In the rural north of China in the 1980s, Shen Qiulan is forced to take her elder sister's place in an arranged marriage. On their wedding night, her true identity is exposed, and she and her husband agree to pretend to be a married couple. Unloved and subjected to endless gossip, she relies on her exceptional braised-food skills to start a street stall and build her own business. Despite sabotage and criticism, she gradually establishes herself. Her cold-hearted husband slowly develops feelings for her, going from distant indifference to wholehearted protection. A poor girl forced into a substitute marriage carves out an extraordinary life through her own skills. Together, they heal each other in a love story that begins with marriage.