Fei Yu, a 24-year-old from China, has gained widespread attention on social media after leaving his master’s program at Fudan University to launch a street food stall near Sichuan University.
According to the South China Morning Post, Fei, who also abandoned PhD plans in the US, now runs a mashed potato stall that draws long queues and earns him between Rs 8,200 and Rs 11,700 daily.
Fei, who comes from a humble background, earned a bachelor’s degree in public health from Sichuan University before starting his master’s at Fudan. He left after one term, citing depression, insomnia, and health issues due to his mentor’s mistreatment. After a year-long break, Fei secured a US PhD scholarship, but funding cuts amid US-China tensions forced him to abandon those plans.
Chinese Man Quits Master's Degree, Drops Out Of PhD In US To Start Food Stallhttps://t.co/nbwLF9cJsz pic.twitter.com/QYITE63Hte
— NDTV (@ndtv) April 27, 2025Drawing on childhood experience helping his grandmother sell balloons, Fei started his food stall in March 2025. Addressing critics questioning his pivot from academia, he said, “The result is not so important, but the process is.” Fei embraces his new path, adding, “I’m not embarrassed. If customers like the flavour, they’ll return.” His story highlights resilience and unconventional career choices.
