Ye Xinyan was truly vexed by the issue of milk curd remains. Following her method today, she could imagine what the cheese she produced looked like. That thing was probably what she used to eat as a snack, pure flavored milk strips, and curds. Although they were rich in milk flavor and nutrient-dense, good for grinding teeth, they seemed to have little use in the food industry.
Not being usable for food also implied a bleak future for the product. Which wealthy families would consider consuming these hard curds as a daily snack? If the rich didn’t buy it, it meant that the product had little to no profit, maybe even at a loss. Poor families struggled to fill their stomachs; who would spend money on snacks? Even if the snacks were cheap.
In the future, as the cattle farm raises more cows and the production of milk increases, the remains left after extracting cream must be dealt with effectively. Otherwise, it would not only be a tremendous waste of resources but would significantly impact the operation of the snack shop.
Ye Xinyan, lost in thought, turned to Nanny Jin, "Nanny, we have a bit more light cream today, probably enough to make three or four cakes. Tomorrow, after you bake them, set one aside. I’ll have Steward Fan pick one up to send to Sixth Master."
Qi Younian saw Ye Xinyan change the subject in an instant, not dwelling on the topics of remarriage and the future at all, he couldn’t help but shake his head inwardly. His granddaughter’s future seemed rather bleak.
"What idea does our Ye Zi have now?" Qi Younian followed up on Ye Xinyan’s words.
Ye Xinyan smiled, "The cattle farm is Sixth Master’s property, and cow’s milk is also a source of revenue for the cattle farm. Not much, but better than nothing. Offering something made from cow’s milk to our host is a way of showing respect."
Qi Younian watched her with a smile, while Nanny Jin let out a meaningful "Oh," put down her needle and thread, and looked at her askance.
Er, what is with those looks? Ye Xinyan turned towards Qi Jia, relieved that the little guy was rolling his pretty marbles on the bed, not teasing her like the two elders.
Ye Xinyan said, slightly embarrassed as she spread her hands, "Okay, okay. About the whey left after we take off the light cream..., I don’t know how to deal with it. So, I wanted to ask Sixth Master if he had someone skilled in managing craft workshops or who had experience producing dairy products among the nomads of the North."
Qi Younian still smiled, "Didn’t you dislike the fact that people from Sixth Master’s side have too much attitude and are difficult to manage? If he finds you someone and they don’t heed your instructions, what will you do?"
Ye Xinyan waved her hand carelessly, replying, "That’s different. The cattle farm is Sixth Master’s property, and his people working there are naturally above outsiders. Cheese is our family’s business. They’d have to consider who the owner is, even if they wanted to act superior. Besides, if I could handle the cattle farm, I naturally wouldn’t want anyone interfering and causing trouble. Now that I’m facing difficulties, it’s worthwhile to make an effort to gather the right people."
She had managed people before; as long as Jinrong was convinced and could back her up, handling a few workers wouldn’t be a problem. It just depended on whether she was willing to put in the effort.
Nanny Jin chuckled mockingly, "I thought our Ye Zi suddenly had a change of heart, but it turns out she started to show goodwill only after facing difficulties."
Qi Younian also laughed for a while before he said, "Ye Zi, are you sure? Your cream cakes are certainly delicious, but what hasn’t Sixth Master seen? Just by sending a tasty treat, do you think you can persuade Sixth Master to get you a useful steward? You have all these requirements, and Sixth Master might not have such a person on hand."
Ye Xinyan thought for a moment and then confessed honestly, "Grandfather, Nanny, I plan to treat cow’s milk as a separate dairy product business and persuade Sixth Master to invest."
"Invest?" Qi Younian did not immediately grasp the meaning of Ye Xinyan’s words. Was it just about dealing with the spoiled milk curd? Asking His Highness Prince Yu to invest?
Qi Younian paused for a moment, still hesitant to speak, "Such an industry based on cow’s milk, in the eyes of the Sixth Master, is too trivial, isn’t it? Besides, it’s just the residue left after the fat has been skimmed off. I’m afraid the Sixth Master might look down upon it, and if he gets annoyed because of this, then the loss would outweigh the gain."
Ye Xinyan was somewhat vexed about how to explain the scale of the dairy industry to Qi Younian and Nanny Jin.
Although the ancient times lacked the conditions for industrialization of dairy products, and the dairy industry couldn’t develop as variedly and massively as in the modern era with the capability for large storage and transport, as long as there were cattle farms, one could establish a dairy workshop, big or small. And if it was successful, it would be no small trade indeed.
"We’re not just giving him the residue. There’s also cream, that supreme delicacy. As long as we make something like thin cream into a food only the rich can enjoy, I believe the dairy industry can become a major sector, at least the profits will be considerable," Ye Xinyan explained simply.
She pointed to the milk solids that had just been placed into the wooden molds and said, "Even this residue that grandfather referred to tastes quite good when it’s just formed. It’s just that it can’t be stored for long, becoming too dry and hard over time, but that doesn’t affect the taste. If we can make this as soft and rich as cream, it will surely be a delicacy no less than cream itself."
Qi Younian looked at the mold Ye Xinyan was pointing to. This food made from a sour-smelling, semi-coagulated, white substance caused the old man to be very skeptical about its taste.
"Can this really be made tasty?" Qi Younian asked hesitantly.
Ye Xinyan almost rolled her eyes. She said confidently, "Of course, otherwise why would the Northern Barbarians who live off shepherding eat it all year round without getting tired of it and maintain such good physiques?"
Those who were filled with the odor of rancidness? They only ate that because they had no other choice, didn’t they?
Qi Younian looked at Ye Xinyan without saying a word. Alright, even if he couldn’t help Ye Zi, he certainly couldn’t discourage her. It was undeniable that it was because Ye Zi had ideas and dared to act that their Second Branch family had achieved what they had today.
Qi Younian nodded, "Then you give it a try. Even if it doesn’t succeed, we’ll have done our best and have no regrets. Besides, with the income from the cream, I believe the Sixth Master won’t stand to lose too much."
Qi Jia, hearing the adults talk about cow’s milk and cream, had already put down the marbles in her hand, sitting obediently to the side, her eyes darting curiously from one to another.
It was at this moment that she asked Ye Xinyan, "When can I eat the tasty food sister is making?"
Ye Xinyan smiled and said, "This is made with that sour-tasting thing by sister. Aren’t you afraid it won’t taste good, Qi Jiaer?"
Qi Jia shook her head vigorously and said, "Not at all, not at all. Everything sister makes is delicious; it’s all so fragrant and sweet."
Ye Xinyan was greatly comforted and praised her, "It’s our little Jiajia who trusts sister so. Sister naturally has to make the food even tastier to live up to our little Jiajia’s expectations."
Lucky for her, while she was processing the milk solids, she had made a small portion of sweet cheese using a little pot with flour and sugar, or she really would have disappointed Qi Jia. Once this cheese cooled and was slightly dried, it would have a loose, sweet taste and a rich creamy flavor.