She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 504 - 502 None of Them Work

Chapter 504: Chapter 502 None of Them Work

Ye Xinyan found it odd that since Prince Fu was already in charge of the Ministry of Works, wasn’t it natural for him to want to take on the railway construction project? He should recruit the overseer and craftsmen for the railway construction in the capital under the name of the court. Why would he come to her?

Seeing that Ye Xinyan did not respond, Mr. Fang felt compelled to elaborate, "Miss Ye probably knows that last year, when the railway was laid in the capital, the section undertaken by His Highness Prince Yu was the first to be completed. According to the news we have gathered, the overseer in charge of laying the tracks came from Qingyuan County and had previously worked for the Qi Family Construction Business. His Highness Prince Fu’s intention is to have the court’s officials and craftsmen come here to work and learn some skills, so they can be of service to the court."

This Mr. Fang had been trying to press her with the authority of the court ever since he arrived at the Qi family, sitting in the guest room. Were the court and Prince Fu the same thing? Moreover, was the court not embarrassed to seek favors from a woman like her?

Ye Xinyan thought it over, this wasn’t an impossible request. If the construction projects of the Great Xia Dynasty’s Ministry of Works could be sped up generally, that would be a good thing. Besides, running a training class and earning tuition fees was simple, so why should she offend Princess Fu over such a matter?

She spoke earnestly, "That’s possible, it’s not a difficult task. However, we currently have no projects underway here. If His Highness Prince Fu and Mr. Fang have any projects you need done, Wong Qiao and I can lead them to complete the projects together. By the time the work is finished, they will also know how to do their jobs. But, we charge for this kind of service, which means, we are working to earn the corresponding silver."

Wow, faced with such a Ye Xinyan, Mr. Fang was taken aback.

"This," Mr. Fang felt that this conversation was unprecedentedly difficult, "we did not know before coming that Miss Ye had such rules and did not prepare any projects."

Mr. Fang took a breath, and his speech finally became smoother, "Aren’t you preparing a workshop, Miss Ye? We have brought craftsmen and overseers with us, why not let them help Miss Ye set up the workshop? In the process, they could learn from you and Brother Wong about how to work. The matter of silver is negotiable, just name the amount, Miss Ye, and I will report back to His Highness Prince Fu."

Mr. Fang’s words were polite and delicate, but he did not agree to pay the silver outright, only saying he would report back. If Prince Fu didn’t approve, whom should I, Miss Ye, turn to?

Ye Xinyan smiled and turned to ask Wong Qiao, "Wong Qiao, why don’t you tell the three gentlemen what progress has been made with the machinery you’re in charge of? "

Wong Qiao looked up at Ye Xinyan, failing to find any hints in her eyes. This meant he could speak the truth, "The machinery we are currently making that can lift heavy objects is still in the preliminary stages of trial production. It can be said there has been no progress at all. Lord Jiang looked at it a few days ago and said that if we continue like this, it may be years before we see any results..."

Ye Xinyan turned back to see Mr. Fang and the other two clerks smiling apologetically, "As you’ve heard, the production of the new machinery is indefinitely postponed. If Prince Fu sent you here to learn how to work, my place is not suitable, it would just hold up the work of Prince Fu and you."

"The lifting machinery Brother Wong mentioned, can we take a look?" one of the clerks asked.

She glanced at the two clerks, eager to try, and said indifferently, "Moreover, although I am but a woman, I also know that His Majesty has said more than once that the court has its own laws and tax rates, and does not allow court officials and Yamen to contend with the common people for profits using reasons beyond the law. I too am a citizen of the Great Xia Dynasty, am I not mistaken about this rule?"

Mr. Fang’s complexion turned somewhat unsightly.

Ye Xinyan’s expression softened, and she continued, "The matter of this humble woman is known to all in the capital, and I believe if you gentlemen have been in the capital these past two years, you must have heard of it. This humble woman has suffered before and is unusually determined when it comes to silver. Therefore, a profitable business is not something I would easily relinquish.

You can go back and ask people close to His Highness Prince Yu. When I work for His Highness Prince Yu, I always get paid for what I do, no credit, no debt. I hope, Mr., that you can explain this to His Highness Prince Fu, that I really cannot allow others to help me with the work I am doing now, nor is it convenient for people to watch. If His Highness Prince Fu has any projects, he can send them over with the artisans and managers. Brother Wong and I will lead them to do the work and earn their wages. Other than that, I cannot yield."

Mr. Fang was at a loss for words for a while, unable to see the tools, and to have subordinate officials learn the craft, there had to be a project to work on.

The projects under the prince’s jurisdiction are decided by the court. There are officials and clerks from the Ministry of Works who, from top to bottom, each with their own duties, roll out the projects according to the usual rules. How could it be handed over to a small civilian business like the Qi family’s?

Mr. Fang explained with difficulty, "As for the projects, the relevant departments of the court will handle them. There really is no precedent for them to be given to civilian workshops." And moreover, who would provide the silver? From the funds of the Ministry of Works? The court has its own officials and craftsmen, but to spend extra silver to go to a remote village to find someone to plan the project documents, quite obviously does not make sense.

Ye Xinyan eagerly made another suggestion, "Or this, I will discuss with my grandfather and see if Brother Wong can be spared. If it’s possible, let him go to the capital with you and work for a while at the Ministry of Works. Prince Fu just needs to pay Brother Wong the corresponding wages."

Brother Wong was not worried about Ye Xinyan selling him off to Prince Fu. His Highness Prince Yu, the Qi family, and Ye Zi have such good relations; even when they wanted him to take up an official position at the Ministry of Works before, Ye Zi was not willing, let alone with another prince whom he was not familiar with.

This proposal, same as what Mr. Fang initially suggested, achieved a similar result of people learning the trade and craftsmanship. Yet, this Mr. Fang did not immediately consent. The other two subordinate officials, however, immediately became alert and kept giving wary glances at Brother Wong.

Ye Xinyan explained to the three of them, "Perhaps you gentlemen do not know about Brother Wong? Brother Wong is the mainstay of the Qi Family Construction Business and the tool workshops. All these projects and tools are made by his hand. Taking Brother Wong to the capital would definitely be more useful than sending someone from Prince Fu to Clear Water Village."

Brother Wong opened his mouth, Ye Zi, you can’t bamboozle people like this, can you? I’m just following your instructions to do the work; how am I the mainstay?

He glanced again at Mr. Fang and the other three, lowered his head to drink tea, and remained silent. Ye Zi is cunning; who knows what game she is playing with these men.

Mr. Fang did not expect Miss Ye to be so difficult to deal with. The ideas she proposed left him with no way to respond.

"Of course, we recognize Brother Wong’s talent, but it is not so simple to work in the Ministry of Works. The personnel there is extremely complex. We wouldn’t want to delay Miss Ye’s affairs, nor have Brother Wong be wronged in the capital," Mr. Fang explained diplomatically.

Ye Xinyan’s eyes flashed. So you mean to say, His Highness Prince Fu has no intention of hiring outsiders at all? Are the court’s projects so secretive?

She spread her hands and said, "This won’t do, that won’t do, then there’s nothing we can do."