Chinese PhD student in Belgium earns US$1,200 daily selling spicy pea noodles with wife
Agricultural academic turns his hand to street food to make ends meet, street stall customers say noodles he sells are ‘best ever’
A Chinese PhD graduate and his wife have turned a Chongqing spicy pea noodle stall in Belgium into a viral sensation, earning more than 1000 euros (US$1,200) a day.
According to the mainland outlet Jimu News, graduate Ding, 37, is from Jiangsu province in eastern China.
After completing his doctorate in China, he went to Belgium to do postdoctoral research in soil management and crop production. He published around 30 academic papers.
Ding met his wife Wang at university and after marrying, the couple settled in Belgium in 2015, where their child was born.
Unable to find stable work beyond research, he joined Wang in starting their own venture.
In May, the couple began selling spicy pea noodles, a speciality from Wang’s hometown of Chongqing, at local markets in Belgium.
The dish blends chewy noodles with tender peas and a savoury pork sauce, known for its bold salty-spicy kick. To appeal to locals, Wang eased back on the heat.