The truck has stopped and become clean. A pot full of warm, sour soup flew out from the stove, crashing to the floor and causing a chaotic mess. This marked my father's debut by driving behind the wheels of the newly built food truck for his first day at city hall.
My father rose with thoughtful timing to prepare the ingredients for this distinctive Chinese soup. After bringing the pot of soup to a boil, he carefully loaded it onto the truck. He planned to finish the soup when he arrived at the location he had scouted a few days earlier.
As he navigated the streets from Chinatown to city hall, my father, still adapting to the new sensation of operating the truck, applied the brakes a bit too forcefully, causing a collision of gastronomic cargo inside.
After this disaster, my father quickly mastered the art of gently stopping this giant vehicle.
The following year, this truck became a mobile space that immersed my father in the constant dance of yin and yang. Here, the forces of unlimited capitalism and competition introduced chaos, setbacks, and unexpected opportunities that shaped his journey as he settled in this country.
In 1982, after a brief stint running a restaurant in Wisconsin, my father returned from the vast farmlands of the heartland to navigate a twist of fate in the urban jungle of New York City. Here, his livelihood was immersed in the essence of yin and yang. This concept symbolizes the interconnected balance of contrasting elements that became the rhythm of his life, embracing change and adaptability.
With renewed energy, my father sought to provide for his family on his own terms. Not wanting to work for others, he invested $3,000 in purchasing the truck and $6,000 in converting it into a food truck.
Four years later, he learned enough English and know-how to obtain the necessary licenses and permits to operate his venture.
The following year, the food truck became a fixture in the bustling city hall area. Operating from 10 AM to 2 PM, it offered a menu of chow mein, fried rice, and hot and sour soup for those with hungry bellies...