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Journey from Bike Courier and Bakery Apprentice to Acclaimed Writer

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Journey from Bike Courier and Bakery Apprentice to Acclaimed Writer

Hu Anyan’s book chronicles his 20-year experience in 19 low-wage jobs in Beijing, blending humor and detailed observations on survival’s absurdities and harsh realities while navigating a challenging urban landscape.


Key Points

  • Hu Anyan’s book, I Deliver Parcels in Beijing, details his 20-year experience across 19 low-wage jobs, showcasing the absurdities of survival with dry humor and keen observation.
  • His roles range from delivery work to convenience store clerk, cleaner, and even an anime designer, revealing a persistent struggle at the bottom of the employment ladder.
  • With a blend of hope and resignation, Hu candidly reflects on the challenges of urban life, portraying the harsh realities of precarious work and the comical absurdities he encounters.

Hu Anyan’s I Deliver Parcels in Beijing offers a compelling chronicle of his two-decade journey through 19 low-wage jobs across Beijing, illustrated with a blend of dry humor and vivid observational detail. The narrative captures the absurdities and stark realities of survival on the fringes of urban life, depicting a world where hope is entwined with disillusionment.

In his extensive exploration of jobs—from parcel delivery and convenience-store work to cleaning and stints in a vegetable market and an anime design company—Hu reveals the precariousness of labor for the city’s underclass. Notably, the duration of these positions varies dramatically; some last mere days or weeks, highlighting an unstable employment landscape rife with vanishing bosses, illusory contracts, and arbitrary rules. This chaotic environment necessitates resilience, where the essential qualifications for survival become a strong back, a flexible sense of dignity, and a high tolerance for absurdity.

At the age of 47, Hu, who originally hails from Guangzhou, reflects on his experiences in various cities, including a brief tenure in Vietnam. He encapsulates the paradox of urban life where places brim with potential yet leave individuals feeling stagnant and exploited. With a nuanced perspective, he conveys an innocence marred by the harsh truths of labor, paired with a remarkable aptitude for self-reflection.

Hu’s writing style marries humor with a documentary’s precision. He meticulously details the minutiae of his experiences—tracking wages to the cent, timing shifts, and cataloging fines and injustices—without descending into melodrama. His observations often portray the absurd: security guards overseeing nothing, managers fostering chaos, and delivery algorithms dictating lives with apathy.

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Completing his trial as a parcel deliverer epitomizes his journey through a world filled with contradictions and challenges, underscoring the complexity of urban survival in modern China. Hu Anyan’s narrative ultimately illuminates the resilience of those navigating life on society’s margins, serving as both an engaging autobiography and a social commentary.

Read the original article : China’s new literary star had 19 jobs before ‘writer’ – including bike courier and bakery apprentice

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InvestingPro’s fair value warns of 46% Samsara plunge

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InvestingPro’s fair value warns of 46% Samsara plunge

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Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund: ITC, HDFC Bank and Balkrishna Industries among stocks bought and sold in March

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The Economic Times

Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund: ITC, HDFC Bank and Balkrishna Industries among stocks bought and sold in March

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Sezzle: Consolidation Completed, Re-Rating Ahead

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Sezzle: Consolidation Completed, Re-Rating Ahead

Sezzle: Consolidation Completed, Re-Rating Ahead

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Q1 Earnings Kick Off With Major Banks’ Results: Bank Of America, Netflix In Focus

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OneWater Marine Inc. (ONEW) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Get ahead of the market by subscribing to Seeking Alpha’s Wall Street Week Ahead, a preview of key events scheduled for the coming week. The newsletter keeps you informed of the biggest stories set to make headlines, including upcoming IPOs, investor days, earnings reports, and conference presentations.

Wall Street’s major averages struggled to stay higher on Friday as the core retail inflation print for March came in slightly cooler than expected, while investors continued to brace for U.S.-Iran war tensions. The March U.S. core Consumer Price Index, which excludes food and energy, came in weaker at +0.2% MoM vs. +0.3% consensus. In addition, the Consumer Sentiment Index came in lower at 47.6 for April vs. the 52.0 consensus, according to preliminary data by the University of Michigan Survey.

As the first-quarter earnings season kicks off next week, with major banks reporting their results, only a few economic data are scheduled. Existing home sales data for March will be released on Monday, with PPI data scheduled for Tuesday. Philadelphia Fed’s manufacturing numbers are due on Thursday along with the jobless claims data.

Goldman Sachs (GS), JPMorgan (JPM), Citigroup (C), Bank of America (BAC), and Netflix (NFLX) are among the companies reporting their results next week.

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Earnings spotlight: Monday: Goldman Sachs. See the full earnings calendar.

Earnings spotlight: Tuesday: JPMorgan, J&J (JNJ), Wells Fargo (WFC), Citigroup. See the full earnings calendar.

Earnings spotlight: Wednesday: ASML (ASML), Bank of America (BAC), Morgan Stanley (MS). See the full earnings calendar.

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Earnings spotlight: Thursday: Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM), Netflix, PepsiCo (PEP). See the full earnings calendar.

Volatility watch: Coherent (COHR) and AMD (AMD) are set up for a volatile week of trading based on options volume. The most overbought stocks per their 14-day relative strength index include Service Mega Fortune (

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West Asia turmoil priced in; India’s long-term story intact, says Sunil Singhania

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West Asia turmoil priced in; India’s long-term story intact, says Sunil Singhania
In an interview with ET Now, market veteran Sunil Singhania explains why the current West Asia conflict is impacting Indian equities more than past geopolitical events, how oil, rupee and global flows are interconnected, and why he believes most risks are already priced in with long-term prospects intact.

Why is this geopolitical episode impacting Indian markets more than past events?

Markets have recovered from past crises and will likely do so again. The key difference this time is not just higher oil prices but also supply disruptions due to issues around the Strait of Hormuz. There’s also constant, uncertain news flow, which keeps sentiment volatile. That said, markets are gradually stabilising and beginning to take this in stride.

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From an investor’s perspective, is this mainly an oil story, a rupee issue, or a broader risk-off trend?


It’s a combination. This comes after 18 months of underperformance by Indian markets versus global peers. Earlier, high valuations, slowing growth, weak earnings, and global shifts toward tech-heavy markets led to FPI outflows. Just as things were improving—growth picking up, earnings recovering, and policy support kicking in—this conflict hit. Oil prices, currency pressure, and risk-off sentiment are all interconnected here.

What could break this cycle of pressure on markets?

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De-escalation of the conflict is key. If tensions ease, crude prices could fall by $20–25, which would significantly improve sentiment. In fact, I believe nearly 90% of the current risks are already priced in, making the risk-reward favourable from here.

With heavy FPI outflows, can domestic investors continue to support markets?


Domestic investors have shown strong resilience and continue to invest with a long-term view. SIP flows and investor confidence remain intact. While FPI selling has been heavy, India’s fundamentals—strong GDP growth, improving earnings outlook, and attractive valuations—should eventually bring foreign investors back.

What is your outlook on India amid all this uncertainty?


Despite current challenges, India remains the fastest-growing large economy with over 6.5% GDP growth. Valuations have corrected, and India’s weight in global portfolios is at a decade low. As growth and earnings recover, both domestic and foreign investors are likely to increase exposure again.

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Widespread Outages Hit Midwest as Users Report Disruptions

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Midco Internet Down for Many Customers Saturday: Widespread Outages Hit

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Midcontinent Communications, known as Midco, faced scattered but significant service disruptions Saturday, with numerous customers across South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota and Nebraska reporting internet, TV and phone outages despite the company’s official outage map showing mostly normal operations.

Midco Internet Down for Many Customers Saturday: Widespread Outages Hit
Midco Internet Down for Many Customers Saturday: Widespread Outages Hit Midwest as Users Report Disruptions

As of late Saturday evening on April 11, 2026, third-party monitoring sites showed spikes in user reports, contradicting Midco’s public status page that continued to display “Services Online” for many entered addresses. Downdetector and Outage.Report noted elevated complaints, particularly in Sioux Falls, Fargo, Bismarck and surrounding communities.

Customers took to social media and outage trackers expressing frustration over sudden loss of connectivity during peak evening hours when streaming, remote work and family entertainment demand typically surges. Many described complete blackouts lasting from minutes to several hours, with intermittent service in some areas.

Scope of the Reported Issues

While Midco’s official outages portal did not flag a company-wide event, independent trackers painted a different picture:

  • Downdetector recorded a noticeable increase in reports for internet connectivity as the primary issue.
  • Outage.Report indicated isolated but persistent problems, with users in Minnesota and Nebraska among the most affected in recent hours.
  • Social media platforms showed real-time complaints, including users unable to stream sports, attend virtual events or even make calls via VoIP services.

The discrepancies between official statements and customer experiences are common during rolling or localized outages caused by node-specific failures, fiber cuts, maintenance or weather-related stress on the network.

Possible Causes and Midco’s Response

Midco has not issued a public statement on any widespread outage as of Saturday night. The company typically attributes such disruptions to routine maintenance, construction accidents, severe weather or upstream provider issues. Spring conditions in the Midwest — including wind, rain and construction activity — often contribute to cable and fiber vulnerabilities.

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Customers who contacted support reported long wait times and automated messages directing them to the outages page or basic troubleshooting. Many were advised to restart modems and routers, a standard first step that proved ineffective for those in genuinely affected areas.

Midco’s Fiber Forward initiative, which includes recent multimillion-dollar upgrades, aims to improve long-term reliability. However, during transition periods, hybrid fiber-coaxial segments can experience temporary hiccups.

What Affected Customers Should Do

If your Midco service is down:

  1. Verify the Outage — Visit midco.com/outages and enter your exact address.
  2. Basic Troubleshooting:
    • Power cycle your modem and router (unplug for 30-60 seconds).
    • Check all physical connections.
    • Test with a wired Ethernet connection if possible.
  3. Use the Midco App — For Freestyle Wi-Fi customers, the app often provides more detailed diagnostics.
  4. Contact Support — Call 1-800-888-1300, use live chat on the website, or log into My Account for personalized status.
  5. Alternative Connectivity — Switch to mobile hotspot data temporarily for urgent needs.

Midco crews typically prioritize restoring service quickly once an issue is identified, with most localized outages resolved within a few hours.

Broader Impact on Midwest Users

Midco serves hundreds of thousands of households and businesses across the Upper Midwest, where reliable broadband is critical for agriculture, education, healthcare and remote work. Saturday evening disruptions likely affected family movie nights, online gaming, bill payments and small business operations.

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In a region with limited provider competition in many rural and suburban areas, such outages draw particular ire. Past incidents have prompted customers to explore alternatives like satellite internet or emerging fiber competitors where available.

Staying Informed

  • Follow Midco’s official X account (@Midcontinent) for updates, which has shifted focus toward customer support.
  • Monitor Downdetector.com/status/midcontinent for real-time user reports.
  • Check local news outlets in Sioux Falls, Fargo and Bismarck for any confirmed large-scale events.

Midco continues investing heavily in network modernization. The $9.1 million Bismarck-Mandan fiber upgrade announced earlier this month is part of broader efforts to deliver faster, more resilient service.

For now, affected customers are urged to remain patient as technicians work behind the scenes. Many outages resolve spontaneously as systems self-heal or as crews complete repairs.

If your service remains down after basic troubleshooting and the official page shows no outage, document the issue with screenshots of speed tests or error messages. This information helps support teams isolate problems faster.

Midco has built a reputation for local service in a vast region, but nights like Saturday remind users that even established providers can face unexpected challenges. As the situation develops, check official channels regularly for restoration estimates specific to your area.

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How to Watch Live Stream & Telecast of Chennai vs Delhi Clash Today

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Will cricket take off in the United States?

CHENNAI, India — Cricket fans across India and around the world are gearing up for a high-stakes Indian Premier League 2026 encounter as Chennai Super Kings host Delhi Capitals in Match 18 at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday evening.

Will cricket take off in the United States?
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POOL / PAUL CHILDS

The match, scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. IST with the toss at 7 p.m. IST, pits five-time champions CSK against a resurgent Delhi Capitals side. With both teams looking to steady their campaigns early in the season, viewers can expect intense T20 action under the Chennai lights.

Where to Watch CSK vs DC Live in India

In India, the CSK vs DC IPL 2026 match will be telecast live on the Star Sports Network, including Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 Tamil and other regional language channels for comprehensive coverage.

Live streaming will be available exclusively on the JioHotstar app and website (the merged platform of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar). Fans with an active subscription can stream the match in high definition across multiple devices, including smartphones, smart TVs, laptops and tablets.

JioHotstar offers multiple commentary options in English, Hindi and regional languages, along with features like multi-angle views, expert analysis and real-time statistics. A subscription starts from basic plans suitable for IPL viewing, making it accessible for millions of fans.

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International Broadcast and Streaming Options

  • United States and Canada: Willow TV will broadcast the match live, with streaming available on the Willow TV app, Fubo, Sling TV and other platforms. The game starts at 10 a.m. ET.
  • United Kingdom: Sky Sports will provide live coverage, starting at 3 p.m. BST.
  • Other Regions: Availability varies by country. Fans in Australia can tune into Fox Cricket or Kayo Sports, while those in the Middle East and North Africa may access via beIN Sports or regional partners. Check local listings or use a VPN for geo-restricted access where permitted.

Free live streams are not officially available, and fans are advised to avoid unauthorized websites to ensure quality and support the sport.

Match Preview and Key Storylines

The MA Chidambaram Stadium, known for its spin-friendly pitches and passionate crowd, sets the stage for a fascinating contest. CSK, traditionally strong at home, will rely on their experienced core, while Delhi Capitals boast a dynamic squad capable of explosive batting and varied bowling attacks.

Early season form has been mixed for both sides, making this encounter crucial for momentum heading into the league phase. Star players on both teams are expected to deliver fireworks, with the spin battle likely playing a decisive role on the Chepauk surface.

Weather in Chennai is forecast to be warm and humid with a low chance of rain, promising a full 20-over contest. Pitch reports suggest assistance for spinners as the game progresses, favoring teams with strong slow bowling options.

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How to Prepare for the Best Viewing Experience

To enjoy uninterrupted coverage:

  • Download the JioHotstar app in advance and ensure a stable high-speed internet connection (minimum 5 Mbps recommended for HD).
  • For TV viewers, tune into Star Sports well before the toss for pre-match analysis featuring former cricketers and experts.
  • Use official apps for live scores, ball-by-ball commentary and fantasy updates if you’re following multiple screens.
  • Charge devices and have power banks ready for long viewing sessions, especially for mobile streamers.

Social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and YouTube will buzz with real-time reactions, highlights and fan discussions. Official IPL and team handles provide verified updates throughout the match.

Broader IPL 2026 Context

The 2026 season continues to captivate global audiences with its blend of established stars and emerging talent. Broadcasting rights held by JioStar ensure wide reach, with JioHotstar and Star Sports delivering professional production values that have become the benchmark for T20 cricket coverage.

This match marks another chapter in the historic rivalry between these two franchises. Past encounters at Chepauk have produced memorable moments, from last-ball thrillers to dominant bowling displays.

For fans unable to attend in person, the broadcast experience aims to bring the electric atmosphere of MA Chidambaram Stadium directly to living rooms worldwide through innovative camera angles, player microphones and expert insights.

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Additional Viewing Tips

  • Fantasy Cricket: Platforms integrated with JioHotstar allow participation in official fantasy contests with cash prizes.
  • Highlights and Replays: Missed the live action? Full match highlights and key moments will be available shortly after the game on the same platforms.
  • Accessibility: Audio-described commentary and multiple language options make the broadcast inclusive for diverse audiences.

As anticipation builds for the 7:30 p.m. IST start, cricket enthusiasts are reminded that official channels provide the best quality and support the ecosystem that makes IPL possible. Whether watching from Chennai, Delhi, New York or London, fans can look forward to an evening of high-octane T20 cricket.

Tune in early for the toss and pre-match build-up. With both teams hungry for points, CSK vs DC promises to deliver the drama, skill and entertainment that define the Indian Premier League.

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Trump says empty oil tankers heading to U.S. to load up with oil, gas

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Trump says empty oil tankers heading to U.S. to load up with oil, gas


Trump says empty oil tankers heading to U.S. to load up with oil, gas

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ICE launches new effort to uncover US ‘birth tourism schemes’

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ICE launches new effort to uncover US ‘birth tourism schemes’


ICE launches new effort to uncover US ‘birth tourism schemes’

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Trump says US forces are ’clearing’ Strait of Hormuz

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Trump says US forces are ’clearing’ Strait of Hormuz


Trump says US forces are ’clearing’ Strait of Hormuz

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