Genma Saotome, Ranma's father, was approached by Mr. Kuonji to try to settle an engagement. At first, Genma refused for he would sometime engage Ranma to one of the Tendo Children. When Mr. Kunoji threw in the okonomiyaki cart as a dowry, he got greedy and accepted.
Later that day, Genma asked Ranma which he loved better; Ukyou, or Okonomiyaki. Ranma, being only a child, quickly perked up with okonomiyaki. Genma listened, and got the okonomiyaki cart ready to go. Ranma got on top of it, and they were off. They did forget something: Ukyou! She was left behind, crying in the road.
Ukyou took this in stride, and trained in both martial arts and okonomiyaki making, until the fateful day which she would meet Ranma again. It started in a fight on a cooking grill, but ended in Ranma getting yet another fiancee. So, they remain engaged.