Currently, the Ye's Drug Store is the most famous and profitable enterprise within the Ye Family.
However, Ye's Drug Store only sells ready-made medicines; when it comes to medical herbs, they're quite inferior.
If Ye Family could purchase their own medicinal herbs and prepare their medicines, the profits would be much higher.
In the villages around Changhe Town, such as Ye Fan's original Dongxiang Village, many villagers would gather medicinal herbs from the mountain and sell them in Changhe Town.
Establishing their own procurement channels for medicinal herbs would have numerous benefits for the Ye Family.
Not only would it increase their profit margin, but it would also provide a layer of protection against potential attacks on the operations of Ye's Drug Store.
With Ye Jintian's current cultivation level, he's certainly capable of managing this new business venture.
Ye Fan called upon Ye Jintian to discuss the establishment of a medicinal herb purchasing enterprise.
While Ye Jintian didn't have much of an opinion, Jia Lu was elated.
She had to consider the future of the Ye Family at large, but also needed to consider the future of her own smaller family operation.
The Jia Family were prosperous merchants. They would have no shortage of business acumen, having been raised in such an environment.
Very quickly, a series of channels began to open up.
With the gift money received acting as the initial capital, several procurement channels were quickly set up in many villages.
Of course, all these tasks were carried out by the servants.
The most important thing for the Ye Family is still to enhance their cultivation level.
Half a year has passed since Ye Jintian's wedding.
As they had set up their own procurement channels, the prices of medicinal herbs fell significantly.
The profits of Ye's Drug Store had also increased considerably.
They generated about 500 taels of profit each month.
However, the entire profit was dedicated to the Ye Family's cultivation efforts.
The cost of the medicine for tonifying each of the five organs, commonly known as Five Organ Powder, was nearly 50 taels per dose.
Ye Jintian and Ye Jinhai's cultivation levels had already broken through the seventh level of Body Forging. The monthly consumption of medicine alone was over 400 taels.
With Jia Lu and Su Yan's cultivation also requiring a substantial amount of medicine, the Ye Family, while appearing to earn much, was actually facing a deficit.
Were it not for the generous gifts they had received recently and the resources obtained from the Liu Family, the Ye Family would have gone bankrupt.
Sometimes, Ye Fan felt grateful that his first acquired skill was Alchemy Dao.
Otherwise, it would be impossible to reach the current state so quickly.
Character: Ye Fan
Level: Body Forging 10th Layer (22/1000)
Skills: Jiu Niu Body Refining Technique, Mastery (1233/1600), Alchemy Dao First level Complete (1599/1600), Wild Wind Knife Mastery (1600/1600)
Divine Skills: Low tier Green Snake Bloodline (36/100), Knife Art (354/1000)
Ye Fan's cultivation level finally reached the peak of Body Forging.
At his current pace, he could break through to the Postnatal Realm within five years.
If his family could increase their cultivation talent, it would take even less time.
At the 12th layer of Body Forging, one could attempt to break through to the Postnatal Realm at the 10th layer.
However, those who break through to the Postnatal Realm at the 10th layer of Body Forging will have the lowest combat strength and potential in the Postnatal Realm, making it hard to advance further.
With the support of the System, Ye Fan of course aims to accumulate the strongest foundation possible.
One must fill to the brim before overflowing; it's the kind of breakthrough that is the most perfect.
However, if he wants to continue advancing rapidly, Ye Family must find new ways to make money.
The higher the level, the better the effect of the medicinal pill, and therefore its cost also increases.
For instance, the Qi Blood Powder for stimulating the blood and energy used at the peak of Body Forging can easily cost a hundred taels per dose.
Wealth is a topic that can never be avoided in the path of martial arts.
Ye Fan put down his long knife, ready to go to Ye's Drug Store to prepare some medicines.
However, a servant's words disrupted his train of thought.
"Master, there's a message from Dongxiang Village. A woman claiming to be your sister says she's looking for you."
Sister?
Memories of the dead suddenly began to assault Ye Fan.
His little sister, Ye Xiaoxiao.
A figure with a ponytail and rosy cheeks was awakened in Ye Fan's mind.
Ye Xiaoxiao was five years younger than Ye Fan, and her favorite thing was to play with Ye Fan.
Ye Fan still remembered when their parents, desperate to gather the marriage costs for Ye Fan, sent a tearful Ye Xiaoxiao to a wealthy merchant in the neighboring town to become his concubine.
Ye Xiaoxiao screamed in protest, unwilling to leave. She was only fifteen at the time.
Ye Fan had kept this memory deeply buried in his mind, unwilling to recall it, and had been too ashamed to actively seek out his sister.
"My Lord, what's wrong with you?"
Su Yan held Ye Fan's hand, her face filled with worry.
She had never seen Ye Fan so lost before.
Su Yan's calling out brought Ye Fan back to his senses: "My wife, nothing's wrong, just go get Little Tian and Little Hai. We are going back to Dongxiang Village."
Seeing Ye Fan's solemn expression, Su Yan didn't dare to delay and immediately called Ye Jintian and Ye Jinhai.
The family took a horse cart and quickly headed toward Dongxiang Village.
Two hours later, at Ye Fan's old house in Dongxiang Village.
In what should be their neighbor's courtyard, Ye Fan saw Ye Xiaoxiao.
At first sight, Ye Fan almost didn't recognize Ye Xiaoxiao.
She was pale and thin, her face bearing visible scars.
By Ye Xiaoxiao's side, two timid-looking children, seemingly around seven or eight years old.
"Xiao Xiao, is that you?" Ye Fan's voice trembled a little.
"Brother, it's me."
Ye Xiaoxiao's voice was surprisingly calm.
Her calmness was devoid of any emotion.
It was as if Ye Fan was a stranger to her.
Before Ye Fan could speak, Ye Xiaoxiao spoke again: "Brother, I want to leave my two children with you, can you help me?"
Ye Xiaoxiao's gaze was firmly fixed on Ye Fan.
"Yes, of course, I can. But can you tell me what exactly happened? Maybe I can help."
Ye Fan was careful, his eyes filled with hope.
Ye Xiaoxiao's eyes finally showed some emotion, hatred, but more than that, it was desperation.
Even though Ye Fan seemed to be doing well now, their family were still peasants at heart.
Even with some money, how could they possibly challenge a martial-artist family?
"Brother, I only ask that you raise my two children. As for other things, I will deal with them myself."
Ye Xiaoxiao was ready to die. She had thought about it a long time ago.
If it weren't for her two children, she would have died long ago.
"I..."
Just as Ye Fan was about to speak, Su Yan pulled on his hand.
"My Lord, let me chat with Xiaoxiao, take their children to eat something first."
Su Yan pointed to Ye Xiaoxiao's two children. She had already heard their stomachs growling.
"Yes, yes. I'll take them to eat first."
Ye Fan approached Ye Xiaoxiao's two children and extended his hand, intending to hold them.
But as soon as Ye Fan reached out his hand, the two children instinctively crouched down, trembling all over.
"Little Dragon, Little Phoenix, this is your uncle. Don't be afraid; he won't hurt you."
Hearing Ye Xiaoxiao's words, the two children finally seemed to regain some sense of normalcy.
They looked up at Ye Fan, curiosity in their eyes, but they were visibly fearful.
Their clear eyes made Ye Fan's heart tremble. What had they experienced to evoke such a strong reaction?
"Uncle will take you to eat."
He carefully took both of their hands. He called Wang Dong over and tossed him a silver piece.
"Brother Dong, could you please prepare some food for me?"