Beside them, Zhang Song and the taxi driver were both stunned, wanting to interject something but not knowing how to begin.

“How did you know about the existence of Licorice, Poria, and Ginseng?”

Zhang Yang was the first to speak, asking slowly while forcibly suppressing his suddenly agitated heartbeat.

Licorice, Poria, and Ginseng—this was a secret formula passed down through his Zhang family, something unknown to anyone outside their lineage. How could he not be shocked that a strange old man suddenly recognized the medicine he had prepared and even named it?

However, he also understood that he couldn't reveal too much now. He was no longer a member of the Zhang family in this lifetime; at least, his blood held no connection to the Zhang family of his past life.

“That’s my question first—how could you possibly prepare Licorice, Poria, and Ginseng? Are you a member of the Zhang family, or do you have some connection to them?”

The old man continued to fix his gaze on Zhang Yang, asking rapidly.

The taxi driver looked rather bewildered. The word ‘Zhang family’ had been mentioned several times, but he had no idea which ‘Zhang’ family they were referring to.

In any case, both men were surnamed Zhang.

Zhang Song also turned to look at Zhang Yang. In his heart, he was very clear about what the old man meant by ‘the’ Zhang family.

This ‘Zhang’ family was definitely not theirs. Although they were also a large medical family and shared the surname Zhang, compared to the true ‘Zhang’ family, they were merely infants, or perhaps not even that.

The real ‘Zhang’ family was once the most famous medical lineage in the country, boasting a heritage spanning eighteen hundred years—the oldest and most mysterious medical family in the nation.

Compared to the ‘Zhang’ family with its eighteen centuries of foundation, their Zhang family, established only a few decades ago, truly amounted to nothing.

Zhang Yang’s breathing quickened again. He understood the old man’s implication as well, knowing they were referring to the family from his previous life.

“Tell me first what your relationship is with the Zhang family, and why you know about Licorice, Poria, and Ginseng?”

After a moment, Zhang Yang finally asked slowly, a thread of sorrow weaving through his heart.

In his past life, he had neither married nor had descendants, and the thousand-eight-hundred-year lineage of the Zhang family had ended completely with him.

Not only did it end in his past life, but it ended in this one because of him as well. That ancient family spanning millennia was gone from this world.

“I asked you first, you must answer!”

The old man slammed the table suddenly, shouting in anger, and Zhang Yang immediately stood up.

“If you won’t say, then never mind. I’m leaving. I’m not buying the medicine!”

Zhang Yang turned and walked towards the door, his sudden demeanor leaving the old man and Zhang Song momentarily stunned.

“You can’t go!”

As Zhang Yang reached the doorway, the old man finally reacted, shouting urgently and moving to stop him.

The fact that Zhang Yang could prepare Licorice, Poria, and Ginseng, and knew the name of this medicine, meant too much to their family—so much that he absolutely could not let Zhang Yang leave.

If Zhang Yang truly walked away now, the old man suspected he would never sleep peacefully again.

“Mr. Zhang, please stay. We meant no harm by asking these questions!” Zhang Song also walked over, speaking quickly.

“If you want me to stay, then answer my question immediately!”

Zhang Yang turned back, radiating a sharp sense of authority. Zhang Song and the others wanted to uncover his connection to ‘the’ Zhang family; Zhang Yang felt the same way, only he couldn't, or perhaps wouldn't, reveal it.

Now, the only approach he could take was this strategy of feigned retreat to make them disclose what he wanted first.

Zhang Song looked back at the old man, who hesitated for a moment before finally nodding.

Zhang Song then glanced at the taxi driver, who looked as if he wanted to speak but held back.

“Boss, you go ahead with your business. I’ll wait for you outside. Don’t worry, I’ll wait for you and make sure I drive you back!”

The taxi driver wasn't dense. Seeing Zhang Song’s look, he immediately understood the implication.

Clearly, Zhang Song didn't want him present; they were likely about to discuss confidential matters.

The driver was curious about such things, but he also understood that it was best not to know things one shouldn't, as knowing would bring no advantage.

“Please, have a seat!”

After the driver left, the old man slowly told Zhang Yang to sit, his tone much improved from before.

Zhang Yang didn’t stand on ceremony and sat down immediately, waiting for their explanation.

The old man looked at Zhang Yang, his eyes holding a touch of complexity, and began to speak slowly: “My grandfather was an orphan. He was adopted by a very skilled divine doctor. When he grew up, he became this divine doctor’s apprentice.”

The old man’s words caused Zhang Yang’s eyebrows to twitch unnaturally. The elder paused to observe his reaction.

“What was the name of this divine doctor you speak of?”

Zhang Yang asked slowly, his expression completely composed now; at least, no emotional fluctuation could be read on his face.

This composure made both Zhang Song and the old man marvel at the youth’s self-possession, which belied his age.

“Zhang Zhi’an!”

After a moment, the old man slowly uttered a name that made Zhang Yang’s heart skip a beat.

Zhang Zhi’an—that was his paternal grandfather’s father, his great-grandfather Zhang Daoqian’s father. Sadly, these relationships belonged to his past life; in this existence, he shared no blood ties with them.

Almost every generation of the Zhang family produced a divine doctor, and Zhang Zhi’an was no exception. As for the story of him adopting an orphan as a medicine boy, Zhang Yang had heard fragments.

It was his own grandfather who had told him that Zhang Zhi’an raised the medicine boy as a disciple, teaching him only what could be taught, withholding the truly ancestral secret formulas.

This medicine boy was slightly older than Zhang Daoqian. When Zhang Daoqian was little, this apprentice was the one who grew up with him, playing with him daily.

Zhang Yang had also heard that the apprentice was extremely diligent in his medical studies. Aside from the Zhang family’s secret techniques forbidden from being disclosed externally, he had mastered nearly everything else and could easily practice medicine to save lives. He had even refrained from marrying in order to study.

It wasn't until he was twenty-five that the apprentice married—a rare thing in that era, making him a veritable oddity for marrying so late. Tragically, on his wedding day, he was attacked by bandits. He protected his bride, ensuring her escape, but was killed by the bandits himself. His grandfather had sighed deeply when recounting this tale.

Being killed on the wedding day was indeed an extremely inauspicious event.

Zhang Yang was certain that in his past life, this medicine boy had indeed died. Having died before consummating the marriage, he naturally left no children.

Zhang Yang could confirm this absolutely: the woman whose husband died on their wedding day never remarried, living out her life within the Zhang family compound. She had even held Zhang Yang as a child before passing away peacefully at ninety.

Recalling these facts, Zhang Yang suddenly felt an inexpressible, complex emotion.

Because of him, his great-grandfather in the previous life had departed early in this one, leaving no descendants and completely severing the ancestral line.

Conversely, the medicine boy’s lineage, which should have died out long ago, had its fate altered by Zhang Yang’s existence, allowing them to survive and flourish into a massive family.

Only now did Zhang Yang understand why he hadn't known about this pharmacy in his past life.

In that life, this location did not exist in Shanghai, nor did Zhang Song or his great-uncle; thus, this clinic and pharmacy naturally couldn't have existed.

“I’ve said what I needed to say. It’s your turn now!”

The old man finished and then looked back at Zhang Yang, asking the question again. Their relationship with the Zhang family was now fully explained; strictly speaking, they were also members of the Zhang family. The medicine boy had been granted the surname Zhang by Zhang Zhi’an, thus taking their name.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhang Yang slowly spoke: “I have a master. Everything I learned, he taught me, including the preparation of Licorice, Poria, and Ginseng, and many other medicinal compounds!”

He relied on the same excuse as before.

He could only use this explanation now; he couldn't possibly tell them that he was a member of the Zhang family.

“Lying! This is a secret formula passed down in the Zhang family, transmitted only to sons, never to daughters or pupils. You couldn't possibly know this unless you are a member of the Zhang family!”

The old man immediately shook his head. He understood everything about the Zhang family deeply; all this information came from his grandfather.

“That is the truth, whether you believe it or not!” Zhang Yang shrugged, as the old man and Zhang Song watched him.

“I only recall that my Daoist master was also surnamed Zhang. His name seemed to be Zhang Daofeng. He only mentioned it a few times, and I don’t remember much else!”

Zhang Yang added another detail, and upon hearing the name Zhang Daofeng, the old man’s expression changed sharply once more. He immediately declared, “That’s impossible! Didn't he die young?”

The old man was not unfamiliar with the name Zhang Daofeng. He was Zhang Daoqian’s younger brother by about ten years. According to the information passed down by the old man’s grandfather, this child had supposedly died in an accident.

In his grandfather’s account, Zhang Daofeng had fallen from a cliff while playing on a mountain at the age of six. Even with the Zhang family’s high medical skills, they could do nothing for someone who had been shattered into pieces by the fall.

“Did your master say anything else?”

The old man turned back, urgently questioning Zhang Yang.

“No, he mentioned nothing else!”

Zhang Yang immediately shook his head. He deeply understood the principle that speaking too much leads to mistakes, and at this moment, he absolutely refused to elaborate further.

Zhang Daofeng was his past-life great-grandfather’s biological brother, and he had indeed died young—information Zhang Yang had received from his own grandfather.

Without another explanation, he could only bring forth this ancestor who met an accidental death. Whether these people believed him or not was irrelevant to him.

After so many years, the truth had become an unsolved mystery. Even if they suspected something, they could do nothing. Everyone who knew the true circumstances of Zhang Daofeng’s death was long gone; everyone else only knew by hearsay.

Since it was hearsay, it could be true, or it might not be... So tiring, but Xiao Yu will persevere. This is the fifth chapter now, and there is one more to come… RQ