Chinese man earns US$7,400 monthly selling fried rice at night market while dressed in a suit

A young Chinese man has gone viral for making and selling fried rice wearing a suit at a night market, making 50,000 yuan (US$7,400) a month.The man, surnamed Lu, began running the stall in Yantai in eastern China’s Shandong province when he was 17 and has now become the “backbone” of his family.To look more “decent”, on a whim, he decided to don a suit one day while cooking the fried rice.The suited and booted Lu flips his wok in traditional style in the kitchen heat. Photo: SinaLu, now 19, often strikes stylish poses while cooking, such as slicking back his hair, winking at the camera, catching an egg his family throws at him, striking a high-knee pose while ditching the leftovers from the wok.He also does something that all Chinese cooks are known for, flipping the wok.On his social media account that has amassed 46,000 followers and 190,000 likes, Lu posted videos of his cool cooking style and attached the hashtag #sanjifriedrice.Sanji is a stylish fictional cook in the Japanese anime One Piece, created by Eiichiro Oda.Lu, above, who has been running the stall for two years, checks on his ingredients. Photo: SinaTo make his performance more authentic, Lu sometimes holds a cigarette in his mouth while cooking, without smoking it.His stall opens every day from 5pm to 11.30pm. During the busy hours, he can make one serving of fried rice in three minutes. He does not rest for hours on end.Lu said his stall sells over 200 portions of fried rice a day. Each portion costs around 10 yuan (US$1.5).Lu hard at work cooking up his popular fried rice dishes using a ladle. Photo: SinaAccording to Lu, the stall’s monthly turnover is 50,000 yuan. It makes 20,000 yuan a month after deducting costs.Further ReadingHe said his father helps him prepare the food, so he can focus on his stylish cooking style. His father sometimes cooks on the side.Some online observers questioned how he could make so much money, saying that the maths did not add up.Lu said he would sometimes make several portions at a time. He also live-streamed his business to convince the doubters.He said he initially wore suits to “bring some romance to the hustle and bustle,” but did not expect such “enthusiasm” from customers.A nasty blister on Lu’s hand is a testament to the long hours he puts in at the stall. Photo: SinaHe admitted that they might buy fried rice from him “out of curiosity,” but added: “What makes them stay is the flavour.”He did not reveal his future business plans but said that he had begun accepting apprentices.“You look so much like Sanji,” said one person.“His cooking is so stylish. I want to visit Shandong to see it with my own eyes,” said another.“Are you checking his video because of the dish or his face?” said a third.