Chapter 14: Rivals in the Dust
The sun hadn't yet risen over the city, but inside the Ruihua Motorcycle Factory, things were already in motion.
Workers walked straighter. Floors gleamed under the early light. New signs marked tools, parts, and paths. What once felt like a cluttered scrapyard now resembled a real production line.
And people were talking.
Not just inside the factory… but outside too.
Yongkang County – Hongda Motorcycle Assembly, Office
Manager Wang stubbed out his cigarette.
"You're saying… that boy Chen Rui managed to increase Ruihua's daily output by 20% in a week?"
The young scout nodded nervously.
"Yes sir. They're reorganizing. Something called S5. Even the workers seem motivated now."
Wang snorted.
"Motivated my ass. That factory was supposed to die. His old man was practically begging us for supply scraps a year ago. And now it's becoming a threat?"
He picked up the phone.
"Tell Director Lin at Huayi Steel to delay their part shipments to Ruihua. No need to strangle them. Just… slow them down."
"What reason should I give?"
"No reason. They'll understand. Ruihua's not protected anymore. They should've stayed dead."
Back at Ruihua Factory
Chen Rui stood with Li Wei near the loading dock, frowning.
"That's the third delay this week."
Li Wei scowled. "Steel parts again. They said 'logistics issue.' But I checked — all other orders left the warehouse on time."
Chen Rui's eyes narrowed.
"It's starting."
"What is?"
"Pushback. Someone noticed us."
He didn't need to guess who. He remembered Manager Wang all too well from his last life — the smug face, the fake sympathy, the final insult when they bought Ruihua's assets at a fraction of their value.
"Good," Chen Rui said coldly.
"Let them notice. Let them come."
"We can't make bikes without that steel, though."
Chen Rui's lips curled.
"Then we make parts we can. And we find new suppliers. Quietly. We don't panic."
SYSTEM UPDATE: RIVAL PRESSURE DETECTED
⚠️ Market Manipulation Detected
⚠️ Deliberate Supply Disruption Suspected
Recommended Action:
Identify alternative suppliers (Task: Black Channel)
Begin internal component replication (Task: Reverse Engineering – Brake Disc)
Chen Rui opened the system's reverse engineering module.
A transparent 3D model of a motorcycle brake disc hovered in the air.
"They think we still rely on their steel parts. But I've already seen this playbook. This time, I'll break it before it starts."
"You going to design our own version?" Li Wei asked.
"Not yet. I'll study theirs first."
He smirked.
"Let the ghosts of the past watch what happens when I come prepared."