Chapter 9: The Ghosts of Steel
The gates of the Ruihua Motorcycle Assembly Plant stood before Chen Rui like a rusted monument to failure.
He paused outside, fingers brushing the cold metal. His breath slowed. In his past life, these gates had slammed shut for the final time when creditors came knocking, inventory was seized, and workers walked away unpaid.
"This time… it will be different."
Inside, the familiar scent of engine oil and scorched metal hit him. The same peeling walls. The same flickering overhead lights. But now, with his new eyes and his system's insight, every flaw screamed for attention.
His father, Chen Jianzhong, stood near a half-assembled batch of motorcycles. Greying at the temples and still wearing the same oil-stained jacket, he barked orders while holding a clipboard.
When he saw Chen Rui walk in, he raised a brow. "Back again?"
"I brought something," Chen Rui replied, lifting the wrapped prototype from his school bag.
He unwrapped it on the nearest workbench: a precisely machined carburetor part, gleaming under the shop light.
His father walked over slowly. He picked it up, turning it in his calloused hands. His brow furrowed.
"You made this?"
"Yes. I used existing factory scraps, refined the airflow chamber, adjusted the venturi angle. It'll boost performance by about 12% and reduce misfires."
There was a long pause.
"You?" Jianzhong repeated, eyes narrowing. "You who couldn't even fix your bicycle chain last year?"
Chen Rui met his gaze. "I've changed. Let me prove it."
His father was skeptical — understandably so. But in his hands, the part felt solid, balanced, even elegant.
He didn't smile, but he placed the piece down carefully, as if it might break.
"You'll come tomorrow," he said gruffly. "Six in the morning. Help me test this. If it works, we talk more."
Chen Rui nodded. "I'll be here."
Flashback - Past Life
One year before bankruptcy.
"Mr. Chen, our suppliers have all pulled out," the factory accountant had said, eyes filled with dread. "They've been approached by Haoyun Motors — threatened with losing all business if they supply us."
"But we've done nothing to them…" his father had whispered, stunned.
"Exactly the problem," the accountant said. "They're playing dirty. And we were too small to matter."
"Close the gates," his father had muttered.
"For how long?"
"I don't know."
That was the day their family lost everything.
Present
Back at home, Chen Rui sat at his desk, the prototype blueprint glowing faintly before his eyes.
System Tutorial: Initiated
🧠 "Welcome, Host. You have unlocked Phase One: Technological Insight."
Unlocked Features:
Blueprint Memory (Perfect retention of mechanical designs)
Fault Analysis (See weaknesses in existing machines)
Efficiency Optimizer (Suggest better layouts or parts)
System Tasks: [Tap to Expand]
🛠️ Main Goal Unlocked:
Rebuild Ruihua into an independent parts manufacturer
Reward: Factory Control Rights + System Upgrade Path Unlocked
Subtasks:
• Replace 1 key outsourced component – ✅
• Convince father to trust your design – In Progress
• Design second prototype – Pending
Chen Rui clenched his fist.
"We won't just survive this time… we'll rise."