The underpinnings of social livelihood and well-being are fundamentally shaped by hard work. This perspective sends a clear message to those in positions of power to acknowledge the sweat, struggle, and resolve of everyday people. They should neither trivialize people’s effort to make ends meet nor add to their load. Instead, they should provide necessary material conditions, appropriate policies, and institutional guarantees for people’s livelihood. In parallel, this perspective underscores the value of hard work – a quality ingrained within the very essence of the Chinese ethos.