A collection of hurriedly written poems on scraps of paper by a 56-year-old food delivery worker from Jiangsu province has captivated the Chinese literary scene, according to reports.
Wang Jibing won the Lu Xun Literary Prize, named after the father of modern Chinese literature, for his 2024 poetry volume titled “Low Flight.” His poems draw inspiration from everyday challenges and interviews he conducted with around 200 fellow couriers.
Since becoming a courier in 2019, Wang has joined a growing group of workers whose literary works provide insight into the pressures of China’s vast gig economy.
This prestigious award follows several difficult decades spent as a casual laborer, during which he held various jobs, including construction work and waste collection.
Due to his family’s financial struggles, Wang left school in his teenage years. However, his passion for reading endured, and over the last decade, he has shared his poetry and essays on social media.
Upon learning of his win in July, he felt overwhelmed by the attention. “I held my breath and felt extremely nervous… Once it was announced, everything was settled,” he told the state publication Global Times.
In 2022, his poem “The Hasty Man” went viral online, inspired by a frustrating delivery incident stemming from a customer’s wrong address. A year later, he published his first collection of poetry.
Wang Chooses to Continue Delivery Work
The financial awards associated with the Lu Xun Literary Prize are not publicly disclosed, although they previously amounted to 100,000 Chinese yuan (approximately $14,800). Despite his newfound financial and cultural success, Wang has stated he does not intend to quit his delivery job and plans to continue working as a courier until he turns 60.
“Financially, I don’t need this job to make a living, but I enjoy the work environment, and it keeps me fit,” he explained. “I desire a simple life, and the award will never change who I am.”
This philosophy is echoed in the verses of his award-winning collection: “Who says that spreading your wings means flying high? Lower altitude flight is still flight.”
Wang’s success coincides with a trend of increasing literary contributions from workers in China, including former courier Hu Anyan, who became a bestselling author, and Fan Yusu, a migrant worker whose essay gained significant online attention.
