On June 20, at the graduation ceremony and degree awarding ceremony for the 2025 students of Yanbian University in Jilin Province, a cafeteria auntie gave a speech. Her sincere and simple words made many graduates in the audience burst into tears. Some netizens commented: “This speech is full of emotion without clichés” and “It’s the first time I see a cafeteria auntie speaking on stage.” As of 6 pm on June 21, the total number of likes for the two speech videos released by the official Douyin account of Yanbian University has exceeded 400,000, and major central media have also forwarded the auntie’s speech.
In the video, the cafeteria auntie said sincerely: “Don’t think that the auntie is nagging, there are really too many things that worry me. Although takeout is convenient, it is not as nutritious and healthy as what you make yourself. Don’t always make do with instant noodles when you stay up late to work overtime. Don’t bear it alone when you are sad and wronged.” “At home, you are the treasures of your parents, and at school, you are also the treasures of your uncles and aunts. The uncles and aunts in logistics have specially prepared a small graduation gift for you. All our logistics service staff worked overtime to make 15,000 dumplings. In the eyes of uncles and aunts, you are the pride of the future.”
In the video comment area, many netizens were deeply moved and left comments: “Auntie was also a school beauty at the level of Qiuya when she was young”, “Auntie is not only good at cooking, but also has a good memory. She worked without a script throughout the whole process”, “This is the best business card of Yanbian University”.
On June 21, Jimu News contacted students who participated in the graduation ceremony. A sophomore who participated in the graduation ceremony singing said that he liked to eat the food cooked by the cafeteria aunt. Her stall was on the first floor of the second cafeteria. Her best dish was the flavored casserole. Students who often went to the second cafeteria knew it.
Regarding the fact that the cafeteria aunt’s speech at the graduation ceremony became popular, he said he didn’t feel strange, “because if you say it with your heart, everyone can resonate with each other and it will definitely touch people’s hearts.”
Another student told Jimu News that he didn’t know the cafeteria aunt, but he saw her every day. “I didn’t feel any difference from her before, I just thought the food she cooked was very delicious.”
The official website of the Logistics Support Department of Yanbian University shows that the cafeteria aunt’s name is Liu Xiaomei. This time, as a representative of logistics service education, she spoke at the 2025 graduation ceremony. She introduced herself during her speech: “Yes, it’s me, the auntie at the Baoge Flavor Claypot Restaurant on the first floor of the second canteen, and also an employee of the Food Service Center of the Logistics Support Department. My name is Liu Xiaomei.”
On the afternoon of the 21st, Jimu News contacted Liu Xiaomei, who said that she was just an ordinary employee of the canteen logistics, thanked everyone for their attention to her, and declined the interview with the reporter.
