She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 292 - 291 Very Insightful

Chapter 292: Chapter 291 Very Insightful

Cheese, as a new ingredient, will require proper culinary methods for acceptance," Ye Xinyan continued, "Moreover, Sixth Master is selling an entirely new food ingredient, so naturally, he should provide a few recipes with the product for customers to experiment with. Once everyone knows how to make cheese, it won’t matter much whether the wife of the heir apparent has more or less."

"You certainly have thought this through." Jinrong couldn’t help but laugh. It seemed like everyone understood this better than him, while he was over here trying to be clever for no reason.

"When do you plan to start using fermented cheese in your small eatery in the county town?" Jinrong asked.

Ye Xinyan shook her head, "Qingyuan County is still too small, it would only lower the price of cheese. The workshop’s production of cheese is already limited, better not to serve it there, but supply it to the capital instead. The key issue is still the insufficient supply of cow’s milk; we need more cow’s milk to produce more cheese."

"This really is a troublesome matter," Jinrong said, "The Dairy Products Store was set up in a rush, without time to purchase dairy cows from distant places in advance. Most of the dairy cows from the nearby counties have already been bought, and to get more will likely require going farther away. I have a batch of dairy cows coming from a few distant counties; they’re on their way here, but that’s all we can have before the year ends. The rest will have to wait until next year for us to organize from even further away."

Jiang Yifan said, "Profit from cattle farming has always been a time-consuming matter; we mustn’t rush it. Initially, when Ye Zi proposed building a cattle farm, it was meant to spread the use of oxen in agriculture, with hopes of seeing some results in two years’ time. On second thought, even two years might not guarantee a profit. Considering a calf’s growth, from birth until it can reproduce, takes at least two and a half years. Having a source of cow’s milk to sell now is already a bonus."

When Jinrong just mentioned buying most of the dairy cows from the nearby counties, it seemed this could potentially disrupt the livestock market of Yuyuan Prefecture. Autumn harvest just ended, so the disadvantages aren’t apparent yet, but if this continues to the spring planting season, and people start scheming around this, it would be difficult to remedy the situation then.

After contemplating, Ye Xinyan said, "Purchasing oxen the way Sixth Master does might indeed disturb the livestock market, hiking up the price of plow cattle. This would not only be a loss for us but also put a strain on the farmers buying the cattle. How about this," Ye Xinyan suggested, "there are seven or eight weaned calves at the cattle farm, and over the next few months, another twenty or so calves will be ready. We can introduce these into the areas where we’re buying the dairy cows to fill the gap in the livestock market."

Jinrong had yet to react, but Jiang Yifan was already surprised by how unexpectedly good the idea was. As the head of a county government office, he certainly understood the importance of market stability. Oxen, being the main livestock for agriculture and daily transport, could lead to severe consequences if their shortage was exploited for profit.

The three discussed that cattle farms in Qingyuan County and nearby counties had oxen available for rent, which was both affordable and carefree. In essence, this ensured the use of cattle in farming, prioritizing the supply of calves to more distant areas first.

Fortunately, the cattle farm had Cui Chengxi and a few experts in animal husbandry taking care of it, along with three veterinarians regularly checking in, ensuring a high survival rate and robust health of the calves. The continuous sale of calves was bound to discourage those who considered exploiting the situation for profit.

As for the transport of hay, beans, and various other supplies needed by the cattle farm, Ye Xinyan tentatively asked Jiang Yifan, "Lord Jiang, have you considered constructing main roads to and from the county town and its surroundings?"

Jiang Yifan was taken aback. With the cattle farm’s expansion, the volume of transported goods would also increase. However, road construction would consume a great deal of labor and financial resources. To build roads for the cattle farm’s supply transportation using the court’s silver was... not a matter that could be openly discussed.

Focusing solely on her own gains without considering others was not her usual approach. Jiang Yifan asked, "Constructing roads that run through the entire county town is a major project. Ye Zi, what are your thoughts?"

Ye Xinyan saw that although Jiang Yifan’s face showed confusion, he did not reject the idea outright, and she felt there was an opportunity. She explained, "The cattle farm’s logistics needs are becoming increasingly significant. I had wanted to discuss the route with both of you before. If the road is in good condition, not only would it save on travel time, the wear and tear on vehicles and the loss of draft animals would also be significantly reduced.

If the Sixth Master and Lord Jiang agree, I can utilize the current resources of the cattle farm to commence work during the agricultural off-season. We would primarily use the renting of draft cattle as payment for labor. We could even accumulate labor by household to purchase young bulls. However, this means that the income from the cattle farm would have to be delayed."

Ye Xinyan paused, "I can contribute half of the Qi Family Construction Business and Dairy Products Store’s profits to fund a portion of the road repair costs."

Jiang Yifan suddenly looked up. The Qi family was only just getting started, and half of the Construction Industry and Dairy Products Store’s profits was a significant amount for the Qi family. She was willing to contribute half for road repairs, but why?

Jinrong was also puzzled. He asked, "Is building the road that essential? You are actually willing to give up so much of your own profits for this."

"Of course it is important. A wide and flat road is not only safe and comfortable, but it also greatly speeds up travel time. If the road issue is handled properly, it could be even more important for Lord Jiang’s political achievements."

Ye Xinyan looked towards Jiang Yifan and continued to persuade, "Although Qingyuan County is not located in the center of Yuyuan Prefecture, it is not too remote. Traders and travelers who go on long journeys are most concerned about safety and time. If the roads in Qingyuan County become safer and more accessible, many travelers would likely be willing to detour through Qingyuan County."

Seeing that Jiang Yifan’s eyes deepened in understanding, Ye Xinyan said, "With more people passing through and stopping over, it could stimulate many industries, such as pottery, inns, courier services, restaurants, and even small stalls by the roadside would increase. Not only would the government office collect taxes, but the prosperity of the people is also a good thing."

Ye Xinyan noticed that Jiang Yifan’s eyes flashed, but then he did not respond, leaving her quite puzzled. Wasn’t her suggestion a good one? The political achievements brought about by road construction would come faster and be more effective than raising cattle. How could he be unmoved?

Jinrong, too, was surprised by Jiang Yifan’s reaction and asked, "This is a very insightful proposal. Doesn’t Yuanfan think this is a good idea?"

It wasn’t that Jiang Yifan thought Ye Xinyan’s idea was bad, but rather that it was too good, to the point where it intensified the vague sense of unease in his heart. The so-called strategic towns were determined by their geographical location. He had never heard of, let alone seen, someone using manpower to turn a place into a transport hub like Ye Xinyan was suggesting.

Hearing Jinrong’s question, Jiang Yifan pinched the bridge of his nose and said, "Allow me to think about it." He needed to consider how to proceed with the road construction, but even more so, he needed to ponder just what this woman was all about. After undergoing great changes, has some divine power unlocked her intellect?

Ye Xinyan thought Jiang Yifan was merely contemplating how to smoothly carry out the vast road construction project and did not realize his troubles were due to her identity.