Transmigrated into a Cannon Fodder : First Wife of a Stepmother Themed Novel

In the spring of 1965, Song Qinghuan finds herself trapped in the body of a character from a novel, destined to die after her twin children are kidnapped by a wicked stepmother figure. After being pushed into a river by Liu Tiegen, a village youth with malicious intentions, Song Qinghuan awakens to a mysterious voice in her mind. The voice reveals that she is no longer bound by the original plot, as the world has expanded beyond the book's control. Instead of succumbing to the foretold illness and despair, she chooses to fight for her children's lives. The voice introduces itself as the Chef God System, a spirit born from the prayers of culinary cultivators, offering her aid in exchange for her willingness to learn the art of cooking.

Song Qinghuan accepts the system's offer and consumes a special porridge that grants her temporary enhanced strength and the ability to sense her children's location. She bypasses the village's ineffective search efforts and rides a bicycle to the county town, following her intuition to a remote alley. There, she discovers a kidnapping ring operated by Yu Dezhi and his wife, who have hidden several children, including her twins, in a secret passage behind a cabinet. Using her newfound strength, Song Qinghuan single-handedly defeats the kidnappers, rescues the children, and hands them over to the police. Her actions earn her the respect of the local authorities and the gratitude of the other families involved.

Back in the village, Song Qinghuan's mother-in-law, Li Yulan, a fierce and protective woman with a history of fighting Japanese soldiers, confronts Liu Tiegen and his family. Li Yulan demands justice for the attempted assault on her daughter-in-law, beating Liu Tiegen with a door bolt in front of the villagers to send a clear message. This incident solidifies the bond between Song Qinghuan and her in-laws, who treat her with genuine care and respect. Meanwhile, Song Qinghuan begins to train in the Chef God System's virtual kitchen, where time moves seven times faster than in the real world. She discovers that her severed wrist tendons have been healed, allowing her to wield a knife again. She practices diligently, aiming to master the culinary skills of her ancestors.

The narrative shifts to Song Qinghuan's domestic life as she uses her cooking to improve her family's circumstances. She prepares elaborate meals using ingredients obtained through the system, such as fresh milk and high-quality spices, which are scarce in the rationed economy of 1965. Her cooking delights her parents-in-law and the twin children, generating satisfaction points that she can use to purchase more ingredients. A letter arrives from her husband, Gu Qingyan, a battalion commander who has been away on missions for two years. He invites her to join him at the military base, and Li Yulan eagerly supports the move, hoping it will provide a safer environment for the children.

Song Qinghuan prepares for the move by cooking large batches of sauces and preserving food to send to Gu Qingyan. She navigates the complexities of the local supply and marketing cooperative, trading ration coupons and money to acquire necessary items. Her culinary skills become a source of pride and stability for the family, contrasting sharply with the meager meals of the past. As she packs her belongings, Song Qinghuan reflects on her past trauma and the political troubles that led to her family's downfall. She remains focused on the present, determined to build a secure future for her children and herself, leveraging the Chef God System to overcome the hardships of her new reality.