A social media buzz from an internet personality, Zhang Zilong, recently disclosed that he had been unaware of his family's wealth from their assumed local Chinese snack brand company until after completing his university education. Zhang is the son of the founder and president of the renowned Hunan spicy gluten latiao brand called Mala Prince.

In a report by South Morning China Post, Zhang, now 24, explained to mainland media that his father, Zhang Yudong, deliberately kept their financial success hidden from him for the first two decades, purportedly to instill a strong work ethic. 

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Growing up in Pingjiang County, Hunan Province, Zhang Zilong lived in a regular or average apartment. He didn't realize or understand that his family's business was actually very profitable or successful.

Although Zhang attended a prestigious secondary school in the capital city of Hunan province, he did not use any connections from his family to gain admission. However, even in this environment, he was unaware of the full extent of his family's wealth.

Zhang disclosed that it wasn't until he completed his university studies that his father finally revealed their wealth. This revelation led to their relocation to a newly constructed villa worth 10 million yuan (US$1.4 million) and Zhang assuming a position in the family enterprise's e-commerce division. 

The Chinese snack brand reportedly earns 600 million yuan (US$83 million) a year.

As of a recent update, Zhang has come to accept his family's million-dollar wealth but remains dedicated to maintaining a humble life and strong work ethic. He expresses ambitions to contribute to the company's global expansion while emphasizing that he wants to earn his position within the business through his own efforts and merit.

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