SockGoblin
Well-known member
Meet Hu Anyan, the beijing courier who went viral for sharing his life story of delivering parcels and became an overnight bestseller. At 47, Hu is no stranger to hard work, having juggled 19 jobs across 20 years in China's cutthroat gig economy.
Hu started working as a courier in Beijing three years ago, spending months delivering parcels to a construction site where workers often had little time for them. One crane driver, for instance, would ask him back the next day despite being airborne at that very moment. It was not uncommon for couriers like Hu to wait while customers tried on clothes and repacked rejected items before leaving the store.
The reality of life as a courier is brutal: workers are paid 17p per parcel, but tasks go missing, forcing them to pay compensation for every lost package. Hu would often skip meals or drink very little water, knowing that eating or going to the bathroom meant losing precious minutes. The financial strain was crippling, with some couriers having to choose between paying rent and making ends meet.
Despite his grueling job, Hu began writing in 2020, inspired by Western literature and online forums. A blog post about life as a courier went viral, attracting attention from literary circles and sparking debate about China's gig economy. Today, he is a full-time writer, having published not one but two more autobiographical books.
Hu's memoir offers a glimpse into the lives of China's 300 million internal migrant workers who face extreme insecurity and discrimination in their daily lives. Through his story, Hu reflects on human dignity and freedom, arguing that our experiences are intertwined with those around us.
"I didn't feel I needed to achieve something through writing," Hu says. "It enriched my life." Hu hopes the book will facilitate cross-cultural exchange between domestic and foreign readers, introducing them to each other's worlds.
The memoir's themes of love amid despair – as seen in Virginia Woolf's portrait of Laetitia Pilkington – shine through in Hu's story. Love can be found even in the darkest moments, he writes. This light illuminates life.
Hu Anyan's journey from courier to writer serves as a powerful reminder that our individual experiences are part of a larger tapestry. As we navigate our own struggles with work and identity, we would do well to remember Hu's words: love can be found even in the darkest moments – it is this light that illuminates life.
Hu started working as a courier in Beijing three years ago, spending months delivering parcels to a construction site where workers often had little time for them. One crane driver, for instance, would ask him back the next day despite being airborne at that very moment. It was not uncommon for couriers like Hu to wait while customers tried on clothes and repacked rejected items before leaving the store.
The reality of life as a courier is brutal: workers are paid 17p per parcel, but tasks go missing, forcing them to pay compensation for every lost package. Hu would often skip meals or drink very little water, knowing that eating or going to the bathroom meant losing precious minutes. The financial strain was crippling, with some couriers having to choose between paying rent and making ends meet.
Despite his grueling job, Hu began writing in 2020, inspired by Western literature and online forums. A blog post about life as a courier went viral, attracting attention from literary circles and sparking debate about China's gig economy. Today, he is a full-time writer, having published not one but two more autobiographical books.
Hu's memoir offers a glimpse into the lives of China's 300 million internal migrant workers who face extreme insecurity and discrimination in their daily lives. Through his story, Hu reflects on human dignity and freedom, arguing that our experiences are intertwined with those around us.
"I didn't feel I needed to achieve something through writing," Hu says. "It enriched my life." Hu hopes the book will facilitate cross-cultural exchange between domestic and foreign readers, introducing them to each other's worlds.
The memoir's themes of love amid despair – as seen in Virginia Woolf's portrait of Laetitia Pilkington – shine through in Hu's story. Love can be found even in the darkest moments, he writes. This light illuminates life.
Hu Anyan's journey from courier to writer serves as a powerful reminder that our individual experiences are part of a larger tapestry. As we navigate our own struggles with work and identity, we would do well to remember Hu's words: love can be found even in the darkest moments – it is this light that illuminates life.
he's like my 2nd father or something lol but seriously tho delivering parcels sounds super tough, like how can ppl expect u to eat and drink while on the job? 
and 17p per parcel is insane that's like, peanuts rn 
anyway i'm glad he found a way out thru writing it's def inspiring to see someone turn their struggles into something beautiful 
he's living proof that u dont need big recognition 2 make a difference 
i mean, its not like he was trying 2 write a bestseller or anythin, hes just share his story & people love it 
17p per parcel is crazy talk, imagine havin to live on that for a yr 
& u no the worst part? ppl actually got ta suffer while deliverin parcels 
anyway, its cool 2 see someone turn their struggles into somethin positive 
just finished reading about hu anyan, the courier turned author. his story is so inspiring 
. i mean, 17p per parcel? that's crazy 
.
. from being just another courier to becoming an author, it's a testament to the power of storytelling and the human spirit 
. can't wait to read more about his experiences! 
. It's crazy to think about how many of us take our jobs for granted, but for those in the gig economy, it's like living paycheck to paycheck 
. And I think you're right, his story is like a reminder that our experiences are all connected, we just gotta find the light in the darkness 
think hu anyan's story is actually pretty sad, like he was just trying to make ends meet as a courier and had to sacrifice his own life for the job... 17p per parcel? that's crazy low pay! 
. It's crazy how much he had to sacrifice just to get by, and it's insane that people are making up to 17p per parcel 
17p per parcel is like, not even a joke. how do ppl survive? 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to make a living delivering parcels for pennies? It sounds like a nightmare 
. And don't even get me started on the "gig economy" - it's just a fancy way of saying "exploit workers". The fact that he had to choose between paying rent and eating is just crazy 
I am literally blown away by Hu Anyan's story!!! It's so inspiring to see someone who was struggling in their job find solace and purpose through writing. I mean, 17p per parcel is CRAZY low, and the fact that he had to skip meals just to get his work done is heartbreaking 
But what's even more amazing is how he turned his experiences into something beautiful and meaningful.
), I can really relate to the struggles Hu faced. It's hard to believe that our lives are intertwined with so many others, yet we often forget to acknowledge each other's struggles.
. And what about the safety risks? A crane driver asking Hu to wait while he's airborne? No thank you! 
But hey, I guess if writing books can help people understand the struggles of others, then good on Hu Anyan for doing his part. Maybe we should start paying couriers more or something? 
), I can attest that it's not easy making ends meet and dealing with the financial stress. But what I love about Hu's writing style is how he weaves together his experiences as a courier with themes of human dignity and freedom #GigEconomyProblems 
300 million people rely on these jobs & they r paid pennies per delivery!!! its not just about hu, its about all those other couriers & workers out there living in poverty & uncertainty 
. It's no wonder people are desperate and struggling to make ends meet.
... anyway, back to couriers like Hu Anyan... I think it's wild he had to skip meals or drink water because of his job, I mean, what if you're eating a salad and someone comes to ask for a parcel? 
We can't just leave these workers in the dark forever. It's time for some real change, like better working conditions, higher pay, and more transparency 
The way I see it, Hu's book is not just about his life as a courier, but about the lives of all those who are struggling to survive. We need to hear their voices and take action 
. Like, how did he go from being a courier to becoming an author? And what inspired him to write about his experiences? I'm curious because I've always been interested in stories about people's lives and struggles 