Chapter 7

"Junior Brother Su, your family has come to see you." One day, while Su Fan was practicing basic sword techniques, a senior brother from the outer sect, who was usually responsible for teaching them Huashan sword techniques, found him not far away.

"Oh! Thank you, Senior Brother."

Hearing this, Su Fan knew that the letter he had previously asked someone to take home had received a response.

The person who came was none other than Yang Xing.

"Steward Yang."

"Master." Seeing Su Fan, a smile appeared on Yang Xing's face. Seeing that Su Fan was even stronger than he was a year ago, he was genuinely happy, even though he couldn't help but feel some hesitation in his heart about his master practicing martial arts on Huashan. After all, three generations of the Su family had been scholars, and the lowest-ranking one, the old master, was at least a Scholar.

Not to mention that Su Fan's father and grandfather were both Provincial Graduates.

And the Huashan Sect was a sect of the pugilistic world. In Yang Xing's view, the people of the pugilistic world were extremely dangerous. The Su family had been a single-line inheritance for three generations, so naturally, he did not want Su Fan to be in any danger.

It was just that previously, the health of the Su family masters had not been good, and seeing Su Fan practicing martial arts and looking extremely sturdy now also gave him some comfort.

"Steward Yang, you saw my previous letter. How is everything at home now?"

It had been a year since Su Fan went up the mountain. Because new disciples could not go down the mountain, Su Fan naturally could not understand the situation at home.

Moreover, it was generally very difficult for outsiders to enter the mountain.

Regarding the Su family, Su Fan could only rely on letters to get a rough understanding, which was not comprehensive.

Fortunately, the Huashan Sect was not unreasonable; at least they allowed the families of new disciples to visit once a year.

Now that Yang Xing had come, Su Fan naturally pulled him to the place in Luoyan Valley where he usually practiced. This place was about four or five miles away from the Luoyan Peak branch, separated by a forest, with a deep pool nearby that Su Fan had named Sun and Moon Pool.

Su Fan did not like to practice martial arts with everyone else; he liked quiet and had found this place to practice. Because he had always performed well and there was no danger here, the person in charge of the outer sect did not stop him.

"Steward Yang, tell me, how is everything at home now? Tell me everything."

Pulling Yang Xing to a smooth rock beside the Sun and Moon Pool, Su Fan asked directly.

"Master, during the autumn harvest, the family's three thousand mu of land yielded a total of over 8,300 shi of grain. Among them, the hundred tenant households produced 6,000 shi from 2,500 mu, and handed over 1,800 shi. Added to the 4,000 shi from the family's own 500 mu of fertile land, after deducting the taxes handed over, there were 2,200 shi remaining."

Two thousand-plus shi of grain a year was worth about two thousand-plus taels of silver. From this, one still had to pay for various social obligations, leaving only a thousand-plus.

Compared to when his cheap father was alive, it was only a hundred or two hundred taels more.

If there were no taxes, then indeed a lot would be left.

However, even so, it was already quite good. In Huayin County, there were really not many who could rely solely on land to have an income of two thousand taels a year.

Huayin County did not have any big landlords, and the Su family was already considered a very large landlord.

"Two thousand two hundred shi. Next year, we can probably have a surplus of two thousand five hundred shi, but that will be the limit."

Su Fan nodded. Using the scientific methods of later generations to farm indeed yielded great harvests. In previous years, the Su family's three thousand mu could produce six thousand shi, which was already quite good.

Now that it had suddenly increased by more than two thousand shi, it was really quite good.

But this was almost at the top. Su Fan was not that sage from later generations and could not improve the grain seeds, so the yield per mu could only increase by this much.

Moreover, Su Fan knew that in the Ming Dynasty, which was in the Little Ice Age, the yield per mu would only get lower and lower in the future. As for whether this martial arts world was the same as the historical plane, Su Fan was not sure.

But fortunately, Su Fan did not count on the fields to bring him much wealth.

What he was truly concerned about were the family's businesses.

"How are 'Hundred Flavors Immortal' and 'Braised Delicacies Home' doing?"

'Hundred Flavors Immortal' was naturally the Su family restaurant, which had been renamed, as the name 'Su Family Restaurant' did not sound good after all.

"Master, this year, 'Hundred Flavors Immortal' and 'Braised Delicacies Home' have been extremely popular. 'Hundred Flavors Immortal' has now opened three branches, and 'Braised Delicacies Home' has opened up the situation in six county towns."

"Because we are worried about not having enough manpower, we haven't expanded further for the time being. But even so, the total monthly net profit is five hundred taels of silver."

Speaking of this, Yang Xing was truly excited. Having an income of several thousand taels in one year was quite a lot in Xi'an Prefecture.

After all, the Su family was not an old-established merchant family. Being able to earn several thousand taels of silver a year was absolutely very impressive. Naturally, the Su family was now very convinced by their young master, Su Fan.

"Hmm! Added to the fields, that's about six or seven thousand taels of silver." Su Fan nodded. This income was absolutely top-tier in Huayin County.

After all, the north was not like the south; there were not many people doing business, unless they were smuggling.

Seven thousand taels of silver a year was naturally enough for the current Su Fan. According to the 'pay-to-win' cultivation path he had prepared, it only cost a few hundred taels of silver a year now. It wasn't that he didn't want to eat well, but because his current cultivation could not consume that much.

Like their newly entered disciples, the annual requirement was only a few dozen taels. Su Fan being able to exceed it tenfold was already very good.

Of course, the Huashan Sect's annual consumption was estimated to be over one hundred thousand taels of silver. The higher the cultivation, the more they consumed.

But even though the current requirement was not much, it did not mean Su Fan was satisfied.

"Steward Yang, the Su family's annual income is currently quite good, but it won't be enough in the future. So 'Hundred Flavors Immortal' and 'Braised Delicacies Home' still need to expand. If there is not enough manpower, then hurry up and train them."

"In addition, after you go back, tell Liu Tong to continue recruiting people and train them hard. With the expansion of 'Hundred Flavors Immortal' and 'Braised Delicacies Home', there will definitely be people coveting the money earned in the future. You don't need to worry about the government as you have already handled it, but other people might not be so sure."

"So, Liu Tong will be needed to protect them then."

Su Fan was very clear that after 'Hundred Flavors Immortal' and 'Braised Delicacies Home' made money, they would definitely be coveted by others. In this world, robbery and plunder were very normal things, so the Su family must have strength.

Regarding the government, the Su family did not worry. After he transmigrated, he would take out one-third every year to handle them, so he was not afraid.

But other peers, Su Fan was very clear that in this era, those gentry and merchants, and even the outlaws of the green forest, were not so friendly.

"Also, how did the purchase of the 'Nourishing Spirit Soup' formula from Physician Lin in Xi'an Prefecture go last time?"

"Master, the formula for the 'Nourishing Spirit Soup' has been secured, costing eight hundred taels of silver." Speaking of this, Yang Xing still showed some pain on his face.

If it weren't for Su Fan's constant urging, he felt that this price could still be lowered. And spending so much money to buy just such a formula, he was really heartbroken.

After all, this 'Nourishing Spirit Soup' was of no use to most people.

"Secured?"

"That's great."

Eight hundred taels meant nothing to Su Fan. Let alone eight hundred taels, even eight thousand taels, he wouldn't care. He only needed this formula, so that in the future, his 'cheat' could last for another half an hour.

You must know that in the past year, his internal cultivation had not been slow; he had already opened up three meridians, and the Huashan Heart Method had also reached the second layer.

The speed was quite fast, and half of the credit for this was due to this 'cheat'.

With the 'Nourishing Spirit Soup', his 'cheat' would last for another half an hour, and the speed of cultivation would also be one-third faster. How could this not make him happy?

"Steward Yang, from now on, you must collect the medicinal herbs needed for the 'Nourishing Spirit Soup' in large quantities and send them over, along with the medicinal cuisine."

The medicinal cuisine had been sent for three months. Three months ago, Su Fan had stopped eating the canteen's communal meals with the other entry-level disciples.

Instead, he started his own small kitchen. This kind of thing was nothing in the Huashan Sect. Inner sect disciples did not have communal meals, and some outer sect disciples from wealthy families also provided the best food and medicinal cuisine for their own disciples early on, hoping they would cultivate better and enter the inner sect.

Once entering the inner sect, it would truly be like a fish leaping over the dragon gate.

"Yes, Master."

Regarding Su Fan's request, Yang Xing naturally had no rebuttal. Anyway, the Su family's annual income had greatly increased, and everything in the Su family belonged to Su Fan. As a steward, he had no right to stop it.

Subsequently, Su Fan asked about the breeding of livestock at home, especially poultry, which was also an industry Su Fan was preparing for the future.

Hearing that it was quite good, Su Fan also nodded with satisfaction.

Immediately, he gave some more instructions, had a meal with Yang Xing, and then sent the former away.