Former diplomat harvests a new life

"Nijs would get angry because of Li using plastic film and applying fertilizer. He feels that this will damage the soil structure and pollute the groundwater. Li believes we would not have a harvest unless we planted crops like this," Deng says. She was often at a loss whether to cry or to laugh over their disputes. However, the two always quickly reconciled.

In the fall, Nijs reaped a healthy harvest of melons and beans after using the ecological planting method. Li lavished praise on him:"Yo, it's not bad for you to cultivate like this."

For the past seven years, Nijs has been integrated into the rural life of Yunnan.

"Now, even if I go out occasionally, I can't wait to go back to the countryside. I love the plants, birds, insects, and everything here," Nijs says. In Dongchuan, he can see the stars, hear the sound of animals, or the cheers and whispers of thousands of blooming flowers in spring, a cordial symphony of wild nature.

There are still many friends and relatives who are puzzled as to why this Belgian settled and farmed in China.