Shen Mingtang is a woman who transmigrated from modern times into the body of a young girl in the Great Yin Dynasty. She finds herself in a modest household where her father, Shen Fu, serves as an Erudite at the Imperial Academy, and her mother, Jiang Shi, comes from a once-wealthy family whose fortunes have declined. The story opens on the day Jiang Shi gives birth to a second daughter, adding financial strain to an already tight household. Mingtang, who had hoped to use her culinary knowledge from her past life to achieve wealth, discovers that many modern dishes like hot pot and stir-fry already exist in this era, dampening her ambitions.
The family faces immediate economic hardship. With the new baby to feed and Shen Qingsong's tuition for the Imperial Academy due, Shen Fu secretly sells his beloved books to raise funds. Mingtang discovers this and resolves to find a way to earn money. She manages the household with competence, cooking nourishing meals for her recovering mother and keeping the family fed on limited resources. Her brother Shen Qingsong is diligent and filial, while her younger brother Shen Erlang is playful and food-motivated.
A turning point occurs when Gongsun Sheng, a colleague of Shen Fu who is about to be sent as an envoy to teach in the vassal state of Yanqi, visits the family. Mingtang invites him to dinner, and her cooking impresses him greatly. Gongsun Sheng secretly leaves silver hidden in a basket of eggs as a gift, which Mingtang uses to secure Shen Qingsong's tuition. She also teaches Gongsun Sheng how to make simple dishes like steamed eggs and rice cake soup that he can prepare during his travels abroad.
The family's past conflicts resurface when Shen Fu's elder brother Shen Wenhan and his wife Su arrive uninvited at the younger sister's third-day bathing ceremony. Shen Wenhan had previously tried to marry Mingtang off to his superior's son, a scheme Mingtang had foiled by exposing their true intentions. Now he returns, hoping to reconnect, but Shen Fu firmly rejects him and has him physically removed from the premises. This reinforces the family's independence and Shen Fu's protective stance toward his children.
Inspired by Gongsun Sheng's complaints about the poor quality of food at the Imperial Academy, Mingtang devises a business plan. She realizes that since they live adjacent to the Academy, she can prepare meals and snacks for the students. Shen Qingsong will act as the seller, bringing food to the Academy each day. To test the concept, Mingtang prepares breakfast pastries and has her father deliver them to Gongsun Sheng and Shen Fu on their way to work. The food is so appealing that it attracts the attention of other faculty members, including the stingy Master Xu, who steals Shen Fu's portion and devours it.
The story also introduces a stray calico kitten that Mingtang befriends in the kitchen, feeding it fried fish scraps. Meanwhile, a student named Zhao Yu is introduced as a recurring figure at the Academy—a wealthy young man who attends classes negligently and faces expulsion threats from Master Xu but remains unfazed due to his family's wealth and status.
By the end of the provided chapters, Mingtang has established the foundation for a small food business targeting Academy students, secured her brother's education, strengthened bonds with helpful colleagues, and maintained her family's dignity against hostile relatives. The narrative sets up her journey toward financial independence through culinary enterprise while navigating the social dynamics of the Imperial Academy community.
