Man Quits Top China University, Declines Phd Offer In Us To Sell Snacks, Earns Us$95 A Day

A young man in China who quit his master’s degree studies at the esteemed Fudan University in Shanghai to set up a food stall has captivated mainland social media.

Before making his unconventional decision, Fei Yu, 24, was on the road to becoming an elite student, Jiupai News reported.

Despite coming from a poor family in Sichuan province, southwestern China, Fei studied hard to get into Sichuan University, also a top institution in China, majoring in public health.

Upon graduation in the summer of 2022, he was admitted by the graduate school of Fudan University.

He did not have to take an entrance test since his scores were ranked the first in his grade during his five-year undergraduate study period.

However, after studying for only a semester at Fudan University, Fei dropped out of the school in early 2023.

Fei Yu sells specially prepared mashed potatoes from his street stall. Photo: Weibo

He said it was because he could not continue his study any longer because he suffered from depression, insomnia and stomach problems due to pressure and mistreatment by his mentor.

Fei refused to elaborate on his experience or reveal his teacher’s name.

After a year being idle at home, Fei applied to study abroad.

He applied for PhD projects in preventive medicine at several public universities in the United States and was admitted with a scholarship from one school at the beginning of this year.

But cutbacks in funding imposed by the US administration under President Donald Trump saw the school withdraw its financial aid for Fei.

This made him give up his overseas study plan because he was unable to afford it.

Fei’s father is a coal miner in Leshan, Sichuan, while his mother does odd jobs at supermarkets.

He thought of making money via a street food stall after recalling that when he was young he did well helping his grandmother sell balloons. He was also a telephone card sales champion while working part-time during his studies at Sichuan University.

On March 10, Fei started a mashed potato venture by setting up a stall near the gates of his alma mater Sichuan University in Chengdu.

So far his business performance has been satisfactory, he said, with customers often queuing up to buy the food. He earns between 700 and 1,000 yuan (US$95 to US$140) a day.

Many of his customers know about his experience through social media, Fei said.

“I do not feel embarrassed at all. I am an outgoing person,” he was quoted as saying.

Once highly promising student Fei says his switch to a humble life makes him feel like he has “entered a new world”. Photo: Weibo

“I think it is a good thing that many people know of my identity and they are curious about me. If they think the flavour of my food is nice, they will definitely return to buy,” said Fei.

Some people have criticised him for wasting educational resources, but Fei disagreed.

“I do not think it is a pity that I discontinued my master’s degree studies and did not take up a job related to my major. In my opinion, the result is not so important, but the process is,” he said.

Fei said he spends about four hours preparing his mashed potatoes and other food ingredients before opening his stall at 5pm every day. His business lasts for two to three hours before he sells out.

“It is exhausting. But I do not have any psychological pressure from academic studies. Extricating myself from studying or doing science research, I feel I have entered a new world,” he said.