Almost Got Beat Up a Few Days Into Learning to Drive a Tow Truck, What's With Kids These Days!?
I remember when I first started learning to drive a tow truck with my dad. One night, around 11 PM, we suddenly got a call for roadside assistance. That was my first late-night call, and I was both nervous and excited 😳.
When we got to the scene, a small sedan's entire front wheel was stuck in the mud by a field, completely immobile.
What was even more exaggerated was that there were nearly twenty young guys surrounding the car, all looking like they were still students. After asking, I found out the car owner was a high school student, and the others were his classmates. I guessed he probably took the family car out for a joyride, failed at a drift stunt, and ended up planting it in the field.
They had originally tried to get the car out themselves, but only managed to get themselves covered in mud. In the end, they had to obediently call us to handle it.
After we pulled the car out, my dad quoted them 1500 TWD (in fact, the late-night rate is usually 2000 and up).
Unexpectedly, they blew up when they heard the price: "What? So expensive? Are you robbing us? 😡"
My dad could only give a wry smile and reply, "This is already very cheap 😅."
But they got more and more impatient. Some started talking trash, some mimicked my dad's speech in a weird, breathy voice, and others looked at us with a "you guys are making a killing" expression. The atmosphere got a bit tense. I stood to the side, feeling for the first time that towing wasn't just about towing cars, but maybe also about being ready to run from people.
What came next was even more classic——
They started rummaging through their pockets and scooter compartments, pulling out a bunch of loose change and throwing it on the car's hood, looking like they were in some kind of "extreme fundraising challenge." In the end, they managed to scrape together 1200 TWD and said assertively, "This should be enough, right?"
My dad didn't insist, just nodded and took the money, letting them go. Maybe he couldn't be bothered to argue.
That was the first time I truly understood: this job isn't just about operating machinery, it's also about reading the room, knowing how to negotiate, and being able to swallow your pride.
I thought the night was exciting enough, but then around 4 AM, another call came in. The person sounded super urgent, saying his car had broken down and begging us to come rescue him quickly.
We set off, bleary-eyed, but couldn't find the car anywhere at the scene. The person kept calling, saying "a little further ahead," "I think I just saw you guys." We ended up driving around that road for nearly an hour... only to finally realize: we might have been pranked.
At that moment, I was genuinely a bit angry, and I couldn't help but wonder: could it have been that group of high schoolers? Although there was no proof, honestly—it seemed too likely.
That first late-night call felt like an out-of-control variety show.
The first half was a teenage mud-bogging spectacle, the second half a mysterious midnight prank.
The car was stuck in the mud, the money was stuck in emotions, and people were stuck in their values.
From that day on, I truly understood: this line of work isn't about "coming to help people," it's about facing all sorts of life's bugs.
And as for me, I guess I had officially "fallen into the pit" 🤣.