She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 184 - 183 Central Plains People Cannot Get Used to the Food

Chapter 184: Chapter 183 Central Plains People Cannot Get Used to the Food

Jiang Yifan, in front of everyone, had been very effective with the pretentious Q&A with Ye Xinyan. After the county government office delegation left, the people in the village, regardless of their status, not only treated the members of the second branch of the Qi family warmly but also showed them a great deal of respectful flattery within that warmth.

The village women who used to look at Ye Xinyan with slanted eyes had also toned down the harshness which used to be so unpleasant to see, replacing it with an even more detestable sycophancy, making Ye Xinyan’s back chill with irritation.

Regardless of how those around her were behaving, there were still things that had to be done.

Once many matters were settled, it was time to start working on them.

The day after Jiang Yifan’s inspection of Clear Water Village, around the Si Hour, the people Jinrong had found who were skilled in dairy processing arrived. Along with them came two stewards who had managed food workshops before, and a cart filled with what appeared to be equipment for setting up simple military tents.

Ye Xinyan could no longer interact with people however she wished, alone, as she had done before. Under Nanny Liu’s tight arrangements, a young maid and an old woman servant were always by her side.

Although this was somewhat inconvenient, it certainly lent an air of authority.

Now, with a cattle farm and a foundation of Yellow butter and Cheese Powder, as well as dedicated servants from Wang’s household following Ye Xinyan, her dealings with the two managers became much simpler.

The two stewards were Xie Chun and Wang Shengxin, joined by three workers, led by Zhang Baokui, who had spent several years among the Northern Barbarians and were adept at dealing with cow and sheep milk.

Introduced respectfully by Liu Qing, all five of them were very courteous when they met Ye Xinyan.

After finishing the public affairs, Liu Qing did not tarry. After reminding the five of many matters, he took leave of Ye Xinyan and rode away alone.

Ye Xinyan was left leading the two stewards and three workers, hmm, and also Bi Ning, and an old woman servant who was said to be capable, to the cow’s milk fermentation warehouse at the cattle farm. They went to examine the condition of the fermenting milk, as well as the small amount of Yellow butter stored in the warehouse and plenty of air-dried cheese curds.

Ye Xinyan said, "The people here are not skilled at producing dairy products; reaching this level is already the limit. Sixth Master sent you over to process the cow’s milk better and to turn dairy products into a distinguished ingredient that can be stored steadily."

The two stewards, although experts in managing food workshops, were seeing batches of fermenting cow’s milk for the first time.

Seeing the milk they were familiar with become cloudy and dull, emitting a faint and indistinct odor, they were suspicious that, apart from throwing it away, there was any other use for it.

The three workers, on the other hand, were individuals familiar with consuming cow and sheep milk, found by Jinrong. Looking at the gray-white Yellow butter, also known as ’jiaokou’ to them, and the main food they relied on across the vast grasslands—dried cheese balls—felt a sense of familiarity welling up inside them.

One of the older workers, the leading Zhang Baokui, pointed to a row of barrels placed against the wall, speaking with a northern accent, "No problem, this is how it’s done, and it’s already very well done. Just need to wash and beat the ’jiaokou’ well to remove moisture and sourness, and it turns into butter, which can be stored for a longer time."

Seeing Ye Xinyan nod, Zhang Baokui gained more confidence and continued, "The people from the pasture regions also continuously churn fresh milk to separate the butter, which comes out the same as what Steward Qi has produced now. However, the dried cheese balls after churning don’t have the unique aroma of the fermented ones."

As he spoke, Zhang Baokui was also gesturing the churning motion above the barrels, as if afraid that this young woman wouldn’t understand his explanation of the churning process.

The two stewards exchanged glances. A unique fragrance? Why hadn’t they smelled anything unusual except for a faint sourness? Although the odor wasn’t extremely offensive, it definitely couldn’t be described as fragrant.

Ye Xinyan looked at the group and slowly said, "Sixth Master didn’t summon you all just to turn cow’s milk into butter and cheese curds."

Zhang Baokui exclaimed in disbelief, "What else can you make from cow’s milk? That’s all you can do with it. Besides, if you’re traveling for a long time, bringing some cheese curds is more useful than any of our Central Plains’ dried provisions. They are definitely a great food for staving off hunger."

"Sixth Master wants the products of cow’s milk to be sought after by the upper-class and wealthy households, to turn the Dairy Products Store into a major trade and industry," continued Ye Xinyan in her unhurried way.

"How, how is that possible?" The other lean middle-aged man who accompanied the first one couldn’t help but interject.

Zhang Baokui and the other man shared the same disbelief; they looked at Ye Xinyan with incredulous eyes. They found it strange that these dairy products, staple food of the impoverished herders on the vast grasslands of the Northern Barbarians, were not typically consumed by even the nobles among the Northern Barbarians. Generally, they wouldn’t eat the tough cheese curds unless they were fresh or processed, and they would never consider these foods as refined delicacies.

Ye Xinyan waved her hand, signaling them to come out, then led them back to her family courtyard while speaking, "There must be more uses for cow’s milk, which is why Sixth Master has brought you people skilled in work and management together, to make more valuable food materials from cow’s milk."

Zhang Baokui was the first to speak up again, hesitating as he said, "In the North, people use jiaokou, what Steward Qi referred to as thin cream, mixing it with cooked millet to eat." He paused before continuing, "We Central Plains people aren’t used to it, but actually, if you live in the North for a while, the combination of those two tastes quite delicious when mixed together."

"I know of this," Ye Xinyan nodded, encouraging the laborers from the North, "People also call it fried millet, and sometimes they soak it in cow’s or sheep’s milk and consume it together."

"Exactly, fried millet, that’s what the Northern Barbarians call it." Finally, in the Central Plains, they encountered someone who didn’t disparage the food of the Northern Barbarians, which pleasantly surprised Zhang Baokui and the others from the North.

Back in the courtyard of the second branch of the Qi family, following Nanny Liu’s guidance, Ye Xinyan and Xie Changchun sat at a distance from the rest at a table in the courtyard.

Ye Xinyan instructed Nanny Liu, "Nanny, bring some cheese powder, and the cheese that was made by mixing yesterday’s water, cream, and cheese powder. Also, bring a few slices of cake and some pastries."

Nanny Liu brought out the food Ye Xinyan had mentioned, and Xie Chun and Wang Shengxin leaned forward, looking at the various pastries and ingredients presented on the table.

Zhang Baokui immediately recognized the plate of cheese powder; pointing at the plate, he looked at Ye Xinyan and stammered, "This, this item..."

Ye Xinyan nodded and replied, "Yes, this is made by grinding cheese curds; it is cheese powder."

Zhang Baokui seemed to suggest Ye Xinyan was squandering resources. He struggled to say, "Turned into this, it’s not easy to carry, and in this powdery form, it’s also difficult to eat."

Xie Chun and Shengxin found the other two plates of pastries more intriguing. These pastries must be from the Qi family’s small pastry shop; they looked mouthwatering and were sure to whet one’s appetite.

Ye Xinyan pushed a plate of small shortbread cookies closer to them and said, "These pastries are made with cheese powder mixed in. Try them, do they suit your taste?"