Sanche, formally titled Tang San Jie, hails from Shanghai’s renowned Longzhen Restaurant dynasty, where his father Tang Li imposed rigorous culinary discipline from childhood. A blade accident during radish-carving practice left his hand scarred and instilled lasting knife aversion—adaptations diverge slightly, with the 1997 anime citing his father’s harsh training as the cause, while the manga frames it as an unintended mishap.

Exiling himself from home, he ascended to fourth-level chef at Yang Spring Restaurant before complacency led to his demotion after Mao Xing’s Bok Choy Challenge victory. Bitter jealousy drove Sanche to bully Mao initially, but the latter’s mentorship eventually rekindled his culinary drive and guided his gradual recovery from blade-related trauma.

Seeking reconciliation, Sanche temporarily returned to Shanghai to repair relations with Tang Li and train as Longzhen’s future steward. He later reunited with Mao during the latter’s travels, now having conquered his phobia. Together, they combated the Dark Cooking Society, demonstrating Sanche’s matured skills and dedication to safeguarding both family heritage and culinary integrity.

His arc traces a journey from fractured ambition to restored purpose, shifting from rivalry to alliance with Mao, and embracing his dual legacy as a chef and heir. Narrative variations across media preserve core themes of perseverance, mentorship, and the weight of generational duty.