Award-winning chef Zhou Deshun agrees to his childhood friend Liu Dafu's desperate plea, turning down a high-paying job to transform a restaurant on the verge of bankruptcy into a leading local establishment in exchange for a promised 30% share of the profits. Once business flourishes, Liu goes back on his word, paying Zhou only 6,000 yuan and even withholding part of his wages. Heartbroken, Zhou quits and borrows money to set up a food stall to cover his daughter's surgery expenses. Thanks to his exceptional cooking, the stall becomes a huge success. Without its backbone, the restaurant collapses, and Liu repeatedly begs Zhou to return, only to be rejected. Liu later cheats on his wife with the restaurant manager. His wife divorces him and takes her share of the property, while the manager runs off with the money. The restaurant is sealed, and Liu suffers a sudden stroke. Remembering their past friendship, Zhou advances 100,000 yuan for Liu's surgery, settling their debts once and for all. In the end, Zhou earns the recognition of a major company, and his family's life steadily improves.