Chongqing - On a foggy winter morning in Shiping Village, Muer Town, Chongqing’s Yubei District, the soft hum of ventilation fans breaks the silence. Inside four mist-covered blue greenhouses, celery seedlings sway gently as automated systems circulate nutrient solutions and adjust lighting—quietly launching a day of farming at Yuchen Farm, a hydroponic vegetable base run by 35-year-old Li Xia. 

Li Xia remotely controls the farm with two fingers. (Photo/Qiu Chun)

But this is no ordinary farm. Li, diagnosed with progressive muscular dystrophy—a rare and fatal disease often called the “super cancer”—has only one functioning finger and one toe. Yet, with this limited mobility, he operates the entire automated farm from a small control room, a converted shipping container beside the greenhouses.

“Since I’ve lived past 30, every day from now on must be more meaningful,” Li says with quiet determination.

Li Xia clicks the mouse using his toe. (Photo/Qiu Chun)

Using a mouse controlled by his left index finger and clicking with his right foot, Li carefully monitors the farm’s systems. He adjusts cameras to inspect the greenhouses and analyzes the health of the crops. “The root system in the solution doesn’t seem ideal,” he murmurs, comparing images from multiple observation points. When his finger strength wanes, causing him to misclick, he adapts—installing a bend sensor on his foot for better control.

Li’s resilience is remarkable. Born in 1989, he was diagnosed in childhood with a disease that typically leaves patients unable to walk by age 10 and rarely allows survival beyond 25. Despite these odds, Li set a childhood goal to live to 30—a milestone many with his condition never reach.

Li was an energetic innovator in his youth, modifying his electric wheelchair for speed races and traveling with family to remote forests and beaches. But in 2020, his health deteriorated sharply, leaving him bedridden and reliant on a ventilator, able to move only one finger and one toe.

“I was lost for over a year,” Li recalls. “But if I’m still alive, my life must have value.”

At 32, Li turned to entrepreneurship. Drawing on his childhood in rural Chongqing and a passion for technology, he began experimenting with hydroponic farming on his balcony. Teaching himself programming, IoT technology, and sensor applications, he successfully grew lettuce and greens without soil.

Automated supplemental lighting at Yuchen Farm. (Photo/Qiu Chun)

In October 2022, with the support of his mother, Wu Meidi, Li established a smart family farm in Shiping Village. His mother has been his unwavering caregiver, waking every few hours at night to clear his airways and provide comfort. Now, she serves as Li’s hands and feet, following his video instructions to assemble electronics and install farm equipment.

“He’s the brain, I’m the hands,” Wu says proudly.

Challenges have been constant. Last spring, their hydroponic spinach struggled with stunted growth and yellowing leaves. Despite endless troubleshooting, the crops withered. It wasn’t until a curious passerby—later revealed to be the local economic development officer—brought in agricultural experts that they discovered a critical iron deficiency in their fertilizer.

That encounter led to vital support from local officials, including materials and technical guidance. The farm flourished, yielding popular crops like water spinach, cucumbers, and celery.

“With every harvest, I’m closer to my dream,” Li says, glancing at his aging mother with resolve.

The village has rallied around them. Neighbors help transport supplies, villagers volunteer during busy seasons, and local authorities promote their produce.

Hydroponic vegetable greenhouse at Yuchen Farm. (Photo/Qiu Chun)

“Love is a closed loop,” Li reflects. “It connects people and comes back full circle.” He shares smart farming techniques on his Bilibili channel, attracting over 8,000 followers eager for practical advice—unaware of his health struggles.

“Hydroponics is perfect for Chongqing’s mountainous terrain,” Li explains. “We live in an era of rapid technological growth and limitless possibilities. I want to pass that knowledge on.”

Li named the farm “Yuchen,” blending “Yu” for Chongqing and “Chen” from the poet Li Bai’s verse. It reflects his belief that even the faintest starlight can shine brilliantly.

In a quiet village in Chongqing, that light burns brightly—powered by the unwavering spirit of a man who farms with two fingers and a heart full of purpose.

(Qiu Chun, a reporter from Chongqing Daily, contributed to this report's Chinese version.)