Her father died young, leaving the family destitute, and her mother is gravely ill with no money for medicine.
In his darkest hour, Shen An, a young man from Qingxi with half a tattered cookbook and a head full of the classics, comes to a realization:
Reading the classics on an empty stomach is the real joke.
A bowl of chilled sophora-leaf noodles introduces him to Zhao Hong, a hearty gourmand;
a dish of squirrel-shaped mandarin fish sets him on the path of “supporting his studies through cooking.”
When his street stall is bullied, he stands his ground. When he is ostracized at the county school, he answers with an essay that leaves them eating their words.
He thinks all he has to do is study for the exams and earn money to support his family. Then a wealthy young woman from a neighboring village shows up with a marriage contract in hand.
Lin Qingwan: “I don’t mind that you’re poor, so don’t avoid me.”
Shen An falls silent for a moment. “When I pass the county-level examination, I’ll marry you properly.”
From first-timer to presented scholar, from the stove to the imperial court.
See how a poor scholar wields his brush like a sword and makes a friend of his ladle, creating the finest flavors in the world and cooking up a path to success.
The warmth of everyday life is what comforts ordinary hearts most.
When we celebrate success, we’ll share a fragrant meal together.
