Liu Guyu, a modern food blogger, dies after choking on instant noodles and transmigrates into an ancient BL political intrigue novel. He inhabits the body of a Ge'er named Liu Guyu, a widowed brother-in-law in the Qin family. The original character was malicious, having attempted to steal the family's savings and flee, which led to his eventual torture and death at the hands of Qin Rongshi, the story's young antagonist. Liu Guyu finds himself in a precarious position, facing the suspicion of the thirteen-year-old Qin Rongshi and the grief of his widowed mother-in-law, Cui Lanfang, while dealing with the recent death of his husband, Qin Dalang, who died in war.
The core conflict arises from the Qin family's extreme poverty and mounting debts. Liu Guyu realizes that fleeing is impossible due to the lack of household registration and his physical weakness. Instead, he decides to integrate into the family and use his modern knowledge to improve their situation. He successfully defends the family against the Wang family, who attempt to extort unpaid debts by claiming the principal was never repaid. Using his knowledge of legal principles and dramatic performance, Liu Guyu forces the village head to intervene, exposing the Wang family's fraud and securing the return of the original IOU.
As the family stabilizes, Liu Guyu takes on the role of provider. He discovers that Qin Banban, the young sister, has a talent for gathering medicinal herbs. She accidentally wanders into the dangerous Langkou Mountain to gather Gastrodia Elata, a valuable herb, to help the family financially. Liu Guyu and Qin Rongshi, along with Chen Sanxi, a local hunter, rescue her. Liu Guyu then takes the herbs to town, where they are sold for a significant sum. This success marks a turning point, as Liu Guyu begins to shift the family's economic trajectory.
Liu Guyu's relationship with Qin Rongshi evolves from suspicion to cautious cooperation. Qin Rongshi, initially cold and wary, begins to see Liu Guyu's genuine efforts to support the family. Liu Guyu also navigates the emotional needs of Cui Lanfang, who offers him a divorce letter, hoping to free him to remarry. Liu Guyu refuses, recognizing that his survival depends on remaining with the Qin family and that Qin Rongshi represents a potential path to power and stability if nurtured correctly.
The story direction moves toward Liu Guyu establishing a business in Fushui Town. He identifies a market opportunity during an upcoming temple fair, planning to sell food using his culinary skills. The narrative focuses on his struggle to survive in a harsh ancient environment while managing the complex dynamics of a blended family on the brink of poverty. Liu Guyu must balance his modern sensibilities with the realities of ancient social structures, all while keeping the young antagonist from descending into the villainous path foretold by the original novel.
