She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 584 - 582 Wooden Rail Horse Carriage

Chapter 584: Chapter 582 Wooden Rail Horse Carriage

Additionally, the cheese fermentation at three locations was overseen by Zhang Baokui, with several of his apprentices stationed at each site to manage the operations. As fermentation is a crucial process, Zhang Baokui needed to travel between the three sites to inspect and supervise the work, bearing a significant burden with a highly respected position.

Today, the dairy workshop has developed three main varieties of cheese, each with its distinct flavor. Most of the cheese is sent to the capital, with a small amount also sold in Yuyuan Prefecture and a few other prosperous cities along the way. Due to the limited production of cheese and its high-end marketing strategy, cheese has become an extremely luxurious ingredient that only the wealthiest can afford, resulting in substantial profits.

When it comes to industry and entrepreneurship, the most important aspect is the arrangement of management personnel, especially the officials in charge and chief stewards. As long as they are well-appointed, one can basically be free of worries.

At this point, what Ye Xinyan needed to do was to wait for the machines to operate normally at the mechanical workshop in Peach Grove and for the wooden railway connecting Peach Grove to function properly. Then, she could let go of the matters in Yuyuan Prefecture.

Once the mechanical workshop was completed, it would elevate the era’s handicraft industry to another level, not to be underestimated.

The wooden railway was equally important, as it was intended to provide the court and the emperor with a satisfactory report. If the wooden railway could ensure stable operation year-round, the burden of railway transportation for the court would be greatly reduced, and the expansion of railway transportation would be more secure.

By mid-July, after setting off a large box of fireworks, Ye Xinyan and Qi Younian, among others, worked diligently until the first railway carriage to travel on wooden tracks, hauling a large stack of hay and some tools and implements, headed for Peach Grove. It also brought back the cow’s milk from Peach Grove en route.

In Clear Water Village, the starting point of the railway, nearly the entire population of young and old villagers gathered, along with many from neighboring villages who came to join the excitement.

Surrounded by layers of onlookers, they were astonished to see a large carriage full of goods, pulled by two horses, speeding along the tracks and smoothly vanishing from sight.

For these farmers who had lived in a remote mountain village for generations, there was a moment of stunned silence before the exclamations and cheers thundered. Many of the elderly marveled that in their lifetime, they had witnessed such a strange sight, thinking that their lives had not been lived in vain.

As for the children, led by Qi Sanshun and Qi Jiajia, they were even more excited, shouting and running alongside the carriage on the tracks for a considerable distance.

Some familiar villagers approached Fan Zhengyuan to inquire quietly whether they, too, could experience a ride on this magical carriage and feel what it’s like to "fly."

The female relatives from Madam Yin’s family were also amazed.

Although Madam Yin knew that the railway carriages were already operational in the capital and had seen them from a distance, her status meant that she had her own luxury carriage, so she naturally did not join in the bustle and thus hadn’t observed them up close.

Even close observation couldn’t compare to the seamless visual experience of tracks spanning between two places in the open countryside versus carriages transporting passengers within the city.

Now, as Madam Yin watched the carriage swiftly dash away, she too was stunned for quite a while.

Lady Zhao and Xiuqin, needless to say, stood with their mouths agape, staring blankly in the direction the carriage had disappeared, along with the extended wooden railway, their mouths wide open for quite some time.

When Lady Zhao snapped back to reality, she felt an unusual sensation in her heart. Her son had only rested for a few days after returning from the capital before becoming too busy to stay at home. Perhaps her son was the driving force behind this unique mode of transportation that the entire world had never seen before?

As an elder, she naturally couldn’t go and ask Ye Xinyan and Zhou Biyao.

At this time, Lady Zhao could no longer care about the proprieties of gender. She weaved through the crowds of craftsmen and laborers, squeezing her way to Ah Qiao’s side, and tugged at his clothing.

Ah Qiao, surrounded by people asking him all kinds of questions, felt someone pulling at him and was quite astonished. His status was no longer that of the ordinary lad he had been three years ago. After serving as an official in charge for three years, he had earned the respect of many veteran craftsmen and the villagers nearby.

There weren’t many who could pull at him like this in this place.

He turned around and saw that it was Lady Zhao with her cousin coming over. He quickly turned, "Mother, how did you manage to squeeze in here?"

Lady Zhao didn’t bother with Ah Qiao’s question; she whispered, "Ah Qiao, is this the business you’ve been working on? This carriage can actually run so fast and still be so smooth. Did you oversee this work?" If so, her son was truly a big player here, alongside Qi Younian and Miss Ye. She would then have even more confidence and pride.

In the three years since Ah Qiao had left, although he often sent letters and money home, and people came and told his mother about his capabilities, this was the first time she had seen his work with her own eyes.

The Railway Carriage was not as difficult to understand as lathes, Chain Inversion Devices, or Hoisting Machines. Anyone could see the difference between the Railway Carriage and ordinary carriages when it was in motion right before their eyes.

Hearing his mother’s inquiry, Ah Qiao proudly said, "Yes, Ye Zi proposed and planned this, and then Second Miss Zhou and I, along with a few capable craftsmen, handled the specifics. Look, the carpenters worked through the whole winter following the railway design, to process the wood tracks and railroad ties. After spring arrived, my eldest uncle and fourth uncle led the Construction Industry workers, working day and night to finish laying the tracks, and now it’s ready for use."

Ah Qiao didn’t grasp the meaning behind his mother’s questions and clarified the matter thoroughly, finishing with a smile, "Mother, what do you think? Isn’t the carriage fast and stable? It’s good, isn’t it?"

Although Lady Zhao received an answer from her son, it wasn’t what she wanted to hear.

That winding track that disappeared out of sight and the carriage moving like the wind—how could such extraordinary things be associated with a woman? Why was it not only presided over by Miss Ye, but also involving his future daughter-in-law? Could the delicate daughters of official families also handle such grand undertakings?

Lady Zhao couldn’t help feeling upset. She had thought this was her son’s accomplishment, but it turned out it wasn’t at all. The Zhou family daughter-in-law would be more difficult to handle than she had imagined.

Xiuqin, caught up in the excitement, failed to notice Lady Zhao’s expression and asked Ah Qiao eagerly, "Cousin, this carriage... next time goods are delivered, can I try riding in it? I saw there were also two people sitting in it just now. Cousin, please speak well of me to Miss Ye so we can also try how comfortable that carriage is, okay?"

Lady Zhao composed herself. Given what had transpired, her son was not as important as she had thought, so she no longer harbored a competitive spirit.

Thinking of the Peach Grove, which people had mentioned since her arrival, Lady Zhao became curious. Following Xiuqin’s lead, she said, "We always hear about this Peach Grove. Mother and Xiuqin have not yet seen it. Taking advantage of this opportunity, with such a convenient and fast carriage available, let’s take the carriage to see what the Peach Grove is like."

"Alright," Ah Qiao agreed cheerfully.