Everyday Life in Bianjing

Lu Runrun is a seventeen-year-old woman living in Bianjing during the Song Dynasty, though she possesses the memories and mindset of a modern person from a past life. She resides in a three-courtyard mansion in a prime location with her mother, Tan Xianniang, a renowned professional female chef who supports the family through her culinary expertise. The Lu family was once prominent, but financial decline followed the death of Lu Runrun’s father, leaving Tan Xianniang to manage the household by working as a hired chef for banquets hosted by wealthy officials and nobility. Lu Runrun is being trained in the culinary arts to ensure she can support herself in the future, as the family plans to take in a uxorilocal husband. Despite the decline, the family retains significant property, including their residence and some remaining assets, protected by Song Dynasty laws that safeguard a widow’s and daughter’s inheritance rights.

The story opens with Lu Runrun’s daily life, highlighting the bustling atmosphere of Bianjing and her close relationship with her mother and Nanny Chen, a loyal family servant. Lu Runrun accompanies her mother to a banquet at the residence of Deputy Commander Wu, where she interacts with staff from the Four Departments and Six Bureaus, the organization responsible for managing banquets. During the event, she befriends Yu Liuniang, a timid newcomer to the workforce, and Wei Yangyang, a lively friend who works in the Tableware Department. Lu Runrun demonstrates her culinary skills by preparing a dish of chicken silk rolls, earning a small silver reward that she secretly keeps as her own savings. The banquet showcases the intricate social hierarchy and the high value placed on professional female chefs in Song society, who are treated with respect and compensated generously.

A significant turning point occurs when Tan Xianniang announces her intention to remarry. She reveals that she has chosen a Gate-keeping Clerical Secretary from the Bureau of Military Affairs, a ninth-rank official who is poor but respectable. Tan Xianniang explains that she is marrying to provide Lu Runrun with a father figure and to improve her daughter’s marriage prospects, while also seeking companionship for herself. Lu Runrun accepts the news calmly, having studied Song legal codes to understand that her mother’s remarriage will not jeopardize the family’s property. She reassures Wei Yangyang that the stepfather cannot claim the Lu family’s assets, as the law protects the daughter’s inheritance in such cases.

As the story progresses, Lu Runrun navigates her social relationships and personal growth. She continues to work alongside her mother, learning the nuances of banquet management and culinary arts. Her friendship with Wei Yangyang deepens, and she extends kindness to Yu Liuniang, helping her navigate the challenges of her new job. Lu Runrun also fulfills a religious vow by preparing pastries for the Great Xiangguo Temple, demonstrating her piety and attention to detail. The narrative explores the economic and social dynamics of Bianjing, including the vibrant night markets and the diverse professions available to women in the city.

The central conflict revolves around Lu Runrun’s adaptation to her changing family structure and her preparation for a future where she may need to support herself or her family. While the immediate threat to her property rights is mitigated by legal knowledge, the emotional adjustments to her mother’s remarriage and the introduction of a stepfather create subtle tensions. Lu Runrun’s modern perspective allows her to view these changes with a degree of detachment and pragmatism, but she remains grounded in the social realities of her time. The story sets the stage for further developments in her personal and professional life, as she balances her culinary ambitions with the expectations of her family and society.

Throughout the chapters, the narrative emphasizes the importance of skill, reputation, and legal awareness in securing a woman’s place in Song Dynasty society. Lu Runrun’s character is defined by her intelligence, resourcefulness, and ability to navigate complex social interactions. Her relationship with her mother is both respectful and practical, with Tan Xianniang serving as a mentor and protector. The story concludes with Lu Runrun looking forward to the future, confident in her abilities and the security of her family’s position, while remaining aware of the challenges that lie ahead in a rapidly changing world.