She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 501 - 499: The Person Who Should Benefit the Most

Chapter 501: Chapter 499: The Person Who Should Benefit the Most

Jiang Yifan was right, it was indeed a delay. But she had already employed all the available hands, and those led by Wong Qiao were among the better craftsmen, who were not easily found.

Seeing Ye Xinyan finally turning her face towards him, Jiang Yifan immediately restrained his smile and seriously said, "I just heard a brief overview from Wong Qiao, and the device you want to create is not just this Chain Inversion Device. You can’t afford to focus all your energy on this alone; the other auxiliary and simpler parts should also be started."

"There’s no one available," Ye Xinyan said plainly, "If I were to pull people from Wong Qiao’s team for other tasks, the progress on the Chain Inversion Device would be even slower."

Jiang Yifan put the rough sketch in his hand in front of Ye Xinyan, "Then find more people to do it. As for manpower, let’s all think of a solution together, or perhaps still transfer people from Sixth Master, after all, his people are somewhat more reliable."

"Please, have a seat, Lord Jiang," Ye Xinyan stood up and gestured to the chair by the small table near the window. This really was a problem that required collective wisdom, and she was in a predicament. It was best to listen to more suggestions.

Once Jiang Yifan took a seat, Ye Xinyan said, "I have considered what Lord Jiang suggested. However, this is a device for use in the Construction Industry, and has nothing to do with Sixth Master’s affairs. It’s not quite proper to make use of the people under Sixth Master, is it? He too is in great need of hands right now, and is probably short on manpower."

Ye Xinyan glanced at Zhou Biyao but did not delve further. When she had left the capital, Jinrong was planning the fine details of the railway transport project. It was likely that he was already short on people, let alone to lend a hand to the Qi Family Construction Business.

Jiang Yifan shook his head and said, "I think otherwise. The tools you are making here are not only useful for the Construction Industry. If they can be successfully created, they could also double the work efficiency in other areas."

He tapped the rough sketch lying in front of Ye Xinyan, "What is depicted in this drawing? It also doesn’t seem to be a very simple device. The sooner you start working on it, the sooner you will finish it. By the time your Chain Inversion Device is ready, this could be completed too, or perhaps even earlier, so as not to delay your entire plan."

Ye Xinyan looked at the rough sketch of the omni-directional wheel and explained, "This is the wheel at the base of the gantry frame. If successful, it will be a wheel that can change direction at any time and freely alter its angle of movement. However, I’m not sure if it can be made."

"Gantry frame?" Jiang Yifan voiced his surprise, for he had never heard of such a thing before.

"It’s just a name I came up with, mainly for use..." Ye Xinyan pulled out another rough sketch and laid it alongside the omni-directional wheel sketch on the small table, explaining to Jiang Yifan how to use the Chain Inversion Device and pulleys on the gantry frame.

Jiang Yifan carefully examined the drawing Ye Xinyan had taken out, along with the small device Wong Qiao had been working on outside, and couldn’t help but feel a tremor in his heart. Could such machinery really be successfully created? Could it also be something Ye Xinyan had seen or even used in her previous life?

He lowered his head, concealing the tremor in his heart, and compared the two drawings side by side. After a good while, he said, "These devices are quite complicated. Relying only on the people here, and if things don’t go smoothly, it might take years to achieve success."

Jiang Yifan looked up, "This is your creation, and if it can be made, it will be very useful. It’s up to you whether you want external help or if you prefer to keep it hidden within the Qi Family Construction Business for your own use. If I find people for you, I will ensure they are reliable and won’t let the word get out. However, the progress will be much slower."

"If you are willing to let Sixth Master or others use it too, then draw manpower from Sixth Master and work with your team, to quickly complete the task and introduce such a remarkably effective tool into various industries of the Great Xia Dynasty sooner rather than later."

From Jiang Yifan’s perspective, as an Imperial Appointed Official, he naturally wished that the tools depicted in Ye Xinyan’s sketches could benefit the entire realm, advancing the progress of engineering work throughout the Great Xia Dynasty and bringing about some level of transformation for the construction field as well as for all engineers and craftsmen.

However, this item belongs to Ah Yan and is a piece of equipment with powerful applications, so it’s extremely precious. Ah Yan has the right to decide how this equipment is used and to whom it belongs.

Ye Xinyan frowned and thought for a moment. She wasn’t afraid of this object being widely used; many of the ancient era’s miraculous skills had been lost over time due to such narrow-mindedness over short-term personal gains. The loss was significant in the grand scheme of history.

Turning skills into money is an easy task. Yet some insist on ridiculous rules like passing down through the male line and not to females, which end up leaving everyone without any advantage.

However, she was afraid that the widespread application of this item might cause her trouble. In that case, letting Jinrong’s people take the credit, giving recognition to Wong Qiao and Jinrong’s people, would be a good choice.

As for knowledge being wealth... well, she had brought this amazing thing from a thousand years in the future, she should earn some "shipping fee" for it, right? Asking for a bit more silver for time-space delivery shouldn’t be too much, should it?

Yes, that’s the way to do it.

"Then let’s discuss it with Sixth Master. But I have my conditions," Ye Xinyan said frankly.

"Of course, Ah Yan, you name them." Jiang Yifan felt relieved inside. For Ah Yan to be so generous with such a widely applicable piece of equipment was already beyond his expectations. As for the condition, it was probably about silver? She had changed this way since leaving Duke An’s Mansion, not surprising.

He could still remember the scene en route to his post when Ah Yan borrowed silver from him — so cautious yet so bold. The bowl was shattered, and the wild vegetable soup spilled all over. Jiang Yifan curled the corner of his mouth, feeling both heartache and amusement.

Ye Xinyan glanced at Jiang Yifan, unsure of the origin of his strange expression, "I had already found a skilled blacksmith who agreed that as long as I need, he would exclusively make the iron parts I required. But if we go with what Lord Jiang suggests and expand the use of the equipment, my original plan won’t be suitable anymore."

"What Wong Qiao plans to do involves not just the gantry frame and Chain Inversion Device, but also a piece of equipment for lifting dirt and bricks, which we’ll temporarily call the Hoisting Machine. When no one knows how to build such apparatus, it seems magical. But once someone dissects it... I believe the craftsmen of the Great Xia Dynasty will be able to replicate it quickly.

So if we use Sixth Master’s people, and the equipment becomes widely used, then the profits from manufacturing it must be kept with those who truly deserve them. Don’t you agree with what this humble woman has said, Lord Jiang?"

Ye Xinyan raised her eyebrows, looking at Jiang Yifan. The ones who truly deserved the profits were herself and those who could invest in her.

If Jiang Yifan and Jinrong agree, we could collaborate and start up a mechanical workshop. Yes, that’s right, to establish a mechanical workshop in ancient times. If they don’t agree, then we’ll go our separate ways, and she’ll think of another way, but she was determined to earn that silver.

Jiang Yifan couldn’t help but laugh, "I don’t know where you get this obsession with silver from. Alright, being willing to widely apply the equipment to the Great Xia Dynasty is very generous of you, Ah Yan. The profits should certainly go to you."

Zhou Biyao had long stopped her work, eyes widened, listening intently to the conversation between Ye Xinyan and Jiang Yifan.