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

On Monday morning, the power company building was filled with the slightly lazy, busy atmosphere that was typical of the weekend.

As usual, Lin Fan picked up Zhou Wenyuan from work, dealt with the urgent documents from the morning, and then attended a short meeting. The morning passed quickly. During lunch break, instead of going to the cafeteria, he said goodbye to Yang Zhiyuan and drove out of the company.

He was preoccupied with finding office space for Wang Xin. He'd had a very exciting conversation with Wang Xin yesterday, but upon reflection, he realized that many things needed to be addressed practically. Company registration could be handled by an agency, and staff could be found gradually, but finding a place to store equipment, parking, and for daily office work was the crucial first step and needed to be secured as soon as possible.

He had initially thought it would be simple: he could just find a warehouse or old factory with a large yard on the outskirts of the city and renovate it. But after driving around the provincial capital for more than two hours, he realized it wasn't that easy.

There are plenty of vacant lots in the suburbs, but they are either undeveloped commercial land with exorbitant rents, or collectively owned village land with complicated procedures, numerous entanglements, and instability. Places with a large enough yard, basic housing facilities, and relatively convenient transportation are extremely rare. He looked at a secondhand market; the yard was large enough, but it was filled with scrap metal, and cleaning it would be a huge undertaking. He also looked at a small, closed factory; the buildings were dilapidated, and the water and electricity would need to be re-laid, requiring a huge investment.

Most importantly, the properties he was interested in were all owned or leased by local small business owners or village collectives, which made communication feel somewhat "unprofessional." As the company grows, its equipment will cost millions or even tens of millions of yuan, and placing it in such locations raises concerns about safety and compliance. Wang Xin will need to be based here permanently for work, vehicle dispatch, and staff training, so a poor environment is unacceptable.

Lin Fan parked his car on the side of the road, lit a cigarette, and felt somewhat irritated. Money wasn't the biggest problem; the key issue was the difficulty in finding a suitable place. For the first time, he deeply felt that in the provincial capital, money alone wasn't enough; one also needed connections and information channels. Suitable venues like these, which weren't publicly advertised, often circulated within certain organizations or could only be discovered through personal connections.

After finishing his cigarette, he checked the time and knew it was time to go back to work. Zhou Wenyuan had a meeting that afternoon, and he needed to prepare in advance.

Back at the company, the afternoon's work proceeded as usual. After seeing off the visiting guests, Lin Fan noticed that Zhou Wenyuan was alright for the time being. Remembering that the junior manager in charge of property management in the logistics department seemed quite familiar with real estate in various parts of the city, he went downstairs.

The Logistics Department's Property Management Section is located on the second floor, around the corner. The section chief, surnamed Sun, is a balding man in his forties, busy at his computer. Seeing Lin Fan enter, he quickly stood up: "Assistant Lin, what brings you here? Is something the matter?"

"Section Chief Sun, busy? I'd like to ask you about something." Lin Fan sat down opposite him and offered him a cigarette.

Section Chief Sun took the cigarette, his attitude very enthusiastic: "What is it? As long as I know it."

"Here's the thing, a friend of mine wants to start a business in construction machinery and needs a site. The requirements are: a large yard to park large vehicles, and ideally, a few rooms for offices and living quarters. The location doesn't need to be too central, the suburbs are fine, but transportation needs to be relatively convenient. I've been looking around all afternoon but haven't found anything suitable. Considering our company is large and has a wide network, I wonder if Section Chief Sun has heard of any vacant spaces available? Or… do other organizations have similar sites they'd like to rent out?"

Upon hearing this, Section Chief Sun stroked his chin and thought for a moment: "Construction machinery... a small yard won't do. Cranes and pump trucks are big machines with large turning radii. I know our company's own properties; none meet your requirements. However..."

He hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice: "I did hear a comrade of mine mention it, I don't know if it will be of any use to you."

"Tell me about it," Lin Fan said, perking up.

"My comrade-in-arms is a squad leader in the district fire brigade. A couple of years ago, their fire service underwent a construction project, and each brigade built a new modern training base. The old training base in the old suburban area was left vacant and abandoned, and I heard it hasn't been dealt with yet."

Lin Fan's eyes lit up: "The old training base? Is it big?"

"Wow! I remember passing by here before, it was surrounded by a huge wall. Inside, there was mainly a two-story building, which I heard used to be an office and dormitory for duty officers. Downstairs was a garage, the kind that can hold fire trucks. There was a concrete playground in front, which was definitely big enough as a yard. The backyard was even bigger, I think there were some training facilities and... oh right, there was also a row of bungalows, which used to be an equipment storage and canteen." Section Chief Sun recalled, "That place was a bit remote, in the north of the city, just before the ring road, but the road was passable, and large vehicles could get in and out without any problem. The buildings might be a bit old, but the structure was definitely sturdy."

Lin Fan became more and more excited as he listened. This place sounded perfect! It was a detached house with a secure wall, an existing garage (which could be converted to park a crane), office and dormitory buildings, and a large courtyard and backyard! Moreover, it was an idle asset of the fire protection system, so its management would definitely be more standardized than that of private land.

"Can this place be rented?" Lin Fan asked the crucial question.

Section Chief Sun scratched his head: "Well... I don't know. It's their fire protection system's property, so they can decide how to handle it. They might keep it for backup, or they might want to rent it out to generate revenue, or they might have other plans. My comrade just mentioned it casually over dinner, without going into details."

"Section Chief Sun, could you please ask your comrade-in-arms for me to sound out the possibility of renting it out? What would the terms be? Or could you make a connection so I can talk to the person in charge directly?" Lin Fan asked earnestly.

Section Chief Sun hesitated, "Assistant Lin, it's not that I don't want to help. My comrade is just a squad leader; he doesn't really get involved. Besides, the fire department and local businesses are two different systems. He might not have any influence, and he might not be willing to get involved in this kind of thing."

Lin Fan understood. Different systems, different professions are like different worlds. It's really not appropriate for a squad leader to interfere in matters that are internal to the fire department, and Section Chief Sun is also in a difficult position in the middle.

"I understand, I understand, I was being presumptuous," Lin Fan quickly said. "Then, Section Chief Sun, how about this: if it's convenient for you, could you help me find out which department is in charge of that training base now? Is it the brigade's logistics department, or the logistics department of their fire brigade? Or, do you have the contact information for the relevant person in charge? I'll find a way to contact them myself and won't mention that you said it was you. Does that seem appropriate?"

Section Chief Sun's expression softened somewhat. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Well... I'll give it a try. I'll call him tonight and ask him indirectly. I'll let you know if I have any news."

"Thank you so much, Section Chief Sun!" Lin Fan sincerely expressed his gratitude. Regardless of whether it succeeds or not, at least this provides a clear direction.

Back in his office, Lin Fan sat down, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the desk. An unused training base for the fire protection system… it certainly sounded like an ideal option. But how to get involved? Just like Section Chief Sun said, it involved two different systems; without familiarity, he wouldn't even know where to begin.

He suddenly remembered someone—Old Yan, the head of the Gangcheng City Fire Brigade. Back in Gangcheng, when Zhou Wenyuan was the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, he had dealt with the fire brigade quite a bit due to fire safety inspections and joint efforts between the political and legal authorities and the fire department. Lin Fan, as Zhou Wenyuan's driver and assistant, had also met Head Yan a few times and even dined with him, so they were acquainted. Head Yan was a former soldier, with a forthright personality. He respected Zhou Wenyuan greatly and was quite polite to Lin Fan as well.

Although the provincial capital's fire department and the steel city's fire department are not directly under each other, they are both in the same province, so people within the system should know each other, right? Does Chief Yan have any comrades or former superiors in the provincial fire department? Or could he help put in a good word or make a connection?

Thinking about this, Lin Fan decided it was worth a try. He first sent a text message to Captain Yan, politely inquiring about his situation and saying that he was now working for the provincial power company under Secretary Zhou (although Zhou Wenyuan's position had changed, they still used the old title due to their old relationship), and that everything was fine. Then, he subtly mentioned that he wanted to inquire about the management of idle assets in the provincial capital's fire service system, wondering if Captain Yan could offer some guidance.

Lin Fan didn't have high hopes after sending the message. After all, time had passed, and the other person might not even remember him, their little assistant.

Unexpectedly, less than half an hour later, the phone rang. It was Captain Yan calling.

"Assistant Lin! Haha, I heard you got promoted to the provincial level with Secretary Zhou, congratulations!" Captain Yan's loud voice came through the receiver, still as enthusiastic as ever.

"Captain Yan, hello! Sorry to bother you!" Lin Fan quickly said politely.

"What do you mean by disturbing us? We've known each other for a long time! I think I understand what you said in your text message. You wanted to inquire about renting out unused fire station sites in the provincial capital, right?" Captain Yan said directly.

"Yes, Captain Yan, you are truly insightful. A friend of mine wants to start a business selling engineering equipment and needs a large site. He heard that there is an old training base in the provincial capital's fire department that is vacant, so he wants to see if there is any opportunity. But he is completely clueless and doesn't know who to contact," Lin Fan said honestly.

"Hmm... the old training base... you mean the one in the north of the city? I know it." Captain Yan pondered for a moment, "That place is directly under the jurisdiction of the Provincial Fire Brigade's Logistics Department. It seems... there's an intention to lease or cooperate with them now, since it's a waste to leave it empty. Here, I'll give you a name and phone number, write them down."

Lin Fan quickly took out paper and pen.

"Find Deputy Director Li of the Logistics Department of the Provincial Fire Brigade. Just say he was introduced by Lao Yan from Steel City. He used to be my old company commander, a very honest man. Explain things to him clearly, and as long as it complies with regulations, there shouldn't be any major problems. But Xiao Lin," Captain Yan's tone became more serious, "I must remind you, the management of asset leasing by the fire department is very strict. The purpose and safety are thoroughly reviewed. Your friend's use must be compliant and legal, and the safety measures must be in place. Don't let anything go wrong, or my old company commander and I will lose face."

"Don't worry, Captain Yan! It's a legitimate business, construction machinery rental, and safety comes first! We will definitely abide by the rules and will never make things difficult for you!" Lin Fan immediately assured him.

"Okay, I trust you to handle things. The phone number is 139... Just tell them Lao Yan told you to contact him. Whether it works out or not is up to you two to discuss."

Lin Fan wrote down the phone number and expressed his sincere gratitude once again. After hanging up, he looked at the name and number on the paper, overwhelmed with emotion. This is what connections are all about. Two seemingly unrelated systems can be bridged when needed because of a small good relationship formed in the past.

He didn't make the call immediately, but first sorted out his thoughts. Although this matter was a private one between him and Wang Xin, it did involve Zhou Wenyuan's past relationships. He felt it necessary to briefly inform Zhou Wenyuan, not to ask for instructions, but to report back, as a sign of respect.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to deliver documents to Zhou Wenyuan's office, Lin Fan briefly mentioned, "Brother Zhou, my friend is looking for a venue and heard that there's an old training base in the fire department that might be suitable. Luckily, the Yan branch of the Steel City Fire Brigade has some connections and gave me their contact information. I'm planning to go and inquire."

Zhou Wenyuan was looking at documents and didn't even look up. He just grunted and casually said, "There are a lot of rules in the fire department, so pay attention to safety requirements. Be straightforward when you talk to them, don't try anything funny."

"Understood." Lin Fan knew that this meant tacit approval.

Back in his office, Lin Fan carefully considered his words before dialing Vice Minister Li's number.

The phone rang a few times before being answered. A steady, middle-aged male voice said, "Hello, who is this?"

"Minister Li, hello. I apologize for bothering you. I am Lin Fan, assistant to Chairman Zhou Wenyuan of the Provincial Power Company. I was introduced to you by Chief Yan of the Gangcheng City Fire Brigade." Lin Fan got straight to the point, his tone respectful but not humble.

There was a pause on the other end of the phone, then the voice softened: "Oh, Lao Yan recommended you. Hello, Assistant Lin, what can I do for you?"

Lin Fan explained the situation clearly again: his friends were partnering to rent out construction machinery (cranes) and needed a compliant site. They heard that the old training base of the Fire Department in the north of the city was idle and wanted to inquire whether it was possible to rent it out, while guaranteeing that the use would be legal and safe.

After listening, Vice Minister Li did not answer immediately, but instead asked, "What are your specific needs for the venue? Approximately how large an area do you need to rent? For how long do you plan to rent it?"

Lin Fan told Wang Xin about his approximate area requirements (mainly space for parking large cranes, office and accommodation rooms), and expressed his hope that the lease term would be at least three years, with stability being the priority.

"Well, it's hard to explain over the phone," said Vice Minister Li. "That base has been empty for a while now, so I'll have to ask the person in charge for details. Leave your contact information so I can look into it. If you're interested, we can schedule a time for you to bring people over for a site visit and discuss things in person. Everything must be done according to procedure."

"Okay, okay, thank you so much, Minister Li! I'll wait for your news," Lin Fan said quickly.

After hanging up the phone, Lin Fan breathed a sigh of relief. Although nothing was finalized, at least the door had been opened and the other party was open to discussion. Next, it depended on the actual condition of the venue and the rental terms.

He edited the situation into a long message and sent it to Wang Xin, so that he would have a general idea and see if there were any other issues that needed to be considered in advance.

Wang Xin quickly replied, "That's great, Fanzi! You're so resourceful! I've already submitted my resignation and it's going through the process. You can decide on the location; as long as the yard is big enough and the house can be maintained, it's fine! Just call me anytime you need me to come over!"

Putting down his phone, Lin Fan looked out the window. Evening was falling in the provincial capital, the city lights were just coming on. This whole experience of finding a venue had made him truly realize that from the steel city to the provincial capital, the stage had grown larger, and the network of relationships he had to navigate was far more complex. He could no longer focus solely on his immediate surroundings. Sometimes, appropriately leveraging past connections and using the rules to create opportunities for his own people was also a skill.

He suddenly felt less apprehensive and more confident about the challenges ahead—company registration, qualification applications, equipment procurement, and recruitment. The road is always forged step by step. And people are always the most crucial element.