Food vendor Hu Weiguang makes guokui, or dry bread, at his stand.[Photo/Chinanews.com]

College students in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian province have recently won praise from many netizens for showing their kindness and support to a local small vendor whose wife was in a bad health condition.

Hu Weiguang, from Lishui, Zhejiang province moved to Fuzhou to make a living about seven years ago. In 2022, he and his wife set up a street stall selling guokui (or dry bread) in a local university town. The guokui cooked by the couple are very popular among students because of its good taste and affordable price. Therefore, students affectionately nicknamed Hu as "Uncle Guokui" for his sincerity and simplicity.

Unfortunately, in August, Hu's wife had an accidental fall and was admitted to hospital where she was later diagnosed with a serious illness that requires someone to take care of her daily life.

Hu, while attending to his wife, continued to manage their stall with the assistance of their 21-year-old son who has chosen to temporarily suspend his studies to help his family.

Things took a turn for the best for the family when a college student posted Hu's story in a video a few days ago, making the family and their stall a hotspot in the local area.

People stand in long lines waiting to buy guokui from Hu's stand. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Since last week, there have been long queues in front of Hu's stall every day, with most of the customers being students from the nearby universities.

"The guokui are stuffed and delicious. And I'm also moved by Uncle Hu's diligence and tenacity," a student said.

"All I can say is thank you, thank you all so much!" said Hu. As the guokui is too popular to meet the increasing demand, he has to get up earlier every morning to prepare the day's cooking. Some customers who spent a long time waiting just ended up leaving empty-handed while others even left their money at the stand, which made Hu feel guilty.

To help him, two chefs from Hu's hometown, who also specialize in making guokui, traveled from afar after learning of Hu's difficulties.

Moreover, various organizations have offered to help him look for a more affordable storefront to set up his business. A multidisciplinary consultation was also organized by the hospital to seek a better treatment for his wife.

Hu was deeply moved by the overwhelming warmth and help offered, however he has refused all donations. "I'm grateful for the help. My family can live on our own. And I also hope people buy the guokui based on their needs," Hu said.