On December 17, 2024, in Jinan University, Shandong Province, the boss of the university cafeteria gained popularity among students by selling instant noodles at a price of 3.5 yuan (Renminbi, RMB) with a conscience price. However, this move led to dissatisfaction from the university’s supermarket. The supermarket threatened to force the cafeteria to leave if they did not raise prices to match the uniform price set by the supermarket or face water and power cuts. Eventually, the cafeteria boss was forced to leave. His actions garnered support from students and netizens, with questions raised about whether the university’s supermarket was interfering with market competition and if there were connections to senior university officials.
According to revelations from students at Shungeng Campus of Jinan University in Shandong, located next to the school’s snack street, the Sixth Cafeteria supermarket sold instant noodles at a very affordable price of only 3.5 yuan. Vegetables cost 0.5 yuan per portion, eggs were 1 yuan each, and the processing fee for cooking instant noodles was 1 yuan per package. The cafeteria was well-received by students and often had long lines of customers. The boss was affectionately referred to as “Instant Noodle Uncle.”
Reported by “New Hunan,” around three months ago, Jinan University’s supermarket also introduced instant noodle processing services. The prices were significantly higher compared to the “Instant Noodle Uncle,” with vegetable toppings priced at 2 yuan, eight kinds of side dishes at 5 yuan, and the instant noodles at 10 yuan.
A Jinan University student noted that on December 8th, the products at the Sixth Cafeteria supermarket began to be cleared out, and the shelves were emptied that night before the boss left.
The student further expressed that the “Instant Noodle Uncle” had reasonable prices and even provided free bag storage, stating, “We all hope that the ‘Instant Noodle Uncle’ can continue his business.”
On December 15, Jiu Pai News reported that an insider from Jinan University revealed that the “Instant Noodle Uncle” disclosed that he did not leave the school due to personal reasons but because he refused multiple requests from Jinan University’s supermarket to raise the prices of his instant noodles to match theirs.
The “Instant Noodle Uncle” also mentioned that he was warned that if he did not comply, he would need to leave the school by December 8th, or face water and power cuts, rendering him unable to operate.
After the “Instant Noodle Uncle” made his revelations, he became a hot topic online, with many Jinan University students and netizens expressing their support for him. They believed that businesses should compete fairly based on their own abilities and should not hinder fair competition. Some netizens questioned how the supermarket involved managed to force out the “Instant Noodle Uncle” without support from the university.
This incident has sparked public attention online. Netizens have been commenting on the situation:
– “Wuhan Cola Grandma”: Students still have a sense of justice.
– “Silent Rain That Enriches Everything”: Investigate carefully, the hidden tricks behind will be uncovered.
– “Listening to the Wind and Rain Every Year”: Forcing transactions, a kind of mafia behavior.
– “Looking for Crayon Cat”: Who is the university leader behind the supermarket boss?
– “Xiangtian168”: They know how to persecute.
– “Love as Deep as the Sea998”: The supermarket boss being able to drive away someone selling cheap instant noodles, shows the power behind the scenes!
– “Want to sleep until childhood”: Shrouded in darkness, who will uphold justice for everyone?
– “mikeleach”: How will Jinan University educate its students?
Following student complaints about price increases and food safety concerns, Jinan University’s supermarket also closed on the 12th, with a sign posted outside indicating “Closed for Renovation.”
A staff member from the Logistics Management Department of Jinan University stated that the departure of the “Instant Noodle Uncle” from the Sixth Cafeteria supermarket was due to historical business and personal reasons, and Jinan University’s supermarket is undergoing a series of reforms.
Extreme News reported that staff from the local market supervision department stated that the closure of the involved supermarket for renovation was a decision made by the university, and investigations are ongoing regarding student complaints about price increases and food safety issues at the supermarket.