Outside our little living compound, out on the street is an ever growing cavalcade of street food vendors, DVD merchants, and random sellers of junk. Most recently we have received the services of a pizza man. Normally the food sellers on the street come in small-ish sizes, selling meat-on-a-stick, quick pasta, or bread makers. Never before have I seen an operation large enough like this pizza man.
He had a big oven, lots of flavors, and even some faux brick on the outside of his cart. We all marveled at him these past few days and our own luck as to be having so much yummy-ness so close to home.
We also wondered how long he would last. Turns out, not long at all.
Street vendors are technically illegal here, but mostly they are left alone. I guess the authorities figure a man’s gotta make a buck however he can, and as long as nobody bothers anybody else it works out ok. But this guy must have pressed his luck a little too much.
Last night I walk into Lianhua, the local market for some ice cream. When I go in all the vendors are out, selling their wares, including pizza man. I get my ice cream, ready my change, and stand in line. I notice that pretty much the entire store is looking outside, and I, myself, take a gander out.
What I see is three or four uniformed police officers who have surrounded themselves about the pizza man’s little shack-on-wheels. They are violently pushing the cart towards the street and their truck. The cart is having other thoughts and does not go quietly. As the men push, out drops the big gas tank to the ground. The police continue to push the cart and drag the tank.
In my head a leak occurs, sparks fly, and the whole block goes up in flames.
One police sees the gas tank and tries to detach it with no luck. More dragging ensues until someone either gets it detached or puts it back on the cart.
Amongst all this gas commotion, a new van arrives and out pop six more men in full-on camo gear. They march to the cart, and haul it off the ground and into the truck, which promptly takes off.
While all of this is happening a crowd has gathered. We, in the store have stopped what we were doing, including the cashiers, to stare at the commotion. People outside have stopped walking, and gathered to laugh at poor pizza man, who is now nowhere to be found.
When the truck left and I paid for my goods, I noticed that all the other vendors had also packed up and gotten the heck out of there.
Tonight, I note, they are all back. Except for pizza man.
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