Chapter 70: Foraging in the Wilderness

“Remember that ‘Qinghe Daily Life’ guide?” Li Yueya asked, leaning forward in her seat, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “It has some great tips for making food last longer. Worth a try, Yu Shui.”

Yu Shui shook his head, his nose wrinkling in distaste at the thought. “Nah, sounds like too much work. I’ll just stock up on extra drinking water.” He shrugged, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “As for the rest of the year… well, I suppose I’ll have to get used to my own ripe aroma. Apologies in advance, everyone.”

Wei Qin playfully nudged Yu Shui’s arm, her tone a mix of amusement and exasperation. “Don’t even joke about that! If you start stinking up the place, I won’t hesitate to kick you out myself. Look, just make sure you have enough water for basic hygiene. Skip the laundry if you must, but at least take a moment to freshen up, okay?”

“Exactly,” Chen Qing agreed, nodding vigorously. “Take advantage of the available water now and wash all your dirty clothes. That way, during the dry months, you’ll have clean options to rotate through. Once the drought ends, give everything a thorough wash.”

“Looks like I’ll have to go shopping for some extra clothes!” Yu Shui exclaimed, his eyebrows shooting up as the idea struck him.

Shi Leyong shook his head, a wry smile playing on his lips. “Young man, you’re too late.”

“What do you mean?” Yu Shui’s brow furrowed in confusion.

“Didn’t Chief Li mention purchase limits? I went shopping the other day and they’re tracking everything with IDs now. Means you’ve got a set quota on anything you buy. You can only buy less, not more, unless someone gives you their quota.” Shi Leyong’s words hung heavy in the air, the reality of their situation sinking in.

Yu Shui gasped, his mouth hanging open in disbelief. “Are you serious? How are we going to manage then?”

“We’ll adapt as we must—eat less, drink less, change clothes less often. Qinghe Alliance made these rules to help us all survive.”

Yu Shui clicked his tongue, his frustration evident in the sharp sound. “Fine, whatever!”

Wei Qin looked surprised, but a wave of relief washed over her as she remembered the rice she had stocked up on earlier.

As the others discussed shopping concerns, Bi Qiao’an sat quietly, her brow furrowed in thought. After a moment of hesitation, she cleared her throat and spoke, her voice laced with concern, “But isn’t our biggest issue resolving the vegetable supply later this year?”

The once-animated chatter in the office died down, replaced by a heavy, uncomfortable silence that settled over the room like a suffocating blanket.

Bi Qiao’an’s eyes darted around the room, taking in the somber expressions of her coworkers. “Did I… say something wrong?” she asked, a hint of embarrassment coloring her cheeks.

“No, we’re all worried about the vegetable issue,” Shi Leyong sighed. “Xiao’an, do you have an idea?”

As the group’s expectant gazes fell upon her, Bi Qiao’an felt a knot form in her stomach. She bit her lip, her mind racing to find the right words. “Well, while rainwater’s still around, maybe we plant some vegetables? We could dry them for longer storage. When the fresh ones run out, we’d still have something.”

“Plant vegetables?” The others echoed, their voices tinged with surprise and curiosity.

Bi Qiao’an nodded. “Yeah. Remember those variety shows, ‘Dream Life’ and ‘I’m a Little Farming Expert’? I followed along and grew lots of potted veggies.”

The others were amazed. “Xiao’an, you’re amazing! I just watched those for fun, never thought they’d actually be useful!”

“Yeah, hehe, the weather’s been so weird, it got me a bit worried. So I figured I’d try what they did on those shows,” Bi Qiao’an laughed nervously.

“Should we try it too? Not sure if anything will grow at this point…” Wei Qin asked, though she already knew the answer was ‘yes’.

Bi Qiao’an was quick to agree. “Definitely give it a shot, Auntie Wei! Super easy to grow, and you can get a couple of harvests before the water cuts off in two months!”

Yu Shui chimed in, “Qiao’an’s right, it can’t hurt to try. I don’t live with many people, so I’ll get my mom to plant veggies in all the bedrooms when I get home.”

Li Yueya nodded in agreement. “Me too!”

Chen Qing, however, sighed. “My place is packed. Can’t even fit a flower pot!”

Shi Leyong patted Chen Qing’s shoulder. “Same boat, my friend. My house is crowded too. What are we gonna do?”

Wei Qin sighed. “What other choice do you have? Head back to your rural hometown. Your city relatives have taken up space here, so use their house in the countryside. Even if you can’t live there, at least grow some vegetables in flower pots, right?”

Shi Leyong flashed Wei Qin a thumbs up, his face breaking into a grin. “Sister Qin, you’re brilliant! That’s exactly it.” 

He shook his head, his expression turning slightly exasperated. “We can’t just be a free hotel for our rural relatives. You wouldn’t believe it—in the two months they’ve been here, they’re not just noisy, but they eat like horses! Food alone cost me 5,000 yuan this month. Finally, my rural family can be useful.”

“Brother Yong, I think it’s crucial to have an open discussion with your relatives about this,” Bi Qiao’an cautioned, her brow furrowed. “As the year progresses, vegetables will become increasingly valuable. To prevent any misunderstandings or conflicts, it’s wise to establish a clear agreement on how the harvest will be shared.”

Shi Leyong shook his head. “Nah, it’s my money, my house, they’re all relying on me!”

Chen Qing’s voice rose in agreement, “An’an’s has a valid point. Food is about to become the most important thing. It’s best to be mindful of potential conflicts.”

Bi Qiao’an nodded in agreement. “I’ve got extra seeds. Need any? I can bring them next week at work.”

“You’re awesome! I’ll try finding some first. If there’s no luck, I’ll definitely take you up on it,” the others replied.

As Shen Yanming arrived at Bi Qiao’an’s unit to pick her up, he immediately noticed the weariness etched on her face. Without hesitation, he drew her into a gentle embrace, his arm encircling her shoulders in a comforting gesture. “How was work today?” 

She let out a tired sigh. “It was the usual routine. Everyone was caught up in idle chatter. They haven’t even begun planting! That ‘Dream Life’ craze had everyone obsessed! If it hadn’t been brought up today, the thought of growing their own food wouldn’t have even crossed their minds. Can you believe it? If they had started planting earlier, they could be enjoying fresh vegetables by now.”

Shen Yanming smiled reassuringly. “Think about it—years of relying on machines to do the farming… how many city dwellers even know how to plant crops anymore? We’ve gotten used to the convenience of supermarkets, forgetting the importance of self-sufficiency. But don’t worry, the Qinghe Alliance will likely provide clear instructions soon enough.”

As evening fell, Bi Qiao’an busied herself in the kitchen, preparing a hearty meal. With deft hands, she shaped several dozen shiitake and rapeseed buns,¹ arranging them in the steamer in two batches of twelve. As the buns steamed, she turned her attention to a small pot of meatball soup, adding vibrant cilantro, scallions, and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds to enhance the flavors.²

The kitchen was filled with the mouth-watering aromas of the simmering soup and steaming buns, and once everything was cooked to perfection, she served the meal. After their flavorful meal, Shen Yanming stored the rest of the buns in his space while she cleaned up.

Glancing at her phone, Bi Qiao’an noted that it was only 7:30 PM. Seeking a moment of relaxation, she and Shen Yanming settled onto the couch, the soft cushions welcoming them after a long day. She reached for the remote and switched on the Qinghe TV channel, the familiar logo flashing across the screen. The news was just wrapping up, and she left it on, knowing that their favorite show, “Foraging in the Wilderness,” was about to begin.

This recently launched variety show premiered at 8:00 PM every evening on Qinghe TV, running for a full three and a half hours, with a rebroadcast the following morning.  

Its peculiar scheduling was a response to the current situation in Qinghua. With the energy rain forcing residents to adopt late-night routines, the pre-midnight time slot aimed to maximize viewership. For those who prioritized catching up on sleep, the station thoughtfully included a morning rerun.

The secret behind “Foraging in the Wilderness” and its ability to maintain such lengthy daily broadcasts lay in its mesmerizing content.

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Footnotes:

1. 1. Shiitake and Rapeseed Buns ↩︎
2. 2. Meatball Soup ↩︎

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