She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 378 - 377 The Big Picture

Chapter 378: Chapter 377 The Big Picture

Ye Xinyan didn’t know why Jinrong would bring this up, as running a dairy farm and a dairy products workshop in the capital actually lacked advantages. She pondered for a moment before saying, "The dairy farm has only been up for just over half a year. Apart from sending a batch of cheese to the capital, we haven’t really seen much profit yet. Isn’t it a bit too soon to think about relocating to the capital? And why must it be done in the capital?"

"Aren’t we all going to return to the capital in the end? Shouldn’t there be a main base there? Starting preparations earlier will make expanding the business smoother upon our return," Jinrong stated matter-of-factly.

Seeing Jinrong’s demeanor, Ye Xinyan thought it was somewhat amusing. The capital has always been centered around politics and power, his dairy farm and Dairy Products Store weren’t even considered economic or industrial ventures, so what would be the point of taking them to the capital?

Seeing Ye Xinyan speechless, Jinrong pressed with a question, "What? Am I wrong? You don’t really think you can hide out in Clear Water Village for the rest of your life, do you?" He didn’t believe that with how Ye Xinyan was now, Elder Master Ye could keep her tucked away in this remote corner forever. Not to mention her restlessness; just arranging people to watch over her would consume a considerable amount of manpower and resources.

Zhou Biyao, hearing Jinrong mention their eventual return to the capital, was subtly moved. She stealthily observed the few people at the table. The Qi family being in Clear Water Village made it natural for Sister Qi to live here, so why use the word "hide"? She thought about the House Servant sent from Duke An’s Mansion and then about her father’s suspicions; could it be that Sister Qi, who merely bore a striking resemblance to Duke An’s granddaughter, received such consideration from Duke An from afar in the capital?

Jiang Yifan, noticing Zhou Biyao’s glance, gave her a casual look, sending a shiver through her. Though Jiang Yifan didn’t hold a high office, he came from the capital and was very close to Prince Yu. When her father spoke of Lord Jiang, he used the words "a force to be reckoned with."

Moreover... Zhou Biyao looked again at her Sister Qi. Since Lord Jiang was Duke An’s former son-in-law, if Sister Qi was indeed hiding here, then Lord Jiang...

Zhou Biyao lowered her gaze; it seemed the situation here was quite complicated.

Ye Xinyan, hearing how blunt Jinrong was, no longer looked favorably upon him. She rolled her eyes at him first, then said irritably, "A dairy farm requires a lot of land, and every inch of land in the capital is incredibly precious. Isn’t it extravagant to raise cows in such a place?"

Jinrong was completely unconcerned and with a dismissive gesture, said boldly, "Do we even need to worry about this? You know very well that we have plenty of land."

Ye Xinyan stared at him in disbelief, feeling that discussing economics with a prince who was constantly fixated on power was like playing the lute to a cow.

"It’s not just about land," Ye Xinyan said. "There are issues to consider like labor, fodder, feed, as well as the disposal of wastewater from cheese production. These are activities better situated in more remote areas, like Yuyuan Prefecture or even the further northwest regions."

Jinrong paused, his hand frozen in the act of picking up some grilled meat, and asked, "But isn’t management more difficult if it’s too far away? Besides, the dairy farm isn’t just about the thriving cheese business; there’s also the breeding of draft cattle. Wouldn’t it be more beneficial for agriculture to raise cattle in fertile lands where farmlands are concentrated?"

In fact, Ye Xinyan used to work in company management and wasn’t very knowledgeable about economic operations, but faced with Jinrong’s comments, she suddenly felt like she was a seasoned expert in discussing economics.

"It’s not only about cattle farming and tilling the land; there are other considerations involved."

"Like what?" asked Jinrong.

Jiang Yifan also shifted his gaze, which had been elsewhere, and glanced at Qi Younian, who appeared to be deep in thought, surprised. Old Master Qi seemed to be weighed down with extra worries today.

Ye Xinyan said, "Included here are the lands, the feed, and grass I mentioned earlier, as well as labor, transportation, and the local economic development. Actually, the most important elements might be the economy and transportation around the dairy farm. With a pillar industry, it is possible to bring prosperity to an impoverished area. If these are done in already wealthy and stable areas, they won’t have much of an impact. In fact, they might even disrupt the local stable economy and agricultural structure."

Jinrong felt like he was beginning to understand a little but still asked, "Pillar industry?"

Oh, she had spilled the beans again.

Ye Xinyan explained, "It’s just a way of saying it means an industry that can support and drive the prosperity of a local economy."

Jinrong put down his grilled meat and said, "Explain it to me in detail."

Ye Xinyan saw Qi Younian look at her helplessly and blinked. Is this what grandfather meant by an ability that could easily arouse envy? But, it concerned the future development of the dairy cattle and dairy products—shouldn’t she talk about it?

"Well... I don’t really understand it myself." If she were to talk about it seriously, Ye Xinyan felt a bit unsure. She said, "Let me give a rough description, and Sixth Master can go back and consult someone knowledgeable to see if it’s like this."

Jinrong nodded, "Okay, go on."

Ye Xinyan said, "Take Yuyuan Prefecture for instance; it’s remote, and both tax revenue and public welfare aren’t great. If we were to open a dairy farm and a dairy products workshop here, many local people would gain a new way to work and earn money.

The materials, raw ingredients, and tools used by the dairy farm and dairy products workshop would also drive some related crafts and trade, gradually bringing prosperity to the area. The manure from feed and grass conversion would significantly improve the land... There should be more benefits, but I don’t understand them all. Sixth Master should ask someone knowledgeable for better, more systematic answers."

Jinrong squinted his eyes, his gaze moving incessantly. The benefits Ye Xinyan talked about were already considerable. If there were more, the advantages this industry could bring would be tremendous.

Qi Younian, however, let out a sigh. With Ye Zi’s abilities, she was someone meant for great things. It was fine before, watching Ye Zi work, as she was just a capable woman. But since the snack shop started, her discussions with Prince Yu and Lord Jiang involved no small matters—each one was part of a larger scheme. How could Wong Qiao sustain such a woman?

Jiang Yifan, seeking warmth, sat close to the fire. He sipped a bowl of piping hot milk tea and slowly chewed on a piece of fresh cheese.

Despite the dairy farm in Clear Water Village not having been established for long, as the end of the year approached and the minor officials conducted their inspections and visits to villages and towns, the atmosphere in Clear Water Village and its surroundings was the best.

Without a doubt, this was all thanks to the dairy farm’s grass and cornstalk purchases, as well as employing local laborers and leasing out dairy cattle after the autumn harvest. Ye Xinyan wasn’t wrong when she persuaded them to start the dairy farm—indeed, it was a matter that could bring benefits to both the court and the people.

Guan He tapped his wine cup against the plate in front of him and said, "Are we still drinking or not? Weren’t we supposed to chat while drinking? How come the conversation has cooled down, and we’re neither drinking nor talking much?"