By Our Correspondent
I’m posting this anonymously for obvious reasons, but apparently along with good folks like Charlie Custer, Will Moss and more, my extraordinary drug dealer has suddenly become part of the Diaspora.
Probably deported, but he was a true gentleman and gracious businessman while he lasted. Chinese business folk could learn a lot from him – shit, I happily recommend him as a lecturer on customer relations to any Chinese business school, including the vaunted Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business.
He was African, of course, but a grade above the shysters prowling Sanlitun with their sly nudges and bogus-to-thoroughly-overpriced mediocre self-medications.
I’m a child of the 60s and 70s and no stranger to recreational use, though didn’t even bother to look when first landing in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, as besotted I was with the new experience, then discovering that heavily codeine-laced Madame Pearl cough syrup was readily available should I feel the need.
Upon relocating to Beijing I first met my man – call him Dre & Co – when a fellow blogger asked him to make a home delivery as I was visiting. Good herb and some other wares, including hash, ecstasy and the sweet cousin were on his menu. And home delivery! Take that, KFC! He seemed affable and affordable so I later called him for a further meet and greet and an order.
A small dependable b-t-c relationship ensued through the months and years, even during the Olympics crackdown. We finally arranged a mutually convenient meeting place where people didn’t look too askance at a black and white guy “talking” as my address kept changing. And yes, there were occasional mishaps; bad product a couple times for which he actually apologized and gave me refunds when I gave him what was left.
Unfarkingbeliable! I think perhaps only Target stores in the US offer this kind service. And a couple of times I accidentally underpaid him 100 kuai for which he forgave me and took the next time we met. Unlike say, the local power, phone, gas and water companies that suddenly cut you off at 8 pm with no notice because you’re 5 kuai overdue.
He’d also send txt messages about weekend “specials” and for at least three New Years running was the first person – before my gf, my pals, coworkers, etc — to send me greetings.
At times though the texts kinda left me in a small communication quandary. He’d use sort of pseudo-Jamaican patois as in “be dere soon mon,” which kinda left me wondering if I should respond like the basic starchy white guy I am — “That is fine, Mr. Dre. Please do not hesitate to take your time” — or, “Cool, mon.” I finally just settled on “cool.”
Dre later morphed into Sly and then Frank as visas ran out or other vague problems ensued, but the chain didn’t dry up. My phone number remained constant as did the quality service. While back in the USA for an extended period before returning to BJ, I still received texts about weekend specials, holiday greetings, and finally replied I was outta country but keep my number handy, I shall return.
I did and business ensued as if we’d never been apart. Then as all good things do, especially in China, it came to a sudden, inexplicable end.
I recently had an unexpected message from a Chinese friend who wondered if I could score a small amount of weed for her with which to “experiment.” Sure, happy to corrupt and undermine the social moral order, m’dear. That’s what friends and foreigners are for.
Alas, calls and texts to Dre & Co for the first time in years went unanswered and then into the “does not exist” mode. I scrambled through another foreign friend who used her dependable connection and managed to help me out. The Chinese friend thanked me later but said it did nothing for her. Dre & Co would’ve given a refund, I suspect, but those daze are gone.
Wherever you are, though, keep on pushin’ mon. You were a model worker in an otherwise merciless town.
Cool story bro.
White man in China buying drugs off African man? Who ever heard of the idea?
Ditto.
Some 700 million peasants, many of whom are dirt poor, and getting poorer. You would think that a few would have had the wit and intelligence to look around for an alternative and profitable cash crop. And what better than THC.
Dead easy to cultivate, and they would not have to depend on funds repatriated by their offspring working in the big cities.
I’m not suggesting that every farmer turns his few mu into a major agri-business, but initiative has to start somewhere. (Chinese folk are supposed to be exemplars of amoral business acumen, but I just can’t see it.)
Then again, they would probably fuck up the whole gig by adding horse tranquilizer or similar, and return to growing cabbages which would then end up rotting in the field.
A distinct lack of entrepreneurial vision and evidence that the 5,000 years of civilization is a myth.
“recreational use”? Sounds more than that bro.
Farewell, My Cocaineguy!
“A distinct lack of entrepreneurial vision and evidence that the 5,000 years of civilization is a myth.”
Yep, 5,000 years and “still developing.”
How long do they need?
That’s what I say when they brag about “5,000″ years. I say, “In 5,000 years you haven’t gotten your shit together, why the HELL should we listen to you?”
sweet cousin cocaine. Love the Stones.
Hey look, a blog being run by a drug addict, here’s hoping you get deported next.
look at the haters coming out to play. A good business relationship is akin to a mistress that plays no games, you never know how much it hurts to not have it till it’s gone.
So: this drug dealer was your friend that you never acknowledged as until he left and you never said good-bye?
Dude, he’s just the best service that you received in China. Next, you’ll be writing an obituary when your iPhone dies.
hi i am from afghanistan if anybody work with me then contect me my email through ok