She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 194 - 193: It Seems Like I’ve Boarded a Pirate Ship

Chapter 194: Chapter 193: It Seems Like I’ve Boarded a Pirate Ship

Hu Jing had no words for Miss Ye, the attitude she had just promised was so good, so quick, it seems there wasn’t much sincerity behind it. Although Miss Ye spoke correctly, your phrasing poses a problem. Describing His Majesty the Emperor as such sounds very inappropriate.

Hu Jing changed the subject, asking about practical matters, "I wonder how much Cheese Powder and cream cheese Lady Qi has on hand?"

When it came to business matters, Ye Xinyan’s tone became serious, "Cream cheese isn’t suitable for storage; we make and use it on demand. There are probably a few dozen pounds of Cheese Powder that can be taken away. The key issue is the shortage of butter, and the small amount we have stored here was recently made by Zhang Baokui’s team. It’s said that butter can be stored for an extended period, but I cannot guarantee the quality of the newly made butter or how long it can actually be stored."

This posed a difficult problem, causing Hu Jing to frown.

Ye Xinyan explained, "Previously, we used thin cream, which is skimmed directly from the top layer of cow’s milk without removing the water content. This thin cream can’t be kept for long, as it will grow mold and spoil within a few days. The butter is also produced under Zhang Baokui’s supervision. I am unfamiliar with butter production."

Hu Jing asked, "What should we do, then? If dairy products can’t withstand storage or transportation, their value greatly diminishes. The Dairy Products Store might not have the brilliant prospects Miss Ye mentioned to Sixth Master."

Ye Xinyan laughed in surprise, "Where in this world are there so many ready-made advantages waiting for people? If dairy was so easy to produce, everyone in the world could do it, then why would I seek out Sixth Master?"

Hu Jing found himself at a loss for words due to Ye Xinyan’s question. He awkwardly chuckled and said, "It was my oversight. Lady Qi, if you have any ideas or suggestions, feel free to share them."

Only then did Ye Xinyan continue, "Zhang Baokui said, the butter made by the Northern Barbarian Herdsmen can last a very long time because it goes through processes of washing and churning, removing the water and acidity from the thin cream. Zhang Baokui is currently processing thin cream using the traditional methods of the herdsmen on the grasslands. The resulting butter looks good, but its effectiveness remains to be verified.

I would suggest to Sixth Master to find some channels first to purchase some butter from the herdsmen of the North, accompany it with the production methods for Cheese Powder and cream cheese, and also refer to recipes for making desserts and dishes. I believe this approach would be more stable."

Hu Jing’s thoughts ventured elsewhere upon hearing Ye Xinyan’s words. He asked, "According to Lady Qi’s words, the North is littered with the dry residue from making Cheese Powder. The method for making cream cheese is also simple, which is just Cheese Powder mixed with butter and water, and the quality of butter in the North might even be better than what Lady Qi has here. If that’s the case, do Sixth Master and Lady Qi have any advantages in their dairy products?"

Ye Xinyan understood what he meant and, not openly disdaining Hu Jing for his narrow experience, slowly said, "To do big business, naturally, one must have qualities and varieties not possessed by others. That’s why I’ve asked Sixth Master to seek out craftsmen and stewards so that we can put our heads together and try to produce high-quality dairy products."

"Trial production?" Hu Jing asked, "Does Lady Qi have a direction for it?"

Ye Xinyan glanced at Hongzhi guarding the door. Hu Jing had left Jinrong’s personal page in the room, likely to reassure her to speak her mind freely.

She said, "I once heard a saying, ’Wine becomes fragrant as it ages.’ When it comes to processing milk from cows and sheep, the best method currently seems to be fermentation. If controlled well, storage won’t be an issue. Furthermore, different fermentation methods and times should produce dairy products with various flavors."

Having explained these details, Ye Xinyan confidently added, "I can guarantee that if the dairy products are made well, they have an extremely broad future and can certainly enter the ranks of elite businesses." She spoke without a hint of self-doubt, as there were successful examples to follow; this was a promise she could make.

Receiving Ye Xinyan’s assurance did not brighten Hu Jing’s expression but rather made his brow furrow even more, and he became speechless for a long while.

Qi Younian didn’t understand why, nor did he know how to ask, but he was anxious inside, eagerly looking at Hu Jing.

Ye Xinyan, however, was somewhat surprised in her heart. She had already given such a definite answer, so why was Mr. Hu starting to worry, "Does Mr. Hu have any other doubts?"

Hu Jing pondered for a moment before carefully saying, "If Lady Qi has a seventy to eighty percent confidence in her own thoughts, then the cheese powder recipe sent to the imperial city must be held back."

Ye Xinyan’s eyes flashed fiercely, but by the time Hu Jing looked over, they had already returned to normal.

She looked discreetly at Hu Jing and Hongzhi, yet inside she was shocked beyond measure. She might have misjudged, truly getting on a ship of thieves. Jinrong’s eagerness to amass wealth was a bit too urgent, definitely exceeding the scope of a leisurely prince or a wealthy man.

From what Hu Jing had just said, it was clear that he started reconsidering the value of the dairy products intended for display in the imperial city because she had mentioned that the Dairy Products Store could become a top-tier business.

Jinrong needed to divert the attention of his royal brothers, making the Emperor and his siblings think that his cattle-raising was solely for earning money. However, if dairy products were a huge business opportunity, then he would have to downplay this exhibition, so as not to let his siblings see the value in it and get involved in the industry prematurely.

Ye Xinyan picked up the teacup from the cabinet beside her, holding it in her hands and slowly sipping.

Hu Jing was unaware of what Ye Xinyan was thinking; after pondering for a moment, he said, "How about this, Lady Qi? You write down the cream cake recipe and choose three other methods for making cheese pastries. Remember, they should cater more to the tastes of women and children."

Ye Xinyan nodded her agreement. Hu Jing meant to control the output of Jinrong’s Dairy Products Store to children’s favorite sweets. This way, the impact and value of dairy products could be greatly diminished.

Hu Jing continued, "Prepare five jins of cheese powder, and take the required butter from Lady Qi as well. We will send someone to deliver it to the capital as fast as possible. Moreover, keep the butter from the Northern Barbarian herdsmen as a backup. If there’s an issue with our butter, dispose of it on the spot and send the Northern Barbarians’ butter into the palace instead."

Hu Jing turned to ask Ye Xinyan, "Lady Qi, what do you think of this arrangement?"

Ye Xinyan nodded, "It’s very appropriate." Once on board with thieves, it’s not so easy to get off. She needed to think carefully about how to conduct business in the future to minimize the Qi family’s risks. Before that, she had to keep a low profile, tail tucked, striving to be as inconspicuous as possible.

Now that the task had been settled and he had gained the prospect of a top-tier business from Miss Ye, Hu Jing’s mood had lifted.

He chatted amiably with Qi Younian, asking about the construction of the Qi family’s compound, suggesting adding two guest rooms and a reception hall to the first entrance for convenience when guests stay temporarily and for hosting them. Also, he recommended adding a row of back rooms to the second entrance to accommodate maids and servant women who come in the future.

Hu Jing chatted happily, his gaze passing around, and he saw a stack of papers placed at the side of his bed.