HE CHUAN, one of millions of migrant works in China, mixes concrete and lays bricks throughout the day. Adopting the alias Brother Chuan, he has gained a celebrity status online by sharing his life in livestreams.

A native of Dazhou in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province, He, 52, has spent many years as a migrant worker at building sites around China. He is one of 25 million Sichuan farmers leaving the farm life behind for jobs in cities.

Now back in his hometown, He continues to intersperse his work with vlogging, setting up his camera to livestream his lunch breaks for an audience of hundreds, sometimes thousands. His wife Tang Wenshu appears during the sessions, during which they eat and discuss their construction work.

In one typical session, He can be seen serving his wife a bowl of rice and then wolfing down the rest from the rice cooker. He also displays a mouthwatering dish of crispy griddled chicken.

The couple started to record their simple daily lives since 2018, drawing nearly 2 million followers with over 1,000 vlogs on various social media platforms.

“I’m neither handsome nor knowledgeable, but I am optimistic and I love my job,” says He, who has worked in construction for around 30 years.

The couple’s “studios” are often set in buildings under construction. With bricks as chairs and storage boxes as tables, the pair is seen laughing and eating in front of the camera.

He says he is happy that the viewers appreciate his optimism and devotion to a mundane job.

“Being recognized and learning new things from comments has driven me to share more,” he says.

He had been nervous about livestreaming. However, his followers, the majority of whom are migrant workers and students, have provided great support.

His work received wider recognition last year when he was given a vlogging award by Xigua Video, a video-sharing site. In his acceptance speech for “the best moment” award, he says, “If you once drew strength from my company, I hope you can hang in there for a little bit longer, and eventually overcome frustration and difficulties.”

His livestreams also create a platform where migrant workers can discuss topics that they care about, such as wages, safety measures and retirement plans.

“When people get older, it is safer to stop working at heights and leave construction, which makes it important to save for a rainy day,” He chats with his wife during a vlog.

Empowered by digital tools, migrant workers like He are making their voices heard and their lives more visible to a wider audience.

Plastering brings the couple 600 yuan (US$89) per day, while He’s new craft, vlogging, yields him 200 yuan per video on average, contributing more to their household income than construction work.

He started as a plastering apprentice decades back. Along with the rapid development of China’s coastal regions, He and Tang joined the migration rush to seek a fortune in East China’s Fujian Province in 2003.

The couple lived in a 10-square-meter temporary shed and worked on scaffolds high above the ground for years, helping to build soaring skyscrapers and modern buildings.

With urbanization in western China accelerating, the couple returned to their hometown of Dazhou in 2019 and are currently working on a construction site for a digital-economy industrial park.

The couple bought their three-bedroom riverside apartment in Dazhou and lives with their two children.

Their elder son, He Songlin, edits videos and manages the social media accounts for his father, while the younger son is in middle school.

In one vlog, recorded in their apartment, He is seen handing his younger son a slice of cake and saying, “Happy birthday! I hope you can go to the university of your choice.” Tang also presents gifts to the boy. This warm family scene has moved many viewers, who left comments expressing their appreciation.

According to China’s National Bureau of Statistics, the number of migrant workers in the country reached 292.51 million in 2021, and their average monthly income has risen to 4,432 yuan, exceeding the national average of 2,927 yuan.

Recently, the Chinese authorities issued a document stating that migrant workers will receive better support at the county level with regard to various public services, including housing, professional training, children’s education, pensions and medical care.

Among the countless buildings that He has worked on, he likes building schools the most. Recently, he participated in the construction of a local vocational college. Seeing young people playing basketball on the playground he built more than satisfied He. His account profile on social media says: “I work hard to earn money and support my family, and contribute to the construction of our country.”

(China Daily)