When 14-year-old Xiao Hao told his father that if he wasn’t good at studying, he could always “just deliver food for a living”, his dad decided not to lecture him.
Instead, Hao’s father, a businessman, stopped what he was doing and joined his son on the road during the hottest part of summer.
The experiment turned out well, unexpectedly
What began as a planned 30-day experiment was supposed to teach the teenager how tough earning a living could be. But instead of simply making him appreciate school, the experience unexpectedly brought the father and son closer.
Speaking to The Cover on 10 August, Xiao Hao said his comment was partly made out of frustration, but he genuinely wanted to try delivering food.
“I felt that I wasn’t doing well academically and didn’t have any special skills. Delivering food seemed like a way to make a living, so I wanted to try it.”
They started with just RMB100 (~RM60.03). Xiao Hao paid for fuel and meals, and he carried over his daily earnings to fund the next day. His father deliberately stayed out of the decisions. After giving him some guidance on the first day, he only rode the motorcycle while Xiao Hao handled orders, routes, restaurants, and customers.
Surprisingly, Xiao Hao returned from his first day excited and eager to go again. Over time, he learned to plan routes, combine orders and handle multiple problems on his own.
By the end of the experience, he had developed a deep respect for delivery riders. With his earnings, he bought 30 cups of lemonade to thank fellow riders working on the road.
The experience repaired the father-son duo’s relationship
The father admitted that their relationship had once reached a breaking point because his strict, lecture-heavy approach to studying left his son constantly frustrated.
But spending hours together on a motorcycle gave them what they had been missing. The time to talk. They chatted about daily life, past misunderstandings, and their thoughts on different things.
On the fourth day, when his father was exhausted and struggling with sore shoulders, Xiao Hao noticed and quietly told him, “You haven’t rested much these past few days. I feel bad too.”
And the change went both ways. The duo also documented the journey on their Douyin account.
Sometimes, it seems, the best way to teach a child isn’t to tell them what life is like, but to let them experience it, side by side.
