Those who were closer and had just heard the names of the medicinal herbs being called out were staring at Zhang Yang in utter astonishment.

These types of herbs were rarely used, sometimes not even once over a long period, yet here was someone specifically coming to purchase them, and even asking for the even rarer components aged for a hundred years.

The shop assistant who had questioned him was now staring fixedly at Zhang Yang.

A slight smile suddenly bloomed on Zhang Yang’s face, and he nodded slowly. “That’s right, I genuinely want these things. If you have them, I sincerely hope you’ll sell them to me!”

“Some of what you are asking for, we certainly don’t have in stock, but we can find substitutes. I’d like to know, what exactly are you planning to use these for?”

The assistant asked again, this time his gaze holding a sharp edge.

His question was, in fact, quite astute. If the person buying the goods was just there to cause trouble, they would naturally be vague about the purpose of such precious ingredients, effectively being unable to state a clear reason. Even if they could concoct a plausible excuse on the spot, a professional probing a few more questions could easily expose any falsehood, thus determining if the buyer truly intended to use the items for their proper purpose. If not, people like that would be shown the door without ceremony.

If, however, the customer could articulate their purpose clearly and genuinely needed the herbs, they wouldn't mind selling a portion. These were all high-value, precious ingredients; they wouldn't miss out on a genuine customer, someone who truly needed them. The young assistant had considered all this from the very beginning of the questioning.

The first assistant who had dispensed herbs for Zhang Yang and questioned him earlier cast a look of grudging admiration toward the supervisor; he now understood everything too. The next move depended entirely on Zhang Yang’s response.

Zhang Yang offered a slight smile and spoke softly, “I need to prepare some medicinal compounds, and I require these specific herbs, a significant quantity of them!”

Zhang Yang had already discerned the purpose behind the assistant’s questioning. He could only offer a wry smile in response, not taking the scrutiny to heart. After all, he was genuinely here to buy medicine, genuinely needing these items, so he wasn't afraid of what they might suspect.

“Preparing medicine? What kind of medicine?”

The assistant frowned. He hadn't expected such a simple answer from Zhang Yang and couldn't help but press further.

“I want to know, are you authorized to sell these to me?”

Instead of answering the question, Zhang Yang posed one in return. The ingredients listed on his prescription were all valuable, rare herbs; he wouldn’t need a formal prescription to buy common ones available at any apothecary. The rarest among them were the few ingredients requiring a hundred-year aging process. However, rare did not mean nonexistent; items a century old were not nearly as difficult to find as those a millennium old, which were almost entirely extinct or lay in places inaccessible to humans, rarely making it to the market. Zhang Yang had recently acquired a century-old ginseng root at a high price in Changjing, and if it existed there, it certainly stood a chance of being in Shanghai. Still, even if they possessed it, the quantity would be small, and the price astronomically high; not just anyone could authorize such a sale. This was precisely why Zhang Yang had asked his question.

“My name is Zhang Song, and I am the Pharmacy Supervisor. Now, you should know if I have the authority or not!”

Zhang Song looked intently at Zhang Yang for a moment before replying softly. As the supervisor, he managed all the sales of medicinal materials in this establishment; he certainly had the final say.

Zhang Yang watched him with a faint smile, remaining silent, and instead reached into his canvas satchel, withdrawing a perfectly formed Ginseng Pill. As for what medicine he was truly preparing, Zhang Yang genuinely couldn't disclose it. His formulas were ancestral; while he wasn't rigidly conservative, many closely guarded family secrets could not be revealed easily. These were the wealth left by his ancestors, and his sense of civic duty hadn't yet evolved to the point of complete selflessness. Furthermore, these compounds were difficult to prepare, and most required the aid of internal energy (neijin); without it, even possessing the formula would be a waste of good materials.

Zhang Song accepted the pill Zhang Yang offered, a hint of doubt lingering. He brought it near his nose to sniff, and his expression instantly shifted.

“I apologize, please wait a moment. I need to find someone to examine this!”

Zhang Song told Zhang Yang, waiting for a nod before excusing himself. Zhang Song didn't know the precise nature or function of this pill, but he could immediately sense something extraordinary about it.

Zhang Song shared the same surname as Zhang Yang, differing by only one character in their names. He hailed from a lineage of physicians; like Zhang Yang in his previous life, he began studying from childhood, learning to distinguish various herbs, and after years of working here, his experience with medicinal materials, despite his relatively young age, was comparable to that of seasoned traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. Based on his long history of handling these substances, a mere sniff told him this pill was far from ordinary. He wasn't clear on the specifics of how extraordinary it was, which is why he decided to seek an expert opinion. He needed to find an elder with even richer experience and broader knowledge to assess it.

Zhang Yang wasn't anxious during his absence. This man was responsible; in truth, running the pharmacy meant they were paid regardless of who bought the medicine. Asking a few extra questions to understand the buyer's purpose was simply to avoid waste. This was especially true for such precious herbs; if a buyer didn't understand their use and applied them incorrectly, it was better not to sell them at all. With the growing wealth of many individuals, the concept of tonic supplementation was widely touted, leading many to believe that the more precious the herb, the better the health benefit. This flawed thinking had already resulted in the squandering of much fine medicine. Their establishment was renowned and well-stocked, attracting many visitors seeking remedies. Generally, they refused to sell to those not seeking genuine treatment. This was also a form of protection for the herbs; to them, the materials were worth more than the money.

However, very few people presented a prescription sheet filled entirely with such precious ingredients as Zhang Yang had, which explained why the first assistant had questioned if he was merely causing trouble.

Ten minutes later, Zhang Song hurried back, accompanied by an elderly man. The elder appeared to be in his sixties, wearing a black shirt.

“My friend, could we perhaps discuss this in the back? It’s much quieter there!”

Zhang Song spoke to Zhang Yang first, his face still bearing a trace of shock, while the accompanying elder continuously scrutinized Zhang Yang.

“Certainly!” Zhang Yang agreed with a smiling nod.

Behind the main counter of the pharmacy was a large lounge, changing rooms, and several offices. Adjacent to the safe, secured by a heavy-duty door, was Zhang Song’s office. This was where the group was led. The taxi driver also followed them in, looking around with curiosity. He had purchased medicine here several times before, but this was his first time stepping into the back area of the pharmacy.

“This pill—is it yours?”

As soon as they were seated, the elder directed the question at Zhang Yang. Zhang Song, who was about to prepare tea, paused slightly before quickly returning.

“Yes, it’s mine!” Zhang Yang confirmed with a smile.

“Where did you acquire this pill? Who formulated this pill?” The elder asked again, this time sounding somewhat agitated.

“I prepared this pill myself!”

“You?”

The elder seemed profoundly surprised, scrutinizing Zhang Yang from head to toe. His expression clearly conveyed disbelief in Zhang Yang’s statement.

“Third Grand-uncle, please calm down for a moment. Let our esteemed guest have some water first!”

Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Song finally interjected. Seeing the elder nod, Zhang Song let out a subtle breath of relief. He had already informed the elder that the buyer had prepared the pill himself, yet the elder’s question upon arrival showed he either didn't fully believe Zhang Song or couldn't accept that Zhang Yang could formulate such a compound.

The elder fell silent, focusing his gaze solely on Zhang Yang. Zhang Song went to prepare and serve the tea. Only after this did he ask Zhang Yang’s name, learning that they shared the same surname and both had single-character given names. He wasn't particularly surprised by the shared surname, as Zhang is a very common name across the nation.

“I didn't expect Mr. Zhang to also be a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine; we are colleagues, in a way!”

After a brief exchange, learning Zhang Yang was also a doctor, Zhang Song remarked with a smile, clearly attempting to foster rapport.

Zhang Yang smiled and nodded. “Supervisor Zhang, I came today solely to purchase medicine. If you have the herbs on my prescription, rest assured, I will ensure the price is satisfactory to you!”

Zhang Yang’s primary objective for this visit was indeed procurement, and time was already being lost. This delay was acceptable, but he had little to say to those who clearly doubted him. Zhang Yang could tell that neither the elder nor Zhang Song fully believed he was the one who concocted the pill.

“We can sell you the medicine. We have Powdered Lingzhi over a hundred years old. While we don't have century-old He Shou Wu (Fo-ti), we have an eighty-year specimen. We possess all the other various herbs. However, I absolutely must know: who formulated this Ginseng Pill?”

The elder, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke. Zhang Song opened his mouth, then ultimately shook his head in resignation. He knew his Third Grand-uncle's temperament; it was too late to intervene now.

“I stated just a moment ago that I prepared this Ginseng Pill myself. The reason I presented it was to show you that I have the capability to handle high-grade medicinal ingredients, so you need not worry that these herbs will be wasted!”

Zhang Yang felt a similar sense of helplessness. He had only brought out the pill to establish his credentials, not expecting such intense scrutiny that they would pursue him relentlessly about its origin. If he had known, he wouldn't have shown them the pill.

“That is impossible. This ‘Licorice-Poria-Ginseng’ compound can only be prepared by members of the Zhang family. Unless you are one of the Zhangs—but that is absolutely out of the question!”

The elder suddenly stared intently at Zhang Yang, speaking slowly. Zhang Yang froze, returning the intense gaze. The full name of the Ginseng Pill he prepared was indeed Gan Cao Fu Ling Shen (Licorice-Poria-Ginseng), the main ingredient being ginseng, supplemented by licorice and poria. The name wasn't the crucial part; what mattered was that this specific formula name was known only to the Zhang family. Gan Cao Fu Ling Shen was one of the Zhang family's ancestral secret formulas, governed by a rule in their lineage mandate: Passed down to sons, never daughters; passed down to direct heirs, never apprentices... (Fourth update, more to follow)...RQ