Here come the chengguan

The soft summer breeze stirred the cool night air as I walked to a bus stop near the west gate of Renmin University. I had a sense of contentment that gave way to a sudden urge to buy some fruit from a street vendor.

On a normal night the street would be buzzing with peddlers selling everything from shoestrings to fruit. But tonight none were to be seen. It was quiet, a little bit too quiet. The weather was perfect so where were they? The answer came in the most unusual way.

From behind me I heard the sound of struggling engines. It wasn't the kind powerful roar you might expect from a race car, but rather the sound of a small engine getting pushed to its breaking point.