Zacaojing | What We Do When Not Picking Mushrooms

Written by Zacaojing (guide of the Picking Group)

During summer, guests often ask: "You pick mushrooms in summer, so what do you do in winter?" At such questions, I only know to answer with one word: "Play."

Perhaps to many people, our work looks like "playing," but I think as long as money is involved, there is the responsibility of work, and inevitably some psychological difference.

Sometimes we want to go somewhere ourselves, and invite guests who have joined activities to come along for free. At such times, though we still go into the mountains with this guest, it is much more relaxed, perhaps because at such moments, one is more focused on oneself.

Although, when not working, the things we play are still the same as what we do at work: walking around in the mountains, picking this and that.

Last month, I, Yanzi, Yang Min, and Jason went camping and mushroom-picking in Heqing. Jason drove his beat-up van through a big forest and dropped the three of us off. We spread out into the woods with baskets, while he sat by the car playing on his phone, like a mushroom dealer who would later buy the mushrooms we picked at a low price.

However, confident as we were, we wandered in the forest for an hour and didn't see any mushrooms. Normally, September is not a time when mushrooms vanish, right? We had prepared chicken soup and noodles, and dinner was waiting for mushrooms to go into the pot, but we never expected such a situation.

With no mushrooms, I suggested switching to a "pick fallen leaves and twigs" game: each person picks anything on the ground that shows no signs of life yet looks beautiful, to make specimens.

To me, this game can simulate part of mushroom picking. The most fun part of mushroom picking is searching and searching, but this is more interesting because it also requires stepping out of daily routine and bringing out that pair of eyes that can discover something lovely.

In the end, we found a spiral-shaped bone, velvety polka-dot leaves, and bark with beautiful patterns.

But after all that, the look in everyone's eyes still revealed: "No mushrooms, I'm not satisfied..." haha.

Just as we were heading back after our treasure hunt, Yang Mi spotted a large white mushroom. We examined it for a long time, thinking, "If only it were edible." Until we saw its residual veil, we thought it might be an open-capped old man head! Since I had never seen an open-capped old man head before, I didn't recognize it.

After a burst of inner joy, we continued searching around. This mushroom inspired us, and indeed, soon Yanzi picked an extra-large, unopened standard old man head nearby. Hehe, what luck!

For mushroom pickers, finding a variety you've never picked before is especially delightful. And importantly, you can eat it. And if not for it, that evening we'd have been cooking wild greens with noodles. Thinking back, those old man heads were like mushroom gifts from fairies, suddenly arriving.

Yang Mi roasting apples at midnight looks so beautiful.

Early morning, Yanzi uses her mini notebook to make specimens.

The treasures we picked, I took home and made into decorative art.

However, aside from playing, the mushroom fairy girls also have some other work of their own. I'll write about it properly next time ✌️.

Photos