Chapter 30: Headlines and Shadows
Local Fame
The article appeared in Zhejiang Daily on a Tuesday.
"Rising from the Ashes: Kaiyuan's Youth-Led Motorcycle Comeback"
It was tucked between a report on factory safety and a piece on soy harvest forecasts, but it had pictures — including one of Chen Rui awkwardly standing next to the Light Rider, his school uniform peeking out under a borrowed factory coat.
"Chen Rui, 17, is the acting project lead for the Kaiyuan Factory's new motorcycle. He also just passed his physics midterm."
The staff had a good laugh at that.
But it wasn't just a puff piece — it mentioned the Morning Star engine, the improved efficiency, and the reaction from local riders who had tested the prototype.
Soon, more phone calls started trickling in:
Parts suppliers. Mechanics. Even a teacher from a nearby vocational school asking if they were "accepting apprentices."
The Tiger That Wasn't
A few days later, Haotian Motors fired back.
They unveiled their "new model" — the Tiger V150 — in a flashy spread that ran in national dailies.
Big, bold claims:
"More power than any 125cc."
"Streamlined for speed."
"Coming to dealers in eight weeks!"
The catch?
No test footage. No real specs. No prototype photos.
Chen Rui raised an eyebrow. "It's a ghost bike."
Xu Lian checked with her contacts. "They rushed this. Some suppliers say the 150cc is still in pieces on a test bench."
Rui smiled.
"Then let's give people something that isn't imaginary."
Turning the Spotlight
The next day, Kaiyuan released their own ad — simple and local. A poster, really.
At the top:
"It's Not the Loudest. It Just Works."
Below it:
A photo of the Light Rider prototype — dusty from testing, engine slightly warm, with a handwritten sign next to it that read:
Tested. Tuned. Ready.
No flashy language. No grand promises.
Just real.
The poster went up at local service shops, rest stops, and community boards. Mechanics nodded when they saw it. Riders smiled.
It didn't need to shout.
After School Chat
Later that week, Rui sat in his classroom, struggling through a chemistry worksheet. One of his classmates nudged him.
"Hey, my uncle saw that motorcycle thing. Said you're famous now."
Rui groaned. "Not famous. Just tired."
"You building a rocket next?"
"Maybe a better lunchbox first."
Evening at the Factory
That evening, under the soft whir of fans, the Light Rider prototype was being cleaned and prepped again.
Production wasn't ready yet — but the excitement was growing.
"Are we going to make it in time?" Li Wei asked.
Rui looked at the wall calendar. Haotian's fake "launch" was in two months.
"If we can get just twenty units ready for real test riders… not dealers, real riders…"
Xu Lian nodded. "It'll speak for itself."
"Exactly," Rui said.
"Let their posters brag," he added. "Ours will ride."