Set in 19th‑century China during the Qing Dynasty, when the emperor was weakened and the empire teetered on the brink of chaos, the story unfolds in a fictitious period known as the Era of the Cooking Wars. In this age, the nation’s most talented chefs, each master of a distinct culinary style, compete fiercely to refine their craft and claim the title of China’s premier chef. In a society where insulting a high‑rank chef or frivolously experimenting with cuisine can lead to imprisonment, and where masquerading as a top chef is tantamount to usurping authority, the stakes are high. The chefs’ rivalry is not only about culinary mastery; it also involves earning respect, gaining power, and risking everything. China is divided into four principal regions: Beijing, Szechuan, Shanghai...