A Cook Becomes an Official

Plot Synopsis

During the reign of Emperor Guangxu, Ma Dongyang, the county magistrate of Xianghe County, was assassinated. Empress Dowager Cixi intended to send Niu Bugeng, the imperial chef by her side, to take over as the county magistrate, but Emperor Guangxu opposed it. So each of them sent a chef to assume the post, and they would preside over court trials on alternate days (even-numbered days and odd-numbered days respectively). The divine chef played by Li Baotian and the imperial chef engaged in an overt struggle for power and culinary skills. The whole play unfolds a series of hilarious stories triggered by their competition for the official position and their rivalry in solving cases.