She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 593 - 591 Hurry Up

Chapter 593: Chapter 591 Hurry Up

Qi Younian was shocked and flattered by the favor when he came to pay respects to Duke An daily, a blessing unimaginable to the common folk. It was dignity granted by Duke An himself, and as a family elder, he had to embrace it.

"The two children have caused quite a bit of trouble for the Mansion before. I’m fortunate that the Duke does not despise them, and I’m truly grateful beyond words. If the Duke needs anything in the future, just command, and let these two come to serve at any time."

"Hahaha, that’s good to hear. I will remember your words, Younger Brother Qi, and you can’t go back on them. Come, come, sit down, Younger Brother Qi, let’s talk while seated."

Duke An had Qi Younian sit in the guest seat, while he took his place in the host seat. "Yuanfan, you and the two youngsters sit too."

Ye Xinyan observed the formality of the room and voluntarily walked over to stand behind Duke An. Yet in her heart, she felt stifled, for who asked her to be a woman? Who asked for women in this world to hold such low status?

Duke An, seeing Ye Xinyan come over to stand behind him, couldn’t help but smile. After all, she was his granddaughter. Look at her, such a dear child.

"Younger Brother Qi has done well with home education; these children are so well-taught, truly enviable," Duke An remarked as he looked each child over with a sigh.

Qi Younian hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Grace is too kind. It’s only because of your guidance that my granddaughter has brought great benefits to my family. Without Ye Zi, these two boys would merely be ignorant, wild lads running around the countryside, lacking knowledge and awareness. Even I owe Ye Zi for leading and assisting me to accomplish a few things."

Duke An liked what he heard and squinted with a smile, "Xinyan fell on hard times, and it’s thanks to Younger Brother Qi’s care that she learned much and found many opportunities. I here thank you, brother."

"Not at all, not at all, Your Grace flatters me, I am overwhelmed," Qi Younian quickly replied, returning the gesture.

"Grandfather, aren’t you and he being a bit too polite with each other?" Ye Xinyan’s eyes darted back and forth between the two men before she couldn’t help but interject.

Qi Younian slightly frowned, casting a discreet glance at Ye Xinyan: How could she speak to Duke An like this?

He then remembered this was Duke An’s Mansion, and Ye Zi was his granddaughter, and not just any granddaughter but also the young Miss of Duke An’s Mansion.

Indeed, Duke An didn’t mind at all and laughed heartily, even apologizing to Qi Younian, "Xinyan is spoiled rotten by me, truly lacking in manners. She’s caused you quite a bit of trouble these past few years, right? But the child’s right, pleasantries are the most boring. Here, try this tea. It’s a newly opened ferment from this autumn. Try it and tell me what you think."

Qi Younian obligingly took a sip of the tea and nodded his head. The teas at home were all prepared by his granddaughter, and to this day, he couldn’t really tell much about them, but he could discern a thing or two about the fragrance and flavor of tea in general.

During their casual conversation, Duke An inquired about Qi Younian’s plans, "The courtyard of Prince Yu’s Other Mansion in Yuyuan Prefecture has quite a reputation in the capital. Your business must be booming now that you’re here. What are your plans?"

Talking about his profession made Qi Younian a little less reserved, "I’m just slightly knowledgeable about craft. As for how to run a business, it’s all Ye Zi’s planning. Before coming to the capital, Ye Zi and I discussed purchasing a decent shopfront here. With a few workshop heads from Yuyuan as our core, we would recruit various craftsmen and artisans to support the Construction Industry. With a little operation, business would naturally come knocking."

A shopfront? Jiang Yifan looked toward Ye Xinyan.

Duke An was also somewhat surprised. Traditionally, whether individual workers, Water Wood Works, or the Construction Industry, they all congregated in a fixed area in North City, differing only in scale, ways of attracting business, and location.

"Not finding a place to open up in North City? North City is where local craftsmen and the Construction Industry cluster, and it would seem easier to attract business there," he said.

"Hey," Qi Younian uttered noncommittally, then said, "The usual practice in the construction industry may indeed be as you’ve just described, but what Ye Zi is planning is a different path altogether. She wants to conduct the construction trade as a legitimate business and build it into a reputable, long-established company."

Although this idea did not conform to the conventions of the construction industry, Qi Younian believed in Ye Xinyan. Ever since he and his granddaughter had met, she had never spoken without certainty, and whatever she did was always carefully planned before taking action.

Duke An might not have been an expert in construction, but he understood that, apart from the court, where else could there be such a stable construction trade? Usually, a workshop head with decent skills could keep a business like Water Wood Works running for at most ten or twenty years. Once the workshop head passed his prime, the business would come to an end.

Moreover, the mobility of craftsmen was quite high, and few groups managed to survive twenty years. As for becoming a reputable, major company—easier said than done.

Just as Duke An was about to discuss this notion in greater detail with Qi Younian, An Nian came in to deliver a message: the Duchess had not seen the two boys from the Qi family for a long time and sent a maid over, inviting the boys to speak with her in the back garden.

Qi Younian was momentarily stunned. Did his grandson and grandnephew really have such good relationships in Duke An’s Mansion that they could even have endeared themselves to the Duchess?

However, Ye Xinyan knew that this was Duke An wanting Qi Jiaer and Sanshun to get to know Ye Yuan better beforehand, so that in the future, it would seem only natural for Ye Yuan to follow the two of them around.

As for matters concerning the construction industry, since Duke An did not have a deep understanding, a brief explanation from Qi Younian was sufficient. She led Qi Jiaer and the other, helping Duke An accomplish his wish.

Ye Xinyan chimed in, "I’ll go with them. Ye Yuan might be there. Those two brats are so crude; I’m afraid they’ll accidentally hurt the child."

Duke An immediately beamed with joy, "Hurry along, then. You accompany them to play; us old men will have a talk."

Ye Xinyan waved at Qi Jiaer and the other, glanced at Jiang Yifan, and left to talk with the old men, "Gentlemen, you’ll have to excuse me."

Unexpectedly, Jiang Yifan actually flashed her a smile and raised his eyebrows high, looking exceptionally delighted.

This guy, he’s clearly becoming delusional.

...

Indeed, Ye Yuan was in the Duchess’s room, playing on the heated brick bed. At this time, Ye Yuan could just wobble about and walk a few steps. He would get up and toddle for a while, then plop down again, tossing stuffed dolls all over the place.

The Duchess sat on the brick bed too, watching him play with a smile. Ye Yuan’s wet nurse stood at the side of the bed watching over him, while Maternal Aunt Zhao was nowhere to be seen.

The Duchess, although not as fond of Qi Jiaer and Sanshun as Duke An, did not dislike them either. Moreover, according to her old man’s wishes, one day the children would be playing together with Ye Yuan.

Therefore, when the Duchess saw Ye Xinyan bringing the two boys over, she hurriedly waved them over with a smile, "Come here, let me have a look at you two. It’s been over a year, and you’ve really grown."

The two first knelt down on the brocade cushion that had already been laid out and performed the ritual of kowtowing to the Duchess. Then they rose and turned their attention to Ye Yuan on the brick bed.