Starting Over in the '70s: From Mess Hall to Culinary Empire

After being laid off from ten companies in a row, Chen Wei collapses from a heart attack while demanding his severance pay. When he opens his eyes again, he finds himself transported back to 1978, working as a peculiar kitchen hand in the canteen of Tianjin No.1 Steel Plant—a man who can only chop vegetables. His well-meaning uncle pushes him to curry favor with the head chef, Wang Defa, but Chen Wei just wants to coast along and grind his skill levels in peace. Then it happens—a system notification announces his knife skills have advanced, unlocks a coal-stove equipment slot, and rewards him with a recipe for hot and sour shredded potatoes. Chen Wei realizes his cheat ability is far more formidable than he imagined. Equip a cleaver, and he can effortlessly perform intricate vegetable cuts with his eyes closed. Equip a stove, and he gains perfect control over coal-fire temperatures. The more gear he equips, the stronger his culinary prowess becomes. From shredded potatoes to braised pork, from the factory mess hall to street-side stalls, from a humble solo venture to a chain of hotels—while others are still scraping by with ration tickets and cloth coupons, Chen Wei is using his "food equipment panel" to dominate the entire era. Wielding his black-iron cleaver, he stands before ten "Chen's" outlets opening simultaneously on the same day. "Sorry, folks—I'm just a cheat." This is the story of a man who never meant to work hard, yet rose from chopping-block nobody to culinary legend, from back-kitchen helper to the head of a restaurant empire. "Equipment panel ready. Begin cooking?" "Begin!"