Su Wanqing discovers a cave and acquires ancient culinary recipes. Later, she uses her exquisite cooking skills to help others in exchange for rations, cooks for banquets to amaze the villagers, and guards her younger sisters, cooking up a steaming hot new life in hard times. Her reputation gradually spreads throughout the commune, and both large and small collective banquets invite her to take charge of the ladle. Su Wanqing wins people over with one dish after another, and even figures out ways to make coarse grains taste like fine food to help villagers improve their meals.