English opens a wider world

Learning sparks growth

What sets Wang's story apart from a conventional tale of professional advancement is that, at first, English offered him no obvious practical reward. Most of his customers were local, and Mandarin or the Lanzhou dialect was more than enough for his daily work.

Yet the absence of external pressure was precisely what made the experience so meaningful. Wang was not studying to pass an exam or earn a certificate. He was learning for its own sake, using the language to build a life richer and more expansive than his circumstances might suggest.

Before he began taking English seriously, Wang said, he lacked direction and confidence. The language gave him a private intellectual world beyond the daily routines of the shop, and studying gradually changed the way he saw himself and the world around him.

"I used to be a slacker. I felt lost in my personal life," he said. "As I continued learning, I could feel myself improving day by day. I was exposed to different ideas and different kinds of content. My horizons broadened, and I became more thoughtful and open-minded."

What began with music eventually led him to films and books he might never otherwise have encountered, and over time, English also began to prove useful in more practical ways.

In 2022, a French couple visited the shop looking for kitchen utensils. When the woman pointed to a garlic press and seemed unsure what it was called, Wang explained it to her in English. Her enthusiastic reaction filled him with delight.

"It was one of the first times an interaction with a foreigner made me feel that all my English study had paid off," he said. "I was so excited."

Online, the response has been even greater. Since his Douyin videos went viral, viewers have sent him messages praising his persistence. Some have even traveled to the market specifically to visit his shop and buy something from him.

"I don't take any of it for granted," Wang said. "I'm grateful for all the love and support I've received."