Viral: Chinese delivery worker cries over 10-hour shifts, says life punishes him with hunger
Although the rise of gig economy jobs has created opportunities, it has also exposed workers to instability, mental stress, and a lack of basic security. Delivery riders, in particular, face long hours, unpredictable pay, and little protection.
Recently, one such food delivery worker from China made headlines after his raw and emotional video surfaced online. The man candidly opened up about the weight of his daily struggles and his biggest regret.
What did the
Chinese delivery boy
say in the video?
A Chinese food delivery worker recently went viral on Instagram after posting an emotional video revealing the tough realities of his daily life. The man, who said he never went to university, broke down in tears while still wearing his work uniform. In the video, he opened up about the mental and physical exhaustion he faces working in the gig economy, and the regret that continues to haunt him for leaving school too early.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Brigade™ Insignia. 3, 4 & 5 BHK Starting at ₹3.39 Cr*
Brigade Group
Learn More
Undo
According to the video caption shared on Instagram, the man said he delivers food for continuous hours during the day with no breaks and no long-term stability. "And now? I deliver food for over 10 hours a day, exhausted like a dog. I don't dare slack off even for a second, because the moment I do, life punishes me with an empty stomach. How could I not feel anxious?" he shared.
The emotional confession revealed the harsh truth behind the gig economy many don't see.
He said, 'Despite my teacher's warning me against dropping out of school,' he remembered, 'I did so and now I realise the importance of their advice.'
He expressed frustration over not being able to support his aging parents or build a life of his own. 'I can't give my parents the life they deserve, I can't even live the life the way I want either. It breaks my heart. But who can I even talk to about it?' he added.
Social media response
The video touched many online. As reported on Instagram, one user commented, 'Oh brother, don't cry, even people who graduated struggle nowadays, don't worry.' Another said, 'Being born to parents who can give you opportunities is such a blessing many don't understand.' Another user said, 'Sir I have an education and am in the same situation as you.'
Tragically, stories like this are not rare. In Hangzhou last year, a 55-year-old delivery worker reportedly died after falling asleep on his electric bike following an exhausting 18-hour shift.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Time of India
Citizens march to protest ban on pigeon feeding in Mumbai
Mumbai: More than 1,000 citizens, including Jain spiritual leaders, undertook a protest march from Colaba Jain Mandir to Gateway of India on Sunday, to protest the ban on feeding pigeons in the city. Jain muni, Nareshchandra Ji Maharaj, also announced a fast unto death on Aug 10 in order to demand the resumption of feeding of pigeons. "Hundreds of pigeons have died of starvation in Mumbai in the past few days because the state authorities have forcibly stopped animal lovers from feeding the birds. Dadar Kabutarkhana and other feeding sites have been sealed by BMC. We oppose this cruel ban on pigeon feeding," he said. The venue for the hunger strike will soon be decided. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Jain community leaders have urged citizens to join them for this cause. Activist Sneha Visaria of Just Smile Charitable Trust, who participated in Sunday's protest march, said: "It is heartbreaking to see how over 50,000 pigeons have died on the streets and atop terraces because people have been stopped from feeding this feeding ban is wrong and unethical." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Struggling With Belly Fat? Try This at Home Home Fitness Hack Shop Now Undo Animal activist Mitesh Jain said: "BMC is going against our Constitution's Article 51(A)(g) which says we must show compassion for all creatures. A recent RTI finding from Nair and Sion hospital show negligible effect of pigeons on human pulmonary health." The Mahavir Mission Trust, Colaba Sakal Jain Sangh, and Rajasthani 36 Kaum-Colaba also participated in the protest march. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Weekly manifestation tips for each zodiac sign for the week of August 03to 09, 2025
Aries This week is more about acting with intention than rushing into action. With Mars in detail-oriented Virgo, direct your energy toward one clear goal. To manifest effectively, write a simple plan that is organized and achievable. Check off each task as you complete it—you'll feel a strong pull toward steady progress. Taurus Venus, your ruling planet, is now in quick-thinking Gemini, encouraging flexibility and expression . Your power to manifest lies in speaking and sharing your ideas. Tell a trusted person your goals, or record yourself saying them aloud. The more clearly and confidently you express your desires, the faster they begin to manifest. Gemini With both Venus and Jupiter in your sign, you're in a highly favorable position . This week, manifest your dreams by following your joy. Focus on what uplifts you. Take photos of things that make you happy and set one as your phone wallpaper—it's a reminder that you already live in abundance. Cancer With the Sun and Mercury retrograde in your sign, your inner world is highly active . Manifestation this week comes through emotional connection. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Light a candle and write a heartfelt letter to the universe about your desires. Keep the letter under your pillow or by your bedside and let its energy work as you sleep. Leo Ketu in your sign is helping remove distractions , allowing you to get closer to your true desires. This week, take a break from noise and technology. Spend quiet time reflecting on what you truly want. Once clear, write it down three times and take one calm, deliberate action toward it. Virgo Mars in your sign boosts your drive, especially when applied with precision. Manifest by bringing order to your space —clear out a messy drawer, organize your desk, or streamline your schedule. As you tidy your surroundings, you create space for emotional and financial abundance. Libra With Venus in a thoughtful sign, your manifestation power lies in mental clarity . Identify one limiting belief about love or success. Write it down, cross it out, and replace it with an empowering affirmation. Say the new belief aloud each morning to realign your mindset and attract what you desire. Scorpio Saturn retrograde calls for emotional release . Manifestation begins by letting go of what no longer serves you. Sit in stillness and acknowledge any fear or guilt you've been carrying. Gently say, 'I see you, and I let you go.' Then slowly drink a glass of water, visualizing it washing those feelings away. Sagittarius With Jupiter in Gemini, the message is to simplify in order to grow . Instead of juggling multiple goals, choose one clear intention. Write it down and list three playful steps toward it. Let joy and spontaneity guide your journey—fun will help your dreams unfold naturally. Capricorn Pluto is driving deep inner transformation, while Mars fuels your ambition. This week, combine structure with emotional honesty . Choose one goal and create a boundary to protect your time and energy. Saying 'no' to distractions opens space for what you truly want to manifest. Aquarius Rahu brings bold momentum, but Mercury retrograde may cause mental clutter . To manifest, begin by clearing your thoughts. Write down everything that's on your mind. Then review the list and circle the one thing that excites you most. Take a single step in that direction—it will set the energy in motion. Pisces With both Saturn and Neptune retrograde in your sign, this is a time for balancing dreams with discipline . Sketch your ideal life in detail, then commit to one daily habit that supports that vision. Your manifestation power lies not just in dreaming—but in gently showing up every day. Discover everything about astrology at Times of India , including daily horoscopes for Aries , Taurus , Gemini , Cancer , Leo , Virgo , Libra , Scorpio , Sagittarius , Capricorn , Aquarius , and Pisces . Read your detailed Horoscope Today and Horoscope Tomorrow here.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Chronicling a community's culinary traditions through the pages of a magazine
My aunt Manjula Padmanabhan remembers the food from when she worked at Parsiana magazine . 'There was dhansak , of course,' she says. 'And a very rich chicken curry made with almonds.' This was probably sau badam ni curry , which is actually made with 101 almonds, one extra added for good luck. The food was a benefit of Parsiana's peculiar location, in the Parsi Lying-In Hospital , a heritage building in Mumbai's Fort area that was built for Parsi mothers to deliver their babies in restful, hygienic conditions. This had extended to a crèche and the food for the children came from Maki Adenwalla, the mother of Jehangir Patel, Parsiana 's editor. Anything extra was happily eaten by the magazine's team. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Others CXO Project Management healthcare Design Thinking Finance Public Policy Operations Management MBA Data Science Data Science Data Analytics Product Management Technology MCA Leadership Cybersecurity Management PGDM others Artificial Intelligence Healthcare Digital Marketing Degree Skills you'll gain: Duration: 28 Weeks MICA CERT-MICA SBMPR Async India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Exec Cert Prog in AI for Biz India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 16 Weeks Indian School of Business CERT-ISB Transforming HR with Analytics & AI India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 9 months IIM Lucknow SEPO - IIML CHRO India Starts on undefined Get Details Patel took over Parsiana in 1973, from Pesi Warden, who started it in 1964. Warden wanted to preserve community traditions, but was also a gadfly to institutions like the Parsi Punchayet. When Patel, who had studied at Yale and worked in American newspapers, took over — for just one rupee — he instilled strict journalistic rigour along with an appreciation for Parsi quirks. The latest issue reports on a Parsi Lego lover who is building a model of ancient Persepolis using the plastic bricks. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Helping Organizations Close The Gap Between Technical Invention And Commercial Innovation; Interview with Colin Scott, Senior Vice President of DownSelect® at Innventure. - TechBullion TechBullion Undo Community media is often conservative, influenced by how the most vociferous defenders of traditions tend to be reactionary. Parsiana was always firmly progressive, even in its public notices, where it published news of the interfaith marriages abhorred by traditionalists. Its opponents vilified it, yet never stopped reading it, perhaps reluctantly acknowledging its scrupulous reporting. Beyond just the Parsi community, Patel also mentored generations of Mumbai journalists, including some who worked at Parsiana . My aunt and my mother Geeta were both examples, respectively designing covers for the early issues and writing features and reviews. This meant that I spent time as a kid in the office (though sadly, never got the food!) It stayed seemingly unchanged over the decades, even as the rest of the building fell silent, a symbol of plummeting Parsi birth rates and migration abroad. Parsiana 's coverage kept pace, reporting on the diaspora as much a s the communities in India, while the office remained an evocation of an ideal small magazine office, with Patel's desk labelled 'Editor', old covers on the wall and neat piles of more current issues. The deep Parsi involvement in hospitality and love of food was well reflected in the magazine. I remember covers on Parsi bakeries and soft drink manufacturers, and reports on young Parsi chefs making their name in India and abroad. Keeping up my family involvement, I was roped in by Patel to review Parsi cookbooks, like Niloufer Ichaporia King 's My Bombay Kitchen . The food interest even extended outside the magazine when it opened a shop to sell Parsi products, like marvellous aged sugarcane vinegar from Kolah's of Navsari and their lemon and date and mixed fruit pickles. (Sadly, the shop closed a few years ago). Parsiana recently announced that it would be ceasing publication from October. In a characteristically frank editorial, it said the publication 'has fallen prey to the ills that plague the community, namely a dearth of new entrants to the profession'. Suggestions had been made to outsource or create content in other ways, but for that to happen credibly, those doing the job would need to have a deep knowledge of 'the community, its decision makers, trends, history, religion, strengths, weaknesses'. The implicit question, perhaps, was if it could not be done properly, was it worth doing? Food offers a piquant twist to this question. Cookbooks can make Parsi recipes widely available. Hospitality brands, in India and abroad, like Sodabottleopenerwala and Dishoom, can draw on Parsi food traditions to create a commercially successful simulacrum. So, does it matter if real Parsi food gets ever harder to find? Parsiana was a place where such questions could be seriously debated, and for that alone, its ending feels like a real loss.
