After speaking, Zang Mu pointed to the young man beside him who had already stood up in a respectful apprentice posture: "This is my apprentice, Zang Liang. I specially brought him over to help me."
"Hello, Master Qin. Please have a seat, Master Qin, and enjoy a cup of hot tea." Zang Liang enthusiastically poured Qin Huai some tea.
Zang is not a common surname, so upon hearing Zang Liang and Zang Mu share the same surname, Qin Huai couldn't help but scrutinize Zang Liang. He noticed the two indeed bore some resemblance, but their ages didn't match up; Zang Liang should be some sort of nephew or relative to Zang Mu.
It's very common for culinary masters to take on apprentices from their own family; keeping talents within the family, so to speak. Teaching an apprentice is a time-consuming and potentially thankless task, so when feasible, it's preferable to consider one's own family first.
