Summary
Highlights
Soyoon introduces soymilk, impressing his family with its taste. He demonstrates how to make 'osmanthus syrup' from soymilk to appeal to refined tastes. He then secures a deal with Mr. Gao, a restaurant owner, for five taels of silver for his 'gimmick,' promising a way to outperform a rival restaurant. He plans to use the Mid-Autumn Festival to promote it.
The video opens with Soyoon, a disgraced scholar, being humiliated by his fiancée, Sun Fenglan, and her friends. Despite his devotion, he is mocked as a 'dog licker.' Faced with disrespect, Soyoon decides to break off the engagement, much to everyone's surprise. He asserts his newfound independence, leaving Sun Fenglan and the onlookers stunned.
Soyoon returns home to his family, who are initially disappointed by his previous loyalties to Sun Fenglan and his expulsion from school. He vows to change and support his family, proposing to use soybeans for a new business. His family remains skeptical but his sister-in-law offers cautious support, soaking the beans for him overnight.
At a poetry festival, Soyoon is challenged by his former fiancée, Sun Fenglan, and the influential scholar Luo Yong. He is mocked for being expelled from school, but he unveils a movable type printing technique, producing a profound poem that overshadows Luo Yong's. This impresses Magistrate Xiao, who recognizes the invention's potential to popularize knowledge.
Soyoon and his brothers are ambushed by Tan Mingsong's thugs who try to steal Soyoon's books. They escape using a homemade 'thunderbolt.' Soyoon then reports Tan Mingsong's actions to Magistrate Xiao, cleverly using a lost jade pendant to implicate Tan in a bandit plot. Soyoon proposes a three-pronged disaster relief plan to address the threat of bandits and displaced people, impressing Magistrate Xiao.
Soyoon decides to leave for Qingyang Prefecture, but his family's sprout business is sabotaged by Tan Mingsong. Undeterred, Soyoon introduces tofu, a versatile food made from soybeans, promising it will revive Jade Spring House. He offers the tofu for free for three days to build word-of-mouth. Tan Mingsong escalates his attacks, attempting to frame Soyoon with poison and later setting fire to the Jade Spring House, but Magistrate Xiao intervenes, saving Soyoon.
Soyoon returns to Yuquan County, safe from Tan Wentao for now. He proposes to share his tofu-making secrets with the entire village, fostering a united community that can stand against the powerful Tan family. This creates an unshakeable 'mill' of tofu production, ensuring everyone profits. Despite attempts by Tan's men to bribe villagers, Soyoon strengthens the community bonds.
Soyoon decides to take the imperial examination, understanding that official status will protect him. He seeks guidance from Mr. Cheng, a respected scholar, and impresses him with the movable type printing invention. Tan Wentao attempts to sabotage Soyoon's examination through his son Tan Mingsong and bribed examiners, but Soyoon's ingenuity, including a custom-made pen and ink, helps him overcome these challenges.
During the examination, Soyoon is falsely accused of cheating but proves his innocence using his unique handwriting. He also introduces an abacus, demonstrating his exceptional calculation skills, winning praise from the examiner Lord Sun. Soyoon is recognized as a brilliant scholar, and Master Cheng cautions him against being too outspoken. Tan Wentao continues to plot against him for the upcoming Academy Exam.
Soyoon devises a plan to expand his tofu business beyond Yuquan County, using an industrial revolution concept. Tan Wentao, through Mr. Du, tries to cut off Soyoon's soybean supply by dramatically lowering prices. However, Soyoon cleverly uses this to his advantage, buying cheap soybeans and refining them into valuable soybean oil using modified coal stoves. His family's new soybean oil business takes over the Qingyang oil market, turning Tan Wentao's scheme against him.
Tan Wentao and Du Kun attempt to intercept Soyoon's caravan as he transports supplies. However, the Crown Prince's personal guards intervene, revealing that Soyoon has been under the protection of the Crown Prince all along. The Prince exposes Tan Wentao and Du Kun's plot to assassinate the King during a hunt. Soyoon, armed with his three-bowed crossbow, helps the Prince thwart the rebellion. He is then appointed as a scholar in the Hanlin Academy, and his brothers are also given prestigious positions, marking a complete reversal of their fortunes.