I remember hearing (I think in Gaimans’ American Gods novel?) about Chinese artifacts being found that indicated trade at some point, but There was never anything mentioned in an actual class that I can recall. But then, they didn’t mention the vikings, Leif Eriksson or L’anse Aux Meadows, either. Depends on the kind of pepper, i guess? Capsicum & Chili peppers are native to the Americas. Peppercorns are from Asia - the way the story talked, it sounded to me like they were talking aBout chilis, though. The author does say later on what the (rough) time period for the story is - it predates the trip you mentioned, unfortunately, so unless there was an earlier trip, still an oops.

Shang Dynasty (for us Westerners) ruled 1600 to 1046 B.C. Bronze Age. So the corn and peppers being used are a few centuries early to be on that sIde of the ocean. LOL.

My brain keeps nit-picking detaIls…. I’m wondering what tine period this is supposed to be set in. Corn is an American crop that they Native Americans bred. It would only have gone to Europe in the late 14-early 1500s, then had to spread from there through trade. They have peppers, too, which we saw a few chapters ago, which I thought was also a ‘New World’ crop.

I looked up the “push on my stomach” Thing because it seemed so weird. It’s…. kind of a real thing? Called Abdominal Expression (translated from French) - it’s also banned in France because it doesnt actually help, and is likely to only cause more damage. Oops.