'Beida butcher' works with fellow alumnus

"In principle, we want to hire people who at least have a junior college education. This year, we will hire college graduates for most positions. We need to build our brand and change our image," he said. "Universities used to be devoted to cultivating elites, but since recruitment numbers have expanded, they have become more popularized, improving the quality of workers nationwide."

"I would tell college students to get a job before selecting a career path," he added. "I have always been against the idea of college students starting businesses. They need to study well before they start a business."

Recalling his experiences of going into business before he started to sell meat, Lu attributed his failures to a lack of experience and resources.

"I am calmer and more open-minded now," he said.

When he gave a lecture at Peking University in 2013, he said he was an embarrassment to his alma mater.

However, Xu Zhihong, former president of the university, said in response: "There is nothing shameful about a Beida graduate selling pork. Doing small-scale, skilled work does not prevent a person from having grand ideals. Beida produces politicians, scientists and pork vendors. They are all the same."

Chen Sheng said: "I don't think Beida students follow one single model. Selling pork also involves technology. Our pork business involves more than 1,000 stores and annual revenue of more than 1 billion yuan. Would you say selling pork is shameful? I would say traditional business, when well operated, makes more sense than the internet business."