The Bianjing Key: A Fuse in the Gears of Time

Chapter 1: Breakfast in the Bronze Gears

The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows into the kitchen. Zhang Yanling stood at the counter, holding a yellowed copy of The Cook's Record, her brows slightly furrowed. She took a deep breath, as if she could smell the woodsmoke of a thousand years ago.

"Lotus Seedpod Fish Buns..." she murmured. "Can you really make this stuff?"

"Mom, what are you doing?" Yiting came down the stairs, rubbing her sleepy eyes and clutching her dinosaur plushie.

"I'm recreating a dish from the Song dynasty." Zhang Yanling smiled and patted her daughter's head. "Your dad used to say that if he could taste this dish, he'd find inspiration."

"Dad?" Yiting's eyes lit up. "When is he coming home?"

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.