In Jin'yi Village of Jiangpu Subdistrict, Conghua District, 70-year-old Uncle Wang beams with joy since the village opened its Jin'yi Canteen: no more cooking lunch or dinner himself, while enjoying meals with two meat and two vegetable dishes—"Wonderful!"

Jin'yi Village has 386 residents aged 60 and above. At mealtimes, the senior canteen becomes the social hub of the community. "Previously, most elderly stayed home watching TV or doing chores. Now they linger to chat after meals," explained Luo Jieyi, the village's first resident secretary. Villagers need no reservations, and dishes can be freshly prepared if sold out. Serving 180 meals daily, the canteen also delivers to homebound seniors.

The canteen operates a tiered subsidy system: while standard meals cost 12 yuan, seniors aged 60-70 pay 5 yuan, those 70-80 pay 3 yuan, and octogenarians plus low-income/impoverished elders pay just 1 yuan.

How is the gap funded? Jin'yi Village adopts dual strategies—revenue generation and cost efficiency.

For revenue: Beyond municipal subsidies, the canteen actively explores commercial operations. During June's lychee harvest season, it temporarily opened to tourists, easing peak dining demand while boosting collective income. This experiment revealed rural tourism potential, prompting the canteen to double as a community eatery. It now serves nearby residents, businesses, tourist groups, and corporate team-building activities. During a weekday lunch visit, small tourist groups were seen photographing while a team-building group perused the menu.

For cost efficiency: Ingredients are sourced directly from the village's collective vegetable garden, cutting procurement costs by 30%. Kitchen staff and delivery personnel are employees of the village investment company, using the village committee's premises, significantly reducing overhead. Additionally, 10% of the investment company's profits fund elderly care services. "We ensure agricultural profits benefit our seniors," Luo emphasized.

The village also promotes "younger seniors" assisting older ones through a 3-acre "Silver Age Garden," where active elders grow vegetables and raise poultry. Participants earn points exchangeable for meal vouchers (30 points = 1 voucher). These products prioritize canteen use, saving 32,000 yuan annually in ingredient costs. About 10 elders actively participate in this mutual aid program. "Beyond vouchers, points can redeem other village services or farm products, creating a visible cycle of contribution and reward," Luo noted.

In 2024, Jin'yi's collective income reached 324,000 yuan—triple 2020's figure—earning provincial recognition among the first batch of "Hundred-Thousand-Million Project" model villages. For elders, this small canteen has become the most tangible symbol of village progress.

"The elderly must genuinely feel the collective's commitment to village development. Only then can we unite to support Jin'yi's growth," Luo reflected, identifying this as the key to the senior canteen's sustainable operation.