Chapter 6: The Four Great Families
Auntie Chen stood nearby, smiling as she watched her.
“Miss, you look lovely in that outfit today.”
“Thank you, Auntie Chen. You look well too. It seems you got a good night’s rest.”
Zhang Yanyan pulled out a chair and sat down, picking up her spoon to scoop up a mouthful of porridge.
The porridge was soft, fragrant, and sweet, with the pumpkin’s natural sweetness melting into the aroma of the rice.
“Auntie Chen’s cooking is always so delicious. I can never get enough.”
Pleased by the compliment, Auntie Chen’s eyes curved into a smile as she handed over a plate of steamed dumplings.
“If you like it, eat more. You’ll be starting university soon, so you need to keep yourself well nourished. Your husband and madam are busy overseas and specifically asked me to take good care of you.”
Zhang Yanyan bit into a steamed dumpling and nodded.
The wrapper was thin and the filling generous. The pork-and-cabbage filling was wonderfully fresh.
“I know. Auntie Chen is the best to me.”
As they were eating, footsteps sounded from the entryway.
Uncle Chen, the butler, walked in wearing a perfectly pressed black suit.
Uncle Chen had worked for the Zhang family for twenty years. He was utterly loyal and handled matters with great efficiency and care.
He walked over to the dining table and gave a slight bow.
“Good morning, Miss. I just finished a video call with your parents.”
Zhang Yanyan set down her spoon and looked up at him.
“How are my parents? Is the business negotiation going smoothly? When will they be coming home?”
[The overseas cooperation between your parents and their partners has reached a preliminary agreement.]
[The subsequent signing procedures are complicated, and they will be unable to return in the short term.]
[They originally planned to come back before the start of the semester to accompany you, but that plan can no longer be fulfilled.]
Uncle Chen spoke respectfully, relaying every detail truthfully.
“Your parents asked me to tell you that you mustn’t shortchange yourself. Your father has already spoken with the university, so you have nothing to worry about.”
Warmth spread through Zhang Yanyan’s heart. The original owner’s parents truly loved their daughter.
They were simply busy with their careers and had little time to accompany her.
But their love and affection for her had never been lacking.
“I understand, Uncle Chen. Tell them to focus on their business and not worry about me. I’m an adult now. I can take care of myself.”
Uncle Chen nodded before asking about her preparations for university.
“Miss, would you like us to arrange for someone to purchase your luggage and daily necessities? Do you need us to prepare bedding and other supplies for the dormitory at Tengyuan University?”
Zhang Yanyan shook her head. She had never intended to live in the dormitory.
There were too many people, too little privacy, and no freedom. It was far more comfortable to live on her own.
Besides, living near the characters involved in the plot would make it easy for them to pester her. It simply wasn’t worth the trouble.
“No need to prepare anything for the dormitory. I probably won’t be living on campus. Uncle Chen, do we have any properties near Tengyuan University? It doesn’t need to be too large. Somewhere quiet and private that’s convenient for everyday living would be perfect.”
At once, Uncle Chen understood. He immediately listed the options.
“Yes, Miss. The family purchased three properties nearby in advance, all reserved for you while you attend university. They’re ready for you to move in at any time.”
“The first is a small detached villa with two and a half floors, a garden, and a private garage. It occupies more than three hundred square meters, has European-style décor, and is only a ten-minute drive from Tengyuan University’s main entrance.”
“The second is a two-hundred-square-meter luxury apartment on a high floor. It has an expansive view, round-the-clock security, and is fully furnished and ready for immediate occupancy.”
“The third is a five-hundred-square-meter duplex apartment with two floors and ample space.”
All three properties had been prepared by the Zhang family long ago.
They had made sure to have alternatives in case the original owner found dormitory life uncomfortable.
Zhang Yanyan searched through the original owner’s memories and indeed found some vague recollection of them.
The original owner had never visited any of the properties, however, so she had no real idea what they were like.
After a moment’s thought, Zhang Yanyan chose the small villa.
The luxury apartment and duplex were both located in residential buildings, where there would be too many people and too much noise.
A detached villa, with its own private grounds, would be quiet and secluded.
Its layout also happened to resemble the building she had constructed in Yunhua Space, so she would be accustomed to living there.
“I’ll take the two-and-a-half-story villa. Uncle Chen, arrange for people to clean and furnish it as soon as possible. Once the semester begins, I’ll be living there permanently.”
Uncle Chen immediately agreed and took out the tablet he carried with him to make a note.
“Of course, Miss. I’ll arrange for the housekeepers to clean the property and handle the furnishings at once. Would you like it renovated, or should we keep the existing style?”
“No need for a complete renovation. That would take too long. Just furnish it simply in the same style as my current bedroom. You can make the arrangements for the bedding, furniture, and so on.”
She liked the décor in her current rooms and saw no need to go to the trouble of changing it.
Zhang Yanyan couldn’t be bothered with the hassle. Replicating the existing style would be the simplest option.
Besides, she didn’t have any particularly strong preferences when it came to interior design.
“Do you have anyone specific in mind for the furnishings and setup, Miss? Or should I select people directly from the manor’s household staff?” Uncle Chen asked.
Zhang Yanyan thought for a moment. There were many servants at the manor, but she was only familiar with most of them and wasn’t particularly close to any.
Auntie Chen was the only one who had cared for her for many years. She understood her habits, was attentive, and could be trusted.
“Have Auntie Chen go with me. She’s an excellent cook and knows my daily routine well. Having her there will save me a lot of trouble.”
Auntie Chen’s face lit up at once.
“Of course, Miss! I can pack up and leave whenever you like. I guarantee I’ll take excellent care of everything.”
Uncle Chen gave a slight nod and considered the size of the villa before saying, “The detached villa is moderately sized, so there won’t be too many daily chores. With Auntie Chen handling your meals and daily needs, one additional housekeeper to take care of cleaning and the household work will be enough.”
“As for security, we can assign two personal bodyguards to handle your day-to-day safety, along with one dedicated driver for your transportation. It will keep the staff lean without compromising your comfort. Does that arrangement sound suitable?”
Zhang Yanyan thought the arrangement was just right. It was neither extravagant nor lacking in comfort, so she nodded immediately.
“That works. Go ahead with that arrangement. You can choose the people yourself. As long as they’re efficient, discreet, steady, and don’t cause unnecessary trouble, that’s all that matters.”
Uncle Chen agreed at once. After thinking for a moment, he suggested someone.
“Aunt Wang from the manor would be the most suitable. She’s efficient and honest. She used to serve the old madam, follows the rules, and rarely speaks unnecessarily. She’s exceptionally reliable.”
Zhang Yanyan searched through the original owner’s memories. Aunt Wang was indeed an honest woman who was quiet, hardworking, and capable of keeping the household in perfect order.
“All right. It’ll be just Auntie Chen and Aunt Wang. Please finalize the bodyguards and driver as well, and have everyone head to the villa and settle in as soon as possible. Everything must be ready within two days. Once the semester starts, I’ll move in directly.”
“Yes, Miss. I’ll make the arrangements immediately.”
Uncle Chen bowed and turned to handle the matter.
His footsteps were light and measured. Uncle Chen had always been highly efficient, and Zhang Yanyan trusted him completely.
She continued eating breakfast, feeling considerably more at ease.
With a private villa of her own, she would be able to avoid a great deal of unnecessary trouble.
After finishing breakfast, she said goodbye to Auntie Chen.
Then she returned to her bedroom on the second floor and locked the door behind her.
She intended to first look into the basic situation here and the power structure of Rongcheng, matching each family’s name with the faces of its members. That way, she wouldn’t embarrass herself later.
After all, she was the daughter of one of Rongcheng’s top wealthy families.
It would be awkward if she went out and, despite being a local, knew nothing about the influential families in her own city.
What if she ran into someone from another prominent household and failed to recognize them?
She walked over to the desk and opened the original owner’s laptop.
It was the latest top-of-the-line model and booted up almost instantly.
She clicked through the files and began looking into the distribution of power among Rongcheng’s major families.
Detailed information soon appeared on the screen.
As one of the country’s first-tier cities, Rongcheng had a highly developed economy and was home to countless wealthy families.
At the very top were the four families universally recognized as Rongcheng’s most powerful.
At the top of the list was the Chen family, whose core businesses were finance and aviation.
With assets worth trillions, they had the deepest roots and the broadest reach.
The family was headed by Chen Jingshan, a ruthless man whose influence in the business world was second to none.
In second place was the Lin family, whose main industries were new energy and pharmaceuticals.
Their research and development capabilities were among the best, making them the leading force in emerging industries.
The family was headed by Lin Zhenghong, a rising star with a razor-sharp eye for opportunity.
Third was the Zhang family—the family Zhang Yanyan belonged to.
The Zhang Group’s core businesses included real estate, technology, and chain retail.
With assets worth hundreds of billions, they controlled nearly half of Rongcheng’s real estate market.
Fourth was the Gu family, whose businesses spanned luxury goods, hotels, and entertainment.
They controlled Rongcheng’s high-end consumer market and had an extraordinarily wide network of connections.
The family was headed by Gu Yanzhi, a young man who nonetheless wielded an iron fist.