Shen Yanming glanced at the other person's basket and saw that it was full of large mushrooms, so he asked, "Half a good mushroom harvest has been here in the last two years?"

Zhao Yu nodded and didn't hide anything: "It's alright. Anyway, after each rain, I can pick a basket or two, which is more reliable than other places."

Shen Yanming didn't understand why either, so he said to the other person, "Then hurry up and pick them. We just wanted to come and take a look after the rain stopped. We hope you don't feel like we're here to take your things."

Zhao Yu laughed heartily, "How could that be? These things are wild, everyone gets a share. Besides, we have the bond we formed when we picked mushrooms together. I just don't know why I haven't seen you guys for the past two years?"

“Ah, I changed units. Now I’m in the security team. I usually live there with my wife and rarely come back. Heping is the same. He’s very busy with work and spends most of his time in the hospital dormitory. He rarely comes home,” Shen Yanming explained.

Zhao Yu gave a thumbs up: "Awesome, you guys are all amazing!"

"Where do you usually work?"

"I just go out for walks every day, and if I see anything good, I call my parents to pick it. Because I'm diligent, I've never lacked food."

Especially after figuring out the distribution of local products around the city, they could even dabble in some things on the side, and their lives were pretty good.

Shen Yanming smiled and didn't ask the other party for details.

Zhao Yu breathed a sigh of relief; otherwise, if someone asked, he would have to decide whether to answer or not.

If I don't tell, I'll lose face. If I do tell, it's all trade secrets, and revealing it would be like cutting off my own source of income.

It's fine as it is now; it's measured and not awkward.

Zhao Yu glanced at An An and Nuan Nuan, who were squatting on the ground picking mushrooms, and asked Shen Yanming, "Brother Shen, how old is your baby?"

"Two years old!"

"Hmm, that looks really clever. Was your baby breastfed?"

Shen Yanming raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself, "Could this be another one asking about formula?" He nodded, "Yes, mostly breast milk, but occasionally lotus root starch, soy milk, rice porridge, or formula."

Zhao Yu exclaimed excitedly, "Brother Chen, I have some resources and can provide fresh milk. Do you want some?"

Shen Yanming was taken aback; so this was a sales pitch. He nodded: "Is it reliable?"

"It's reliable! It's from a friend's dairy cow. It just gave birth, and it produces so much milk every day that it goes to waste. So he asked me to ask if families with children would like some. My wife drinks it every day."

"If that's the case, why doesn't your friend post the information online?"

"Well, I was just worried that some bad-hearted people would come and rob him. His house is deep in the mountains, and there aren't many people around. If people find out, I'm afraid he won't be able to keep it. I met him by chance when I went out to find wild vegetables."

Shen Yanming nodded: "When can you get it?"

"I'm afraid it won't work today. It's too far away, and I won't be back until evening. How about I go there first thing tomorrow morning and come back by mid-afternoon?"

“But I have to go to work tomorrow. How about this, you bring the milk over tomorrow and give it to Chen Shunwei, who is the captain of our community security team.”

"Okay! But Brother Chen, this milk has to be exchanged for grain."

"I know, how do you suggest we change it?"

Zhao Yu asked in a consultative tone, "Three catties of grain for one catty of milk?" He didn't know if the price was high or low. Milk was, in theory, a nutritious product. But if no one traded it, it would just go to waste. So Zhao Yu dared not ask for more.

Shen Yanming hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Alright, take two jin first, I'll check the quality. By the way, you'd better bring ice with you on your way back. It's too hot today, don't let it spoil."

"Don't worry, I know what to do. I've been working on this for years..."

Zhao Yu realized he had misspoke, but after glancing at the other person and seeing no reaction, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Shen Yanming smiled, not thinking it was a big deal. These days, you can do anything as long as you don't break the law or violate regulations, as long as you can survive.

He nodded to Zhao Yu: "I'm going to see my wife."

"Okay, I'm going to pick mushrooms too."

After the two separated, Shen Yanming knelt down in front of Bi Qiaoan and recounted his conversation with Zhao Yu.

Bi Qiaoan nodded without saying anything.

Nuannuan picked a small mushroom and walked up to Shen Yanming: "Dad, look!"

The mushrooms are small and delicate, and they look very cute against the backdrop of warm, white little hands. However, the mushroom caps are red with white specks on them.

Shen Yanming froze, took the mushroom, and said to Nuannuan, "Oh my baby, you're so young and you can already pick mushrooms for Daddy, that's great! But you can't eat this mushroom, it's poisonous, it will give you a stomachache."

Nuannuan was startled and quickly slapped the mushroom out of Shen Yanming's hand: "Don't have a tummy ache!"

"It's okay, honey, as long as you don't eat it. We'll go home, wash our hands, and then eat."

Nuannuan nodded, and An'an also prepared to throw away the mushroom she had brought to present as a treasure.

Upon seeing this, Shen Yanming quickly stopped him, saying, "An'an, this mushroom is edible. Shall we put it in the basket?"

An An's eyes lit up, and she nodded, "Okay!" Then she solemnly squatted down and placed the mushrooms in the small basket in front of Bi Qiao An.

Nuannuan was extremely envious. She glanced at the poisonous mushrooms on the ground and asked her father with a hint of grievance, "They're so pretty! Why can't we eat them?"

Shen Yanming didn't explain, but instead asked An'an, "Why did you pick that mushroom?"

An'an thought for a moment and said, "Mom, pick some too." It should be the same as Mom's, so it can't be wrong.

Shen Yanming smiled and said, "Yes, your mother knows about mushrooms, so you must ask her if they are edible after you pick them. When you grow up, you will be able to tell the difference."

Then, looking at Nuannuan, he said, "Most edible mushrooms don't look very appealing, and the brighter the color, the more poisonous they are. Of course, grayish ones aren't necessarily edible either; it's a very serious and complicated issue. When we get home, Mom and Dad will teach you how to tell the difference, okay?"

Shen Yanming whispered in Nuannuan's ear, "There are lots of edible mushrooms in the dream. When we go back this time, let's learn how to make them one by one?"

Nuannuan nodded, "Okay!"

"Do you still want to go mushroom picking with your brother?"

Nuannuan thought about it for a moment and found it quite interesting, so she said, "Want to play a little longer?"

"Okay, Mom and Dad will wait for you here. Don't go too far."

"Mmm!" Nuan Nuan responded, and then she and An An went to pick mushrooms hand in hand.

This time, both of them chose the drab, grayish kind, and even looked similar to Bi Qiaoancai's. The reason I say "similar" is because inevitably a few inedible ones were mixed in.

The couple didn't stop them, just watched from a distance. They planned to explain the differences to the two children when they returned with the mushrooms.