43 days of winter break working nonstop delivering food earned over ten thousand yuan; a junior majoring in Financial Management secures his first "pot of gold" in life.

Cover News Reporter Yang Xubin

As the new semester begins, many students are still immersed in the afterglow of winter break. However, Luo Hao, a third-year student at a university in Chengdu, marked the end of his winter vacation with a riding uniform and an electric scooter. During this break, he spent 43 days working nonstop as a food delivery rider. Before school started, he had already earned over 10,000 yuan through this winter job.

On March 8, Cover News contacted Luo Hao. He mentioned that his university major is Financial Management, and earning his “first pot of gold” was a practical experience related to his field. He also plans to use his professional knowledge to manage this income. At the same time, this experience allowed him to step outside the classroom and see the real face of social labor.

No Rest During Spring Festival, 43 Days on Duty

Total Income Exceeds 10,000 Yuan

Luo Hao explained that he studies at Chengdu Neusoft University and is a third-year student. He started working as a delivery rider at the beginning of the winter break. He told reporters that his daily working hours are from 10 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., with one to two hours of rest during the day. The delivery system operates on a return-to-station model, with each order paying a fixed 6.5 yuan. He completes about 40 to 50 orders daily, earning around 200 to 300 yuan per day.

Luo Hao delivering food

“Rain or shine, I never stopped working,” Luo Hao said. To maximize his income, he worked continuously for 43 days without a single day off. Even during the Spring Festival, he chose to stay on duty and did not go home for the holiday. “On New Year’s Eve at midnight, I was still delivering. I just barely missed a delivery, which was supposed to be completed by 11:59 p.m., and I delivered it exactly at midnight,” Luo Hao recalled. While many families gathered at home to celebrate the New Year, he was still on the road delivering food. That “New Year’s Eve order” left a deep impression on him.

Luo Hao’s delivery photo during the shift

Luo Hao revealed that after working for 43 days, his total income approached 12,000 yuan. “It’s rare for a delivery rider to earn over 10,000 yuan in a month and a half. I mainly benefited from the Spring Festival bonus and working nonstop,” he said. After deducting about 2,000 yuan for vehicle rental, equipment, and communication costs, his actual income was around 10,000 yuan. “I’m very satisfied; I achieved my goal.”

Saving the “First Pot of Gold” for Professional Practice

Understanding Society and Growth Through Labor

When asked about his goal of earning over 10,000 yuan and why he chose to deliver food during winter break, Luo Hao admitted that, on one hand, he wanted to earn some extra pocket money through his labor. On the other hand, it was related to his academic knowledge.

“I’m majoring in Financial Management. I’ve learned a lot about investment and financial planning, but to practice, I need my own capital, the ‘first pot of gold,’ which I want to earn myself,” he told reporters. He explained that his living expenses at school only cover daily needs, and he doesn’t want to ask his family for money. Therefore, he decided to work during the holiday to accumulate initial savings. Eventually, through a friend’s introduction, Luo Hao joined a food delivery station via a “referral program.”

Regarding this income, Luo Hao has clear plans: “Part of it will cover my daily expenses, and part of it will be used for professional practice, like buying some funds, financial products, or stocks to learn and experiment.”

Besides earning money, Luo Hao said that this experience as a delivery rider gave him a more direct understanding of society. In his view, navigating the streets delivering food allowed him to see the real social fabric. These vivid moments gave him a more concrete understanding of “life.” “Through this experience, I met all kinds of people and encountered situations rarely seen at school. After these 43 days, I feel deeply touched and have gained a new understanding of society. I believe this will be very helpful when I truly enter the workforce in the future.”

Luo Hao’s school is about to start, and he has already resigned from his job to return to school. When asked about his future plans, Luo Hao said that during his third year, he will focus on coursework, and in his fourth year, he will prepare systematically for civil service exams, graduate school, or direct employment. This experience has made him cherish classroom time more and think more practically about his major. “This winter break wasn’t just about doing a part-time job; it was like an early social lesson,” he concluded.