A Chinese language major from Peking University was earning a living by selling pork in Xi'an, capital of West China's Shaanxi Province, Chinese media reported Sunday.

Lu Buxuan, 38, has built a following in the Weiqu Township neighborhood in Chang'an District for quality pork at reasonable prices. His shop is called the Glass Store because Lu wears thick glasses.

The 20-square-meter premises serve as his shop and home, where he lives with his wife Chen Xiaolan.

"I decided to marry him because he is a Peking University graduate," Chen said. "I did not expect him to become a butcher."

Lu, from a peasants' family in Chang'an, was enrolled by the Chinese language department of Peking University in 1985 when his scored No. 1 in the National College Entrance Examinations in his county.

He went back to his hometown in Xi'an to work in a machine factory after graduation. He later worked for several other enterprises and ran an interior decoration business but was not successful.

He was covered by Xi'an's minimum allowance to maintain basic life before he opened the pork store in 2000.

"I'm not reading any longer," he said. "But I'm still interested in literature. As a matter of fact, I'm suited to be a dictionary editor."

"It is a pity he has to sell pork," one of his acquaintances said. "He is very talented."

Some enterprises contacted Lu after reading his story and he has been offered other posts, reports said.

(Shenzhen Daily July 28, 2003)