The ZTO Express service outlet managed by Hu Mei in Yiwu, Zhejiang province. [Photo/zgyww.cn]

On Aug 10, a young woman surnamed Dai living in Yangcun community of Yiwu, Zhejiang province went into a nearby service outlet of ZTO Express.

She carried some bags of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, which she wanted to send through express delivery to her father living in their remote hometown.

After packing up the delivery parcel, she asked the outlet's manager Hu Mei about the postage fee. To her surprise, Hu pointed to a sign on the reception table that says, "We wish that there would be no diseases and pain in the world. We don't charge a cent for the delivery of drugs."

"The parcel will arrive there in around two days, and it is free of charge. I hope that your father gets better and better," Hu added. Dai was deeply touched.

Hu said that her team had been helping local customers send medicine free of charge for more than three years. The good deed was initially inspired by the renowned Chinese film Dying to Survive, which was released in 2018. The movie depicted how many cancer patients in China who could not afford exorbitant life-saving drugs ended up seeking smuggled generic drugs from India.

Thoroughly moved by the film, Hu realized that she could at least help patients by exempting postage fees for the express delivery of drugs.

"Whenever I encounter people sending drugs here, I will chat more with them on subjects like who the recipient is and whether the drug is available in the recipient's local drugstores," said Hu.

"As long as the posted drugs don't breach the law and the delivery doesn't involve commercial purposes, postage fees will not be charged in this outlet," Hu added.