Original subtitles

(Looking back at Yong'an,)

(where nations gather in homage and brocades pile up,)

(with a myriad of splendors,)

(our dynasty thrives,)

(never complacent or stagnant.)

(The court)

(embraces foreign doctrines,)

(and new trends emerge among the commoners.)

(Everyone is willing to embrace the new,)

(especially for the commoners' dining habits.)

(The best delicacies in the world are in Yong'an,)

(and the best dishes of Yong'an are in Juxian Alley.)

(The delicacies in Juxian Alley)

(Juxian Alley) (concern each commoner.)

(In this era, there were no methods like stir-frying.)

(When chefs cook,)

(they either go for bold and hearty)

(or focus on elegance.)

(There are two most famous diners in Juxian Alley.)

(One is)

(the magnificent)

(Yunlai Tavern.)

(Yunlai Tavern)

Camel meat is here!

Stuffed goose in roasted sheep!

Serve the dish!

(The other is the elegant Guixiang Tavern.)

(Pure and Virtuous)

Braised chicken gizzards!

Serve the dish!

(Shen's Diner) (But the most eye-catching place)

(in Juxian Alley recently is the unassuming diner)

(my family and I opened.)

(Delicious, fragrant, and warm) (Here,)

(we are cooking dishes)

(a thousand years ahead of our time,)

(and we have had a farcical story)

(with our ancestor...)

(the ancestor we thought we had.)

(Yes.)

(Welcome) (We do not belong to this era,)

(but why exactly)

(Shen's Diner) (are we opening a diner)

- (in Yong'an?) - Come in.

- (This story) - Come in.

- (started two months ago.) - Come in.

=Yummy Yummy Yummy=

=Episode 1=

(Shen's Diner)

(Shop for transfer)

(Two months ago)

No. 88, Lianshan Hutong.

Express delivery.

Dad, Mom,

express delivery.

(Good Fortune)

(Yong'an Diner)

Shen Gongcai.

- No more sleep, get up. - Shen Jicai.

Do you even know I am your brother?

How disrespectful!

You scared me to death.

Then act like a brother.

The stuff has all arrived.

Hurry up and get ready.

Jicai,

is your video

going to take us back to ancient times

and cook for our ancestors?

Can this really work?

Absolutely.

I've put in all the savings I made from writing

for that internet celebrity company.

But it's only enough for five episodes.

So, we can only succeed,

not fail.

We must make our diner a hit.

Get into costume.

Auntie, where are we going to shoot the video?

(Shen's Diner) To our ancestral home.

The very popular spot now,

Yunshui Manor.

(Tourist Map) Civilized tourism.

(Yunshui Manor) Please show your ticket QR code.

- Alright. - No littering, please.

(Portrait of Lady Shen)

(Portrait of Lin Yan)

Yangyang, come here.

I'm Shen Jianshe.

I brought my wife Li Fengxia,

our children Shaojie

and Shaoguang,

and our granddaughter Yangyang,

to pay our respects to our ancestors.

We hope you will bless

our Shen's Diner

with better business

and bring it back to life.

Grandma,

what kind of person

was our ancestor?

You should ask your father

and your aunt about that.

Your great-grandpa only told them.

Well.

You must remember

the story of our ancestor.

Over a thousand years ago,

Lin Yan, Vice Prefect of Capital Prefecture,

came to the Capital to take office

and moved into Yunshui Manor.

Vice Prefect Lin

married into our family.

What happened next?

I'll tell you later.

Let's hurry up,

or we'll lose the light.

Exactly. Hurry up.

Jicai, don't we still need someone

to play our ancestor Lin Yan?

Wait here. I'll grab someone.

(We've been disconnected for so many generations.)

(Who knows what happened in between?)

(Grabbing someone)

(shouldn't be offensive, right?)

What?

I'm at the Yunshui Manor.

I'll go find you later.

Alright, got it.

Is this okay?

Try another one. Change the pose.

Okay.

Hi, friend.

I'm not a bad person.

I just need a favor.

You...

Friend.

Friend?

Where did he go?

Hi?

Is anyone there?

Hello?

(Ancestral Temple, Kitchen)

Hi.

Handsome guy?

He left through the back door?

Everyone, watch closely.

Okay.

Eat.

Huamo is ready.

Isn't there a mountain outside the back door?

What's going on here?

It smells so good.

Something's not right.

Is anyone here?

Anyone here?

Is anyone here?

Jicai!

- Jicai! - Auntie!

- Over here. - Jicai.

Auntie.

- Auntie. - Jicai.

You scared me to death.

- Auntie. - What's wrong?

- What's wrong? - What happened?

Yunshui Manor is gone.

It's gone.

Yunshui Manor is gone?

How did you guys get here?

We were just looking for you.

There was a sudden fog.

Yes.

We were walking and ended up here.

There was the fog.

Auntie,

is this a new project for the scenic spot?

Let me tell you, Jicai.

Don't worry.

This must be an event here.

We got in for free.

- Let's go. - A flower cart parade.

It's really lively.

Let's check it out.

- So beautiful. - This place.

Everyone is in ancient costumes.

Look, your clothes are still here.

Jicai.

This is so unique.

What kind of dance are they performing?

If I'm not mistaken,

this must be a large-scale

live-action role-playing game.

What's a role-playing game?

You don't know role-playing games?

Have you ever played one?

I haven't.

Let's go.

Look at all the money they must've spent.

Quite a spectacle.

(Jinwu Guards Wanted Notice) Look.

There's a wanted notice.

They drew a fat man.

This is so much fun.

- Look. - How vivid.

(Jinwu Guards Wanted Notice) These details.

- Jinwu... - Really.

How to pronounce this?

Jicai.

Guard.

Isn't that the actor?

He looks so much like him.

Yes, he does.

- You don't get it. - Just like him.

In a role-playing game, they aren't called actors.

They're called NPC.

The Jinwu Guards are working.

Make way.

The game has started.

It has started.

- Good. - Good.

The acting is so good.

- It feels real. - Yes, Dad.

It does feel very real.

Look at their performance.

Dad, Mom,

something feels off to me.

You guys have never played this game.

- Too sensitive. - Amazing.

- Wow. - So good.

It must be fake.

The blood is

- just ketchup. - Gongcai...

Time to get off work.

- Gongcai, what's wrong? - Dad.

- Dad. - He's dead.

Dad, I'm scared.

Dead?

Make way, make way.

Yangyang, hurry.

- Don't obstruct official duties. - Dad.

- Yangyang. - Yangyang.

- Drag him back. - Come here.

- Yes. - What are you doing?

How could this be real death?

Run!

To the police station.

To the police station!

Hey,

where is the police station?

There's a dead person.

We need to report it.

Sir, what are you saying?

You must be too scared.

They are arresting a thief.

They have to kill him.

You guys should leave.

Once it gets dark,

there will be a curfew.

I'm leaving first.

Isn't this a role-playing game?

Isn't this supposed to be a game?

What's going on?

Ouch.

What are you doing?

This isn't a dream.

- It's not a dream. - What's happening?

We...

Could it be

we've time-traveled?

Time-traveled?

If I'm not mistaken,

this is

Yong'an.

(Minfu Inn)

(Minfu Inn)

This really is Yong'an.

Heavenly blessings.

What are you talking about?

We've time-traveled.

We need a standard room.

We...

We'll squeeze into one.

What do you mean?

A room.

A small one will do.

Yes, yes.

Mom.

Well.

Can we use this to pay for the room?

It's pure 24-karat gold.

Yes, no problem.

That's great.

(Earth Room 1)

The challenge we faced today

is the most severe one

our family has ever encountered.

So, today's family meeting

is to discuss

what we should do next.

Shen Jianshe,

you start with some constructive advice.

I'll just say a few things briefly.

The challenge we faced today

is the most severe one

our family has ever encountered.

We need to look at this issue

comprehensively and objectively.

As for what

we should do next,

I think we should go back first.

That's it?

That's it.

All nonsense.

I knew I couldn't count on you.

Hey, Shen Gongcai.

Give your opinion.

How to go back

is especially important.

We need to analyze it carefully,

but I really can't come up with anything.

Fortunately, Jicai came with us.

She's good at history.

She knows how to exchange gold for money.

Otherwise, we might all be in jail now.

All nonsense.

I knew I couldn't count on you.

Dear, let me discipline him for you.

If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute.

Jicai,

you tell us.

Based on the map we saw

at Yunshui Manor,

the manor is in that direction.

Since we came through Yunshui Manor,

we need to go there to figure something out.

Yunshui Manor...

(Yunshui Manor)

Round 1.

Can this get us in?

We have to try.

Stop!

This is the private residence of the Vice Prefect.

You can't enter.

Sir,

please let us in.

This is pure 24-karat gold.

Go!

Why would you risk bribery

just to break into the mansion

of the Vice Prefect?

Don't get excited.

My mother has hysteria.

I'm taking her home right away.

You're about to have an episode.

Let's go home.

(Day 3)

- Here. - Thank you.

Take it.

Round 2.

Did you see anything?

What are you doing?

It's none of my business.

- Stop! - None of my business.

Stop!

Gongcai!

(Day 5)

Here.

Round 3.

It seems no one's around.

If no one's here, move aside.

Let me do it.

Hurry, hurry.

(Day...)

We don't have much money left.

Let's save

half of this pancake for tomorrow.

Eating pancakes every day.

I'm about to go crazy.

I really can't eat another bite.

You won't eat it?

Then let me have it.

Having pancakes is not bad at all.

Besides,

right now, our whole family

is relying on your mom's

gold jewelry.

We have to save.

Isn't that right, Fengxia?

That makes sense.

Everyone, I've found out from the shopkeeper

that our ancestor Lin Yan

is about to take office

and will soon enter the Capital.

Really?

That's great!

He should be responsible for us.

He can't just bring us into this world and ignore us.

Everyone,

hope is coming.

Let's have a meeting.

A meeting.

Jicai.

Come and sit here.

- Jicai. - I'm fine where.

- We need to talk. - Dad.

- What for? - The usual.

It's nothing.

Auntie, come here.

- Listen to me. - Okay.

Before, the master wasn't home,

so the guards

didn't dare let us in.

If Lin Yan arrives,

and we get close to him,

then we might have a chance to go home.

That's what I mean.

Now, there's a more serious problem.

What problem?

Gold

will eventually run out.

We'll soon have no money left.

We need to find a way to make some money.

Shen Jianshe,

I hope you can give

some constructive ideas on how to make money.

Me?

Well.

Why is it always me?

Well, I think

making money

is out of the question.

We just have to save money.

To save money, you have to eat less.

If you eat less, you move less.

Best not to move at all.

If you don't move, you won't be hungry.

If you're not hungry, you won't spend money.

Listen

to what you're saying.

Do you realize now

how you managed

to ruin our diner?

Is that thing on your neck

just for show?

What kind of silly idea is that?

Mom, no, no.

Don't get worked up.

What Dad is trying to say

is about cutting expenses

and increasing income.

Well.

Dad is just not very articulate.

Dad, that's not right.

Get up.

What are you saying? Mom has explained it,

and you still don't understand?

At such a critical moment,

how can you say that?

As usual.

I just spoke up for you again.

Give me another 20.

I don't have any money.

Will you give it to me?

I really don't have any.

Mom, what Dad actually meant...

Gongcai.

You just made

a point.

What Dad actually meant

was that he should've brought

some gold or silver

to ease our worries, right?

- Yes. - He meant that.

Could he have thought of that?

- I was just thinking. - Gold?

I have gold, too.

Great-grandpa gave it to me.

Before our ancestor takes office,

we need to find a way to survive.

How about

going back to the old business?

Why don't we

set up a small stall

and sell some snacks?

I can do that.

Can we make Jianbing Guozi?

I love Jianbing Guozi the most.

That's a good idea.

Let's split up.

Yangyang and I will try to get close to our ancestor

and find a way into Yunshui Manor.

You guys set up the stall and make money.

I've got an idea

that's sure to make Jianbing Guozi a hit.

(Xuanzheng Hall)

I've heard that the newly appointed Vice Prefect Lin Yan

is not from a prestigious family,

nor did he study under any famous mentors.

He's made his way up

entirely on his own merits

without any patronage.

His Majesty has promoted him by exception

and even granted him a jade belt and a gold fish token,

making him like a Rank III official.

I've also heard

that His Majesty even decided his salary,

equivalent to a Rank II official.

(Lin Yan, Vice Prefect of Capital Prefecture)

Mr. Lin is extremely talented and handsome.

(Mr. Meng, Left Supervisor) Your granddaughter

is of marriageable age.

Why don't you ask him?

There will be so many suitors

that his doorstep will be worn down.

I'm afraid

I can't match up.

You must be joking.

- Vice Prefect Lin. - Vice Prefect Lin.

You flatter me.

We're outside the hall.

I'm the junior here.

I should greet you all first.

It's fine.

His Majesty is not feeling well today,

so please go back.

His Majesty won't listen to reports today.

Vice Prefect Lin, wait a moment.

His Majesty has asked you to see him.

(Emperor Yuanfeng)

Your Majesty.

Since you're unwell,

you should rest.

Why call me to play Chupu?

Eunuch Qin, please take it away.

Don't.

Alright, alright.

I won't cheat.

Just finish this game.

I'm already in the Capital.

I'm ready to play anytime.

But right now,

there's something more important I need to report.

You're using official business to block me.

Go ahead.

You asked me to handle the embezzlement case

of disaster relief funds in Huaiyuan County.

The ringleader is the local magistrate.

He wanted to redeem his crime with gold,

but I rejected it.

He was beheaded two days ago.

You've done a good job.

But the surname of this magistrate

is Dou,

and he is a relative of Noble Consort Dou.

Lin Yan,

how dare you!

Please let me explain.

The amount of pepper stored in Magistrate Dou's residence

is enormous,

enough to supply the East and West Areas for four years.

The price of pepper per jin

is far more valuable than gold.

At that time, the displaced people suffered greatly.

The commoners couldn't get food,

and even exchanged children for food.

If such a huge embezzler could be spared from death,

I really don't know

how to convince the people.

This case has been investigated for years without results.

How did you get the evidence?

Under Magistrate Dou,

there was a Yun,

who was a love-struck fool.

How dare you torture me?

When I get out of here,

I'll kill you first.

Mr. Yun,

how could I torture you?

It's just that there is something

that is not convenient to show in public,

so I invited you

for a private talk.

Familiar?

How did this letter end up with you?

Give it to me.

Give it to me!

(Dear, ever since I saw you, my mind has been restless.)

You've been following Magistrate Dou for such a long time

that you've fallen in love with his concubine.

Guess.

How would he treat you?

Why not

hand over the evidence

and send him on his way?

Then,

you can be together

with your beloved.

What a disappointment.

Well.

It's only right to execute the ringleader

of the embezzlement case.

Just now, you mentioned the East and West Areas.

It seems you know

the annual expenses there.

You must've done some homework before taking office.

Han people and other ethnic groups trade there.

Everyone can be there.

Officials and eunuchs engage

in business there for profit under a pretense.

The situation is complicated.

To do things in the Capital,

it is crucial

to control those areas.

The previous Prefects of Capital Prefecture

have all resigned.

They were worried

that they couldn't get through the key points.

If you were in charge,

what would you do?

Food matters the most to the people.

I want to start with Juxian Alley,

which is famous for its food,

starting with the small things.

Quite a few people in the court

see you as a thorn in their side,

but I

have high hopes for you.

You must control the Areas,

but do not rush.

For now, mainly conduct inspections.

Once you have secured your position,

you can take action.

I am willing to serve you.

(Liu Chang, Lin Yan's attendant)

Young Master,

Juxian Alley is just ahead.

Shall we go down and inspect?

(Juxian Alley)

Come on, passers-by,

(Jianbing Guozi) don't miss out.

Take a look, have a look.

The one-of-a-kind pancake of Yong'an,

Jianbing Guozi.

Take a look.

Come on, everyone.

Take a look, have a look.

Today,

the Shen Jianbing Guozi Auction

officially begins.

Starting bid at five qian

for one Jianbing Guozi.

Limited quantity.

First come, first served.

What do you mean by bidding?

What's a starting bid?

That means the initial price

of this

is five qian.

What if other customers also want it?

You can openly bid higher.

The highest bidder wins.

Highest bidder wins?

This is just taking advantage of us.

Five qian is already a lot, and you want more?

Let's go.

Wait, wait, everyone.

Calm down.

Do you know

who my dad...

Father.

My father.

Do you know who he is?

Let me tell you.

He is the master

of cuisine across time,

the only one of his kind in the world,

and the undisputed ruler

of the pancake realm.

Is that true?

That's amazing.

Of course, it's that amazing.

And look at this dish.

It's called Jianbing Guozi.

Have you ever heard of it before?

I haven't.

That's because my father

once traveled the world

and visited

a legendary place

called

Tianjin.

Where is that?

It is

an extremely prosperous port.

What's Tianjin?

Never heard of it.

Going to Tianjin

is like facing 81 tribulations.

Back in the day,

my father, with my mother,

my sister, and my daughter,

went through a lot.

♪You carry the load♪

♪I lead the horse♪

That's interesting.

♪We welcome the sunrise♪

♪We bid farewell to Fengxia♪

Farewell to the evening glow.

After all the difficulties,

they arrived in Tianjin.

On a whim,

they combined pancakes

with the locals' favorite fruit.

What's this?

It's crispy and delicious.

And thus, they combined together.

The greatest

culinary creation in history,

Jianbing Guozi, was born.

That's amazing.

Great, great.

- This is good. - Good.

Jianbing Guozi is

really something new.

It smells so good.

I'll bid five qian

to give it a try.

Excuse me, sir.

Didn't we just agree?

Our pancake

is for auction.

- Auction? - Starting at five qian.

And our Chef Shen

can only make five pancakes a day.

At most one every two hours.

So, if both of you

want to try this pancake,

you'll have to bid higher.

Bid higher.

He doesn't want it; I do.

No, no.

I didn't say I don't want it.

- I bid - Queue up.

- six qian. - Okay.

Six qian.

It's already six qian.

I'll bid eight.

Eight qian.

- Is that the final bid? - I'll bid ten.

Ten qian, ten qian.

- Any more bids? - 11 qian.

This stall here

is using some tricks.

It's just taking advantage of these commoners

who don't know

that there's no such port called Tianjin.

- 11 qian. - I'll bid 12.

12 qian.

I'll bid 12 qian.

(Divine Pancake) (The ancestor returns home today.)

(I'll definitely run into him here.)

Auntie,

are we setting up this stall

to wait for our ancestor?

Yes.

We're making delicious food right at his doorstep

to catch his attention,

do business with him,

befriend him,

and then get invited to his home.

But Auntie,

have you thought

that what if our ancestor

doesn't like Jianbing Guozi?

Our family has loved Jianbing Guozi

for three generations.

It's in our genes.

The ancestor

(Yunshui Manor) will surely like it.

You...

- What? - Young Master.

Sir,

I have a few questions for you.

- This? - You...

The batter is made from flour.

You can buy a peck for 20 qian.

Scallions cost two qian a bunch.

Sesame and salt are more expensive,

but it doesn't cost much.

Why does this pancake

have to be 12 qian each?

What's wrong with you?

Are you just causing trouble?

Inflating the market price.

If this is reported to the Market Office,

it won't be a small matter.

Threatening me?

Do you think I was raised to be scared?

What Market Office?

- Fengxia. - Why grab me?

- This... - Ancestor...

- What ancestor? - Ancestor...

The portrait in the ancestral hall.

The ancestral hall?

- The portrait? - The portrait.

- In that case, - Look.

I'll go report it.

So much money.

Exactly.

Unscrupulous merchants.

Exactly.

Calm down, calm down.

- I... - Be normal.

My ancestor.

Vice Prefect Lin.

Vice Prefect Lin, please wait.

Vice Prefect Lin.

I'm sorry.

Vice Prefect Lin.

We didn't mean it.

We're just running a small business,

trying to make a bit more money.

Could you

give us another chance?

My name is Shen Jianshe.

Today,

I'm truly honored to meet you.

Be normal.

Calm down.

Ma'am,

you know me?

I didn't recognize you at first,

but after a second look,

you're a person of extraordinary talent.

You impressed me.

How could I not recognize you?

A person of extraordinary talent.

Talented indeed.

Alive...

Vice Prefect, a misunderstanding.

I was wrong.

At least you know that.

I'll give you another chance.

Restore the normal market price,

and never do it again.

Otherwise,

I'll go to the Market Office

and convict you.

- Okay. - Vice Prefect.

You decide.

They were

just joking with you.

These pancakes

are all one qian each.

- One? - Okay.

- One qian? - That's right.

That's right.

Go, go, go.

Ancestor.

Am I dreaming?

We saw our ancestor here.

I'll take one, please.

My goodness.

Ancestor.

No pushing.

No need to rush; everyone will get some.

My shoe fell off.

Don't worry; everyone will get some.

Auntie.

Please make way.

Excuse me.

I haven't bought yet.

- Auntie. - Don't leave.

I still want to buy.

- Vice Prefect, wait. - Don't leave.

Be careful!

(Shaoguang's Food Notes)

(The pancake has been upgraded to five colors.)

(But why hasn't the ancestor come?)

♪Wear a sunset glow upon the brow♪

♪Breeze sways, wind chimes hang below the cloud♪

♪Hear one chime ring, tugging at the heart♪

♪True feelings perhaps can only be sensed♪

♪Misty is you, clear is you♪

♪Seeking stars in fog, seeing your shadow under the moon♪

♪Words held back, feelings unrestrained♪

♪Could the road ahead, let us gaze but not doubt♪

♪Mistook all eyes see as cold ice♪

♪Yet let dusk dye the ears and temples red♪

♪Even holding breath couldn't help but stop♪

♪Exposing my warmed heart held tight♪

♪Bustling is you, desolate is you♪

♪Reservedly drawing you into this life♪

♪Hesitating, undecided, the heart hard to deceive♪

♪Worldly rules and taboos, how could they make me give up♪

♪When rushing to you, leaving my deep thoughts in disarray♪

♪I still foolishly see it as a good time♪

♪Heart stirs, wind swirls the lightest ripples♪

♪A thousand tangled thoughts concealed♪

♪Saved a whole lifetime, hastening to you, urgent over miles♪

♪To make the wandering heart return home henceforth♪

♪To draw near what seems beyond reach♪

♪Through life and death changes, only we never cease, never yield♪

♪Perhaps affection barely passes muster♪

♪But love forever♪

♪Will make up for our mutual care, mutual bond♪

♪Saved a whole lifetime, hastening to you, urgent over miles♪

♪To make the wandering heart return home from now♪

♪To dare approach what seems beyond reach♪

♪Through life and death changes♪

♪Only you, never cease, never yield♪