A music player, which looks brand-new, is embedded in a cabinet in Tongde's living room. He said he spent one month's salary buying the cabinet from a furniture shop in Golog prefecture in 2020, and he polishes it with great care every day.

"In the past, there was hardly any music in rural areas apart from the songs sung by myself and my friends. But now, I listen to music in my living room — it's magical," Tongde said.

Meanwhile, Paltse used to live in a village next to Gyaring Lake in Madoi, Golog prefecture, before moving to the county town in 2009. He has three children, ranging in age from 3 to 7.