In many ways, life in China has gotten better, or at least more convenient, since the 1950s and ’60s. But for some elderly Chinese, it can be hard to leave their childhood hardships in the past. Whether due to deeply ingrained habits, a desire for frugality, or simply the belief that pain is gain, they go out of their way to make things difficult for themselves. Sometimes, this tendency toward “self-imposed hardship” (没苦硬吃, méi kǔ yìng chī ) is harmless. Other habits, like refusing to turn on the air conditioner in the summer, can be dangerous to their health.