Women learn traditional Yi-style embroidery at a farmer school in Xide county, Sichuan province. YE ZIZHEN/CHINA DAILY

He earned around 50,000 yuan ($7,461) in 2018 and nearly 20,000 yuan more in 2019, quite a better situation than before when he was keeping goats and planting potatoes that could only meet the family's life needs.

The idea of opening his own restaurant came from the village's farmer school which he has been attending since 2017. For months, He learned how to cook and treat guests during the two-hour class in early night.

That summer he was able to go to Chengdu, the provincial capital, for the first time. He was impressed by the city's charm and visited restaurants there. After the trip organized by the farmer school, he was inspired to have a restaurant of his own.

He still goes to the farmer school these days to improve cooking skills and learn running business as he's saving up and planning to start homestay service.