The gates of the research institute remained exactly as they had always been, the old-fashioned sort.

Back in the eighties, this Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Institute had enjoyed considerable prestige, renowned throughout the nation; by the early nineties, it began its decline, becoming a barely functioning shell of its former self today.

Zhang Yang paid these details no mind; all he wanted was to find the records of his mother picking up her medication.

The Director Wang, whom Old Man Zhou had mentioned, had long since retired. After making inquiries, Zhang Yang learned he was no longer in the area, leaving him no choice but to approach the current administrator.

Initially, the administrator seemed quite impatient when Zhang Yang requested to look up archives from ten years ago, flatly refusing to search. However, once Zhang Yang presented him with several packs of high-end cigarettes and other gifts, the administrator’s attitude shifted immediately.

All of the institute’s archives, provided they didn’t involve state secrets, were opened to Zhang Yang.

There was the advantage of being part of an institution; even the archives from a decade prior were preserved. After searching through half the morning, Zhang Yang finally located the records of his mother’s medication pick-ups, and his heart quickened considerably upon obtaining them.

With the photocopies in hand, Zhang Yang left the institute and returned to the hotel.

A dozen or so pages lay flat on the table; each sheet listed various medicinal names and quantities—this was the record of the medicine his mother had procured back then.

Zhang Yang sat on the sofa, his brow furrowed as he carefully scrutinized the names of the herbs on each page.

“Jīn Yín Huā, Zǐ Huā Dīng Dīng, Huáng Lián, Shēng Dì, Dà Qīng Yè…”

He softly recited the names of the herbs from the papers, his frown deepening. These were all very common medicines, yet many of them shared a single characteristic.

That characteristic was detoxification.

Considering all the herbs together, Zhang Yang discerned at least two distinct prescriptions, two formulas for detoxification.

If that were the case, his mother hadn't been ill back then; she had been poisoned.

This conclusion was unexpected for Zhang Yang and did nothing to solve his current dilemma; rather, it only deepened his confusion.

“Ling!”

The doorbell suddenly rang. Zhang Yang had no choice but to suppress the swirling doubts in his mind, gather the papers from the table, and rise to open the door.

“Zhang Yang, we’ve already rented the cars. There aren’t many good vehicles here in Liangxu, so we’ll have to make do for now!”

The person entering was Gu Fang; he had rushed over immediately after hearing Zhang Yang was back.

Gu Fang spoke with a cheerful smile, but it quickly vanished as he looked at Zhang Yang with genuine concern, asking quietly, “What’s wrong? Your complexion looks terrible.”

Zhang Yang’s expression was indeed grim; the answer he had come seeking hadn't materialized, and it seemed the situation had only become more complicated.

“I’m fine, thank you for going to this trouble for me this time!”

Zhang Yang managed a strained smile, his mind still preoccupied with the medications his mother had collected.

If she had been taking those medicines herself, it was almost certain she had been poisoned—a very potent poison at that.

The problem was, Zhang Yang still couldn't determine the exact poison. The two prescriptions were indeed detoxifying, but the range of poisons they could counter was quite broad.

If his mother had indeed been poisoned, not died of illness, then some previous events finally gained explanation—at least, it explained why his mother, who had always been healthy, became ill and passed away within a month or two.

If the poison couldn't be cured and only suppressed, death in a matter of days, let alone a month or two, was highly possible.

“It’s good that you’re fine. If there is something wrong, tell us, and we’ll see if we can help. You rest for a while, and I’ll call you for dinner later!”

Gu Fang gently patted Zhang Yang’s shoulder and spoke with sincere care.

His concern was genuine; regardless of his ulterior motives for seeking out Zhang Yang, he considered him a friend and did not wish to see him troubled alone.

“Alright, I understand. If I need anything, I absolutely won’t be polite!”

Zhang Yang managed another smile. Gu Fang didn't linger, said his goodbyes, and left.

Gu Fang’s concern brought a small measure of warmth to Zhang Yang’s heart.

Gu Fang was right about one thing: there was something he hadn’t shared. It wasn't a lack of trust in these people, but the matter concerning his father was a forbidden zone, one that made him utterly unwilling to speak of it, which was why he hadn't told them the real reason for his visit to Antian.

After seeing Gu Fang off, Zhang Yang stood by the window again.

Gazing at the view outside, Zhang Yang sighed softly once more. His investigation had yielded new progress, but the outcome wasn't what he had hoped for. If his mother truly died from poisoning, the underlying affair must be far more complex.

Zhang Yang couldn't fathom what kind of poison would compel Zhang Keqin not to tell him, preferring to let him maintain this misunderstanding rather than reveal the truth of that year.

In Zhang Yang’s memory, he had indeed questioned Zhang Keqin—more than once—but his father had never offered an answer, fueling Zhang Yang's resentment toward him.

And as for his own memory, much of it had returned, yet the period between his mother’s illness and death remained a complete blank, as if those two months had been violently torn away.

It was almost as if, during those two months, he hadn't existed at all.

Before long, Gu Fang returned, this time accompanied by Li Wei.

With a vehicle secured, they could move around more freely. Li Wei knew of a good restaurant, and they decided to eat there, rather than remain at the Jiu Gu hotel.

In the parking lot, Gu Fang scratched his head sheepishly. The two cars he rented were an old Ford and an older Cherokee; neither looked particularly new.

“They had a BMW, but they wouldn't rent it separately; you had to take the driver too. I didn't want an extra driver, so I passed on that car,” Gu Fang explained, seeming worried Zhang Yang might be dissatisfied with the rental quality.

Antian was too small; it wasn't a major city like Shanghai, and being the New Year period, securing better vehicles was genuinely difficult.

“They’re quite good. Brother Li, where are we eating? You lead the way!”

Zhang Yang chuckled, understanding Gu Fang’s intention. This wasn't home; having cars for transport was satisfaction enough, and Zhang Yang wouldn't quibble over such details.

“Sure, I’ll lead. You take this car!”

Li Wei laughed heartily; being called ‘Brother Li’ by Zhang Yang gave him a slight thrill. Unlike Gu Fang, Li Wei knew that Zhang Yang and Long Feng were not ordinary people.

Li Wei handed the keys to the Cherokee to Zhang Yang; Long Feng took the wheel, while Mi Xue and Qu Meilan got in the back.

The two cars headed toward the restaurant, and Zhang Yang’s mind drifted back into deep contemplation about what he was thinking.

The shops along the roadside flashed by, and the more Zhang Yang thought, the more troubled he became.

If his mother truly died from a poison she couldn't cure, she could have gone to a hospital. Although Zhang Keqin didn't hold the authority he has now, he was still a department-level cadre; finding connections for medical care shouldn't have been an issue.

His mother poisoned, ultimately dying, and his father said nothing—Zhang Yang simply couldn't reconcile it.

“Hospital?”

Zhang Yang’s eyes lit up slightly as he murmured the word under his breath. Long Feng, driving, glanced at him in the rearview mirror, then continued driving without comment.

Long Feng had heard him, but Zhang Yang’s voice was so soft that he hadn't caught the word clearly.

At this moment, Zhang Yang thought of another place.

Whether sick or poisoned, if his mother couldn't treat herself, she would eventually have to go to a hospital. If she did go, there would certainly be medical records documenting her condition.

Furthermore, Zhang Keqin had come when his mother was critically ill. No matter their quarrels, they were still husband and wife, and there hadn’t been any major, irreparable conflict. If Zhang Keqin had arrived, he would have sent his wife to a hospital.

Just as he was thinking this, Li Wei arrived at the restaurant he had selected—a modest establishment, but famous for a few signature dishes.

It was the peak of the lunch rush, and quite a few cars were parked outside.

Fortunately, Li Wei had reserved a private room in advance; he even knew the owner. His years of military service in Antian hadn't been wasted.

“The Tiaoshui Yu here is the most authentic. I’ve eaten Tiaoshui Yu in Jinling, in Shanghai, and many other places, but none taste as good as theirs. I’ve been missing it for years!”

Upon entering the room, Li Wei immediately began his enthusiastic introduction, his face clearly showing nostalgia when mentioning the fish dish.

“Zhang Yang, you don’t know, Li Wei has mentioned this place to me more than once. We even planned that if we ever had the chance, we’d come here to try it. Thanks to you today, I get to taste this legendary Tiaoshui Yu sooner!” Gu Fang chimed in with a smile. He said this deliberately, aiming only to draw Zhang Yang’s attention.

Gu Fang was perceptive; he had long noticed Zhang Yang’s distress and had subtly probed a few times. Since Zhang Yang refused to talk, Gu Fang could do nothing more.

All he could do now was try his best to engage Zhang Yang, say things that would please him, and try to alleviate the negative mood clouding his mind—that was the extent of his help right now.

“Then let’s taste it today. What is the flavor of this legendary Tiaoshui Yu that Brother Li so highly recommends!”

Zhang Yang suddenly smiled. As soon as he finished speaking, Mi Xue also smiled. Gu Fang paused briefly, then his own laughter grew louder.

The 'legendary Tiaoshui Yu' was just Gu Fang exaggerating for effect. Zhang Yang repeating the phrase made it sound quite amusing, and now everyone present felt a building anticipation for the dish.

Soon, the first few dishes they ordered began to arrive. Zhang Yang temporarily set aside his worries and focused on savoring the meal.

The place Li Wei recommended was indeed good. Although these weren't exotic dishes, the flavor was excellent. Zhang Yang’s palate was notoriously discerning; his assessment of ‘not bad’ was high praise.

Even he now felt a degree of expectation for the much-lauded Tiaoshui Yu.

After several dishes were served, the highly anticipated dish, which Gu Fang had dubbed the ‘legendary famous dish,’ finally made its delayed appearance. The eager group immediately extended their chopsticks to try a bite.

After just one taste, Gu Fang gave it his thumbs-up, and even Zhang Yang nodded repeatedly.

The dish had lived up to their expectations; the flavor was truly remarkable. The fish meat was slightly spicy, yet carried a distinct, subtle sweetness amidst the heat, creating a unique gustatory experience.

First chapter update, next chapter will be updated before [Time]! (To be continued)