Chapter 74: The Clingy Follower They Couldn’t Shake Off

The two hung up their raincoats and umbrellas, switched to slippers, and took their baskets to the balcony. They found the perfect angle and snapped a dozen photos with their phones.

Shen Yanming shared the photos to several friend groups, boasting about the ‘ingredients’ they’d found outside today.

Bi Qiao’an followed suit, posting the pictures on her Weibo. Within minutes, the reposts and likes started rolling in, the comments section buzzing.

Glass: “Chacha Li, you actually went foraging? And there are shiitake mushrooms? Lying isn’t cool!”

Tuji: “Maybe the mushrooms are store-bought, but the rest wild?”

Mimiao: “Where are you? I went foraging too, but didn’t find nearly as much.”

Reading the comments, Bi Qiao’an decided to post an update.

Chacha Li: “All wild, I swear! Next foraging trip, I’ll share photos of the environment too!”

Putting down her phone, she then took the ingredients to the kitchen and washed them. Following the instructions, she began turning the mushrooms and goosefoot into dried treats. The kitchen filled with an earthy mushroom scent, bringing back memories of the vibrant Qingning Mountain.

Originally, drying vegetables shouldn’t involve washing them. But today’s ingredients were already wet, and with future water shortages in mind, Bi Qiao’an had no choice but to clean them now.

With the rainy season limiting sunlight, Bi Qiao’an opted for the oven to gently dry the vegetables, their moisture slowly evaporating.

Her eyes fell upon nearby roses, inspiring her to follow a recipe and transform them into rose jam. The sweet floral scent filled the air as she stirred the pot.

Meanwhile, Shen Yanming filmed the entire process. He later edited the footage into a three-minute video, focusing on the hands at work with simple subtitles.

Bi Qiao’an watched the video, ensuring their identities weren’t revealed, and then uploaded it to Weibo.

With their space providing ample resources, Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an didn’t need to search for ingredients. Their actions aimed to inspire others, a small contribution to help their world prepare.

In the evening, Bi Qiao’an steamed a bounty of buns, their scents swirling in a delicious symphony—earthy shiitake and greens, fiery tofu, savory meat and eggplant, oniony pork and scallion, rich beef and celery, and the fresh tang of chives and eggs.

Her rice cooker bubbled with a comforting congee, laced with century eggs and lean meat. As it finished, a sprinkle of salt, a flurry of chopped scallions, and a drizzle of sesame oil coaxed out an even deeper savory aroma, making her stomach rumble in anticipation.

After their satisfying dinner, Bi Qiao’an tirelessly steamed another large batch of buns, ensuring their future meals were well-stocked.

While waiting, she visited her space and harvested a pot of plump loquats. Habit led her to the kitchen, where cool water danced over their golden skins, washing them clean.

Later, she settled in with the evening broadcast of “Foraging in the Wilderness.” Tonight, the team’s finds were a feast for the eyes—wild chicken eggs, vibrant purslane, sweet mulberries, and the delicate greens of the shepherd’s purse.¹

Bi Qiao’an enjoyed the sweet-tart loquats as she watched. After finishing, she meticulously collected the seeds, washed them, dried them, and gave them to Shen Yanming for storage in their space.

At 11:30 p.m., Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an once again grabbed their basins and stools, heading downstairs for their energy rain shower.

They were met by Zhao Yu, clearly seeking them out once more. When he saw them, a rush of admiration mixed with a hint of embarrassment washed over him. Why hadn’t he thought to collect the rainwater or bring a stool?

Noticing their questioning looks, Zhao Yu rubbed his head sheepishly. “I…figured it’d be less boring if we go together,” he mumbled, his eyes darting away to avoid eye contact.

Well, it seemed they couldn’t shake him off.

Shen Yanming headed back upstairs, grabbed an empty bucket, and conveniently invited Zhang Heping along.

The group, armed with their makeshift tools, discreetly made their way to the back slopes of Qingning Mountain.

Upon reaching the mushroom patch, Zhao Yu finally snapped out of his daze. “This… this… You discovered it long ago?” Eyes wide with shock, his mouth hung open in disbelief.

Bi Qiao’an frowned, a hint of exasperation in her voice. “Weren’t we here earlier during the day?”

Zhao Yu choked, cheeks turning red. “Is that so?” He looked away, wishing he could vanish on the spot.

Internally, Zhang Heping couldn’t help but roll his eyes. This idiot likely never considered that these two had planted the mushrooms themselves. Instead, he spoke up, “With so many of us, we needed a bigger space. This spot’s ideal!”

Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an ignored Zhao Yu’s antics, closing their eyes and soaking in the energy rain. Its cool touch on their skin was both refreshing and revitalizing.

Zhang Heping, curiosity piqued, followed their lead. He could feel energy permeating his body, and a sense of wonder washed over him.

Zhao Yu, finding himself both unprepared and ignored by the others, sat sulking on a nearby rock. He grumbled about how pointless this was, regretting ever seeking them out. With a defeated slump, he kicked a pebble in frustration.

Eventually, boredom overwhelmed him. Zhao Yu drifted off, his head tilting sideways as soft snores and a thin line of drool betrayed his slumber.

Meanwhile, invisible energy surged into their bodies, unnoticed by any of them.

Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an, now accustomed to this, found it unremarkable. But when the icy rain roused Zhang Heping and Zhao Yu, their expressions were pure, wide-eyed astonishment.

“Yanming, how did you know to do this?” Zhang Heping questioned, voice trembling with excitement. His eyes gleamed as he gestured almost frantically.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” Shen Yanming asked, tilting his head and furrowing his brows in feigned confusion.

“No, it’s just… our bodies feel different today!” Zhang Heping exclaimed.

Maintaining an air of innocence, Shen Yanming persisted in his act of ignorance. “Really? Maybe we just got lucky!” He shrugged.

Having said that, Shen Yanming stood up and began collecting the rainwater, his movements efficient and purposeful. Today’s crowd meant he couldn’t store the energy water directly in his space. He’d pour it into the plastic bucket and do it later, back at home.

Observing Shen Yanming’s dismissive response, Zhang Heping swallowed his lingering doubts and refrained from asking any more questions, despite the burning curiosity in his mind.

Zhao Yu couldn’t hold back his curiosity. He turned to Bi Qiao’an, words spilling out in a rush.

Bi Qiao’an listened to Zhao Yu’s ramblings, then tilted her head, blinking in confusion. “Is there a difference? I’m not sure,” she said, pursing her lips thoughtfully.

Zhao Yu felt a pang of disappointment. “Alright, alright, masters think differently.” He sighed, shoulders drooping, a small pout forming on his lips.

The group packed up and headed home.

Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an made it a habit to search for ingredients every other day from that point forward. Without fail, they extended invitations to Zhao Yu and Zhang Heping to accompany them.

Zhang Heping had returned to work at the hospital, but this time his schedule included shifts. This meant he could take a day off every other day, allowing Shen Yanming to coordinate their ingredient-hunting trips.

Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an’s enthusiasm for foraging proved to be contagious, inspiring others within the Qingyu Community to join their efforts. Given the expansive nature of Qingning Mountain, Shen Yanming was more than happy to welcome anyone willing to join their foraging adventures.

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Footnotes:

1. 1. How to identify Mulberry Trees; source. ↩︎

2. How to Identify Shepherd’s Purse: