A heartwarming story from north-eastern China has captured the attention of millions, after a devoted father travelled nearly 900 kilometres to bring the taste of home to his daughter who missed his cooking.
According to international reports, the story revolves around Li Bingdi, a second-year student at Jilin Normal University in Siping, Jilin Province. For the past year, she often told her father that the university canteen food lacked the familiar flavours she grew up with. Those simple comments stayed with him, eventually inspiring a decision that would move people across the country.
The father, who previously worked at a barbecue restaurant in Tianjin, left his job and travelled across China to be closer to his daughter. Before making the move, he spent time learning how to prepare dishes like fried rice and noodles so he could cook the meals she loved.
After arriving in Siping, he rented a small food stall near the university entrance and began selling freshly made meals. His stall opened in mid-October, but the first day was slow. He sold only seven plates of rice, earning far less than his daughter, who made 70 yuan that same day while working as a private tutor.
Moved by her father’s dedication and the quiet effort behind his journey, Li shared his story on her university’s social media platform. She described how he kept the stall clean, sought advice to improve his dishes, and worked tirelessly to make ends meet.
Her post struck a chord, quickly going viral. Within days, long queues formed outside the stall as students, teachers, and residents lined up to buy food not just for the taste, but to show support. Many customers even placed extra orders, encouraging the father’s perseverance through kind words and messages online.
Li began spending most of her free time helping at the stall, watching her father work long hours in cold weather. She recalled him once mentioning how harsh the winter felt when he worked alone, but now, surrounded by grateful customers, he felt nothing but warmth.
Despite the sudden popularity, Li emphasized that her father wasn’t seeking profit or recognition. He simply wanted to stay close to his daughter and make her life easier while she studied. After losing her mother to leukemia, the father-daughter duo became each other’s strongest support. When Li hesitated to study in another city, her father promised he would stand by her wherever she went.
“He kept his promise,” she said softly, adding that her father’s love feels “as warm as the sun.”
The touching story continues to spread across China, reminding many of the quiet sacrifices parents make out of unconditional love.
