The Little Chef of Lingnan

Lin Shuwan, a renowned chef in her previous life, transmigrates into the body of a young woman in the Yongning dynasty just three days after her original owner's death. The original Lin Shuwan was the daughter of Vice Minister Lin, who died during disaster relief efforts. Upon awakening, she discovers that her family is in crisis. Her uncle, Lin Zhichang, pretends to be a caring guardian while secretly plotting to seize the family's business assets. He has conspired with his daughter, Lin Shuyin, who is pregnant with the child of Lin Shuwan's fiancé, Qian Shun. Together, they have been poisoning Lin Shuwan's mother, Jiang Wan, to death and plan to sell Lin Shuwan to a brothel once she is an orphan.

Lin Shuwan overhears this conspiracy and realizes the immediate danger. She quietly leaves the residence with her loyal maid, Qingwu, and her ailing mother. Before departing, she orchestrates a scandal by paying an opera troupe to spread rumors about Qian Shun and Lin Shuyin's illicit affair, damaging her uncle's reputation in the capital. She and her mother are subsequently cast out by the family matriarch, Granny Wang, and forced to leave for Lianzhou in Lingnan, a distant southern region. During their journey, they board a merchant ship where they are ambushed by river bandits who were hired to kill Lin Shuwan. She hides in a crate on the upper deck, where she is discovered by Jiang Yufeng, a young nobleman traveling incognito. He swiftly neutralizes the bandits but does not reveal himself to her. Lin Shuwan loses her jade pendant during the escape, which Jiang Yufeng later finds and keeps.

Upon arriving in Lianzhou, Lin Shuwan seeks out her maternal family. They live in a dilapidated teahouse that has been destroyed by local thugs acting on behalf of the Household Revenue Officer's nephew. This nephew had beaten Lin Shuwan's uncle, Jiang Yong, to death after the family refused to hand over their secret recipe for tribute wine. Lin Shuwan finds her uncle dead and her young cousin, Jiang Jin, sick with fever. She takes charge, caring for her mother and cousin while burying her uncle. Using her culinary skills, she prepares nutritious meals like crucian carp soup and steamed egg custard to help them recover, earning the goodwill of their neighbors.

Realizing they need a source of income, Lin Shuwan explores the local market. She learns the costs and regulations for setting up a food stall. Deciding to sell portable breakfast items at the western docks, she begins preparing pan-fried buns and other dishes. Her cooking attracts attention and praise from those who taste it. She plans to establish a food business to support her new family, while also seeking justice for her uncle's murder against the corrupt local official. The story follows her transition from a displaced noblewoman to a resilient entrepreneur building a new life in a foreign land.