Episodes
Shen Shao Guang convinces her family to film a video about their ancestral cooking to help revive their restaurant business. They go, dressed in costume, to their ancestral home, Yunshui Manor, but need someone to play the role of their key ancestor, Vice Magistrate Lin Yan. As Shao Guang looks for a possible candidate, she follows a man who leads her to the past. Finding her modern family also transported, they must find ways to survive.
Knowing Vice Minister Lin Yan eventually marries into the family, the Shens use different tactics to get his attention so that they can stay in his manor, to try to go back to the future. Their actions, however, further increase his suspicions, threatening the family with the truth. Shao Guang uses the information she’s learned from her grandfather’s stories to help their situation.
The Shen family canvases the manor, looking for a way to get back to the present time. They try to recollect what may have brought them to this era and try out their theories one by one, causing Lin Yan to be suspicious of their actions. Caught in his own worries, Lin Yan searches his father’s records for evidence as to how his father may have been framed.
The Shen family realize their plight might be related to Shao Guang’s video script, so they continue to follow it, preparing to give Spring Water Lamb soup to the Vice Prefect on the night of the full moon. Despite misunderstandings, Lin Yan realizes the Shen family mean him no harm, so he allows them freedom in his manor. He sets his sights on Princess Fu Hui based on a message from his benefactor, Prince Zhao.
After deciding they should try to make money before going back to their modern life, the Shen family is dismayed to find Yunlai Tavern stealing their Jianbing Guozi idea and selling it cheaper. They find ways to overcome this by introducing new food products to sell. Hoping to attend Princess Fu Hui’s Poetry Gathering, to get closer to her, Lin Yan asks the Shen family if they can cater Princess Fu Hui’s event since she is looking for an innovative chef.
Despite concerns about making mistakes that could cost them dearly, the Shen family decide to cater Princess Fu Hui’s Poetry Gathering. They are met with some prejudice, given that they are a merchant family and not of noble status, but the young master of Guixiang Tavern, Liu Feng, admires their innovation, giving them praise. Lin Yan and Shao Guang slowly begin to develop admiration for each other.
The fateful day comes when the full moon rises and the Shen family makes an elaborate dinner for Lin Yan, with Spring Water Lamb as their main dish. As Lin Yan proclaims the dish delicious, the Shen family begin to reflect on their lives in this time versus in modern times, and some begin to question whether they should really go back or stay. They drink themselves drunk in celebration and await their fate.
Shao Guang meets A Yuan and resolves to help free her from her slave contract. Being young in a high position, Lin Yan struggles to gain respect from the capital prefecture officers. Seeing his dilemma, Madam Shen tries to help by using food to break down barriers. Shao Guang sees A Yuan being abused, so he springs into action.
The Shen family decide to include A Yuan into their family and draws inspiration from her for the type of restaurant they want to open. Unlike their competition, who cater to the rich, they decide to serve the everyday, common people. Lin Yan tries to bring up dissolving the marriage engagement between Shao Guang and himself. Upset that Shao Guang has taken A Yuan from him, the manager of Yunlai tavern investigates the Shen family’s connection with Lin Yan.
Shen’s Diner opens and attracts many customers due to their innovative, yet cheap dishes. However, Yunlai Tavern copies them yet again and slashes the prices, hoping to make Shen’s Diner go out of business. Not to be outdone, Shao Guang comes up with an idea using cheaper meats, cooked by a method that is known only to them. They are met with resistance as the cheaper meat has a notorious reputation among the people.
The owner of Yunlai Tavern is upset that the tricks his people have used to shut down Shen’s Diner have not worked, and they have lost money in the process. He gives his men 7 days to put the Shen’s out of business, or they lose their jobs. Desperate, manager Feng and his people resort to drastic measures, putting Shen’s Diner in a difficult predicament. The Shens make a last-ditch effort to save their restaurant.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, Lin Yan buries himself in work and investigates his parents’ wrongful incrimination. The Shen family surprise him with a delicious banquet that goes wrong when Shao Guang’s parents begin arguing. Shao Guang and Lin Yan end up confiding in one another and become drunk… leading to something quite unexpected.
Factions in the imperial court try to bring Lin Yan down. He is approached by Cao Rong, and Lin Yan tests him to see if he is truly a good friend of his father. To investigate a lead regarding his father’s case, Lin Yan approaches Princess Fu Hui, who makes her affections for Lin Yan known. Upon realizing this, the Shen family take matters into their own hands, knowing their fate may change if Lin Yan marries Princess Fu Hui.
Prince Zhao suddenly calls Lin Yan back to encourage him to become closer to Princess Fu Hui, but Lin Yan is reticent, given his true feelings for Shao Guang. Their meeting spurs suspicions on both sides. Lin Yan is further disheartened when he sees Shao Guang and Liu Feng engaged in animated discussions. Princess Fu Hui invites Shao Guang, Lin Yan, and Pei Fei for a meal, then reveals her affections.
Prince Zhao suddenly arrives unannounced at Lin Yan’s manor. Though Lin Yan wants to keep the Shen family away from Prince Zhao, they meet, and Prince Zhao is quick to try to glean information from them. Realizing Shao Guang is the reason Lin Yan won’t get closer to Princess Fu Hui, he tries to convince the Shen family to leave, giving them an offer they can’t refuse.
Shao Guang wants to tell Lin Yan what her father and Prince Zhao discussed, but he is suddenly summoned to Chengzhou to investigate a tragedy. Meanwhile, Prince Zhao’s eunuch entices and pressures the Shen’s to quickly leave for Sushui City. While Shao Guang looks for Lin Yan at the city prefecture, she is left behind by her family, who are already on their way to Sushui City.
After escaping, the Shen family discovers a spicy plant they hope to use at their restaurant. However, they are quickly surrounded by Prince Zhao’s men. Shao Guang runs off with Yang Yang, and they are pursued by Prince Zhao’s son, Li Ang. Grateful for Lin Yan’s help, the Shen family resolve to help him find clues about his father’s case.
While trying to escape her true feelings for Lin Yan, Shao Guang encounters Lady Jing Wen at the nunnery. She soon discovers that Jing Wen is in fact Shen Jing Wen, who her family thinks is their ancestor who married Lin Yan. With winter coming, the Shens introduce their version of hot pot, which rivals Guixiang Tavern. Shao Guang and Liu Feng share restaurant secrets and plans, bringing them closer together, much to Lin Yan’s sorrow.
After his grandfather’s visit, Liu Feng meets with Shao Guang to discuss their betrothal, but Shao Guang realizes they both have different views on marriage. Lin Yan convinces Pei Fei to spend time with the Princess Fu Hui and gains access to her husband’s box of notes. However, someone has already broken into the box, stealing all the notes. Shao Guang is able to help him track down the suspect.
After examining the notes from Master Xiao, Lin Yan goes in search of the man who changed his testimony against his father. Lin Yan makes his feelings for Shao Guang more and more evident, but Shao Guang falters in reciprocating his feelings. The Shen family realizes Lin Yan and Shao Guang both have feelings for each other, but they are worried this may change the course of their fate. They decide to move out of Lin Yan’s manor immediately.
Shao Jie is swindled by a property seller who happens to look like his ex-wife. Embarrassed that he’s committed so many foolish mistakes and that his daughter overlooks his inadequacies, Shao Jie vows to help Yang Yang get into Hongwen Academy. It so happens, Yang Yang’s new mentor is none other than Zhao Xun Zhi, the man Lin Yan has been trying to meet with.
Jian She tries to show his appreciation for Feng Xia by buying her an expensive gift, but as he keeps speaking, he basically makes it all about himself, making Feng Xia upset. Yang Yang and Shao Guang convince Xiao Xun Zhi to have a meal at their diner. However, Prince Zhao gets wind of this and springs into action. For New Years Eve, Shao Guang brings a surprise for Lin Yan.
The Shens celebrate Chinese New Year with Lin Yan, with Shao Jie sending a letter detailing his exploits. Princess Fu Hui and Pei Fei arrive to spend time with Shao Guang and Lin Yan, but are surprised by Princess Fu Hui’s tricks. Shao Guang and Lin Yan come face-to-face with their feelings, but Shao Guang, knowing it’s not meant to be, tells Lin Yan the whole truth. She turns to unhealthy methods to deal with her pain, while Lin Yan buries himself with work.
Lu Yun, the owner of Yunlai Tavern, is betting on the demise of Shen’s diner due to losing the backing of Lin Yan. Lin Yan learns more about the innocence of his father when he goes in search of his real betrothed, Lady Zheng, in Shi’an county. The relationship between the Shens and Lin Yan remains strained as Shao Guang and Lin Yan do their best to move on from each other. Feng Xia has just about reached her limit with Jian She.
After finding Jian She at the tavern and questioning him, Feng Xia makes her feelings known. Jing Wen’s grandfather requests a betrothal between Jing Wen and Lin Yan. Though Lin Yan intends to decline, Jing Wen persuades him to delay until after the Cooking Competition, which she will be participating in. Lin Yan slowly pieces together the collusion between Prince Zhao, the Dou family, and Yunlai Tavern.
After experiencing a string of failures while trying to make it out on his own, Shao Jie returns to Yong’an, avoiding his family out of shame. Finding work at Yunlai Tavern, he is tasked with various odd jobs. The cooking competition begins, and the contestants are given the theme of life to showcase their dishes. Jian She is at a loss for what to cook, turning to his family for inspiration.
Shao Jie is reunited with his family, telling them the truth about his exploits. Realizing Shao Jie is being used by Yunlai Tavern, Lin Yan asks Shao Jie for help in his investigation. However, Prince Zhao’s eyes and ears put both Shao Jie and Lin Yan in a difficult situation. Knowing they can’t target Lin Yan openly, Prince Zhao schemes to undermine Lin Yan’s integrity and influence in the imperial court.
Seeing Lin Yan emotionally struggle with his complicated relationship with Prince Zhao, Shao Guang approaches him to give comfort. Knowing she can no longer hide her true feelings for him, she tells him the truth about coming from the future. Though he can’t believe it, he realizes all the past clues that corroborate what she is telling him. He heads to Fenglin town in search of Master Zhao, unaware of what is waiting for him.
With Lin Yan severely injured and bleeding profusely, Shao Guang must use her knowledge and skills to save him. Upset that Lin Yan has once again escaped his grasp, Prince Zhao decides to move forward with his plans. Sensing something amiss at the palace, Lin Yan also makes his move. The Shen family is caught in the crossfire.
While Prince Zhao holds the Emperor hostage, Lin Yan takes the opportunity to pursue his own agenda. He confronts Prince Zhao and is faced with a tough decision. Despite overturning the false allegations against his father, the imperial ministers rally to convict Lin Yan for hiding his true identity and deceiving the Emperor. Desperate, Shao Guang does everything in her power to save him.
With nothing to hold them back now, a worry-free Shao Guang and Lin Yan take their relationship to the next level. They prepare food for their family and friends to celebrate the Autumn Festival. Pei Fei has gotten a long-awaited promotion and can now bring his mother to Yong’an. Meanwhile, a resentful Li Ang plots for his revenge.
To exact his revenge, Li Ang starts a fire that engulfs Shen’s Diner and neighboring houses in flames. The Shen family help their neighbors and in so doing, Shao Jie is knocked over on the head and remembers an important detail about the Shen family’s disappearance. Both in the past and present, everyone quickly forgets about the Shen family, except for Shao Guang and Lin Yan. Their fate is somehow tied together.
