Su Shaohua stood up and pulled the young man to his side. Even this small gesture showed how fond Su Shaohua was of the young man.

The young man stood respectfully beside Su Shaohua, though his eyes remained fixed on Zhang Yang.

There were only a few people in the pavilion: Su Shaohua and Ah Fu, who he already knew well, and Wu Youdao, whom he had met many times. The only person Su Shaohua intended to introduce him to was this stranger, who was even younger than himself.

"Zhan Tao, this is Dr. Zhang Yang. Dr. Zhang is still in university, but his medical skills are highly praised even by your Uncle Wu. Am I right, Youdao?"

Su Shaohua spoke with a lighthearted ease, as there were no outsiders present. Of course, he also intended this remark to foster a closer relationship with Zhang Yang.

A wry smile touched Wu Youdao’s face, and he lightly shook his head. "No, you’re mistaken. Zhang Yang's medical skills surpass mine by a great deal!"

Admitting that a young man several times his junior was superior in medicine was difficult for Wu Youdao, yet thankfully, this wasn't the first time he had uttered such words today, making it less awkward than before.

"Elder Wu, you are too modest. I am nowhere near as skilled as you say!"

Zhang Yang shook his head. Wu Youdao had admitted his inferiority several times now, a gesture that touched Zhang Yang deeply.

Acknowledging someone else's superiority sounded simple, but it was hard to execute. Everyone harbored their own pride, constantly seeking validation from others. Many, even if they inwardly conceded someone else was better, could never bring themselves to voice it—especially when that person was a much younger individual.

Wu Youdao's willingness to say this, to dare to say this, was truly uncommon, indicating his profound respect and admiration for Zhang Yang.

Wu Youdao was about to speak again when the newly arrived young man cut in, smiling broadly at Zhang Yang. "Dr. Zhang, this is the first time I've heard Uncle Wu praise someone like this. Don't be so modest. Why don't you introduce yourself first? My name is Su Zhantao, I'm twenty-three. A pleasure to meet you!"

As he spoke, he extended his hand in greeting.

Su Shaohua glanced at Su Zhantao, a flicker of approval momentarily crossing his eyes.

Su Shaohua's family was actually a large and prosperous lineage. In his generation, there were three brothers. The eldest, Su Shaoming, currently held a position in Huadong Province as a Vice Governor, but being somewhat advanced in years, there was little chance of further advancement after his current term.

Su Shaohua was the one in the family dedicated to commerce, and his success went without saying; no one in the Changjing business circle was unaware of him.

The third brother, Su Shaoqiang—Su Zhantao’s father—was currently the most distinguished figure in the Su family. Su Shaoqiang, barely fifty, was already a department-level official, having forged a path even farther than his elder brother.

The extent of Su Shaohua's successful business endeavors was significantly tied to his family background. This was an undeniable reality: in the realm of business, whether now or in the future, those with connections always found the path smoother than those without.

"Hello, my name is Zhang Yang. It's a pleasure to meet you as well!"

Zhang Yang felt no aversion toward this forthcoming young man and returned the greeting with a smile. He did, however, harbor a slight confusion. When Su Zhantao arrived, his nose had distinctly caught the scent of medicinal herbs. Although he couldn't identify the specific components, he was certain they were not the herbs from the prescription he had written. Moreover, the herbal aroma was quite strong, suggesting it hadn't accumulated over a very short period.

"Zhang Yang, frankly, I rarely encounter a doctor as young and capable as you. I heard someone mention earlier that someone could cure Second Uncle’s illness—was that you?"

Su Zhantao looked directly at Zhang Yang and posed the question. He had only just arrived and happened to encounter the person decocting the medicine; they had mentioned that Su Shaohua's condition held new hope, prompting him to come and see for himself.

Ah Fu, returning in good spirits after buying the medicine, had casually mentioned that someone might be able to treat Su Shaohua. The insights Zhang Yang had offered, which other doctors missed, had given Ah Fu considerable confidence.

Zhang Yang was briefly stunned before smiling. "Yes, that's correct, it was me. As long as Mr. Su cooperates fully, his illness will certainly be resolved!"

Su Zhantao grinned broadly and boomed, "Really? That’s excellent! If you need any herbs to treat Second Uncle, just let me know. Whatever it is, I will find it for you, as long as it exists!"

Because of Zhang Yang's youth, Su Zhantao had harbored some doubt about his ability to treat Su Shaohua. However, given the endorsements from Wu Youdao and Su Shaohua, he was now inclined to believe Zhang Yang was truly capable. Furthermore, he always believed that talent is not bound by age, which is why he spoke these encouraging words to Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang was momentarily taken aback, prompting Su Shaohua to quickly interject, "Dr. Zhang, Zhan Tao just recently graduated. He has no interest in a life within the established system, and is currently building his own business. He deals in pharmaceuticals—both Chinese and Western medicine!"

"That's right, I have several shops in Jiao Yi City. Their selection of medicine is comprehensive!"

Su Zhantao nodded immediately, a trace of involuntary pride coloring his expression as he spoke of his trade. While his father was a high-ranking official, Su Zhantao had no ambition for a political career, possessing a keen interest in business instead, having always admired his Second Uncle, Su Shaohua, since childhood.

After graduating from university, Su Zhantao defied his father’s wishes, refusing the post offered by the placement bureau, and resolutely struck out on his own. He initially borrowed fifty thousand yuan as seed money from Su Shaohua and dove straight into the pharmaceutical trade. His university major was marketing; he had realized early on the immense profit margins within medicine and had developed extensive plans while still a student, putting them into practice immediately upon graduation.

Though lacking real-world experience initially, his thorough preparation allowed him to repay the fifty thousand yuan loan and earn several hundred thousand more in less than a year, expanding his business nearly fifteenfold from its inception. This display showcased his inherent talent for commerce, earning him significant praise and increased affection from Su Shaohua.

"Jiao Yi City—that's the city of medicine. For Young Master Su to own several shops there, your business must be quite substantial!"

Zhang Yang smiled slightly. He found Su Zhantao's straightforward nature appealing.

"The business isn't huge. My main constraint is capital; pharmaceuticals require substantial operating funds. My current shops can only handle short-term deals. Unlike some who lock down large contracts for instant massive returns!"

Su Zhantao chuckled lightly, shaking his head as he spoke. Seeing the curiosity in Zhang Yang's eyes, Su Shaohua quickly explained, "Dr. Zhang, regarding Zhan Tao's business, aside from the initial tens of thousands he borrowed from me, he has accepted no further assistance from the family. Everything he possesses now is the result of his own hard work!"

Zhang Yang paused, then laughed warmly. "Is that so? I hadn't realized Young Master Su was also a business prodigy. My apologies for my prior assumptions!"

His gaze toward Su Zhantao now held greater admiration and understanding. He had initially assumed Su Zhantao was leveraging Su Shaohua's influence for his enterprise; only after the clarification did he grasp that Su Zhantao had achieved his success independently. It was no small feat for a recent graduate to accomplish this much.

Zhang Yang was familiar with Jiao Yi City. Located in the northernmost part of Huainan Province, bordering Yu’nan Province, it was about four hundred kilometers from Changjing City. Jiao Yi was renowned domestically as the capital of medicine and housed the largest traditional Chinese medicine trading market. In his past life, Zhang Yang had visited there often, though not for buying supplies; rather, it was for his acupuncture needles. The specialized set of needles he had custom-made in his previous life had been crafted by a master craftsman in Jiao Yi City.

"Dr. Zhang, you are too kind. In truth, what I really hope for is that you purchase more of my medicine from my shops. I trust Second Uncle will pay me market price, so it would count as an extra transaction for me!"

Su Zhantao chuckled mischievously. This time, it wasn't just Zhang Yang who was stunned; Wu Youdao and Su Shaohua also froze. After a moment, Su Shaohua burst into laughter, a smile spreading across Wu Youdao’s face, and even Zhang Yang’s lips curved into a subtle smile.

"You rascal, no wonder you’re so enthusiastic—you were trying to turn my illness into a business opportunity!"

Su Shaohua scolded affectionately. Everyone present could hear the doting tone in his voice; his reprimand was akin to a gentle tickle.

"Exactly, Xiao Tao. How much medicine can your Second Uncle possibly use alone? If you want to do business, you should target hospitals!"

Wu Youdao also laughed heartily. Su Zhantao’s single remark instantly livened the atmosphere in the pavilion.

"No, one person's demand is still business. I know Second Uncle insists on only the best quality medicine. I can accumulate small sales. Besides, if Dr. Zhang truly cures my Second Uncle, many people will seek him out later. If I build a relationship now and they all use my medicine, once the clientele grows, it becomes a major business!"

Su Zhantao laughed sheepishly, causing Su Shaohua and the others to laugh even harder, filling the pavilion with bursts of merriment.

Su Zhantao’s justification was clearly strained, but nobody minded. They all knew he was saying these things partly to lighten the mood. However, these few sentences left Zhang Yang with a very favorable impression of him. For this young man to achieve something on his own was commendable; possessing such an optimistic outlook made him even more rare.

Su Zhantao turned back to Zhang Yang. "Dr. Zhang, you must agree! That way, we’ll be partners from now on!"

"Alright, I agree to cooperate with you. From now on, whenever I treat a patient, I will use your medicine—provided your supply can keep up with demand!"

Zhang Yang chuckled, catching the lighthearted tone and making a small joke in return, influenced by Su Zhantao.

Neither of them could have foreseen that, not long after, Zhang Yang and Su Zhantao would indeed form a genuine partnership, but that, as they say, is a story for another time.

…………

I sincerely apologize; I hit a block today, and this chapter took a long time to write. The planned three updates may not be possible today. Xiao Yu needs some rest and will certainly make up the missed chapter once my condition improves tomorrow—at least three updates guaranteed!

Thank you to friends like Jiyuqing, Changyou Gehai, choumeibani, and Xiaoxiao·Qianxia for your tipping support, and a special thanks to friend Yanhuiman for the repeated 1888 Qidian coin tips. Congratulations also to Yanhuiman for becoming the first Grandmaster of this book! C

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