At his fruit stall, Yang Wang neatly arranges freshly picked watermelons from his own greenhouse. [Photo by Lin Junbin]

Before dawn on May 25, a thin mist still lingered over the hills of Pingtan, but the crossroads of Dayuan Village were already stirring. Yang Wang, 48, wheeled himself to his stall, deftly unloading crates of fresh melons and fruits from a tricycle and arranging them in orderly rows. Every movement was practiced and efficient.

"Want to try some watermelons? Sweet and crisp, all homegrown," he would say with a warm smile to passing visitors.

Years of outdoor labor have tanned his face, and laughter lines frame his eyes, but his gaze radiates sincerity and calm. It is hard to imagine that this cheerful man once hit rock bottom, his hopes shattered in an instant."

Back in 2001, Yang was a robust tunnel worker, spending long periods away from home in Sichuan's A'ba Prefecture to support his family. "The conditions were harsh—bare earth, no proper cement reinforcements or safety measures. Every day was risky," he recalls. Young and strong, he only wanted to work hard to secure a better life for his loved ones.

But fate intervened. A sudden tunnel collapse buried him under tons of soil and rock. He and two colleagues were rushed to the hospital, and after multiple surgeries, doctors delivered a life-altering diagnosis: severe spinal and nerve damage, leaving his legs permanently paralyzed.

Struck down in his prime, Yang sank into despair. "I was completely lost, didn't know how to face the days ahead," he recalls.

The next three years were the darkest of his life. Pain, immobility, and uncertainty made him withdraw from the world; he became irritable, rarely left home, and avoided the judgmental eyes of neighbors.

His family's encouragement slowly pulled him out of his isolation. One day, his sister asked, "Don't you want to see your child grow up?" That simple question woke him up. He realized, "If I give up, what would happen to my family? I must live, and support them."

Accepting what had happened, Yang began looking for a way to make a living. Mobility was the first challenge. Drawing on skills he had learned as a youth, he spent a month welding and assembling a simple electric tricycle with a rain shelter, assisted by his family.

"I thought about what I could do best," he says. Raised on a farm, he knew farming and selling produce inside out. Settling on agriculture, he partnered with a childhood friend, Wu Qiang. Together, they rented over 10 mu (approximately 0.6667 hectares), set up greenhouses, and cultivated watermelons, cherry tomatoes, and melons. Wu tended the fields while Yang focused on selecting and selling produce.

"Pingtan's sandy soil is well-draining and perfect for melons," Wu explains. "We use only organic fertilizer, never unnecessary pesticides. The fruits are naturally sweet and juicy."

Yang strategically set up his stall at Dayuan Village's crossroads, a busy route to the Changjiang'ao Wind Farm scenic area. "Tourists passing by want something refreshing in the summer heat. Business practically takes care of itself," he says.

Thanks to quality produce and a prime location, Yang's stall gained regular customers. His fruits are now sold to tourists, villagers, and vendors, providing steady support for his family.

Life is improving, but Yang is not slowing down. "This year we rented another ten mu to expand the farm, adding passion fruit and strawberries for a small pick-your-own garden." Leveraging Pingtan's tourism, he hopes to combine harvesting experiences with retail and wholesale, gradually growing his small venture.

Yang Wang's story is one of resilience: from a wheelchair, he has rebuilt his life and, like the crops he grows, continues to thrive under the sun.