The most famous and profitable venture of the Ye Family, naturally, is Ye's Medical Hall.
However, Ye's Medical Hall ultimately only sells finished medicines, and in the area of raw medicinal materials, it is still quite weak.
If the Ye Family were to purchase their own medicinal materials and process medicines, then the profits would be even higher.
In the villages nearby Changhe Town, such as Ye Fan's Dongxiang Village initially, many villagers would go up the mountain to gather medicinal materials to sell in Changhe Town.
If the Ye Family established their own channels for purchasing medicinal materials, it would bring many benefits to the family.
Not only would profit increase, but in case anyone ever attacked the business of Ye's Medical Hall in this area, they wouldn't be completely defenseless.
With Ye Jintian's current cultivation level, he was certainly capable of starting this business.
Ye Fan called Ye Jintian to discuss setting up the business of purchasing medicinal materials.
Ye Jintian did not have much of a reaction, but Jia Lu was very happy.
She had to consider the best for the Ye Family as a whole but also for their future together.
Coming from a wealthy merchant's family, Jia Lu had learned a lot by watching and listening.
Soon, various channels were established.
Using the wedding gifts as start-up capital, they quickly established purchasing channels in several villages.
Of course, these tasks were carried out by servants.
The most important thing for the Ye Family was still to improve their cultivation levels.
Half a year had passed since Ye Jintian's grand wedding.
Due to establishing their own channels for procurement, the cost of medicinal materials had considerably decreased.
The profits of Ye's Medical Hall had also significantly increased.
Each month, the profits were around five hundred silver taels.
However, these profits were all spent on the Ye Family's cultivation.
The cost of the Five Organs Powder, which strengthens the five organs and six viscera, was nearly fifty silver taels per dose.
Ye Jintian and Ye Jinhai had already broken through to the seventh layer of Body Forging, and each month, the consumption of just the medicines amounted to over four hundred silver taels.
Adding the medicines required for Jia Lu and Su Yan's cultivation, it seemed like the Ye Family was making a lot, but in reality, they were running a deficit.
Had it not been for the substantial wedding gifts received recently, along with some resources obtained from the Liu Family,
the Ye Family would have gone bankrupt long ago.
Sometimes, Ye Fan felt fortunate that the first skill he had acquired was Alchemy Dao.
Otherwise, reaching his current realm so quickly would have been impossible.
Character: Ye Fan
Level: Peak of Body Forging 10 Layer (22/1000)
Skills: Jiu Niu Body Refining Technique Proficient (1233/1600), Alchemy Dao First Stage Complete (1599/1600), Wild Wind Knife Soul Level (1600/1600)
Divine Skills: Green Snake Bloodline Poor Quality (36/100), Knife Momentum (354/1000)
Ye Fan's cultivation level had finally reached the Peak of Body Forging.
Based on the current pace, breaking through to the Postnatal Realm within five years seemed promising.
If the family's cultivation aptitude could improve a bit more, the time needed would be even shorter.
At the twelvefold level of Body Forging, one could attempt to break through to the Postnatal Realm at the tenth layer.
Yet, breaking through to the Postnatal Realm from the tenth layer of Body Forging would result in the weakest combat power among those in the Realm, with the lowest potential, making it difficult to advance further.
With the system's support, Ye Fan naturally wanted to accumulate a perfect foundation.
Only by overfilling one's cup can the breakthrough be perfect.
However, to continue breaking through quickly, the Ye Family needed to find new ways to make money.
The higher the level, the better the effects of the medicines, and the higher their price.
For someone at the Peak of Body Forging like Ye Fan, even one dose of Qi Blood Powder, used to stimulate qi and blood, could not be contained at one hundred silver taels.
The saying goes, "the poor cultivate the arts, the rich cultivate martial arts"; money is an ever-inescapable topic.
Ye Fan put down the long knife he had been holding, just as he was about to go to Ye's Medical Hall to practice Alchemy.
But a servant's words disrupted his thoughts.
"Master, there's news from Dongxiang Village, a person claiming to be your younger sister has come looking for you."
Younger sister?
Memories thought dead suddenly began to assault Ye Fan.
"Sister, Ye Xiaoxiao."
A girl 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 pester Ye Fan to play with her.
Ye Fan still remembered how his parents had collected a dowry for his own marriage, ultimately sending a crying Ye Xiaoxiao to a rich merchant in the neighboring town to become a concubine.
Ye Xiaoxiao screamed and cried, unwilling to leave; she was only fifteen years old at the time.
This memory was sealed tightly in Ye Fan's mind; he was reluctant to recall it and didn't have the face to actively seek out his sister.
"Husband, what's wrong?"
Su Yan held Ye Fan's hand, her face full of concern.
She had never seen Ye Fan so distracted before.
Su Yan's call brought Ye Fan back to his senses, "Wife, it's nothing. Call Little Tian and Little Hai over, we're going back to Dongxiang Village."
Seeing how serious Ye Fan was, Su Yan didn't dare to delay and immediately called Ye Jintian and Ye Jinhai.
The family boarded the carriage and hurried toward Dongxiang Village.
Two hours later, at Dongxiang Village, the Ye Family's old home.
Now it should be behind a neighbor's courtyard, where Ye Fan saw Ye Xiaoxiao.
Upon this encounter, Ye Fan almost didn't recognize Ye Xiaoxiao.
She was thin and haggard, and her face bore visible scars.
By Ye Xiaoxiao's side stood two timid children who appeared to be about seven or eight years old.
"Xiao Xiao, is that you?" Ye Fan's voice trembled.
"Brother, it's me."
Ye Xiaoxiao's voice was calm.
As if she had no emotions at all.
As if Ye Fan was a stranger to her.
Before Ye Fan could say anything, Ye Xiaoxiao spoke again, "Brother, I want to leave my two children with you. Can you help me?"
Ye Xiaoxiao's gaze was fixed on Ye Fan.
"Of course, of course, but can you tell brother what happened exactly? I can help you solve it."
Ye Fan's eyes were careful, filled with anticipation.
Finally, a flicker of emotion appeared in Ye Xiaoxiao's eyes. There was hatred but even more despair.
Ye Fan might be doing well now, but after all, his family was from a peasant background.
Even with a bit of money, how could they challenge a Martial Artist family?
"Brother, all I want is for you to help me raise my two children. I will take care of the rest."
Ye Xiaoxiao had long harbored thoughts of death in her heart. She would have died long ago if it weren't for her two children.
"I..."
Ye Fan was about to speak when Su Yan pulled at him.
"Husband, let me have a chat with your sister-in-law. You should first take them to eat something," Su Yan said, nodding toward the two children whose stomachs had begun to rumble.
"Right, right, right, I'll take them to eat," Ye Fan agreed and approached Ye Xiaoxiao's children, extending his hand to lead them.
But as soon as Ye Fan reached out, the two children instinctively crouched down, trembling all over.
"Little Dragon, Little Phoenix, this is your uncle. You don't have to be afraid; he won't hurt you."
Hearing Ye Xiaoxiao's words, the children eventually returned to some semblance of normalcy.
They raised their heads and looked at Ye Fan curiously, yet fear could still be seen in their eyes.
Their clear gaze made Ye Fan's heart tremble.
What had they gone through to have such a reaction?
"Uncle will take you to eat."
With tender care, he took their small hands. Ye Fan called over Wang Dong and threw him a silver ingot.
"Wang Dong, trouble you to prepare some food, please."