Harvest of fortune

He has been invited to play at birthdays, funerals and business openings.

His talent has helped him increase his earnings and given him a sense of satisfaction.

As the village infrastructure is upgraded, travelers from outside have made their way to explore its ancient charm.

It has brought new business opportunities for local farmers. Some have opened rural catering businesses.

Tan is quite satisfied with his life now, he says. He is living with his father, wife and two grandsons. The farming work has shifted from pure manual to mechanic.

He used to walk through muddy fields to the farming land and had to carry water on his shoulder.

Now, the well-paved road allows him to drive his truck directly to the field and upload all the harvest onto the truck coming back home.

In addition, Tan says he has got a pension and a subsidy for farming work from the government.

The good harvest this year means ample food for his family, as well as his three sons and three daughters working away from the village.

"I'll send them our own farm produce, which would be hard to find in their places," Tan says.

Contact the writer at yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn