Chapter 29: First Ride
One Week Later – Early Morning
The sun hadn't risen yet, but the factory gates were open.
In the courtyard, under a hanging work light, stood the first complete Kaiyuan Light Rider — painted in matte silver with black detailing, clean welds, and the glint of a Morning Star engine tucked neatly between its steel bones.
Chen Rui circled it slowly.
"Seat cushion's good," Li Wei said, patting it. "And the throttle's got a little spring."
Xu Lian was checking the headlight mount. "It's balanced. Lighter than the old Haotian 125 by at least five kilos."
Rui nodded once.
"Let's ride."
The Test Run
Rui insisted on being the first test rider. He wore a borrowed helmet two sizes too big and rolled the bike past the guard shack and out toward the back access road — a long, cracked strip of asphalt used by delivery trucks.
The factory workers gathered at the gate, coffee mugs in hand, eyes fixed.
Rui kicked the starter.
The engine came to life — smooth, low, clean.
And then he twisted the throttle.
The bike surged forward.
Not fast like a racer — but steady. Responsive. Reliable.
It took the turns well. The brakes didn't squeal. The chain ran quiet.
He circled twice, then stopped beside the group.
"Well?" Li Wei asked.
Rui pulled off the helmet.
"It rides like we meant it."
Workers Take Turns
The factory ran ride tests all morning — letting shift leaders, mechanics, even one of the janitors try it out in rotation.
Each came back with a different comment:
"Brakes are tight."
"Easy clutch for traffic."
"Feels safer than my cousin's Haotian."
By noon, the nickname had already spread.
"Silver Star."
A bike for the working class that looked and felt like something new.
Small Victories
Word got out quickly. A nearby parts vendor offered to extend Kaiyuan's credit line after seeing a photo of the new model. A small dealership in the outskirts of Ningbo called asking about possible stock in "the next quarter."
Rui stayed cautious. "No promises. This is still a prototype."
But inside, he was buzzing.
It was real now. Not just sketches and hopefuls. A motorcycle made by a nearly-dead factory — and it worked.
Meanwhile – Haotian Motors, Conference Call
In Haotian's glass-walled boardroom, Gao Yuan listened to another report.
"Light Rider test photos just leaked. It's getting attention on bulletin boards. Not a fluke anymore."
"Can we buy the supplier?"
"They're using a mixed vendor list. It's messy. And some are small shops we dropped years ago."
Gao Yuan scowled.
"Sabotage?"
"Too risky. They're under municipal observation now."
He lit a cigarette and sighed.
"Then we do it the old-fashioned way."
He turned to his assistant.
"Draft a press release. Announce our new 150cc 'Tiger V' — with a showroom launch two months from now."
The assistant blinked. "It's not ready."
"It doesn't matter. If Kaiyuan thinks they're ahead — we'll just move the finish line."
Back at Kaiyuan
Rui sat with Li Wei on the rooftop after the day's ride tests were done.
"We're not fast," Rui admitted, watching the lights of the town flicker on below. "But we're clean. We're honest."
"And we're riding something we built ourselves," Li Wei said, sipping tea.
"Even if they move the finish line," Rui said softly, "we're still in the race."
And for now, that was enough.