I Deliver Parcels in Beijing

<b>A runaway besteller in China, sold in 15+ territories, this delightfully honest and humorous account gives voice to gig workers the world over.</b><br><br>In 2023, <i>I Deliver Parcels in Beijing</i> became a literary sensation of the year in China. The story of a worker doing odd jobs in various anonymous mega-cities, Hu AnYan's voice hit a nerve with a generation of young Chinese who feel at odds with an ever growing pressure to perform and succeed.<br><br>Hu started posting essays about his experiences online during COVID lockdowns. His recollection of night shifts in a huge logistics center in the South of China went viral: nights so hot that even drinking three liters of water does not require a toilet break; colleagues going for KTV instead of trying to get a few hours' sleep; where are the affordable rooms with proper air conditioning, and what is the best amount of alcohol in order to sleep but not feel drowsy a few hours later? <br><br>The work is brutal, and there is no real sense of future in sight. But Hu is armed with a deadpan sense of humor and a strong idea of self, he moves on when he feels stuck: from logistics in the South to delivering parcels in Beijing, over to other odd jobs, all the while also discovering the power of reading and writing.<br><br>A unique first person portrait of a society we never hear from but everyone has opinions about and benefits from.