The college 'sweetheart' of Xi'an

• Source: Global Times
• [21:32 November 09 2009]
• Comments

"I appreciate the college students supporting my business. They're very polite, refined and kind-hearted", Kang said.

With her name all over the Internet, Kang's business is doing better than ever. Even people from other schools come by XJU to meet her and take her picture.

However, the day her front-page story appeared in China Business View last month, Kang drew a crowd large enough to force urban management personnel to make her pull up stakes for obstructing traffic to XJU's south gate, which brought tears to her eyes. She wasn't allowed to set up her tanghulu stand for several days afterwards.

As a result, Kang and her family have been considering moving the business and developing their stand into a storefront.

But XJU students don't want to see her go, and the forum has been alive with discussion ever since.

"This 'candied fruit beauty' is part of our school's culture. If she leaves just because of reporters, that would be unfair to her," said "Bobliu," a member on XJU's BBS forum.

"I wish XJU would allow her to do business on campus, so she could be more a part of our lives. I'm sure the students' business can help her support her family," "Bobliu" said.

Kang is not the first street vendor gone superstar with help from the university forum universe.

Bao Jianbin, 23, nick named "baked roll handsome boy", from Xinyang, Henan Province, sells baked rolls on Duoluo street in Changsha, Hunan Province. This street-vending stud works the university districts, where girls keep coming back for a bite of his rolls.

Bao's photos were recently uploaded on the Internet, which made him an instant cyberspace heartthrob. Last month, he was invited to make an appearance on "The Happy Camp," one of China's most popular TV programs.

That doesn't mean there's nothing for the boys; Changsha also is home to a "meat pie beauty" from southeastern China, who has been breaking hearts since surfacing on the Internet last month, the city's Xiaoxiang Morning Herald reported.

For now, Kang has no desire to capitalize on her newfound fame, and sees herself just as before, just a lot busier as business continues to pick up.

"I never thought of doing television or ads, I don't think I have the skills to do anything in media."

"For now I'd just like to make good tanghulu and sell a lot of them," Kang added.