Workers unite during demanding year

The annual income of couriers at Li's delivery station last year ranged from 72,000 yuan ($11,146) to 156,000 yuan-much higher than the local average.

"With the rapid development of China's express delivery industry, I anticipate a better future for my family," Li said.

"I hope the outbreak in Dalian can end soon so that I can take my daughter to learn skiing during Spring Festival next month."

Meanwhile, in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, Wang Xujin, a delivery worker in his 30s for water company Nongfu Spring, recalled the past year.

He said: "I once felt lost and was almost on the verge of giving up. However, my daughter, my wife and the public benefit activities I was involved in helped me get my life back in order."

Wang began to feel pressure from COVID-19 at the start of last year.

"As I delivered water to shops and supermarkets across the city last January, I noticed that fewer people were going out and some were beginning to wear face masks," he said.

"One day, I visited eight pharmacies to buy masks, but they had sold out days before. As the breadwinner for my family and the father of a young daughter, I had to go out to earn money, but I worried every minute that I would bring the virus home with me."

Wang's work was affected significantly by the pandemic, with his salary reduced by 60 percent from January to May. However, his family's monthly expenses rose because he needed to pay for his daughter's online classes. She is a student in the first grade.

"Lessons at her school were suspended to contain the virus, and many students attended online classes. Some of these cost about 10,000 yuan each for a semester," he said.

"I had to pay for several to help my daughter keep up with her classmates. My wife was laid off by the foreign trade company she worked for, my grandmother was living alone and I had to visit her frequently to buy food and do household chores.

"I suddenly realized that people were relying on me and I had a responsibility for them. I felt under great pressure and became depressed."

For several days, Wang was reluctant to go to work and ignored everyone around him. He just wanted to sleep all day.

However, every evening when he returned home, he saw his daughter concentrating hard on her online lessons in front of her laptop and his wife cleaning the apartment and putting food on the table. The cozy atmosphere comforted Wang and helped him through a difficult time.

"In February, the company started to offer free bottled water to volunteers, medical workers and police officers who contributed to containing COVID-19," he said.

"I met so many people dedicated to assisting others. I was moved by what I saw and decided to try my best to lend a helping hand."

He said his daughter complimented him after learning that he was delivering water to those helping to fight the virus.

"She said I was a hero. I felt so proud of myself after hearing her comment. Now, if I have time, I attend every public benefit activity," Wang said.

Since May, with his wife looking for a new job, his daughter doing well at school and his salary rising, Wang said his life has returned to normal and the family has become more united.

He added: "Don't give up, even in the hardest times. Once you overcome the challenges, your life will return to normal and you'll embrace new hope."