(Both leads are each other's only partners, sweet romance, seven-year age gap, a warm, everyday life among ordinary folk)
(A gentle, beautiful young cook + the composed, reserved Lord Meng)
Xie Mingsu and her mother open a restaurant called Baiwei Ju on East Street. She makes money to support her fiancé's studies, but after he passes the imperial exam, he looks down on her and breaks off their engagement. Gossip spreads through town, and at nineteen she still hasn't married. Her mother worries so much about her marriage that her hair has turned white.
Meng Heqing is twenty-six and unmarried. He once had a fiancée, too, but the elders of both families died one after another, and he observed mourning for six years. Just as the mourning period ended, someone framed the Crown Prince and had him imprisoned. As the Crown Prince's right-hand man, Meng Heqing was banished to Shun'an County to serve as a lowly magistrate. His fiancée married someone else as well.
The young cook at Baiwei Ju is beautiful, and her food is delicious. Meng Heqing gets so used to her cooking that his appetite becomes spoiled, and before long, he has fallen for her too. Secretly, he dreams of bringing her home as his wife.
A sweet, cozy everyday romance between a mature couple in ancient times.
Although there were some oddities, the pacing was fast, making it quite enjoyable to read. However, the last few chapters felt a bit rushed.
It's not a story about a strong female lead, but the female lead has a kind of resilience. Both the male and female leads speak up, resolving misunderstandings immediately. The writing is also good, flowing smoothly. Thumbs up!
The author's satisfying writing style is truly exhilarating.