A food delivery girl has not only made a decent living for herself, but has also found love and the meaning of life from her work.

As the Spring Festival draws near, Liao Zemeng receives more and more orders on takeaway platforms every day. Either on bustling streets or at scenic spots full of tourists, she seems to be always on the go.

Going up and down steep slopes and winding roads and ascending stairs step by step are all must-dos for Liao every day.

"There are many slopes and mounds in Chongqing. The slopes are steep and the mounds high. We have to walk where motorbikes cannot reach," said Liao.

Three years ago, Liao left her hometown in Chongqing's Hechuan District to the downtown area to look for a job. To her surprise, she found a food delivery driver can make a lot of money as long as one is willing to work hard.

Liao earns three to five yuan (around 0.75 US dollars) for an order most of the time, and more than ten yuan sometimes. Delivering orders more than 40 times a day, riding a motorcycle for 60 kilometers, and walking for nearly 20,000 steps are Liao's daily routine.

As a girl, sometimes she feels exhausted, but the warmth of other people has always brought her power.

"I remember there was a time when the road was a bit slippery because of rain and I fell. I could not lift my motorcycle off the ground. So I tried and tried but failed. It felt so helpless. Then a man, who was older than me, came by and stopped to help me lift the motorcycle and push it to the roadside and then helped me walk there," said Liao.

Although the work of a food delivery driver could be arduous, Liao felt it gave her opportunities to feel the good will of many ordinary people.

"I delivered a takeaway for a mother and her child. I was truly embarrassed, because I was behind the deadline for a long time, but the mother told her child, thank the lady; if she hadn't delivered the meal, we would have nothing to eat at noon today. Then the kid said thanks to me. I think I am delivering warmth as well as meals," said Liao.

Treated with kindness, Liao has chosen to repay it to others.

"I forgot to bring my fryer basket. I asked her to do me a favor. She was more than happy to lend a hand. So I asked her to drive me back on her motorcycle. I think she is really helpful. She finds it delightful to help others," said stall owner Gao, who became a close friend of Liao since then.

What is even more gratifying for Liao is that this job has brought a relationship to her. In a small restaurant where she often goes, Cai, who also came from her hometown, was attracted by her cheerfulness, and the two soon fell in love.

"At that time, I felt that this girl was hardworking, diligent, and cheerful. She loves laughing and such girls are attractive," said Cai.

"Every time I go there, he would say, babe, there you are again. Sometimes I deliver food until midnight or one or two o'clock. He would accompany me until one or two o'clock," said Liao.

This girl is as courageous as she is optimistic. Last summer, a wildfire in Chongqing that lasted for several days worried many people. Many delivery drivers in the city traveled across mountains to help transport firefighting supplies.

At the foot of the mountain, a number of people eager to volunteer gathered, and Xiao Liao was among them.

"People of Chongqing are simple. We have got a public spirit. In other words, where we are needed, we would all rush to help," said Liao.

In November last year, when travel restrictions were imposed in the city amid a grave challenge posed by the COVID-19 epidemic, the food delivery capacity was in shortage, and the supply of daily necessities for many were affected. Liao, who had been staying at home, decided to do something.

"At that time, we couldn't be able to come back home if we went out. So when I left home, I brought my beddings with me. I went to the restaurant where my boyfriend works and slept on chairs," said Liao.

During the ten days of lockdown, she ran from morning to night, delivering vegetables, drugs and other supplies.

"In fact, I felt the work was laborious back then, but I thought this city needed us. I think this profession is a kind of job that is really needed by people," said Liao.

As the Lunar New Year came close, Cai prepared a surprise for Liao.

"Knee pads. It's freezing cold in winter and feet would get cold. You could easily catch arthritis without wearing knee pads," Cai said to her girlfriend.

"I feel that food delivery has brought me love and friends. And I have made money and enjoyed scenery while doing my job. I have also experienced many happy things. It feels great to be needed by others. I mean, I have found my own value," said Liao.