She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 422 - 421: The Situation is Very Serious

Chapter 422: Chapter 421: The Situation is Very Serious

"Two thousand taels of silver?" Marquis Zhongyong’s reaction to the figure and the matter was identical to that of Duke An, "Hasn’t the work already been completed? Why would His Highness Prince Yu pay you so much silver for a project that is already in its final stages?"

Ye Xinyan almost audibly complained about their reactions. Why did they all respond in the same way?

Did they think operating the railway carriage was simple? What did they think the two thousand taels of silver were for? Was that supposed to be the price for selling herself? Was her worth merely two thousand taels of silver? Ridiculous!

"Two thousand taels is not a small sum; with monthly salary in silver, it’s enough for a lifetime. His Highness Prince Yu is no fool; why would he give away so much silver for nothing? Running the railway carriage isn’t easy, and I didn’t ask for more than what was owed. This is the most conscientious price possible," Ye Xinyan said irritably.

Yin Xiaocheng laughed lightly, probably because he was a military general. Although Ye Xinyan had been quite a headache in the past, he didn’t dislike her. The fact that Ye Xinyan, as a girl, was tough and unyielding was an important reason why he didn’t dislike her. Although she often acted rashly and thoughtlessly, it also showed that she was straightforward and wouldn’t engage in underhanded dealings.

Yin Xiaocheng smiled and said, "We are just concerned about you. We’re afraid you might waste a great deal of effort in vain, failing to achieve success and even damaging your reputation as a capable chief steward. Look at you, getting upset. I just said you’ve become sensible, but it seems your temper hasn’t diminished much, has it?"

Ye Xinyan replied with a sullen tone, "This attitude, these comments from you and my grandfather... the insinuated message is a bit much, isn’t it? Forget it. In the end, my grandfather said that as long as I think it’s feasible, he won’t stop me."

Ye Xinyan looked at Marquis Zhongyong and his son with a somewhat challenging gaze. Duke An’s generosity was just so vast, so understanding. The two of you can judge for yourselves.

Maybe it was a difference in starting points. Duke An wanted his descendants to achieve something, willing for her to genuinely engage in work and accomplish something significant.

Whereas Marquis Zhongyong and Yin Xiaocheng still treated her as a woman, not expecting her to achieve much, only wishing her a stable life, more like a woman from the inner household. Hence, Marquis Zhongyong did not agree with Duke An’s approach.

But Ye Xinyan was a Ye, a descendant of the Ye Family. He could only sigh helplessly and said, "The railway carriage project has been underway for a year, and there is still no sign of progress. Complaints from officials and the citizenry are growing by the day. I see that the court will not allow this to continue.

Since you’re now the chief steward, go and take a look first. If it’s feasible, do it. If not, don’t force it; the longer it drags on, the more money and manpower get sunk into it."

After these discussions, it was already noon, and Madam Cao sent someone to invite the three to the dining hall for lunch.

Marquis Zhongyong momentarily set aside matters of the railway carriage and started to head out, recalling the children playing the land battle game as he walked.

He asked Ye Xinyan, "The older child you brought with you, is he your clansman from the Qi family? Since you could bring him here, you must get along well."

Ye Xinyan nodded and said, "Yes, he’s a good kid. Qi Sanshun is the youngest grandson of the Qi family’s main branch, with a natural boldness. He’s been the king of the children in the village since his childhood. Guan He really likes his boldness. Did grandfather and uncle also find him agreeable?"

"The boy is good," Marquis Zhongyong said as he walked with his hands behind his back. "Although your land battle game is a childish diversion, and Qi Sanshun’s opponents were several years younger than him, Qi Sanshun’s approach to the game is quite commendable. If his family is willing and Guan He spends a few more years guiding him, striving to become a martial scholar and pursuing a military career may suit him well."

Ye Xinyan nodded vigorously. Qi Sanshun was fortunate; without Guan He, he would probably only become a spirited village man or might follow her to work as the Protector or a steward.

Now that Guan He was teaching him martial arts, if what Marquis Zhongyong said was anything to go by, following the path of a martial scholar and with support from Marquis Zhongyong and Duke An, his future should be bright. Not to mention ordinary peasant children, even for children from low-ranking officials’ families with good backgrounds, this was an excellent way out.

After lunch, with Marquis Zhongyong and his son and grandson needing to return to the yamen for duty in the afternoon, the family chatted idly for a while, and then the father and son, grandfather, and grandson headed out.

Old Madam Cao settled Nanny Zhao, had Ye Xinyan and the two children take a nap in the side chamber and the curtain-walled room, and even Yin Lanxu didn’t follow her mother back but stayed together with Qi Sanshun and Qi Jiaer in Old Madam Cao’s courtyard.

After the nap and some tea snacks, the four from the Yin family bid farewell and returned to Duke An’s residence.

Holding the small cloth bag with the chess pieces, Yin Lanxu found it hard to part with the two cousins from his elder sister’s family, or perhaps young uncles. Only when the carriage turned the corner and disappeared from view did he somewhat dejectedly follow his mother back.

Ye Xinyan, having heard all that Marquis Zhongyong had said, actually felt anxious during the half-day she spent at Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion. She hadn’t realized before how serious the consequences of the delay in the railway project could be.

If this matter wasn’t resolved urgently, the grand railway carriage project might really be called to a halt. Even the related parties and officials might be held accountable.

This was probably why Jinrong, after returning to Yuyuan Prefecture, rested for only one day before coming over to send her a message urging her to start work.

Fortunately, the two sections of the project contracted by Jinrong were already completed, and the carriages were made, only waiting for operation. The sooner the railway carriages were operational, the better. Each day earlier would reduce some doubts about the railway carriages.

If they could start a trial run before the end of the year, when people are purchasing and selling goods for the New Year, and the streets are crowded with carriages and pedestrians, there would inevitably be congestion. In that case, the railway carriages would certainly be put to good use.

With the two journeys of the railway’s operation, regardless of how much money is made during the period before the New Year, it is most important to show the skeptics that railway operation is totally feasible and worth promoting.

Early the next morning, Lian Gui gathered six protectors, and Ye Xinyan, along with Bi Ning and someone from Song Ping’s household, boarded the carriage. Before they could reach the main gate, the gatekeeper reported that Steward Liu Qing from Prince Yu’s Mansion was waiting outside, ready to escort the Young Lady to the railway construction site for inspection.

Ye Xinyan’s guess was not wrong; being in Yuyuan Prefecture, Jinrong was not well-informed of many pieces of news. He hadn’t expected that the railway project in the capital would become so chaotic and the situation so serious.

Looking at the way things were, in another three to five months, the railway carriage project might really become unviable.

He was still thinking about, depending on the success of railway transport, gaining reputation for his men and raising them to high positions... but when the project gets abolished, not being held accountable would already be fortunate.

Then there were those businesses that had invested heavily, whose silver was lost; who would they go to? Who would take the responsibility?

After a brief meeting with Jinrong, Ye Xinyan departed separately. Jinrong continued to meet with his frivolous friends to catch up on the affairs of the capital he had missed for two years, while Ye Xinyan went to inspect the construction site.