She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 219 - 218: Naive

Chapter 219: Chapter 218: Naive

Upon seeing the track, Jiang Yifan’s expression immediately became solemn. His sharp eyes met Jinrong’s, and the two almost simultaneously arrived at the same realization.

The thing looked ordinary, but in fact, it was not simple at all. If it could be widely used, the transportation within towns, especially the traffic in larger towns, would be greatly improved and enhanced.

Jiang Yifan pointed to the loop of track and asked Wong Qiao, "Is this specifically for running carts on? Is it a common device used within the Construction Industry, or is it something your own family made?"

Wong Qiao glanced at Ye Xinyan before explaining to Jiang Yifan, "It’s something our Construction Industry uses for ourselves. This track can be disassembled and used multiple times according to different construction sites. Although installing the track takes some time and costs some Silver Taels, it’s very convenient to use after installation.

All the materials needed for construction can be transported by cart, which is very convenient and quick, saving time and manpower. The value created by using the track far exceeds the cost of making it."

The Dairy Products Store was a business collaboration between Ye Zi and Sixth Master, with Sixth Master Rong holding the major share. Therefore, Wong Qiao carefully explained a few more points.

Seeing that Jiang Yifan had no further comments, Wong Qiao continued with the introduction, pointing to the position above the cart and saying, "That hanging there is the pulley set that the Lord just mentioned."

After seeing the track, the thoughts that had arisen in Jiang Yifan and Jinrong caused their interest in the pulley to wane, but they still followed Wong Qiao’s gesture and looked over.

They saw that high above the position where the cart had stopped hung three small wheels of various sizes. Following the ropes down, at the place where the cart’s wooden box was hooked, there was another wheel.

After connecting the cart and the hook, they saw a worker untie the rope tied to the side, pulled the rope alternately with both hands, lifting the wooden box and the bricks inside, seemingly without any effort.

Jinrong, amazed, pointed at the worker and asked Wong Qiao, "Those bricks must be very heavy. Can he lift them all by himself?"

Unsure of how to clearly explain to Jinrong, Wong Qiao simply said, "This is related to the number of pulleys and the number of times the rope turns. The more pulleys there are and the more rotations the rope makes, the less effort it takes."

Hu Jing said, "After seeing the preliminary sketches of the pulleys at the Qi family, I went back and looked up the historical records. Long ago, there were books that recorded the use of pulleys. Later on, pulleys were also applied in civilian and military contexts, but not in this manner. They were typically used with just one pulley, and at most, two were used together, one above and one below. There has never been a record of so many being used together like this."

Hu Jing looked towards Wong Qiao, "Brother Wong, where did you learn this method of using multiple pulleys in tandem?"

Everyone’s gaze collectively turned towards Wong Qiao, and Ye Xinyan also glanced at him.

Wong Qiao hesitated for a moment, then immediately answered, "This wasn’t learned from anywhere; it’s because our projects here are urgent. The young lad and Ye Zi discussed and experimented together to come up with it."

Together?

When Jiang Yifan heard this answer, a spark of light flashed in his eyes. He quickly followed up with a question, "Mr. Hu said that the scaffold’s buckle style was also seen at the Qi family. How did you come up with that idea?" Was it together as well?

Wong Qiao steeled his heart and smoothly answered, "That’s the same. It was done for the sake of rapidly constructing scaffolding."

At that moment, another bucket of mortar was lifted to the top of the wall by the pulley.

Jiang Yifan looked towards Ye Xinyan and slowly said, "If all artisans could come up with such ingenious ideas in times of urgency, how much more fascinating this world would be. Does Lady Qi think what I’m saying is correct?"

Jinrong was also quietly watching Ye Xinyan.

Before Wong Qiao made his appearance, Ye Xinyan was full of unique ideas. Not to mention the many fresh foods and dairy products, just take the children’s pushcart and the paper-folded birds; each idea was innovative enough and ingeniously related.

If Wong Qiao said that all those things were ideas proposed by Ye Xinyan herself, and that others only experimented and refined them, he would not doubt it for a moment. However, Wong Qiao did not say that.

"This humble woman thinks that what Lord Jiang said is correct. If all craftsmen in the world could enjoy a comfortable environment, like scholars who have great prospects, and could commit themselves to the Imperial Workshops without distractions, the wonderful results Lord Jiang spoke of could indeed become reality," Ye Xinyan raised her eyebrows, meeting Jiang Yifan’s gaze which glittered with dangerous elements, and replied with a smile.

So what if there are doubts? What if there are suspicions? She was born the legitimate daughter of Duke An’s Mansion. Even if Miss Ye and you, Jiang Yifan, have been husband and wife for years, who asked you to never really get to know your former wife? Although you harbor many doubts towards the person now standing before you, you still just remain in the position of doubt, don’t you?

Jinrong cleared his throat and interrupted the piercing exchange of glances between the two, pointing at the wooden box that had been placed down, he said to Jiang Yifan, "It looks like the four sides of that box can be opened."

Ye Xinyan looked up at the sky. Damn it, ancient people were quite clever too, weren’t they? It wasn’t necessary to be so surprised at everything, as if they had never seen the world before!

Seeing Ye Xinyan show signs of impatience, Nanny Zhou took the opportunity to speak up, "Young Lady, Second Miss of the Zhou family is still waiting over there. Shall we go back now?"

Jinrong, Jiang Yifan, and Wong Qiao all looked expectantly at Ye Xinyan. Such a bustling place, with so many craftsmen and apprentices around, indeed was not suitable for women to linger.

Ye Xinyan bowed hastily, "Please take your time, this humble woman will take her leave now." As if she were all too willing to entertain them, hmph!

Jinrong and Jiang Yifan had initially planned to take a brief look around the Dairy Products Store construction site and then leave. Wandering around with Wong Qiao, they ended up extensively inquiring and ended up staying for almost a full Shichen Chinese Time.

Finally, they returned. They also took another look at the newly built residence of the Qi family before returning to the current courtyard residence of the Qi family, accompanied by Qi Younian and Cheung Wusi.

Looking at the carriages in front of the gate, Jinrong asked the old woman servant guarding the gate, "Did Young Master Zhou and the Second Miss leave?"

The old woman servant knelt down and replied, "Replying to Sixth Master, they left a while ago."

Nanny Liu, who came to greet them, added, "Young Master Zhou waited for Sixth Master and Lord Jiang for quite some time. It was only after Young Lady persuaded him that Young Master Zhou and Second Miss Zhou left. Young Master Zhou asked me to convey his apologies to Sixth Master and Lord Jiang for leaving without saying goodbye."

While walking into the courtyard, Jinrong asked, "What about Lian Gui and the others from Duke An’s Mansion? Why are they not seen around, did they find a place to stay?"

Upon this topic, Nanny Liu replied with a smile, "It’s really easy to find accommodation. Steward Lian talked to He Quantai, who manages the village, and once he mentioned the idea of temporarily renting and the willing rental fee, plenty of people were eager to host them. In the end, Steward Lian chose two nearby homes where the families could move out completely. They’ve already gone to tidy up the rooms."

After hearing Nanny Liu’s words, Jinrong paused and asked, "The entire families are moving out? Where will these two families live?"

Nanny Liu replied, "In our village, there are many farm families who have split off from their parents and siblings’ households. It’s possible for them to squeeze in with the families in their old homes for a short time, especially when there’s silver to be earned."

"Oh," Jinrong nodded. If it were not for his desire to avoid the messy affairs of the capital and to join in the excitement with Jiang Yifan, he wouldn’t have known how deep the need for silver ran among common households.