Chen Lutong, 45, from Tianjin city, earned a master's degree abroad and returned to China in 2010. She worked for 12 years in the real estate industry in Beijing. Initially, she led interior decoration for a real estate firm, managing sales and model home design.
At a new company, she oversaw a headquarters building renovation project, earning over 20,000 yuan (USD 2,800). In 2019, Chen purchased a 110 square meter apartment in Tianjin for 2.96 million yuan, borrowing over 2 million yuan from the bank. Subsequently, she became a director at another real estate company, focusing on luxury apartments in Beijing's Sanlitun area, with an income of 45,000 yuan (USD 6,300) per month.
"At that time, I was optimistic about the future; I didn't think the home loan of over 2 million yuan was a significant burden," Chen said.
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Chen sells roasted sweet potatoes on the sidewalk in Tianjin, China, since October 2025, after being laid off. *Photo: Sohu*
In 2022, the real estate market froze, leading the company to terminate Chen's contract. She self-funded a year of multimedia communications studies, seeking a career change without success.
Returning to job hunting in 2024, she submitted over 100 applications, receiving no responses. The former director lowered her salary expectations to 30,000 then 20,000 yuan, applying to Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and Chengdu, but remained unemployed.
Subsequently, a company in Zhuhai hired her at a salary of 30,000 yuan, but it closed after three months due to depleted capital. Moving to a furniture company in the North with a salary of 15,000 yuan, she also resigned in September 2025 due to sales pressure.
Since October 2025, Chen has pushed a cart near a Tianjin subway station entrance, selling roasted sweet potatoes, skewers, fresh orange juice, and fruit. She taught herself how to source goods, keep records, and manage perishable ingredients. Initially, out of embarrassment, she blocked acquaintances on social media, but gradually adapted, prioritizing self-generated income.
To boost sales, she moved her cart to residential complex gates, selling even on heavy snowy days. Her 70-year-old father also took a cleaning job to help his daughter pay the 8,000 yuan monthly home loan installment.
On social media platforms Douyin and Xiaohongshu, Chen created an account "Sister Tong the Street Vendor" to document her livelihood journey. In her profile, she listed her master's degree from abroad, 12 years of work in Beijing, previous role as a real estate director, and current occupation selling street food to pay off her home loan.
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Every day, Chen Lutong drives a three-wheeled cart to sell goods along the sidewalks of Tianjin city. *Photo: Sohu*
Chen's story gained attention on Chinese social media, reigniting discussions about the value of academic degrees and the precarious position of middle-aged office workers amidst a wave of layoffs. Many people over 40 who lost their jobs in China have transitioned to ride-hailing, food delivery, or street vending.
Many opinions expressed respect for the former director setting aside her pride to earn a living independently. Conversely, some comments suspected she staged the scenario to attract engagement.
Responding to these opinions, Chen stated she genuinely wants to increase online interaction to draw actual customers to her stall. "I need views to maintain this small stall," she said.
*According to KH01, Sohu*
