "You should also go back and spend time with your family during the Spring Festival holiday. After the New Year, we'll get back to work on this big project."

"Okay, Brother Zhou."

After dropping Zhou Wenyuan off at the guesthouse, Lin Fan parked the car. He didn't go back to his room immediately, but instead took a walk around the county government compound.

The courtyard was quiet after the snow, with only the light in the guardhouse still on. The old five-story building stood silently in the night, as simple, even somewhat shabby, as the county itself.

But Lin Fan knew that some changes were quietly brewing here.

Party building and spiritual civilization—these terms sound grand and abstract. But in practice, they mean repairing a historical site, helping an elderly person, and rectifying a Party branch… It is these concrete things that, little by little, change this place and its people.

He and Zhou Wenyuan will be the driving force behind these changes.

This is enough.

In this life, he not only secured a stable and prosperous life for himself and his family, but also participated in a cause that changed a place and benefited the local people.

This sense of value is something that numbers in a stock account can never match.

Lin Fan looked up at the night sky. The stars were twinkling; tomorrow should be a sunny day.

After the Spring Festival, a new journey is about to begin.

He's ready.