She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 163 - 162: Talked for a Long Time

Chapter 163: Chapter 162: Talked for a Long Time

Ye Xinyan’s points did seem reasonable. Retreating time and time again could only make the opponent more aggressive, couldn’t it? The problem was, he wasn’t her opponent, was he?

Jinrong looked at Ye Xinyan seriously. If this woman was pushed into a corner, she might actually do something desperate.

"Sit down and speak," Jinrong shook his head in resignation, saying, "Let’s do it this way. I suppose Lady Qi has, as before, already drafted the contract. Bring the contract here, I’ll have someone check it, and if there are no major issues, we’ll transcribe two copies. We’ll sign off on a thirty to seventy split."

Draft the hell! Ye Xinyan shot Jinrong a glare. How could she know where Jinrong would draw the line for cooperation?

"There isn’t one," Ye Xinyan answered bluntly. "The little woman doesn’t know to what extent Sixth Master is willing to cooperate with her. It’s best that Sixth Master discusses it with your household and have your people draft the contract."

What extent? That was indeed a question. Jinrong looked at Ye Xinyan, who appeared relaxed. If the scope of cooperation was limited, only encompassing Qingyuan County or Yuyuan Prefecture, then that meant the dairy products store Ye Xinyan was willing to manage would also be confined to just Qingyuan County or Yuyuan Prefecture.

"Lady Qi, please sit. I still have things to talk about," Jinrong said slowly, seeing Ye Xinyan looking like she was ready to leave. "The scope of cooperation can be discussed. All the dairy products stores in my charge will cooperate with Lady Qi, and she will also take overall charge of the dairy farms."

Ye Xinyan was taken aback and looked at Jinrong. She felt like she had been outmaneuvered by him again.

She hesitated for a moment, then turned back to her previous seat and sat down again.

Ahem, covering her mouth with a handkerchief, Ye Xinyan coughed twice and then said, "Well, let’s give it a try. Sixth Master should not have too high expectations for this little woman. My background has limited my horizon, and I fear I won’t be able to manage too large an industry."

Jinrong ignored her excuse, asking, "Lady Qi also says that her background has limited her horizon. I want to ask who said to you that working with us brothers would be dangerous? Born to the circumstances of Lady Qi’s upbringing, such thoughts should not arise."

Ye Xinyan replied in amazement, "Isn’t that obvious? Who needs to say it?"

Jinrong gave her an incredulous look, spreading his hands, "The entire world regards it as an honor to be associated with my brothers. That is the obvious truth. Where is there room for this kind of talk you’re bringing up?"

Ye Xinyan laughed dryly, "Imagine my grandfather and I, illiterate, returning back to Clear Water Village. Even if the two branches of the Qi family can’t be said to be in abject poverty, they still have a hard time. For two months a year, they have to rely on wild vegetables, tree leaves, and mixed grains to stave off hunger. Even so, those two branches are constantly worried about my grandfather dividing the family property. Not to mention your family’s overwhelmingly vast wealth..."

Ye Xinyan rolled her eyes, snorting, "Who are you fooling."

Uh, Jinrong almost brought his hand to his forehead in a sigh. Alright, ever since this woman from the Ye Family came out, she’s become sharp. Such a straightforward matter that she spoke of, how many people in the world could see through it? They’re all like moths to a flame.

But to what extent did she really understand?

Jinrong’s face showed disdain as he said, "Not many in this world can understand this matter, but neither are they few. Those who want to stand out and strive for eternal honor always have to take some risks. ’Fortune comes to those who seek it amidst peril,’ you’ve heard of this, haven’t you, Lady Qi? Your horizon is indeed limited, lacking that sharp and broad vision."

Ye Xinyan glanced askance at Jinrong, curling her lip, "As a mere woman, all I want is for my family to live a safe and moderately prosperous life. I don’t covet vast wealth, nor do I bear the risk of extreme danger. No matter how grand the wealth, you need to be alive to enjoy it. I am lowly and cherish my life very much."

Did she care if he mocked her? Wrong! She was just a little woman who only wanted to secure a modestly comfortable life in this ancient time. As for those dreams of dragon-like achievements and eternal noble status, no thanks.

Jinrong felt somewhat disheartened. This Ye Xinyan, no matter what, was born into a family that ranked among the top nobles in the capital. Although she was spoiled by her mother, she had grown up immersed in the culture of the capital’s inner houses. Why were her thoughts so different from everyone else’s?

"Lady Qi’s way of speaking seems to be a classic case of saying one thing but meaning another. You say that making butter and dairy products is for earning silver, building wealth, and leading a life of plenty, but it can also bring trouble to your own family, something you did anyway," Jinrong retorted somewhat resentfully.

She admitted that much, but one couldn’t simply not make money and resign oneself to a life of meager meals.

"That’s why this little woman decided to enter into a partnership with Sixth Master, allowing him to hold a larger share. Otherwise, do you think I’m foolish enough to freely give away the silver that I’ve obtained? The risks of partnering with Sixth Master mean I ask for ten percent more as compensation," Ye Xinyan said, glaring at Jinrong with disdain.

Not understanding this, she had no idea how he managed to evade the imperial sibling rivalry, deceive the emperor into letting him go, and enjoy his leisure in a place where the sky belongs to the emperor, but the earth belongs to nobody.

Feeling belittled and looked down upon, Jinrong was once again at a loss for words.

Previously, everyone had spoken in euphemisms, and with Qi Younian, Jiang Yifan, and others smoothing things over, substantial issues were never touched upon. Perhaps Ye Xinyan had always been holding back until now. It was only during this face-to-face confrontation that her real character and thoughts came to light, right?

Does it mean that this woman truly looks down on him?

Jinrong found it somewhat hard to believe this thought that had suddenly emerged. After all, the struggles in the capital were so fierce, yet he had managed to deftly avoid them, moving comfortably between the different powers.

And yet, he, who was so wise and astute, was being looked down upon by a woman who had lost face in the capital!

Furrowing his brow, Jinrong glanced left and right at Ye Xinyan. Hesitating, he wondered whether he should make an effort to regain control of the situation or whether he should be more generous and not lower himself to the level of a woman with little experience.

Ye Xinyan, under Jinrong’s scrutinizing gaze, felt somewhat guilty and asked, "Sixth Master, don’t you have matters to attend to? Surely the question wasn’t just about who informed me of your brothers’ affairs, right?"

Forget it, as a man of dignity, he wouldn’t stoop to quarrel with an inexperienced woman.

Jinrong composed himself and asked seriously, "Oh, I want to know if, besides wanting to ensure the Dairy Products Store operates smoothly and earns a steady income of silver, Lady Qi has any other aspirations?"

Uh, Ye Xinyan blinked, finding it rather difficult to hide the truth. But if she were to tell this man outright, wouldn’t he interfere again? This was her grandfather’s wish; was it right to involve a prince?

"Well, there is something else. It’s my grandfather’s mason’s trade that I’m worried about, in case it draws unwanted attention again and suffers losses. So, I want to leverage the dairy business," Ye Xinyan explained, waving her hand dismissively, "It’s hardly worth mentioning—just an old man’s wish. Whether it will come to fruition remains uncertain. If it does work out, I’ll report the details to you, Sixth Master. Would that be acceptable?"

Jinrong nodded; after all, masonry wasn’t that big of a deal.

Outside the Great Crane House, Jiang Yifan sat on horseback, stopping at the corner of the main street of the county town, looking from a distance at the conspicuously tall restaurant.

After a long while, he asked Shi Yu, "How long have they been talking?"

Shi Yu replied softly, "A little over a shichen." After a moment’s hesitation, he ventured, "Why not go up and have a look, young master? You barely ate breakfast, and since you’ll be out all day, it might be good to grab some food at the Great Crane House."

"Never mind, the County Official is still waiting below," Jiang Yifan said, his composure unchanged, as he turned the horse around and loosened the reins. The chestnut horse trotted down the path leading out of the town.