Orphan OSRA number

orphan_osra_num.rb

# Solution 1
class Partner < ActiveRecord::Base
  
  belongs_to :province
  has_many :orphan_lists
  
  delegate :code, to: :province, prefix: true
end

class Orphan < ActiveRecord::Base
  
  belongs_to :orphan_list
  
  delegate :partner, to: :orphan_list
  
  province_code = self.partner.province_code
end

# Solution 2
class Partner < ActiveRecord::Base
  
  belongs_to :province
  has_many :orphan_lists
  
  delegate :code, to: :province, prefix: true
end

class OrphanList < ActiveRecord::Base
  
  belongs_to :partner
  
  delegate :province_code, to: :partner, prefix: true
end

class Orphan < ActiveRecord::Base
  
  belongs_to :orphan_list
  
  delegate :partner_province_code, to: :orphan_list
end

I really like the idea of the delegate method, but given the level of chaining here what about

province_code = self.orphan_list.partner.province_code

I think it makes the intention much clearer unless you are going to need access to other properties too, in which case the delegate macros clearly win out.

Is this likely to be called for a single partner or for a query retrieving a collection of partners?