Chapter 72: Comforting the Soul

Shen Yanming grabbed the folding ladder and pulled down the bedroom curtains. “I’ll bring these home to wash. You soak the sheets, quilt covers, and sofa cushions too,” he instructed with a shake of his head. “What a mess, this is such a pain.”

Zhang Heping acknowledged him with a nod and began gathering the soiled laundry. He meticulously pretreated the oil stains and fingerprints before loading the washing machine.

As Shen Yanming opened his door, the delicious smell of fresh cooking greeted him. Bi Qiao’an was already up. He explained the Song family situation, then took the curtains to the small balcony for rinsing.

Bi Qiao’an’s heart ached for Zhang Heping. Delicious food seemed like the perfect way to soothe his troubled spirit. After a quick chat with her, he was back, helping Zhang Heping tackle the mess—sweeping, mopping, and wiping down the windowsills. Only at noon did he bring Zhang Heping back for lunch.

Bi Qiao’an had prepared a feast: squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, dry-fried cauliflower, shredded pork with green peppers, hand-torn cabbage, and a lotus root and pork rib soup taken directly from the storage space.¹

“Qiao’an, you’re a wonder! Look at all this!” Zhang Heping gave Bi Qiao’an a big thumbs up.

Feeling slightly guilty, she clarified, “The soup’s from last night, just reheated. The other dishes were quick to make.”

“Fresh ingredients are half the battle. You have no idea, I eat the same two boring cafeteria dishes every day. Today, my tastebuds are finally alive!” Zhang Heping savored every bite, his face filled with simple joy.

Shen Yanming chimed in, “See the benefits of fresh ingredients? Qiao’an grows all these vegetables herself. As for the fish and meat, we had them stocked up in the freezer.”

Zhang Heping nodded enthusiastically, his chopsticks already reaching for another morsel. “Good idea. I’ll go buy supplies later too.”

Shen Yanming shook his head, thinking, ‘Wait until you hit those roadblocks, then you’ll see how vital these supplies are.’

After a short noon break, Shen Yanming and Zhang Heping went out. Zhang Heping focused on flowerpots, vegetables, and meat, while Shen Yanming used the opportunity to pick up his family’s monthly supplies.

Meanwhile, Bi Qiao’an stayed home to make soup. Mutton and radish simmered in one pot, and a sweet soup of snow fungus, lotus seeds, and red dates filled the other.²

She found herself craving a taste of something different, so she searched for an online pizza recipe. Following the tutorial, Bi Qiao’an combined the ingredients and kneaded the dough until smooth. After it rose, she brushed the pan with butter, spread the dough evenly, and poked holes with a fork.

She put it in once the oven preheated to 180°C, and when crust lightly browned, she added tomato sauce, cheese, ground beef, green peppers, and cherry tomatoes. Then back in the oven again for a 10-minute bake.

The aroma of melted cheese and baked bread filled the kitchen. Bi Qiao’an’s mouth watered as she cut a corner piece and took a bite, savoring the perfect balance of flavors and textures. Excited, she quickly stored the rest in storage space, ready to surprise Shen Yanming on his return.

Things weren’t so smooth on Shen Yanming’s end. The “Celebrity Farmers” show had whipped everyone into a flowerpot frenzy. Stores were mobbed, and Zhang Heping struggled to snag just twelve, the dregs of the selection. “A limit of fifteen per person? That was a battle!”

Shen Yanming nodded empathetically. He and Zhang Heping drove out to buy groceries, circling Times Square before realizing how difficult things had become. Meat was rationed to three kilograms per person per month, eighteen kilograms of grain and two kilograms of vegetables per person per week. Even clothing—including basics like underwear—was now limited to two sets per person per year.

On the other hand, items like bottled water, drinks, jewelry, and watches faced no restrictions. It was clear that scarce resources and survival necessities were strictly controlled. Shen Yanming and Zhang Heping ordered several cases of purified water to be delivered home.

With their meager supplies, they headed back to Qingning Mountain. Shen Yanming grabbed a small shovel from the trunk and spent a while filling Zhang Heping’s fifteen pots with freshly dug soil.

By the time they finished loading the flowerpots into the trunk, the two men were drenched with a mix of rain and sweat. Disregarding their soaked clothes, they drove straight to the underground garage. Once parked, Zhang Heping made several trips to move the pots into the elevator while Shen Yanming wiped down the car seats before going to help him.

Minutes later, all the pots were inside Unit 1601. Shen Yanming urged Zhang Heping to shower and then headed home. The moment he opened his door, the tantalizing aroma of food enveloped him like a warm hug.

Bi Qiao’an’s eyes widened in concern as she took in his drenched appearance. “Where have you been? You’re completely soaked!”

“I helped Zhang Heping dig up some soil for his pots. The big movements got me drenched,” he replied, exhaustion clear in his voice. “I’m going to take a quick shower.”

Bi Qiao’an nodded and returned to the kitchen, packing the finished soups into containers. When Shen Yanming emerged, she had them stored in his space.

“Take this mutton radish soup to Zhang Heping, don’t want him catching a cold,” Bi Qiao’an said, handing him a container and a packet of vegetable seeds.

By the time Shen Yanming returned, Bi Qiao’an had the pizza she made ready. “Try it! What do you think?” she asked, anticipation in her eyes.

Shen Yanming took a bite, his eyes widening. “This is really good!”

That evening, Bi Qiao’an turned on the TV. The show “Foraging in the Wilderness” was showcasing shepherd’s purse, cleavers, and roses. She checked Weibo, hoping to see if anyone had followed the show’s example.

Her heart sank as she scrolled through the comments. While some were watching, very few seemed to be foraging. Most people still relied on buying vegetables despite the quotas. Bi Qiao’an paused, then made a post on her own Weibo account.

Chacha Li: “Why isn’t anyone going out to find ingredients?”

A flurry of comments popped up under her post.

Near You: “Kind of awkward to go alone if no one else is…”

Glass: “Markets still sell veggies, no need to panic. Money can buy you anything.”

Lily: “No veggies? Eat meat. No meat? Eat fish! So many options, we won’t starve.”

While they had a point, Bi Qiao’an couldn’t help but reply:

Chacha Li: “Too much meat isn’t healthy, you’ll lack vitamins. This dry season is so long, what happens when the vegetables run out?”

YaYa: “So, what’s your suggestion?”

Glass: “Relax, money solves everything!”

Bi Qiao’an found Glass’s reliance on money a bit naive. She decided a gentle warning was in order.

Chacha Li: “What if no one’s left to sell you anything?”