(ECNS) -- A chicken cutlet vendor from Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province has become a viral sensation thanks to his talk-show-style salesmanship and the infectious positivity, earning him the playful nickname "chicken cutlet curator" among netizens.
Since his debut on Douyin on Sept. 23, he has amassed over 300,000 followers in just a few days.
Li Junyong, a 48-year-old native of Nanchang, Jiangxi Province. For years, he has been operating a street food stall near a junior high school for years, selling fried chicken cutlets.
Known for his reliable schedule and friendly demeanor, he has built a core following of students and locals who visit his stall daily. On the rare days he is noticeably absent, regulars often ask about his whereabouts.
While cooking, he usually jokes with customers that "the chicken cutlet is free, but the plastic bag costs six yuan, which, if the wind blows it away, I'll deny I ever took your money!" adding that "you can refuse me, but never refuse my delicious chicken cutlet."
Netizens have joked that his 6-yuan chicken cutlet is less about the food and more about the 60-yuan's worth of emotional delight you get.
"My dream is to ensure every customer has a pleasant experience," Li said. "I love what I do. I'm tired, but I'm happy. I can't let those waiting in line down," he added, though he has been getting only three to four hours of sleep for several consecutive days.
Li's customer base extends beyond students to adults of all ages. One regular customer noted that while his chicken is delicious, it's Li's warmth and remarkable memory that truly stand out. "Every time I visit, he greets me with 'Hey, old friend, you're here!' He even remembers my usual order—how many portions and what flavor I like."
Li also follows a strict set of principles: for example, after 4:30 p.m., he only serves students and offers them a one-yuan discount.
"I'm just grateful for everyone's support," he replied when asked if he ever expected such overwhelming attention.
He lives by his own philosophy, and when other businesses and social media influencers gather at his stall to capitalize on his fame, he takes it all in good stride, saying that "their presence is a way of showing support—for me, for Jingdezhen, and for Jiangxi."
"My job is to focus on my own work. There's no point in fixating on how others might benefit or in calculating every single gain," he added.
On Sunday, he was officially appointed as the "Jingdezhen Cultural and Tourism Ambassador" by the Jingdezhen Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Publication and Tourism.
(By Zhang Dongfang)
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