Li Gensheng, a young man returning to his hometown, comes back to Taiping Village. Rumors suddenly spread that a water monster has appeared in the Blackwater Pond at the village entrance, leaving everyone terrified. Taking advantage of the panic, local bully Zhao Laosi spreads rumors and seizes land beside the pond, stirring up fear among the villagers. Li Gensheng refuses to believe in ghosts and monsters and insists on investigating the pond. He meets the kind-hearted Wang Xiulian, who offers him support. Despite his family's objections and the villagers' ridicule, he pushes through the obstacles and leads an effort to drain the pond, exposing the supposed water monster as a school of black fish. When the villagers discover that the fish taste unpleasant and are difficult to sell, Li Gensheng joins forces with Wang Xiulian to improve the cooking method and develop a signature boiled black fish dish. He leads the villagers in working together to build a business, revitalizing the countryside while finding both career success and love.