90s Teacher Turns Street Vendor, Sells Instant Noodles at School Gate

The story of a young teacher from Jinxi, Jiangxi, born after the 1990s, named Xiao Chen, who was dismissed from his job and started selling instant noodles at the school gate has caught the attention and sparked discussions among netizens.

Recently, a video of Xiao Chen setting up a stall to sell instant noodles at the school gate after becoming unemployed has gone viral online. In the video, a group of elementary school students can be seen surrounding the stall, eagerly calling out to him, “Teacher Chen, you’re really here!” and placing their orders.

In the video, the individually packed instant noodles were ready to be served, with customers only needing to pay and receive their orders. A young man was seen selling the noodles, collecting money, and engaging in playful banter with the students and parents who came to buy.

From his self-introduction and feedback from the students, it was learned that Xiao Chen used to be a math teacher at the school before he lost his job.

The video has sparked discussions among netizens: “He used to be a teacher, and now his former students have become his customers. Isn’t that awkward?” Some also expressed admiration, saying, “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about; earning money is the right path,” “I admire your courage,” “It’s cool to humble oneself,” “Earning money with your own hands is commendable,” “With just a few yuan, one can become a boss, which is great.”

On March 13, a reporter from the Xiaoxiang Morning News contacted Xiao Chen. He mentioned that after working as a contract teacher at the school for three years, he had been unemployed at home for six months, staying in touch with the students during this time.

With a bitter smile, he said, “The students ask me every day when I will return to the school, but I can’t even support myself.”

Xiao Chen explained, “I couldn’t stay at home all the time. It was the encouragement from the children that made me start the stall, right at the original school gate.”

On the first day of setting up the stall, he had no confidence and didn’t know how well he would sell. But with the support of the children, he sold five boxes of instant noodles, earning five to six RMB.

However, the biggest challenge for him was encountering acquaintances and parents of his former students, still feeling awkward and unable to relax. Fortunately, his wife supported him and understood everything he was doing.

In the comments section of Xiao Chen’s Douyin account, netizens wrote, “Even selling instant noodles, the students still call him ‘teacher.’ Some people get scolded by their bosses while sitting in the office. Who is more embarrassing?” “It’s not shameful to put aside pride and earn money. Every person who lives earnestly deserves applause.”

Xiao Chen’s situation is just a microcosm of many working professionals. In recent years, as the Chinese economy continues to deteriorate, the unemployment rate remains high. A large number of graduates are facing the grim reality of “graduating into unemployment.”

An analysis by Li Yuanhua, a historian based in Australia, pointed out that the high number of unemployed individuals in China is actually a factor of social instability. If the authorities cannot solve these issues, once facing social unrest, public grievances may rise, endangering the rule of the Communist Party.

According to a report released by the well-known online recruitment platform “Zhaopin” in China, the employment rate for Chinese university graduates dropped from 57.6% the previous year to 55.5% in 2024. However, this year, another 12.22 million university graduates will enter the job market, leading to increased competition and a more challenging employment situation for young people in China.