A Time of Taste

SHEUNG MUN, born in a poor village, is the only survivor in the family after a drought. He leaves his hometown for the imperial city to find a job. There he meets PO who has been a royal cook, but after the downfall of Ching Dynasty he is compelled to operate a food stall for a living after leaving the palace. At first, PO does not have a favourable: impression of MON. However, time and again MUN helps PO who gradually changes his attitude towards MUN. Once, Po is ridiculed by the others who discover that he is eunuch. At another time, PO's house is on fire and his life is at risk. In both circumstances, MUN comes to his rescue. Meanwhile, Po is attracted by Master YUK's young sister SANG YIN.

IN has once been an imperial concubine. Since leaving the palace, she comes to stay with the YUK family but she is always sad. Later, PO gets a job as the chef for Master YUK. MUN goes with PO and works as a servant in YUK family. At the same time, he learns cooking skills from PO. PO and YIN both have lived in the palace and shared the same sentiment. Po also is eager to make YIN happy and he always prepare delicious dishes for her. The two of them get along very well with each other. Misunderstanding arises between MUN and TUNG SO SO, Master YUK's daughter-in-law and the two are not on friendly terms.

Master YUK is eager to arrange another marriage for YIN, who feels delighted with the hope of getting a better home. However, because she has previously been an imperial concubine, not many make proposals. YIN feels depressed and vents her anger on PO, who on the other hand tries to uplift her spirit. In the end, YIN feels better and. ~O" is happy to see YIN smile again. However, he grows jealous as he finds YIN and LUK HO YEEN growing fond of each other. YEEN is in fact a friend of HUNG CHEUK, Master YUK's eldest son. Master YUK discovers that someone has stolen some of his precious seafood. PO suspects MUN as the thief and drives him away. Later, they discover that another servant is the one to blame. PO goes to look for MUN and promises to teach him all his skills.

YEEN starts courting YIN and they fall for each other. Seeing this, PO feels greatly hurt and thinks of leaving YUK family. Unknown to the others, YIN spends a night out with YEEN who in fact wins both her heart and her body. However, YEEN deserts her afterwards saying that is interested in her because me has been an imperial concubine. CHEUK feels in furious about this and beat YEEN fiercely while YIN, greatly hurt, tries to commit suicide. Master YUK's second son, HUNG JIM, has not yet grown up. He gets along very well with SO. Once they go out together and JIM gets lost. SO feels very frightened and with the help of MUN, she finally finds JIM. After this, the relationship between SO and MUN gets better.

YIN's attempt to kill her fails. Though she is saved, she loses all her interest in living and is very depressed. Seeing this, PO decides to stay on in YUK family and keeps trying to cheer YIN up. YIN gradually gets better and is touched by PO's sincerity. The two grow more intimate but YIN is ~ill not sure whether she should join hands with PO. With the help of General CHEUNG, PO YEE again ascends the throne and calls back his former servants. PO does not want to leave YIN and asks for her hands. Facing separation, YIN knows that she is in fact in love with PO. The two get united and leave for distant villages to live in peace. CHEUK is a patriotic young man and he cannot bear to see the revival of Ching Dynasty. Being ready to sacrifice his life for a worthy cause, he attempts to assassinate General CHEUNG. In the end, he lost his life and his family are also persecuted. The members run for their lives.… ...

Twenty years later, MUN has grown up and runs a food stall in Shanghai. On the other hand, SO has become a social butterfly and a mistress of a Japanese investor, LAM YAT SANG. As for JIM, he has been to France and has just come back to China on business as a correspondent with a foreign news agency. In order to get a better feel of the common life in Shanghai, JIM rents a bed space from MUN and the two of them develops to be friends. SO and MUN runs into each other many times as SO lives one floor beneath MUN's. However, they cannot recognize each other. Same .as years ago, conflicts arise between them. SO is in fact living with. a Korean lady KAM YIN SHUN who comes to Shanghai with a dance troupe to look for her boyfriend, YUNG.