YANG SUGUI, 102

Patience and persistence can be painful, but they bring good results sooner or later, according to Yang Sugui, of Fuchuan Yao autonomous county. And no matter what happens in life, thankfulness is the most important thing of all.

Yang married at age 15 and never attended school. Over time, she gave birth to eight children.

"In the darkest days, we didn't have enough rice to support the big family, so I went into the mountains to dig edible herbs to fill our bellies instead of giving my children away, as many people did," she said.

Today, all eight are in good health. The family now has around 130 members spread over five generations.

"No one in my family was allowed to shout or scream at each other," Yang said. "My children grew up in peace and harmony."

Now those children visit and keep her company. A source of special pride is a great-granddaughter who is attending a university.

Yang doesn't believe that drinking and smoking harm health, and she has long been fond of both.

Besides a loving family, what lifts her heart is listening to ethnic Yao folk songs. A daughter often sings to her, along with other women of her extended family.

"I will never forget how hard it was for our parents to bring us up," the daughter said.

Yang is always moved by the lyrics. "They express thanks to the heavens, thanks to the ground and thanks to parents," she said.

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