Mrs Wei said her husband never complained;he just worked. On September 29,while driving for the delivery platform Hungry Panda,a bus allegedly hit Mr Chen and his motorcycle.
For many gig economy workers,delivering food offers a flexible way of making extra money with low barriers to entry. For others,often hampered by visa or language issues,it offers below minimum hourly wages and insecure employment with gruelling hours to make ends meet.
When Mr Chen's housemate called Mrs Wei to tell her husband had been in a crash,she collapsed."Don't let him sleep,"Mrs Wei told her husband's housemate.
Mr Chen died the next day. Police have laid charges against the bus driver.
"I can't imagine what's going on,"Mrs Wei said from her home Shaanxi province through a translator provided by the Transport Workers Union,which represents some workers in the sector.
"It's very hard. My family cries every day,all the time these days. It's a tremendous challenge,he was a good husband.
People should show more"care and understanding"to delivery riders,Mrs Wei said,so no other family suffers as hers has.