Chapter 71: Quite Lucky

Faced with heavy rains and the looming threat of drought, the Qinghe Alliance had made the proactive decision to mobilize the public in a mass effort to store vegetables for the coming fall and winter.

To support this initiative, Qinghe TV had launched a new program called “Foraging in the Wilderness.” The show featured four guests: an agricultural expert, a wilderness survivalist, a versatile chef who could make anything edible, and a popular young celebrity. Each day, the team embarked on a new adventure to uncover nature’s bounty.

The format was simple: a random draw determined their direction, leading them towards mountains or forests. The survival expert took the lead, sharing essential tips for outdoor navigation and safety. Meanwhile, the agricultural expert identified plants, explaining their uses and, crucially, whether they were edible – wild vegetables, fruits, flowers, mushrooms, and even tree leaves.

The chef was tasked with gathering all the edible plants they found, focusing on amassing a substantial quantity rather than selecting based on flavor alone. The celebrity provided logistical support, carrying supplies and assisting throughout the journey.

Back at the studio, the celebrity joined the chef in cleaning and sorting the collected ingredients. The chef then prepared various dishes for the agricultural expert and survivalist to taste and critique with honest feedback. The celebrity emphasized to the audience that this was a time for gathering supplies, not culinary perfection, ensuring the show maintained realistic expectations.

The underlying message was clear: the experts would guide you, but success depended on your own resourcefulness. Those who acted swiftly would reap the rewards.

After this segment, the chef demonstrated techniques for drying and preserving the foraged vegetables, a critical focus of the program.

Each episode concluded with the celebrity urging viewers to explore their own surroundings for edible plants, emphasizing the urgency of stockpiling provisions to prepare for the end of the year.

“Foraging in the Wilderness” continued this daily cycle. The guests ventured out, found ingredients, and taught preservation methods. Though fatigue might set in, they persevered, driven by their crucial role in empowering the public to take charge of their preparedness.

Despite the show having aired for several days, Bi Qiao’an had yet to see any of her neighbors or acquaintances venturing out to forage, leading her to question the show’s influence on the local community.

Once the show ended at 11:30 PM, Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an geared up for their nightly rain walk. Unlike others who waited until almost midnight, they headed out early to avoid the crowds.

As dawn broke and the couple remained peacefully asleep, the tranquil morning was suddenly interrupted by the shrill ringing of Shen Yanming’s phone.

“Who’s calling?” Bi Qiao’an grumbled, irritated at being woken up. She reached for the phone.

Shen Yanming quickly silenced it. “It’s Heping. Go back to sleep, darling. I’ll handle it.”

Bi Qiao’an murmured a sleepy assent, her words muffled by the pillow as she burrowed deeper into the warmth of the covers.

Shen Yanming tiptoed out of the bedroom, only to find loud banging on his front door.

“What took you so long? I’ve been knocking forever!” Zhang Heping griped as soon as the door opened.

“Why are you shouting so early in the morning? It’s not even 9:30! You woke Qiao’an,” Shen Yanming responded, also a bit grumpy. “What’s the rush?”

“Jeez, you two still sleeping at 9:30? That’s some serious laziness!” Zhang Heping retorted.

Shen Yanming’s face darkened. As he went to close the door, Zhang Heping hastily stopped him. “Sorry, sorry, my bad! Just need you to help tidy up my apartment.”

Shen Yanming sighed, grabbed his keys, and followed Zhang Heping to apartment 1601. As they walked, he couldn’t help but ask, “Why do you need help cleaning your own place?”

Zhang Heping didn’t answer directly, but opened the door and invited Shen Yanming inside.

Shen Yanming’s eyes widened as he took in the state of the apartment. Noticing his friend’s bewilderment, Zhang Heping began to share the tumultuous events involving the Song family.

After listening, Shen Yanming patted Zhang Heping’s shoulder. “You know, this might just be a blessing in disguise. In the long run, your uncle might appreciate what you’ve done.”

“No way. He probably hates my guts right now. He’s obsessed with saving face!” Zhang Heping fired back.

Eyeing the new bedding in the living room, Shen Yanming asked, “Where’d all this stuff come from?”

Zhang Heping smirked. “The irony, right? I begged my aunt to take Song Qingqing away, she always claimed to be busy.” 

Zhang Heping motioned towards the new bedding. But the second the Songs landed in hot water, she managed to squeeze in a shopping trip that very day. Had I not been swamped at work, she probably would’ve brought it over in a flash, and they might’ve dodged a night in the slammer.”

“And what about you? What brings you back today?” Shen Yanming inquired.

“My aunt wouldn’t stop calling, and since the hospital was a bit quieter these last few days, I took the chance to come back. Walked out of the elevator and saw all this stuff she dumped at my door.”

“Where’s the old bedding?”

“Aunt took it with her.”

Shen Yanming chuckled. “She’ll be singing you praises later, I guarantee it.”

Zhang Heping eyed him suspiciously. Shen Yanming cut to the chase. “Consider yourself lucky, young man. Limits are in place now—a few more days, and your aunt couldn’t have gotten this.”

“So, I benefited from the Songs’ misfortune?”

“Heh, heh.”

As they worked together to tidy up the apartment and restock the new bedding, Shen Yanming couldn’t help but offer a word of advice. “Seriously, make sure you put some real effort into growing those vegetables this time around. Last time, it was all talk and no follow-through.”

A heavy sigh escaped Zhang Heping’s lips. “Believe me, I want to. But the hospital is an absolute madhouse these days. By the time I finish my shifts, I barely have the energy to go home.”

“Then why’re you back today?”

“The energy rain is a lifesaver. Critically ill patients who got soaked? Vast improvements. Minor cases? Discharged the next day. Things have calmed down, so I could finally come back.”

“I bet you’ve been out in the rain too. Either way, take care of yourself.”

Zhang Heping nodded. “Once I tried it, I couldn’t bear to miss out. All my work aches and pains cleared up after a few days in the rain.” 

His gaze drifted to the transplanted blueberry bush, its branches nearly bare. With a rueful chuckle, he added, “I guess if I’d gotten around to planting vegetables sooner, they might have suffered the same fate as these poor berries.”

Shen Yanming patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry, we’ll get you planting in a bit.”

Zhang Heping grinned. “If you don’t help, I’ll just crash at your place.”