A delivery rider in Shanghai has earned over 1 million yuan ($140,000) in three years, sparking both admiration and concern among netizens.

A video of delivery rider Chen Si talking about his income has gone viral, prompting discussions about work ethic, health and the gig economy.

The 26-year-old from Fuzhou, Jiangxi province, began working as a delivery rider in Shanghai in 2019 after a failed entrepreneurial venture running a restaurant in his hometown.

Born in 1998, the rider exudes a sense of maturity despite his youthful age. His hands marked by scars showcase the hardship he has experienced and how much effort he has put in over the past three years. "These scars come from frostbite and accidental falls. When I fall, I dust myself off and keep going," he said nonchalantly to news outlet ThePaper.cn.

Before working in Shanghai, Chen operated a restaurant in his hometown, for which he took out an 800,000 yuan loan from the bank. Unfortunately, the venture incurred heavy losses within five months, compelling him to abandon the business. Burdened by debt, Chen made the decision to seek his fortune in Shanghai, driven by the singular goal of earning money to repay his loans. At that time, Chen made up his mind to work hard to bounce back from the low where he was.

Upon his arrival in Shanghai in 2019, Chen initially worked as a chef in a restaurant, earning a monthly salary of 13,000 yuan. After nearly a year, he realized that delivery might be more lucrative and decided to give it a try. He started doing food delivery as a side job, and at that time he only slept about three hours a day.

In 2020, Chen quit his job at the restaurant to take up delivery full-time, working from 6 am to midnight.

He has completed over 110,000 orders in the past three years, taking only one day off a month.

Without an educated background, Chen said the only way to make money is through working hard by using his own hands.

The industrious rider has already repaid the 800,000 yuan loan, and has managed to purchase a house in his hometown, with a remaining mortgage of 100,000 yuan.

Chen said he hasn't given up on starting his own business in the future.

His story has attracted a lot of attention online. Many have admired him for his diligence and his achievements through hard work. Many have also expressed their worries about his health. Some have suggested he get a routine physical examination.

While openly acknowledging his prioritization of financial gain through hard work, Chen told others to work in accordance with their capabilities and not to replicate his way of working so intensively.