“老王，你听说了没？村东头那老李头，把自个儿那几亩薄田都给撂荒了，回老家跟儿子一起搞起了有机菜，现在日进斗金似的！” Agriculture Extension Service technician rambled excitedly on the phone, unable to hide the_self-righteousness in his tone. “这年头，种地都能发达了，你还窝在城里混啥？那三十亩地，够你发家致富的底子！”

My heart sank as I listened dumbly. The technician, an old buddy from back home, had been peppering me with this kind of news ever since I’d pau_re_30 mu of farmland in the village — more than enough to feed a small family. The man had been urging me to give up the city grind and return to the land ever since.

I sighed. The city had its own set of worries, but leaving behind my decade-long career and stepping back into the rural life as a farmer… the thought alone left me with a bitter taste in the mouth.

“老王啊，不是我不信你，” I finally managed to stammer. “可…可我这心里头，就像塞了一团乱麻。你说这三十亩地，我能折腾明白吗？我连种子怎么种都两眼一抹黑啊！”

The technician scoffed. “瞎操什么心！我跟你讲，种地有啥难的？老祖宗传下来的本事，咱们不比城里人差！你先从最基本的开始，种点玉米、小麦，保不齐，一年下来你就得改口叫哥！