Podcast
Six-yuan lunches served in style from million-yuan car
Updated: 2010-07-20 11:07
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Beneath the sweltering heat, a black Lincoln Navigator throws up clouds of dust as it enters Beijing's automotive accessories market. The driver pops the trunk, and steps out of the SUV. He pulls out boxes upon boxes of boxed lunches.
He is the Lincoln Boxed Lunch Man.
First reported online, the Lincoln Boxed Lunch Man is becoming an Internet sensation because of the curious nature of his business and the vehicle he uses.
Driving the big, bad chrome-grilled Lincoln Navigator, the Lincoln Boxed Lunch Man is often sighted selling 6-yuan boxed lunches out of his million-yuan vehicle near the automotive accessories dealerships area in Xijiao Qipeicheng.
However, despite the photos posted online, much of the man's story is unknown and disputed.
Many question the existence of such a man who drives an expensive car but performs such a lowly profession, but it's not his car that wins him fans but his food and prices.
"He's often here selling lunch boxes, from 11 am to 12 pm," said Qi Shuping, a security guard at the auto accessories plaza and a frequent customer. "There is a very good variety, basically every type of boxed lunch you can think of."
Huo Jiakun, an auto parts dealer, buys boxed lunches from the man regularly and has talked to him on occasion, but the mystery of the Lincoln Boxed Lunch Man is still very much a mystery.
"I don't know why he does it, but the food is good," Huo said. "He's always driving something different."
But according to Huo and other shopkeepers in the area, the mysterious man is more than just one man, it's actually a couple in their mid to late 40s.
Rumors state that the man is well-to-do, and owns multiple luxury automobiles, including a Mercedes S500 and a Lamborghini. They also claim that the man is from Shanxi and owns a successful business.
Rumors and speculation aside, the Lincoln Boxed Lunch Man is welcome in Xijiao Qipeicheng, not only for his food but the convenience of having it delivered to the shop door by a luxury car.
（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Nelly Min is an editor at China Daily with more than 10 years of experience as a newspaper editor and photographer. She has worked at major newspapers in the U.S., including the Los Angeles Times and the Detroit Free Press. She is fluent in Korean and has a 2-year-old son.
