[Only in Beijing] I call for a plumber and get…Dean Martin…beatboxing?

I hear the sound of trumpets and drums outside my door.

“What the heck?” I think to myself. “I called for a plumber not an entertainer!”

I peer into the peephole and see a chubby cheeked Chinese man running his hands through his Dean Martin hairdo. Dressed in all black, he looks sleek in his snug fitting Ralph Lauren knit. I wonder if Mr. Martin is here to fix the toilet or take the stage.

I get my answer when he moonwalks his way over to the bathroom. He starts beatboxing while doing a thorough inspection lasting all of two minutes. In between one of his numbers, I realize there is little chance this plumber is going to do his job today. Getting anything accomplished in China takes about twice as much time. So naturally fastening the toilet seat will take two days – at least. He confirms the delay when he says he needs some new screws and they might be hard to find. I want to remind him that China is the world’s factory, but I decide to cut Mr. Martin a break.

As a consolation for not being able to do his job, he offers to give my roommate and me a performance. How did I know this was coming? He stands behind my curtains and I give him a grand introduction worthy of any star. He steps out and wows the crowd of two with the range of sounds that he makes with his mouth. Birds chirp, mandolins strum and flutes hum. When he’s finished, the plumber takes a bow and promises to return tomorrow. Then Mr. Martin exits stage left.

Take a look at the video above and be dazzled by the plumber’s impromptu performance.