Northwards Episode 10 Recap
> Northwards Recap
Xie Wanghe, worried about Xia Fenghua, had Zhou Haikuo investigate the photography studio where she worked. Haikuo managed to hack into their online photo album, revealing that while the studio publicly claimed to take pictures for Taobao, it actually profited from lingerie and explicit photos. Learning that Xia Fenghua was already downtown, Xie Wanghe rushed to find her, fortunately arriving in time. Xie Wanghe took Xia Fenghua to a diner, commenting that she didn't look bad with makeup on.
He told her to eat something first, then they would find an internet cafe and stay up until dawn, taking the first bus back to Flower Street in the morning. Xia Fenghua asked how he knew she was in trouble and even knew her hotel room number. Xie Wanghe explained that her mother's contract had made him uneasy, so he'd asked Haikuo to investigate the studio.
Haikuo found an email address linked to an online photo album, which he then hacked. They discovered it was a "gang of perverts." Xie Wanghe explained that the photos were merely lingerie shots, not illegal enough for a police report, and that involving the police would harm her reputation at school.
He revealed that Haikuo and Shao Xingchi had gone to the police station to report her missing, using her ID number, and a familiar old police officer had helped them locate her. He added that Haikuo and Shao Xingchi were waiting at the police station entrance, ready to call the police if anything went wrong. He then raised his cup, celebrating her "narrow escape."
Xia Fenghua mused that she thought her luck would finally turn around, but Xie Wanghe countered that simply not getting into trouble was a blessing. He advised her to stop getting involved in such schemes, adding that even if pies were falling from the sky, she wouldn't be the one to catch them. Xia Fenghua jokingly accused him of being ungrateful, saying she didn't ask him to rescue her and that he was meddling.
Xie Wanghe, feigning anger, declared it his last time helping her, saying he would just watch if she fell into deep trouble again. Later, as he carried her on his back, he told her she sounded terrible singing. He then paid for some medicine and offered to pay for the internet cafe and drinks, to which Xia Fenghua promised to drink until he went bankrupt.
The next morning, as Xie Wanghe drove Xia Fenghua back to Flower Street, she asked if she should return the money she received from the studio. He advised her to return it to avoid further trouble, noting that the photos were not illicit enough to press charges and that involving the police would damage her reputation. Xia Fenghua expressed her anger, saying she wouldn't return it and would fight the man if he came looking.
Xie Wanghe then suggested she tell him to sincerely apologize, otherwise she wouldn't return the money, and promised that if anyone came looking for trouble, it would be his fight, not hers. Upon arriving home, Xie Wanghe announced his intention to go to Beijing to start a business. Xia Fenghua was surprised and worried, asking how long he'd be gone and if his parents knew.
He explained it was a "act first and report later" situation, as his parents wouldn't approve. She offered him money, but he declined, promising to buy her a car upon his return. When Xie Tiancheng and his wife learned about Xie Wanghe's departure, they were furious. They summoned Shao Xingchi and Zhou Haikuo, who nervously affirmed their support for Xie Wanghe's venture.
Both boys were subsequently reprimanded and disciplined by their parents; Shao Xingchi's father, Shao Bingyi, for instance, threatened to disown him if he didn't do well on his exams. Xie Wanghe, meanwhile, was brimming with confidence as he embarked on the bus journey to Beijing. The bustling metropolis seemed vast and exciting to him, like an eye-opening experience. Upon arrival, he sought to rent a server.
He was taken aback when he overheard a nearby client discussing a project that required hundreds of servers and millions of dollars, making his own project seem tiny in comparison. Subsequently, at a telco, due to his small-scale needs and limited funds, he was directed to a micro-client area and offered a secondhand domestic server that had been used for over a year. He accepted the server, recognizing it would suffice for now.
Back in Honghuai, Xia Fenghua, Shao Xingchi, and Zhou Haikuo went to school to cover for Xie Wanghe. Mr. Xu was initially angered by Xie Wanghe's absence, threatening expulsion if they didn't explain. He expressed skepticism about Xie Wanghe's ability to succeed, calling him "eye-high, hand-low" and predicting his project would fail within six months.
The trio revealed that Xie Wanghe had gone to Beijing to rent a server for an online project, assuring Mr. Xu that he would be back in a few days and that his project, if successful, could benefit the entire Honghuai area. Mr. Xu agreed to help if they could provide an excuse note, warning them not to write "starting a business" as the reason. They then brainstormed excuses in class.
Shao Xingchi suggested saying Xie Wanghe's grandmother was critically ill, but Xia Fenghua rejected it as his grandmother was already deceased. Sun Sanliang rudely interjected, mocking Xie Wanghe's intelligence and questioning who gave him the confidence to start a business. Xia Fenghua defended Xie Wanghe, saying he was doing something important that would benefit everyone, and warned against snitching. Later, Shao Xingchi came up with the idea of saying Xie Wanghe went to Beijing to see a canal culture exhibition.
Xia Fenghua decided to have Zhou Haikuo write an essay about it and get Grandpa Zhou to revise it, believing the school would support cultural activities. Liang Haihong was skeptical, insisting that Xie Wanghe was just "fooling" Xia Fenghua, who was too naive to see it. At the hospital, Gu A Lian (Ms. Gu) saw Ma Siyi and Chen Rui studying together.
She invited Ma Siyi to her home on weekends for tutoring with Chen Rui by a retired first-class teacher. Ma Siyi initially hesitated, but Chen Rui persuaded her to accept, citing that otherwise, Ms. Gu would keep pestering her. Meanwhile, Liang Haihong and Li Yan noticed Granny Ma was missing from her stall. Concerned, Liang Haihong returned home to find Granny Ma collapsed on the floor.
They frantically called Zhou Yanlin for help, and together they rushed Granny Ma to the hospital. Liang Haihong saw Ma Siyi at the hospital and brought her to Granny Ma’s room. It was then that Ma Siyi learned her grandmother had suffered a cerebral thrombosis. She broke down in tears by the bedside, but Granny Ma gently comforted her, telling her not to worry.
Li Yan and Liang Haihong, observing from outside, lamented the Ma family’s already poor financial situation, now made worse by this illness. That evening, a somber Ma Siyi returned home. Xia Fenghua took her home for some black chicken soup, preventing her from dwelling on her worries alone. Zhou Yanlin gathered the neighbors in the courtyard to discuss how to care for Granny Ma. They considered applying for a minimum living allowance for her or collectively contributing money and effort.
Recognizing that Ms. Gu handled such matters, Zhou Yanlin asked Shao Bingyi for help. Shao Bingyi, despite his previous conflicts with Chen Bo (Ms. Gu's husband), reluctantly agreed. The next day, he brought a gift to Chen Bo, apologizing for past disagreements and seeking reconciliation. After school, Xia Fenghua and her friends visited Granny Ma in the hospital.
The neighbors had arranged for a telephone to be installed at Granny Ma’s house, explaining that she always hesitated but now it was a necessity for emergencies. Zhou Yanlin also brought Ms. Gu to visit Granny Ma's stall.
Ms. Gu stated that she could not directly violate policies to help but advised them to collectively write a detailed report about Ma Siyi's situation for the community to submit, promising that they would take it seriously and try their best to resolve the difficulties. The community rallied together, offering money and assistance. Zhou Yanlin even gave Granny Ma a precious 1982 Angong Niuhuang Pill that he had saved for his late wife, urging her to live for Ma Siyi.
Meanwhile, in Beijing, Xie Wanghe was at a cyber cafe, informing Zhou Haikuo via phone that he had successfully set up the server. He then overheard a nearby patron, "Qiang," discussing his extensive experience in the internet industry since 1995. Xie Wanghe, intrigued, introduced himself and sought advice from Qiang. Qiang warned him that many young people like him, full of passion and dreams, often ended up with broken hearts and empty wallets after a few years in Beijing.
Xie Wanghe, however, remained resolute, arguing that "failure is the mother of success" and citing Ma Huateng's early struggles with Tencent, concluding that he wouldn't know if he could succeed without trying.
