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In the past, there were no professional doctors, and the only way to avert and cure diseases was to pray. Now there are hospitals and clinics in all counties. Serious epidemic diseases such as smallpox, typhoid, leprosy, malaria, and cholera have either been brought under control or wiped out for the most part. The joy of a smoke overshadows their struggles.
For many centuries, barter was the form of trading among the Yi people. Goods for exchange included livestock and grain. Salt, cloth, hardware, needles and threads, and other daily necessities were available only in places where Yi and Han Chinese lived together. This local farmer has been selling his livestock for decades. He cherishes the downtime when he can share a smoke with his friends. Business is survival, but friends are life.
The government has tried to improve access to education for the Yi, but it struggles to recruit teachers to work in such remote areas. Many Yi people do not speak Mandarin, the main language in China. As a result, they have limited options for earning a living beyond farming. My guide struck up a conversation with them and unfortunately gathered that the old proverb was still true: “Like father, like son.” It does take a strong will to break the cycle.
