Transmigrated as a Peasant Baby Who is Pampered by All

Chapter 353: Chapter 241: Asking Around

The beef-flavored nuggets didn’t taste particularly good, mainly because they were loaded with various spices and additives, which made it quite unpalatable for Xiaomi, who was used to food nurtured by Spiritual Energy.

But this was only the case for Xiaomi. ℴ

The other seven people didn’t think the same way. Some who were initially a bit unhappy were stunned the moment they heard Xiaomi mention ’beef nuggets.’

”Beef? Eating beef is illegal!” The speaker was a little girl among them, her eyes widened, and she even took a step back.

It was as if what Xiaomi mentioned was not beef jerky, but human jerky.

Xiaomi smiled: ”Don’t worry, this isn’t our draught oxen; it’s something from beyond the pass, bought in the county town. Try it, it’s really delicious.”

The reason for bringing out the beef nuggets was that their family had previously bought beef jerky, so even if it got out, it wouldn’t be exposed.

”Really? Is this beef that can be eaten? How come we didn’t know it’s sold in the city?”

One of them swallowed a mouthful of saliva, looking at the beef nugget in Xiaomi’s hand, wanting to reach out for a piece, but forcibly restrained themselves.

Xiaomi smiled, explaining:

”Of course it’s real. Just ask around at the East City market, and you’ll know there’s usually one or two days each month when traders from beyond the pass sell things there, including beef jerky and dried meat floss.”

These kids were still quite cautious, which was good; being able to resist the temptation of delicious food also meant that human traffickers would have no opportunity.

Don’t be fooled by this era where selling oneself into slavery is common, human trafficking is still illegal and a major crime.

Selling oneself into slavery could be voluntary or due to parents selling their children, which is legal. Of course, the latter is rare; such inhumane parents are not many.

But human traffickers, often stealing other people’s children to sell for huge profits.

Even beyond children, given the chance, women and able-bodied men become their targets.

So human traffickers are despicable, and once caught, it’s almost a death sentence.

Hence, many parents and elders teach children from a young age to be wary of strangers.

Xiaomi wasn’t a real eight-year-old, witnessing this group of little kids obviously wanting to eat while restraining themselves with skepticism, she felt a sense of reassurance.

However, her explanation also left a few of the children astounded.

”East City? But that’s where the wealthy old masters live; folks like us from the countryside usually go to the West or South City.”

Xiaomi blinked, was that so?

But upon reflection, she understood.

In ancient times, the north was often considered the most respectable direction.

In a small county like Cheng County, it was naturally the same.

The northern part of the city housed the officials, the eastern part was for the wealthy merchants, the southern part for ordinary families with reasonably good living standards, and those with decent or stable incomes.

While the western part was for the poor, even though they lived in the county city, they were still urban poor, comprised of individuals with poor family conditions and scant incomes.

There were markets in all directions, and because the residents were different, the market commodities varied somewhat.

Rural dwellers typically headed to the western or southern city markets, where there were no officials, no wealthy folks, no fear of offending anyone.

As for beef jerky, priced at over a hundred copper coins per pound, it naturally wouldn’t be sold in those places.

No wonder, when Xiaomi mentioned beef jerky, people found it odd.

For they hadn’t seen or perhaps even heard that beyond the pass, there were people raising cattle, as the citizens of the Xuyu Dynasty raised pigs.

This information merely flashed in Xiaomi’s mind.

”Yes, it was bought in the East City, rest assured and eat, there’ll be no issues.”

She gestured by extending her hand, suggesting everyone not to worry so much.

After some hesitation, Zhang An was the first to pick a small piece of beef nugget: ”Thanks, Xiaomi.”

He put it in his mouth directly, chewed a bit, and his eyes lit up: ”It’s so delicious. I’ve never tasted something so good!”

”Really? What does beef taste like?”

Saying so, everyone came forward, each taking a beef nugget.

The beef nuggets were small, yet everyone ate with extreme caution, carefully savoring as though afraid that if they accidentally swallowed it, they’d miss its taste.

What Xiaomi brought out was five-spice flavored beef nuggets, although small, in an era where ordinary folks might not even have meat twice a month, this was already a significant gesture.