A street-food vendor in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, has become a viral sensation. His humor, warmth, and crispy fried chicken have turned his small stall into a local landmark.
Li Junyong, 48, is known online as the “Chicken Cutlet Curator” or “Chicken Cutlet Brother.” He was born in Nanchang but has lived in Jingdezhen for 42 years. For many of those years, he has sold chicken cutlets near a local middle school.
His rise to fame began on Sept. 23. Videos of his talk-show-style sales pitches spread quickly on Douyin. As a result, he gained over 300,000 followers in just a few days.
Li’s personality draws people as much as his food. While frying chicken, he often cracks jokes. “The chicken cutlet is free,” he says, “but the plastic bag costs six yuan — and if the wind blows it away, I’ll deny I ever took your money!” Consequently, netizens say his 6-yuan cutlet feels like it comes with 60 yuan’s worth of happiness.
Moreover, Li remembers his regulars. He greets them warmly with, “Hey, old friend, you’re here!” He even recalls their usual orders. In addition, he gives students a one-yuan discount and opens his stall at 4:30 p.m. every day. However, because of heavy demand, he now limits each buyer to two servings.
Meanwhile, the long lines have pushed Li to the limit. He sometimes sleeps only three to four hours a night. To keep up, his family has stepped in to help. Fans now affectionately call them the “Chicken Steak Family.”
New “Name Card” of the City
Locals see Li as more than a food vendor. Instead, they describe him as a new “name card” for Jingdezhen. Many believe his popularity can boost tourism and the local economy. Consequently, the Changjiang District Tourism Office has started to promote his stall.
At the same time, authorities have stepped in to maintain order. To handle the crowds, two to four urban management staff are stationed near the stall each day. More support is planned during the National Day holiday.
Despite the growing spotlight, Li remains humble. “My dream is to make every customer happy,” he said, “I’m tired, but I’m happy. I can’t let those waiting in line down.”
Later, on Sep. 28, the Jingdezhen Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Publication and Tourism officially appointed Li as a Cultural and Tourism Ambassador.
“I focus on my own work,” Li said, “Others coming here show support — for me, for Jingdezhen, and for Jiangxi.”
Li’s fried chicken stall has become more than a food stand. Instead, it has turned into a source of local pride and a reminder that humor, kindness, and good food can bring people together.
(The main photo is AI-generated.)
Written by Yi Shen, additional reporting by Ecns.cn.
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