In the final years of the Northern Song, corrupt government, relentless threats from foreign powers, and social unrest have left the people in misery. Dou Youde, orphaned and making a living by selling tofu, leaves his home for the sake of survival, traveling from Dou Family Village beneath Mount Bagong in Huainan Prefecture to the capital, Dongjing. Along the way, he becomes sworn brothers with Feng Zhong and Feng Xiao, two men with wicked intentions. Passing through Kan Family Market in Yingzhou, he unexpectedly meets his aunt and uncle by marriage, from whom he learns the art of making marinated dishes. He also meets Mai Jinzhong and his son, Mai Baoxing, at Mai Family Manor in Xiangyi. Later, the Feng brothers scheme against Dou Youde and seize all the property he inherited from his aunt and uncle. Left alone, he wanders the land in a donkey cart. While unconscious from illness, he is rescued at Mai Family Manor by Mai Sui, Mai Jinzhong's younger sister. As she nurses him back to health, the two fall in love and pledge themselves to each other. From then on, Dou Youde and Mai Sui, together with Mai Jinzhong and Mai Baoxing, combine the Mai family's skill in making noodles with the Dou family's tofu and marinated dishes. They open a workshop and expand their business, quickly amassing wealth and earning renown across the Central Plains. Their exquisite dishes are selected as tribute for the imperial palace in Dongjing, and the court grants Mai Family Manor a new name: Mai-Dou Stronghold. But misfortune befalls both the family and the nation. The Jin invade the Central Plains, the Jingkang Disaster strikes, and the two emperors are taken captive. The Central Plains is brought to its knees under Jin rule. As the country falls and families are torn apart, Mai Baoxing takes up arms and joins Yue Fei's army. Dou Youde takes his son, Dou Baowang, north against the current and continues selling tofu near Yue Family Manor in Tangyin. The Yue family takes a liking to his tofu products, and the two families form a deep bond. Feng Zhong and Feng Xiao arrive at Yue Family Manor on the orders of Chancellor Qin Hui to confiscate the family's property. Dou Youde cleverly stalls them and saves Yue Lei, the Yue family's second son. Once the situation stabilizes, the Mai and Dou families gradually return to Mai-Dou Stronghold.
