“Your family? The Zhan Corporation in Wancheng—is that your family’s company?”
Fu Ruotong asked, shocked.
She stared at Zhan Yuan, her face full of disbelief.
The Ouyang family members all turned their attention to the two.
“Yes, it’s our family’s company. Our ancestors were capable and built the foundation. Now my eldest brother manages it,” Zhan Yuan replied.
“Where do you rank among your brothers?”
Fu Ruotong had accompanied her husband on a business trip to Wancheng and stayed there for half a month. She knew a bit about Wancheng’s top aristocratic family.
The Zhan family’s reputation for good family values left a strong impression on her.
She’d also heard that the Zhan family’s sons were all exceptional, and indeed, Zhan Yuan, a Zhan family young master, was outrageously handsome.
But why would a Zhan family young master come to the Ouyang household to work as a chef?
Though the Zhan Corporation was based in Wancheng, its wealth was on par with the Ouyang family. Moreover, the Zhan family’s sons were all highly capable, each able to stand on their own—a strength far surpassing the Ouyang family.
The difference was that the Ouyang family produced mostly daughters, with a scarcity of sons, while the Zhan family produced only sons, with no daughters for generations. It was said that Old Madam Zhan had hoped for a daughter but was disappointed, then hoped for a granddaughter, only to be disappointed again. Now she was pinning her hopes on a great-granddaughter.
When Fu Ruotong first heard about the Zhan family, she’d told her husband that any woman who married into the Zhan family and managed to give birth to a daughter would be showered with endless love and attention.
“Sixth,” Zhan Yuan answered.
Fu Ruotong stood up, politely extending her right hand for a handshake, smiling. “I’ve been to Wancheng and stayed there for half a month. I’ve heard some legends about your Zhan family. Sixth Young Master Zhan, a pleasure to meet you.”
Zhan Yuan glanced at Ouyang Ya before lightly shaking Fu Ruotong’s hand.
“President Zhan is your full brother, right?”
Fu Ruotong had heard that Young Master Zhan and Sixth Young Master were born to the same mother.
“Yes, my full brother. All the brothers in our family get along well, even with our cousins—we’re very close.”
“I know. Your grandmother is an enlightened elder and the pillar of your Zhan family. I’ve heard all nine of you brothers were raised to success by your grandparents. So many people envy your grandmother.”
Especially elders whose own descendants lacked talent—whenever Wancheng’s Old Madam Zhan was mentioned, they were green with envy.
Raising even one successor was impressive, but the old lady had raised nine, any one of whom could be plucked out to lead the Zhan Corporation and shoulder its burdens.
It felt like all the exceptional children had been born into the Zhan family.
With enlightened elders and talented younger generations, it was no wonder such a family thrived. No surprise the Zhan family held the throne as Wancheng’s commercial titan, with countless families unable to surpass them.
Zhan Yuan smiled. “Thank you, Miss Fu, for praising my grandmother.”
“My grandmother is wonderful. In our hearts, she’s the best grandmother in the world.”
“Miss Fu, you and our young lady enjoy the hotpot. I’ve got things to do.”
Zhan Yuan quickly excused himself.
He knew everyone in the Ouyang family was dying to ask Fu Ruotong how she guessed he was a Zhan family young master.
The surname Zhan wasn’t common, yet Ouyang Ya hadn’t connected him to the Zhan family. Perhaps she thought that, as Wancheng’s richest and most prominent family, their young master wouldn’t come to work as her private chef.
He was here for the cooking.
Chasing his wife came second to that.
