Transmigrated as a Peasant Baby Who is Pampered by All

Chapter 576: Chapter 349: Overthinking It

Xiaomi, of course, followed along with great enthusiasm.

On the way, they encountered quite a few people, all were very surprised that such a young girl was coming to buy sheep, but Xiaomi didn’t explain much, she just told the old man about her needs.

”Why are you buying so many sheep, are you planning to raise them yourself?”

The old man was surprised, but he wasn’t angry or discontent.

Xiaomi thought for a moment and decided to speak the truth.

”I do plan to raise them myself. I initially wanted to go to the mountains to catch wild mountain goats, but later found out that wild goats are rare to encounter, I spent a year in the mountains and didn’t see any.”

Unexpectedly, the old man burst out laughing at those words: ”Haha, indeed that’s bad luck.”

Xiaomi nodded first before realizing: ”No way, Grandpa, are these mountain goats of yours actually caught from the mountains?”

The old man nodded proudly: ”Of course, these things are too expensive, I couldn’t afford them back in the day.”

Xiaomi was surprised: ”Then? Did you catch a few and slowly develop them into the herd you have now?”

The old man smiled and shook his head: ”A few won’t do, although these mountain goats are different from people, just having a few won’t allow for proper development; the offspring would easily be weak and sick.”

Xiaomi pondered a bit before understanding that the old man was probably talking about inbreeding.

In Xiangmu Village, from the initial three sheep, by the time they left, there were seven, all bred from those first three.

It must be said, the last two baby goats born were just in time before they left, born two days prior, Xiaomi checked them out and indeed felt their vitality was not as strong as before.

She had asked others about it at the time, but everyone felt there was no difference, even Wei Ziang didn’t notice any distinction.

Later on, Ling’er told her that she was different from others and could sense things unnoticed by others.

Probably, this vitality was what Ling’er referred to as something others could not perceive.

She had previously read in books that even animals should not have prolonged inbreeding, and now she found evidence from the old man’s words.

”Grandpa, do you often manage to catch new mountain goats?” If that’s true, then your luck is extraordinary.

The old man nodded with a smile: ”Naturally, I go into the mountains once a year, catch a few male goats, then sell some of the domestic ones.”

Only after speaking, did he realize, and hurriedly added: ”Sorry about discussing this with a young girl, alright, we’ve arrived, pick out what you want.”

Xiaomi understood why he wasn’t concerned when she mentioned raising mountain goats, he knew that with just a few goats, one couldn’t develop a healthy herd.

Xiaomi asked one last question: ”Grandpa, how many years did it take to develop such a large herd?”

The old man replied without thinking: ”It’s been nearly ten years, I found my first pregnant female goat right after the war ended.”

Xiaomi clicked her tongue, indeed it’s been nearly ten years, she herself is nine years old.

”Alright, little girl, go ahead and choose for yourself, you can pick up to five goats, I’m almost all reserved here.”

”I know, rumors say wealthy folks reserve goats here for New Year’s feasts, afraid of being late and missing out, so I hurried to find you today.”

Five is already a good number, Xiaomi was very satisfied, she quickly planned how many male and female goats she needed.

The young and old already entered the herd, Xiaomi pointed at one, and the old man roped it around the neck, leading it along.

Finally, Xiaomi chose two males and three females.

The old man was surprised: ”Smart little girl, you picked the best five here.”

Whether in terms of physique, fur, or age, they were the best and healthiest!

Xiaomi pouted, pointing casually to the side: ”They’re not the best, the best one is clearly that one.”

The old man glanced over, and his expression changed: ”Girl, that one cannot be sold, it’s the leader goat, selling it would disrupt my herd.”

Xiaomi giggled: ”I know, Grandpa, I know you wouldn’t sell the leader goat, so I didn’t pick it.”

The old man sighed in relief, shaking his head: ”You little girl, tell the truth, does your family raise goats too? This is not common for ordinary people to pick these.”

Even managers of large households who have seen a lot often only choose the largest goats, ignoring fur, body size, and such.

But those people mainly want meat, so picking large ones makes sense.

Xiaomi nodded: ”Yes, indeed, my family raises a few goats, thought since you have some here, I’d buy a few to raise together.”

”Oh? Really? How many goats does your family have? What’s the place? I know almost everyone within ten miles, never heard of other families raising goats.”

The old man led five goats, happy to hear Xiaomi say her family also raises goats.

Besides, it helps with bloodline exchange, beneficial for herd development; he has trouble going to the mountains at his age now.

Xiaomi laughed: ”That’s why you haven’t heard, my family isn’t near Nanyang Prefecture, we’re in a very distant Cheng County, it takes almost a month by carriage to come to Nanyang Prefecture.”

”I see, you have an older brother taking the provincial exam for Scholar, did he pass?”

Every time before exams, many scholars from towns and counties under Nanyang Prefecture come, the old man knows since he’s lived here for long.

”Yes, he passed, did quite well, Grandpa, how much are the goats? It’s getting late, I need to get back for lunch.”

”You might not make it, mountain goats walk slowly, and it’ll take at least half an hour from here to Nanyang Prefecture.”

”No problem, as long as I get back early.”

Then the old man calculated the bill for Xiaomi.

Despite their laughter and chatter, the old man was ruthless in calculation, each goat was five taels of silver, not a single copper coin less.

Xiaomi bargained for a while, but with the old man smilingly unmoved, she had no choice but to pay.

A total of fifteen taels, not a penny less.

Xiaomi lamented the prowess of business folk as she leisurely led the goats home.

She was also anxious about another matter, hoping to seize the chance nearing lunchtime when fewer people were around to find the right opportunity.

Uncertain if goats were ready for upgrades in space, or if they should wait, recalling symptoms from the first upgrade, Xiaomi felt a bit timid.

She even considered waiting for successful upgrades outside before heading back?

Clearly, the goats hadn’t entered space yet, she was overthinking.