She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 519 - 517 Chaotic Scene

Chapter 519: Chapter 517 Chaotic Scene

Ye Xinyan couldn’t help but laugh when Madam Yin posed her question, "Mother, you haven’t even grasped the Chain Inversion Device, yet you want to keep asking?"

Madam Yin gave her a reproachful look and lightly reprimanded, "Your mother has been listening all along, hasn’t she? I spend every day with you; I must know what you’re capable of, right? If in the future our daughter has invented many useful tools and devices, and I, as your mother, know less about them than others, wouldn’t that be laughable?"

As she spoke thus, Madam Yin’s eyes became filled with a mournful look, "Do you disdain your mother for being slow and thus lose patience while explaining to me?"

Oh, "How could that be? I would never think that way. You’re overthinking it," Ye Xinyan hastily explained.

In response to Ye Xinyan’s words, Madam Yin said, "Then explain it to your mother. I have heard people secretly whispering that the Chain Inversion Device isn’t that simple; if such a thing could be made, many previously difficult tasks would become easy, and it would be a major achievement for the entire Imperial Workshops industry. Even Yuanfan places such importance on the Chain Inversion Device; he was willing to stay yesterday and celebrate with everyone, so it must be true. Your Hoisting Machine is the same, right? Tell me about it, so I can know the extent of Ah Yan’s abilities."

Ye Xinyan, prompted by Madam Yin’s words, blinked repeatedly and with no other option, briefly explained the purpose of the Hoisting Machine to her.

The Hoisting Machine is a simple device for transporting materials and tools; modern hoisting machines are driven by single-phase electricity. Ye Xinyan thought of making the Hoisting Machine because it has a simple structure, requires a motor with not substantial power, and, with some modifications, it could still be operated manually. Although manual operation is not as fast as electric, for an era with low productivity like ancient times, employing this device for small-scale loading and unloading, as well as local transportation of materials and goods, could significantly improve work efficiency.

Madam Yin did more or less understand Ye Xinyan’s explanation and, precisely because she understood, she grew even more amazed, "You mean to say, if this machine were made, it would be even more impressive than the Chain Inversion Device, able to effortlessly hoist heavy items and deliver them anywhere without the need for manpower?"

Oh, how could I put it that way? Did I exaggerate that much in my explanation?

Ye Xinyan had to reconsider her wording and explained, "It’s not as amazing as you think; it’s not that no people are needed, just not many. The amount of weight it can lift is limited, and it can’t compare to the Chain Inversion Device, but it has the advantage of being able to rotate and deliver materials in different directions and at varying heights."

As she spoke, Ye Xinyan sketched a simple diagram for Madam Yin and then added, "This device is more complex than the Chain Inversion Device, and I can’t guarantee that I can make it successfully; I can only try. If it doesn’t work, I’ll have to see how to adjust. Be mentally prepared, Mother. Your daughter may not understand everything perfectly; there’s a chance I could go astray or make a mistake. It might mean Wong Qiao and the craftsmen will have been busy in vain, ending up with nothing."

As for the Hoisting Machine, Ye Xinyan wasn’t entirely confident. It was different from the Chain Inversion Device, which was purely a manual machine, while the hoisting machine was driven by an electric motor. If the mechanical part was completed and the force required for transmission was too great for one or two people to handle, then another solution would be needed. They would have to revert to the old method of trading off travel distance for weight and reconsider the transmission part.

Before Madam Yin could speak up, Zhou Biyao had already started chiming in, "How could that be? The projects Sister Qi plans always succeed, it’s just a matter of whether those who carry them out have put their heart into it." Third Brother Wong has said that as long as Sister Qi can conceive it, it can definitely be done. It just depends on how much effort and resolve the doer is willing to invest. Zhou Biyao firmly believed that Third Brother Wong’s judgment was very accurate.

Madam Yin certainly enjoyed hearing such words from Zhou Biyao, "Exactly, Biyao is a child with real insight. If Biyao says it will succeed, then it certainly will."

Ye Xinyan held her forehead in her hand; communicating with these two was simply impossible.

Wong Qiao had just come back after delegating tasks and happened to overhear their conversation. He meticulously recalled the machine that Ye Xinyan had drawn for him. It was rare for Ah Yan to be so uncertain about something. However, she had always been cautious about the Hoisting Machine, never saying it would surely succeed, only that they would try and see.

Yet, such a device, like the Chain Inversion Device, had the potential to change the ways of the craftsmen. As long as there was a ray of hope for success, it was worth any amount of effort and time spent.

It appears that the seemingly simple device sketched in the drawing will require considerable effort.

Madam Yin listened closely as Zhou Biyao detailed their current tasks. Zhou Biyao even brought out the drawing of the swivel wheel to show off to Madam Yin. She promised on her own behalf, stating that Sister Qi had said, compared to other tasks, the swivel wheel was relatively simple and they would surely succeed. If they managed to produce a finished product, the wife of the heir apparent would be the first to receive a chair that could slide in any direction, ensuring comfort and convenience.

Ye Xinyan gazed silently at the sky with disbelief. What she had promised was for Zhou Biyao and Wong Qiao to have an easier time when working at their desks, allowing them to easily turn to reach for their papers, pens, and materials.

A dignified lady, adorned in intricate and lavish garments, sitting on a chair with swivel wheels, sliding back and forth...

Er, her imagination seemed on the brink of collapse.

Filled with boundless confidence in her daughter, Madam Yin went to oversee the business on her daughter’s behalf, so that she could concentrate on creating those grand devices.

Through these days of inspection, Madam Yin had begun to get a handle on the cattle farm and dairy product workshop.

After all, she had experience managing household affairs within a large estate, and compared to the chaotic and trivial matters within the house, the two fully regulated enterprises were relatively easier to manage. Normally, the official in charge would handle all matters properly, and she was simply there to ensure, on Ye Xinyan’s behalf, that the official in charge and the workers were adhering to the rules.

The more Madam Yin observed, the more she understood the detailed processes and rules, and then it came down to managing people. Just as Ah Yan had instructed her, business, after all, relied on the management and key workers. The main point was to manage people well—so long as there were no mistakes from the people, everything would be simple.

After three months of overseeing the two enterprises, Madam Yin deeply resonated with her daughter’s words. She had never expected their indulged daughter, who had stepped out of their home and the capital, could change so tremendously, becoming so wise and capable.

Ye Xinyan left the business in Madam Yin’s hands, and aside from accompanying her to visit the businesses every five days or so, she devoted all of her remaining time to mechanical production.

Having never worked in mechanical production before, Ye Xinyan only realized the multitude of problems when she actually began the work.

The first issue was that the blacksmiths’ initial cuts were too arbitrary, followed by a lack of standardization in the finer processing. They each did as they pleased, and the tools they used varied as well. In any case, the artisans followed one principle: as long as the final product met the required dimensions, it was considered sufficient.

Currently, they were manufacturing single pieces, at an experimental stage. If they were to mass produce the Chain Inversion Device and other devices, the scene would certainly descend into chaos, likely even affecting normal operations.

Ye Xinyan, along with Zhou Biyao and several officials who had worked in the Imperial Workshops sent by Jinrong, spent several days circulating the artisans’ workshops. After discussions, they finally decided to issue task orders to standardize the work process.

Following Ye Xinyan’s idea, they wrote down every step for each workpiece, requiring the workers to produce the rough shapes according to the dimensions specified in the work order, using the prescribed tools to process the parts.