A success story held by a stitch

In August of that year, Yang took a group of 18 women with an average age of 60, half from Qiang and half from Tibetan ethnic groups, to Chengdu, hoping to turn their embroidery skills into a thriving business. However, it turned out to be much harder than she imagined.

Lacking money, they had to live in a rented two-bedroom apartment, using the living room as their workspace. They designed and made embroidery products to sell at street stalls, but made no profit in half a year and were almost broke.

"I cried quietly at night. The next morning I announced my decision to give up. But no one would accept it," Yang says.

While they were at a loss about what to do next, the local government, upon learning that they were from the earthquake-stricken area, provided them with a 100-square-meter business space rent-free in the city's Wenshufang cultural block.

More good news came when a businessman offered to donate 600,000 yuan ($81,845) to their business.

"Despite desperately needing money, we turned the donation down, hoping to replace it with orders," says Yang.

The businessman accepted their proposal and commissioned Yang's team to design and produce all the bedding and interior decorations for a hotel he runs.