Delivering for colleagues
After 12 years in Shanghai's food delivery industry, Song Zengguang has advanced from being a delivery rider to a prominent team leader and mentor.
He is now a trainer, overseeing thousands of food delivery riders working with Alibaba's online marketplace Taobao. Song attributes his success to a positive mindset and the ability to balance work and life pressures.
"Being a delivery rider is tough work, dealing with all kinds of weather, from scorching heat to freezing cold. But from another perspective, we interact with so many people every day, and through simple actions like wishing someone an enjoyable meal, we can pass on positive energy to others, and we, in turn, receive encouraging feedback," said Song, 42, who is based in Shanghai's Putuo district and is originally from Lianyungang, Jiangsu province.
As an instructor, Song emphasizes safety and service while also sharing insights on remaining positive and overcoming challenges.
"Everyone has dreams of a better life when they first enter society. There will inevitably be pressures and anxieties at work. Remembering our original intentions helps keep us on track," he said, adding that his original goal was to create a stable and pleasant life with his wife.
Song's influence extends beyond training. He has inspired many apprentices, some of whom have become key figures at their workstations, while others have applied to join the Communist Party of China. "I believe that as more delivery riders join the Party, this community will continue to improve," he said.
In addition to his work duties, Song sometimes represents the delivery industry at government-led meetings, advocating for employee rights. He has highlighted issues like the lack of continuous non-motor vehicle lanes, which complicates delivery routes, and the problem of malicious order cancellations, which can leave riders covering meal costs that sometimes exceed a day's earnings.
As a Party member, Song is committed to giving back to society. Motivated by him, dozens of delivery riders have formed a volunteer team, assisting elderly residents by purchasing groceries, delivering meals, and taking out trash during work breaks.
"Through such actions, I want my peers to realize that we delivery riders aren't just delivering meals. We have many meaningful things that we can do," said Song.
"Some people compare delivery riders and couriers to the faint lights of the city. When these lights come together, they can illuminate society," he said.
