She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 312 - 311: Worrying over the Cheese Issue

Chapter 312: Chapter 311: Worrying over the Cheese Issue

Madam Yin was busy with the opening of the Pastry House and didn’t pay much attention to other affairs in the capital. Only in the past few days did she learn that Prince Yu’s South and North Goods Store was selling a kind of cheese with an unusual taste, but initially, she didn’t take much notice.

It wasn’t until the day before yesterday when her sister-in-law from her maiden home visited the Pastry House and mentioned that several houses in the capital were sharing various cheese pastry recipes that she thought the cheese might very well be the product of the Dairy Products Store managed by Ah Yan, as it was sent into the capital by people dispatched by His Highness Prince Yu.

In the past two days, hearing people talk about how unattractive that flavored cheese looked and how strange it tasted, she truly became anxious, but she didn’t know how she could help Ah Yan.

After yesterday’s events, she suddenly had another idea. Owning a business that sold pastries and snacks, she realized that helping out would indeed be convenient.

Madam Yin said to Nanny Huang, "Since this cheese has no connection to the imperial palace and is being sold directly by the South and North Goods Store to the public, if we buy it to use as an ingredient in the Pastry House, the Duke probably won’t object."

Nanny Huang also had a sudden thought and asked, "The Shengyu Snack House to operate with flavored cheese? But, what if we upset the customers’ stomachs? Instead of helping the young lady, we could negatively impact our newly established business."

Madam Yin smiled and said, "Since we’re to help Ah Yan, we obviously can’t operate with flavored cheese just to make money. I’ll discuss it with the manager of Shengyu. We’ll buy some cheese each day and, using the methods provided by the South and North Goods Store, continuously offer it to our regular customers and acquaintances for free over the coming days.

Even if the patrons don’t like it much, if offered such expensive food for free, they will likely at least taste it. After trying it a few times, maybe they’ll actually grow accustomed to the flavor, just as Second Young Master Xu from Marquis Jingyuan’s Mansion said they might."

"The method spoken by the wife of the heir apparent should work," Nanny Huang nodded in praise. "Such expensive ingredients can only be sold well in a place filled with wealth like the capital. Our Pastry House sells snacks, and by offering these cheese treats for some days, we will surely be able to help the young lady.

The young lady is so capable now, and if the cheese wasn’t good, she and His Highness Prince Yu certainly wouldn’t have brought it all the way to the capital to sell. It must be that people are simply unaccustomed to it, which is causing them to be picky about the cheese. Madam’s method is good. By offering it here, and allowing the patrons to eat it several times, we will naturally be helping the young lady."

Madam Yin nodded with a smile. She always felt she was an unqualified mother, having taught her daughter so little. If she could now help Ah Yan smooth out the business, she would find some consolation.

......

As Madam Yin was thinking about how to help Ye Xinyan develop the fermented cheese business, the Seventh Prince, Prince Fu, was also troubled by the matter of the cheese.

Prince Fu and Liu Yu were idly seated in the study of the prince’s mansion, yet the topic of their conversation was far from leisurely.

Prince Fu was asking, "Did the servants really say that the taste of the cheese improved a lot when eaten again?"

Sitting below him, Liu Yu answered, "Yes, the day before yesterday I heard that Xu Deng and Huang Hao and a few other rakes were grilling cheese and venison in Marquis Jingyuan’s garden, greatly enjoying themselves. They said that the cheese tasted distinctively better the second time, and one could actually savor the unique delicious flavors. Therefore, I had people buy two more pieces of cheese, eaten by the same servants as last time. These people all said their second experience differed greatly from the first, and they indeed identified a rich and fragrant flavor. Now, they can even detect the fragrance of the cheese just by smell."

Liu Yu couldn’t understand it; after all, in his opinion, food is either good or bad—how could it become delicious after eating it a few more times?

After pondering for a moment, Prince Fu said, "Have the steward find Wan Yan and get more cheese, and let the kitchen prepare it according to the recipes. If it’s really as good as people say, our business of buying cheese remnants from the Northern Barbarians won’t be as easy, and we’ll need to plan for the long term."

Liu Yu promptly nodded and agreed, immediately standing up to make arrangements.

With a heavy heart, Prince Fu put down a booklet he was holding, feeling extremely annoyed.

In the palace, the pastries made with the recipes and cheese powder butter provided by Jinrong indeed tasted delicious. Many were keen on this tasty snack, and those with more experience and knowledge could easily recognize that the cheese powder used for the pastries was not unusual—it was simply made from cheese remnants common among the Nomadic Barbarians.

Thus, the subordinates from Prince Fu’s Mansion came up with an idea to purchase cheese scraps and butter from the Northern Barbarians and grind them into powder. Then, they could sell it as a premium ingredient for a hefty profit.

As soon as he heard their proposal, he agreed. With such an easy way to make money and a chance to undermine Jinrong’s business to boot, why wouldn’t he do it?

However, before his envoys to the North had even returned, Jinrong had already sent a different kind of cheese. This time, it wasn’t cheese or cheese powder, but a flexible cheese with an odd smell that could be used immediately. It was incredibly convenient, ready to eat when sliced or grated.

He had those who had been to the North and encountered the Northern Barbarians discern its origin, but none knew how it was made. The usual cheese produced by the nomadic Barbarians was either fresh cheese just made or dried cheese, perhaps leftovers from cheese-making. Such a soft cheese should not keep well and was not suited for storage.

Fortunately, the peculiar smell of this flavored cheese wasn’t widely appreciated, and he felt somewhat relieved. Yet in just a few days, this food item, which had initially received poor feedback, began to show signs of gaining favor and turned out to be quite palatable after all.

The complexion of Prince Fu turned grim. If this cheese could withstand storage and proved to be delicious, then the cheese scraps he had gone to great lengths to import from the North would surely suffer a huge drop in price. As for striking at Jinrong’s business, that was even further out of the question.

Annoyed, Prince Fu pondered the high price of the flavored cheese, realizing the immense profit it must be garnering. That little wretch Jinrong was just as cunning as ever, ignoring serious matters yet always scheming like a devil.

The cooks at Prince Fu’s Mansion were skilled. After acquiring the cheese, they followed the recipe provided by the South and North Goods Store to make cheese roast meat. Although the flavor wasn’t entirely satisfactory, it wasn’t as bad or bizarre as many people had described during their first tasting.

In the afternoon, during the tea time, the kitchen delivered two kinds of pastries, along with a few thin slices of cheese and a pot of grape wine.

Thus, His Highness Prince Fu became the first in the capital to try the classic pairing of red wine with cheese. And afterward, he felt quite displeased.

It wasn’t the taste that displeased His Highness, but rather the fact that this strange combination actually held a delightful charm, and that’s precisely why His Highness was so displeased, very displeased indeed.

Prince Fu merely chewed a small piece of cheese, finished half a cup of grape wine, then set down the goblet and said indifferently, "It seems that Sixth Brother has indeed found a business that will make a large profit."

Liu Yu, savoring the delicacy, also wore a look of unexpected displeasure and said, "Judging by the taste of this cheese, it is indeed a superior ingredient that stands up to scrutiny." Being able to be eaten plain is indeed something that can earn Silver, and this reality was quite disheartening.

Liu Yu’s mood was similarly dismal. Although the idea of importing cheese scraps from the North was not his, he supported it wholeheartedly. He too believed it to be a simple and profitable venture.

Little did he know that Prince Yu wasn’t relying on cheese powder and butter to make Silver. That’s why only a small quantity was sent to the palace, without further ado. There was no grand operation of cheese pastry and cheese powder businesses in the capital.

So here was the follow-up: this cheese, soft yet resilient, not only tasted mellow but was also extremely convenient for immediate use. If it also had the advantage of long-term storage and year-round availability, the flavored cheese could indeed become a staple for the wealthy, earning Prince Yu a substantial amount of Silver Coin.

Prince Fu picked up his hot tea and gestured at the tray holding the wine jug, wine goblets, and slices of cheese, signaling to the young servant standing by, "Take it away."

He really found these items an eyesore. Who doesn’t like Silver? Especially for people like them, cultivating power, befriending others, and building relationships all require Silver. Regardless of whether Jinrong harbored ambitions to supplant others, having such a profitable business fall into his hands was deeply unsettling.

Sipping his tea, Prince Fu inquired, "Are these truly the work of Elder Master Ye’s granddaughter who is not fit for public appearance?"

Liu Yu replied, "According to the information we’ve received, the Dairy Products Store of His Highness Prince Yu is indeed managed by Qi Ye. Although Qi Ye has managers and workers to handle specific tasks, they all follow Qi Ye’s orders. His Highness Prince Yu does not involve himself with the workshop affairs, and even seldom inquires about them. It appears he has great trust in and confidence in Qi Ye."

"The Ye Family’s foolish and rash woman, capable of such shrewdness and ability?" Prince Fu expressed extreme doubt at this information, skepticism that had persisted since he first learned that Ye Xinyan could make a living independently until now.