In Tianjiawan Village, Jiangkouxu Town, Mayang County, Hunan Province, there lies a narrow mountain path, steep and winding, almost concealed by weeds on either side. This trail served as the training ground for Zhang Xue, founder of the Chinese motorcycle manufacturer "Zhang Xue Motorcycles," during his youth.

"The road was very narrow, but he dared to ride it; he was bold yet meticulous," said Sun Yihe, the village party secretary of Tianjiawan Village. He expressed that Zhang Xue's success, while not unexpected, is still profoundly impressive.

During his childhood, Zhang Xue's parents worked away from home for long periods. He often cooked for himself, looked after his younger sister, and still managed to keep up with his studies. In the secretary's recollection, "Zhang Xue was talkative and playful, with an excellent reputation in the village. He respected the elderly, cared for the young, and was good to both elders and peers."

This motorcycle enthusiast from a mountain village persisted for over twenty years, starting by learning to repair vehicles, then joining a professional racing team, and finally establishing his own brand.

Recently, at the World Superbike Championship (WSBK) Portuguese round, a French rider, competing on a "Zhang Xue Motorcycles" bike, achieved two consecutive victories in the SSP class, garnering significant attention domestically and internationally and repeatedly trending online.

However, in the eyes of his hometown community, he has never been just a champion. In the memory of his cousin, Zhang Rui, his elder cousin was exceptionally brave, confident, and daring. As a child, he was the leader among the village children. Zhang Rui's most vivid memory is of Zhang Xue performing "stunts" by riding his bicycle along a water embankment only twenty to thirty centimeters wide beside the fields.

But what he admires most is his brother's tenacity throughout his journey. "After all, our hometown is in a mountainous area. When we were young, very few families could afford the expense of a motorcycle," Zhang Rui said. "Yet, from learning to ride and repair motorcycles himself, to entering professional racing, and finally founding his own company, my brother never changed his beliefs."

"He is someone who dares to act on his ideas. Once he sets his mind on a goal, he pursues it relentlessly, regardless of the consequences, to achieve it," Zhang Rui added, noting that he sometimes thinks of his brother Zhang Xue when facing difficulties and feeling like giving up.

After Zhang Xue started his business, he had little time to return home. But whenever he did visit the village, he was very warm and enthusiastic. "He was especially considerate towards me. I remember when I was young, every time he came home, he would hug my grandmother and my mother," Zhang Rui recalled.

When news of "Zhang Xue Motorcycles" winning the championship reached his hometown, the villagers were happy for him and proud of him. What surprised them even more was that he had "Mayang Ancient Method Brown Sugar" engraved on his championship-winning motorcycle, using this unique method to promote his hometown's specialty product on the world stage.

Mayang is known for producing brown sugar made using traditional methods. Once, while having a meal at a fellow villager's home in a neighboring village, Zhang Xue asked about the sales of the village's brown sugar. Upon hearing the villager say "not ideal," he immediately responded, "I'll put your brown sugar on my motorcycle later and take it to the competition."

Zhang Xue fulfilled his promise to his fellow villagers in this understated way. Consequently, sales of Mayang Ancient Method Brown Sugar have increased significantly recently. Zhang Yanhong, the village party secretary of Shiziwan Village, Shujiacun Township, Mayang County, reported that the village's brown sugar had sold out in recent days. "Without Zhang Xue, this brown sugar would have taken several more months to sell," he said.

On his path chasing dreams, Zhang Xue is very busy and has little time to return to his hometown. But the villagers know that the child who rode on narrow paths and played with his friends on the ridges hasn't really changed. He has dismantled countless engines and ultimately brought Chinese motorcycles to the world podium, yet he has not forgotten the narrow path behind him.

Today, he rides faster and farther. But when people in his hometown speak of him, they don't just talk about the champion; they speak of Zhang Xue—the warm, enthusiastic, and determined individual who dares to dream and act.