Chinese Cabbie Stranded on Stairway
A drunken, truculent passenger persuaded Xiao Cheng, a frightened taxi driver, to drive down a steep mountain stairway in Quanzhou, southern China’s Fujian province, and left him there after the vehicle got stuck halfway down the steep passage.
Despite his better judgment, Cheng obeyed his passenger’s wishes to descend the perilous steps. The passenger claimed that his home was at the bottom the stairs. The long scar on his arm and threat to beat him up if he didn’t obey, forced the terrified cabbie cautiously downward.
Xiao knew there was a river below and it was so dark at that hour (5 am) that he feared the cab might easily fall over the unguarded edge. Other fears took over, however, when the vehicle got stuck on the steps about halfway down the passage.
“Even then he accused me of not taking him to his destination, and demanded compensation. I had to give him all my money then he ran off and left me there,” said Xiao.
As the town woke up, residents tried to help Xiao free his car with jacks and bricks with the help of the early morning light. Efforts proved too dangerous and the cab was brought to safety only after a giant crane was brought o the scene.
Although a famous, tried-and-true adage for conducting business as usual, in some cases, it is clear that the customer is not always right (especially when he or she is drinking).
(Link)
By MDeeDubroff on 08-04-2011
