Angol
A runaway besteller in China, sold in 15+ territories, this delightfully honest and humorous account gives voice to gig workers the world over.
In 2023, I Deliver Parcels in Beijing became a literary sensation of the year in China. The story of a worker doing odd jobs in various anonymous mega-cities, Hu AnYans voice hit a nerve with a generation of young Chinese who feel at odds with an ever growing pressure to perform and succeed.
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?
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.
A unique first person portrait of a society we never hear from but everyone has opinions about and benefits from.
