According to county Party chief Zhang Tao, as the number of seniors living alone or without family continues to rise, eldercare in mountain villages faces the triple difficulty of food, daily care, and farming. Many senior residents eat one meal across two sittings or skip meals entirely. Those with limited mobility struggle with daily tasks, medical care, and shopping.

　　Meanwhile, older farmers in hilly fruit-growing areas often can“t tend to their orchards, limiting both their income and quality of life.

　　“How can one small village afford to keep a barber shop running?“ Zhang asked. Before the project launched, authorities conducted eight rounds of surveys, visiting each household to identify the most urgent needs of seniors and tailor services accordingly.

　　These widespread yet specific issues gave birth to the Yiyuanhong model.

　　What“s more, the program follows a “one village, one blueprint; one village, one industry“ approach. Each Happy Home Livelihood Complex is uniquely designed and integrated into a suitable industry.

　　For example, in the remote village of Yihenan, a novel “unused land-for-elderly-care“ system was developed. The village reclaimed unused residential land and implemented a land adjustment scheme to raise initial funds to build the Happiness Home Livelihood Complex.

　　Now completed, the facility offers free long-term food and lodging to senior residents in need. The village collective also launched a kiwi fruit farming operation, using the income to sustain eldercare, a virtuous cycle.

　　Liu Wenmei, 89, and Zhang Xiangmei, 86, two sisters-in-law, are full-time residents of the Happiness Home Livelihood Complex. “We eat and live well here, and I get to chat with my old friends every day,“ said Liu.