I will now proceed to list the 15 different ways.
1. Nate mastering how to drive a cargo bike.
2. Fixing up my bike the night before for 20 kuai (3 bucks) so I could make the hour trek on a bike that was smooth as butter. My gears were shifting on me constantly because a part by the gears had broken (or been shattered) and caused my chain to be wobble back and forth.
3. Learning of all the fun things the furniture market has to share. (In china there are markets for everything. You can find them everywhere, multiple buildings with sellers and stores of the same type of things. Furniture. Lights. Toilets. Sinks.)
4. Enjoying some comfy mattresses (a rarity in China).
5. Seeing our cargo bike being used for one its main purpose, a chair for random people.
6. Explaining to people that we don't need the use of a cargo bike. There are probably no less than 100 cargo bike operators running around the market like this one seen below. While walking around they ask if you will need the use of one. As hard as we can we try to explain that we have a cargo bike and are not in need of their services. Finally to one man I said "Ta shi san lun ren" "他是三轮车人" pointing to Nate. This means, in bad chinese, he is a "3 wheel cart man," or "a cargo bike man." The man proceeded to shout "bu shi," which means, "No he isn't." He wasn't very happy with us, I think because we were stealing his work. That or he was still really confused and didn't understand what I was saying. I don't think many people believe its possible for a foreigner to A) ride a cargo bike B) own a cargo bike.
7. Dreaming up successful side jobs. Since we have a cargo bike we thought we could make a little money, or actually save our friends some money. The drinking water we use comes from giant containers, like the Culligan water containers back home. I have ways of getting that water for very cheap (don't worry this will be explained in a later post). So on the way home we decided we would load up the cargo bike with cheap water and deliver it to our friends around town (this has not happened yet, and most likely will never happen.)
8. Nate somehow unexplainably being able to understand the slurring salesman.
9. Buying some lovely stools for 25 kuai each form the slurring salesman. We went to the same people that sold the same stools to Nate for 25 a week ago. They refused to sell them to us for 25 at first. They said 35 and no lower. They said they could no longer get them at the same price. We started to walk away. A few steps later, a few shouts for us to return, and a few phone calls. and they sold them to us for 25 kuai.
10. Buying chairs for 52 kuai each. A quick lesson on how to bargain. Think of your price you would really like to pay (50) even though that may not be reasonable. Start way lower than that for one chair. Say like 30. Bargain the price down for one chair (60). Bargain more to get it a little lower (58). Ask for a lower price if you purchase more (55). Keep asking for a lower price, around 40. Finally move to a reasonable price (50). When they still refuse to budge, play with the total amount. The cost should be 275. Tell them you will pay them 250. Agree when they tell you 260 for all 5 chairs is ok. The result, chairs for 52 kuai each. Got it?
11. Buy a chair that is a hand.
12. Buy a chair that is a hand for a good price! Find a friendly sales lady and follow the rules above. But since you only want one. You will have to do much more lingering. A lot more smiling. You may have to walk away maybe 3 times. And whatever price Nate wants to pay, go about 25 kuai cheaper.
13. Fit everything into your cargo bike.
14. Fit everything in your cargo bike to the amusement of all the other "cargo bike men" and the friendly sales lady who sold you the hand chair (not to be mistaken with an arm chair).
15. Get everything home without anything falling off or breaking. Enjoy all the stares and double takes from everyone as they don't believe their eyes seeing a foreigner driving a cargo bike. Especially a filled cargo bike that includes and awesome hand chair. All home in my apartment in time to start a new class a few days later for eager you minds, and s0uls that need to know He cares for them (see post #14).
15 different ways of success. 1 more love in China.
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