Yang Jie, a courier in Anhui province, teaches industry know-how to colleagues.

From model workers and master craftsmen to factory hands and gig-economy workers, China's vast workforce is the bedrock of national development. Launched by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, this series shines a spotlight on the responsibility and resilience of the modern Chinese working class, documenting their struggles and stories from the front lines to showcase the dedication, craftsmanship and pioneering spirit driving progress across every sector.

Early morning at the delivery station: conveyor belts roll, parcels are scanned and sorted into their slots. Yang Jie raises his phone, frames a shipping label, steps back a meter or more to keep the package and its surroundings in view while avoiding faces in frame, and uploads the photo for system verification.

For Yang, a courier in Chizhou, Anhui province, it is a routine he has done for 16 years. After graduating from the logistics management program at Anhui Water Conservancy Technical College, Yang returned to his hometown of Chizhou and joined YTO Express' Chizhou branch, starting out as a front-line courier.

Back then, the common impression of the job was little more than running errands and making deliveries. When friends heard he had joined an express company, they assumed he was just finding a temporary job. He did not bother to explain. Having studied logistics for several years, he knew the real work involved was far more than simply delivering packages.

This year, the company rolled out a new rule at its outlets: after a parcel is delivered, couriers must upload a photo to the system in addition to obtaining a signature, in order to reduce delivery disputes. The rollout met with considerable resistance — hundreds of packages a day, each one requiring a photo, with noncompliant shots needing to be retaken. Some argued that the extra step slowed things down.

Rather than argue, Yang let the data speak for itself. After the standardized procedure took effect, the pass rate for delivery photos rose to 80 percent, and complaints dropped noticeably. When customers asked to verify a delivery, the system could pull up a photo from the moment of signing — clear evidence that helped settle disputes. Sacrificing a bit of speed in exchange for consistent service, he reasoned, was what would allow the work to continue.

"Getting into the courier business is easy, but mastering it is difficult," Yang said. After each shift, he makes a habit of replaying the day in his mind: which route took a detour, which step caused a delay, which households are usually home at what time. He has kept it up for more than a decade, without fail.

Through those daily reviews, the courier has worked out a method of his own: the moment the morning sorting is done, the day's delivery route is mapped out in his mind. When loading the van, large parcels go on the bottom, smaller ones go on top, with rush deliveries always kept within reach.

To outsiders, it is just loading packages and walking routes. But he knows every household in his area inside out; who is home when, which building has elderly residents who cannot get around, which parcels cannot wait. When an older neighbor's online medicine order arrives, he carries it upstairs, knocks on the door and hands it over in person.

"This job gives me a stable income," he said. "It lets me take care of my family and my parents, and it has given me a sense of direction."

Today, Yang has moved up from front-line courier to a key member of the outlet's quality management team. From sorting, delivering and quality control to staff training, wherever he is needed, he is there. For more than a decade, Yang has maintained a perfect record of zero complaints and accidents.

This year, Yang was selected for the State Council special allowance, becoming the first employee of a private express delivery company to receive the honor.

"This is not just an honor for me, but a recognition for everyone in our profession. We truly feel valued, cared for and entrusted with expectations," Yang said. "No job is too small, and hard work is what makes us shine. As long as you are willing to learn, to dig deep, and to strive, any position can become a stage to show your talents."