Kristi Heim, one of our business writers, and myself were in a remote part of Beijing working on a story all day. The story has yet to run so I won't share any more about it. But as we were visiting some of our subjects, a group of three men found us. One of our group, a local Mandarin speaker, intercepted them and tried to explain our presence in their neighborhood, but it didn't seem to satisfy them as they used their mere presence to try to make us nervous.

Neither Kristi nor I are easily intimidated, but for the safety of our subjects, who would still live there after our assignment was completed, we did leave.

These men, apparently the neighborhood "protectors" (not sure if they were self-appointed or not), followed us as we walked the six or so blocks back to the main road.

While I'm sure these toughs could make life miserable for farming peasants, you have to agree they don't strike too much fear. Especially with that whole bare midriff thing going on.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to rock that look when I get back stateside, so ya'll have been warned.