She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 160 - 159: The Business of Raising Large Livestock

Chapter 160: Chapter 159: The Business of Raising Large Livestock

Upon hearing Qi Younian’s words, Cheung Wusi felt embarrassed and rubbed his chin. It seemed he had thought too much. How could characters like princesses and princes, who lived in the clouds, ever come across in front of these lowly brothers?

He laughed and said, "I’m just thinking too much because I see Big Brother is having a comfortable life, so I wonder just how extraordinary Big Brother’s opportunities must be."

Qi Younian waved his hand, "Let’s not talk about that. I’ve brought you here because I really want to pick up our old business. To leave some wealth for our family’s future generations and to fulfill an old man’s lifelong wish from the past."

When it came to the wishes they brothers had, Cheung Wusi was also full of sighs.

He lifted his cup and toasted to Qi Younian, saying, "Speaking of the past, for a few laborers like us to build up such a fortune, it really wasn’t easy. And it was precisely because we were just laborers, without anyone to rely on, that we met with such a miserable and sad end. Sigh!"

Cheung Wusi took a sip of wine and looked at Qi Younian seriously, asking in all earnest, "Does Big Brother want to pick up the old trade again because he has a sure plan in mind, and isn’t afraid that our business will be coveted again?"

Qi Younian nodded, "If it weren’t for having a nine out of ten certainty, Big Brother wouldn’t lead you down this path again. I can assure you that at least for the next three years, our line of work will be very stable and no one will covet what we have. In these three years, if we spend a bit more on building up connections, I believe we can make this business work."

"Why three years?" Cheung Wusi asked.

Wong Qiao also looked towards Qi Younian.

Qi Younian hesitated for a moment, then said, "Ye Zi had a decent family background in the past and has a history with the current Magistrate Sir of Qingyuan County. Although they’re not very close acquaintances, if Ye Zi finds herself wronged, she certainly won’t be left without recourse, so ordinary people don’t dare covet what we have." He chose his words carefully before continuing, "Moreover, the owner of the cattle farm, Sixth Master Rong, has an even higher status. Since Ye Zi works for Sixth Master Rong, naturally our family’s business has some backing."

Cheung Wusi, remembering something Qi Yourong had asked earlier, asked with complete astonishment, "Is Ye Zi from Big Brother’s family really managing that cattle farm? Isn’t that a line of work involving breeding large livestock? Can a girl manage that?"

Wong Qiao, who didn’t talk much, filled their cups and quietly listened on the side.

Qi Younian smiled, but his tone was filled with pity, "This child has also had a hard life..."

Qi Younian simply recounted how he had met Ye Xinyan and Nanny Jin, and then later recognized them as his kin and returned to Clear Water Village.

In conclusion, Qi Younian said, "Ye Zi also comes from a wealthy family, but had the misfortune of having to flee her home. Fortunately, this child is kind-hearted and truly smart and capable. I just thought that, come what may, this child should have a good future." Aware that Ye Xinyan’s identity had not been fully revealed, Qi Younian did not divulge her family background.

Fortunately, Cheung Wusi did not dwell on this matter; since Big Brother didn’t elaborate, there must be a reason that couldn’t be disclosed.

He was only puzzled by Ye Xinyan’s capabilities, "Big Brother, aren’t the young ladies from big houses always idle, only speaking of romance and poetry and, despite looking impressive, are actually quite useless?"

The corner of Wong Qiao’s mouth twitched. Couldn’t he tell? Ye Zi was a child dearly loved by their uncle, and here his fourth uncle was, speaking with such a lack of consideration.

Qi Younian didn’t mind Cheung Wusi’s question and proudly said, "My granddaughter, how can she be compared to those useless girls out there?"

Cheung Wusi chuckled twice and asked, "Where is the cattle farm that Ye Zi manages? Is it far? I’ve only heard of the court raising war horses; I’ve never seen civilians raising large livestock in herds. I, Old Zhang, must go and see it for myself."

"Not far at all, it’s that large enclosed area and livestock stable to the north of our courtyard," casually said Qi Younian. "I’m currently running my business over there; the cattle pen isn’t fully constructed yet. After we eat, I’ll take you to have a look."

"...That area to the north, all those buildings and courtyards?" Cheung Wusi exclaimed, "That, that’s where the livestock are raised?"

My goodness, he had just walked close to his older brother’s courtyard earlier this morning and saw that large cluster of buildings to the north. He thought it was some wealthy family’s estate, wondering why an estate would be built like that.

Qi Younian said, "Ye Zi said that folks at home have never done such large-scale livestock raising before, so she divided the cattle pens. Each cattle pen doesn’t hold too many cows; she says it’s to prevent overcrowding that could cause disease..."

At the same time, Jinrong and Jiang Yifan in Qingyuan County were discussing the same matter.

Under the finely carved eaves of the living courtyard, Jinrong and Jiang Yifan sat casually on two chairs beside a small sourwood table with a clean surface.

Jinrong was telling Jiang Yifan, "They say after half a year’s time, the cattle herders will have gained some experience, and each cattle pen could hold a few more cows."

Jiang Yifan listened absentmindedly, He furrowed his brows. Although it was currently the best way to mitigate the danger to Ye Xinyan, for someone like him, who was well acquainted with Jinrong and shared a deep friendship, this situation was indeed uncomfortable.

Jinrong continued, "Lady Qi said there’s no need to add more silver for now. The fodder needed for the cattle farm is all collected from nearby villages without much expense, only the additional bean fodder has to be bought. There’s also the expenditure for the hired hands at the cattle farm, but that’s not a lot either. All these expenses can be covered temporarily with the silver from selling cow’s milk."

When Jinrong mentioned "Lady Qi," Jiang Yifan glanced at Jinrong, How could he not notice the hint of concealing within that appellation?

Jinrong received Jiang Yifan’s unfriendly look, helplessly shrugged, and continued, "Harvest season is coming up. During that time, the cattle farm’s costs will be even lower. Some of the cattle raised on the farm can be rented to the local villagers during harvest time. They won’t take silver coin, but accept fodder, bean fodder, wheat straw, and corn stalks in trade. That way, the farm will have all the fodder it needs for the entire winter."

After explaining all this, Jinrong said to Jiang Yifan with a formal tone, "Looking at it now, Lady Qi manages things with utmost precision and thoroughness. I reckon running the Dairy Products Store won’t be far off either. Yuanfan, think over it carefully again, whether you want to invest in the Dairy Products Store?"

Jinrong decided to refer to Ye Xinyan as Lady Qi from now on, just as if she were a young married woman temporarily recognized by Nanny Jin.

"Not interested," Jiang Yifan rolled his eyes, "Once you’ve decided, just go ahead on your own. I’m not petty enough to begrudge that woman doing business in partnership with someone else."

If the partner wasn’t his close friend, that would be even better, thought Jiang Yifan with a silent sigh.

"However, can you be sure that woman will come to discuss business with you tomorrow?" Jiang Yifan asked, "Your condition of owning eighty percent of the shares is a bit excessive, isn’t it? Can they accept it? You’ve got to realize, the cow’s milk belongs to the Qi family. It’s clearly written on the cattle farm’s documents, the sole buyer of the milk produced by the farm is the Qi family’s snack shop."