Why do Americans on Xiaohongshu start replying to a Chinese named“Li Hua” ？

As part of an English language exam or English writing exercise in China, all students are required to answer an English essay question that asks them to write a "letter" to an imaginary foreign friend using the name Li Hua.

So all students in China have submitted at least one English "letter" in the form of an essay answering the aforementioned question in their English class/exam. These were not not actual letters, mind you. These "letters" were just essay answers to an English language exam/writing exercise.

There was no actual foreign friend at the end of the exam to receive and read these "letters". Teachers/Educators marking those papers were the ones to read the "letters". Not imaginary foreign friends.

Now with the influx of Americans, British and even Europeans "migrating" to Xiaohongshu/Rednote, a lot of us, Chinese people - especially ones still residing in China, or those of us who have undergone the same English exam/writing exercise and have submitted an essay "letter" as Li Hua - have chosen to interpret the nice and friendly interactions with these newcomers as... our imaginary foreigner friend finally replying to the "letter" we wrote to them ages ago in school.

Like... "Finally! We've finally heard back from our "foreign friend" to whom we wrote an English "letter" to as Li Hua years ago."

To be honest, none of us expected that our "letters" would actually get replied by actual foreign friends because the "letters" were just essay answers. They weren't real.

But choosing to believe that "Finally! We've finally gotten a reply from our foreign friend!" when Americans, British and Europeans in Xiaohongshu/Rednote started talking to us (only the nice ones, mind you), was just a very cute and indulgent way of interpreting of these interactions.

Ngl, I burst into tears when one of the Americans replied to my explanation of the "letter from Li Hua" thing with her actually playing-along and replying to the "letter from Li Hua". Okay, I'm pregnant and my hormones are on overdrive but... I'd be lying if I say these "replies" to our "letters" didn't make me feel all warm and happy.

In English education system, Li Hua is a recurring fictional character in English exams. He serves as a medium through which students practice various language skills. For example, students often write letters or emails on behalf of Li Hua to different recipients, like pen pals, teachers, or event organizers. This helps students improve their writing abilities, such as grammar, vocabulary usage, and the ability to construct logical and coherent texts.

(from gpt)