After Binding the Gourmet Recipe System, I Opened a Chain Hotpot Restaurant

Ye Qiuling, a modern office worker who died from overwork, transmigrates into the body of a sixteen-year-old girl in an ancient Chinese family. The original owner was the third daughter of the Ye family, belonging to the least favored branch. She lived a life of extreme poverty and abuse under the old madam, who forced her to work without pay or medicine. Upon waking, Ye Qiuling discovers she has inherited a Gourmet Recipe System, guided by a hamster named 66. The system rewards her with recipes and points for completing tasks, the first of which is to split her family from the old madam. Ye Qiuling confronts the matriarch during a family meal where the old madam attempts to sell her into a bad marriage to pay off debts. Ye Qiuling publicly humiliates her cousin, Ye Qing, and her second uncle, leading to a physical altercation. With the help of a neighbor aunt and the pressure of public opinion, she forces the old madam to agree to a family split, granting her father’s branch a small plot of land and independence.

Now free from the oppressive household, Ye Qiuling uses the system to improve her family’s livelihood. She learns to harvest plantain herbs and sells herbal iced tea in town, earning her first income. The tea becomes an instant hit, attracting the attention of Chen Xuanmo, a handsome and wealthy man who is secretly the Third Prince. Chen Xuanmo is intrigued by her wit and resilience, especially after she handles a shopkeeper’s discrimination with clever drama. Ye Qiuling continues to expand her business, making mugwort cakes known as qingtuan, which also sell out quickly. Her success draws jealousy from Ye Qing, who conspires with a rival vendor to frame Ye Qiuling for poisoning an old man. Chen Xuanmo intervenes, using his authority to clear her name and expose the frame-up, further cementing his interest in her.

Ye Qiuling’s business grows as she introduces new dishes like braised pork and intestines. She and her family move into a rented shop in town, funded by Chen Xuanmo, whom she views merely as a helpful brother. The old madam and Ye Qing visit to cause trouble, but Ye Qiuling stands her ground, using her sharp tongue and a kitchen knife to drive them away. The old madam faints from rage, and the second uncle leaves in shame. Throughout these events, Chen Xuanmo’s affection for Ye Qiuling deepens, though she remains oblivious to his romantic intentions, focusing instead on her family’s well-being and her culinary empire. The story follows her journey from a abused servant to a successful business owner, navigating family conflicts and building a loving relationship with her parents and younger brother, Xiao Feng, while unknowingly capturing the heart of a powerful prince.