The draining 996 work schedule—named for the expectation that employees work 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week—has persisted in Chinese companies for years despite ongoing public outcry. Even Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma once called it a “huge blessing.”  In early October this year, it seemed the tide might have been turning. After hopeful signs of increased government scrutiny in August, four aspiring…