Northwards Episode 15 Recap
> Northwards Recap
Two catering executives, Mr. Li and his brother, arrived at By the Canal to meet Zhou Yanlin. Luo Zhimei introduced them, highlighting Zhou Yanlin as her husband and a master chef. The executives praised his Huaiyang imperial cuisine, prepared using Qing Dynasty methods, stating they were truly impressed for the first time in their many years in the restaurant business.
They revealed plans to open a high-end restaurant called Suzhen Pavilion near the Workers' Sports Complex in Beijing, capitalizing on the upcoming Olympics, and offered Zhou Yanlin a high salary, shares, and dividends for his apprentices. However, Zhou Yanlin declined, explaining that he had lived in Beijing before and wasn't happy there. He offered to send his apprentice instead, citing his age and reluctance to disrupt his peaceful life in "this small place."
Luo Zhimei was furious, accusing him of making things tense and wasting a good opportunity. She urged him to consider their son, Zhou Haikuo, a high school senior, whose studies would be affected by a move. Zhou Yanlin retorted that he respected her choices and asked her to respect his decision not to go to Beijing, reiterating his disinterest in big cities where people don't truly appreciate food.
Later that evening, Luo Zhimei complained to Zhou Yipu about Zhou Yanlin's stubborn refusal. She felt it was a waste of his talent to stay in a small town when a first-tier city offered better opportunities for him and Haikuo. Zhou Yipu gently reminded her that it was "her" vision of the future, not Zhou Yanlin's. He supported her if going to Beijing made her happy but urged her not to force Zhou Yanlin, who wouldn't be happy there.
Zhou Yipu then recounted Zhou Yanlin's difficult childhood, constantly moving with him, rarely smiling until he secretly began learning to cook from an old Huai'an chef, a family chef of Shen Jingsi. It was while cooking that Zhou Yanlin genuinely smiled, feeling like an orchestra conductor. Zhou Yipu stressed that for a chef, the greatest joy isn't money but having people appreciate their food. He subtly alluded to Zhou Yanlin's past painful experiences in Beijing.
Zhou Yipu advised them to cool off and not rush a divorce, suggesting they wait until Haikuo finished his exams. Meanwhile, Zhou Yanlin returned to his quiet courtyard. He found Zhou Haikuo engrossed in a video game and took his console. Haikuo indifferently asked when the divorce would happen, saying his father seemed to lack decision-making power. Haikuo questioned why Zhou Yanlin hadn't tried to persuade Luo Zhimei to stay or why he refused to go to Beijing.
Zhou Yanlin explained there was no difference waiting for her here or in Beijing, as she was always away filming. Haikuo grew emotional, asking why they needed to divorce if his mother pursued her acting and his father cooked. He tearfully expressed his sadness, referencing how Ma Siyi grew up without her parents, accusing his parents of selfishness, despite understanding their individual dreams. He pleaded with them to consider him.
Deeply affected by his son's distress, Zhou Yanlin later called Luo Zhimei, asking her not to let their future decisions about their marriage hurt Haikuo or make him view marriage negatively. She agreed. The next morning, Luo Zhimei left Flower Street. Zhou Haikuo feigned sleep but secretly watched his mother's departing figure from his window. Zhou Yanlin told her Haikuo was still asleep. At breakfast, Zhou Yanlin asked Haikuo why he hadn't seen his mother off.
Haikuo replied it wasn't "saying goodbye forever." To lift Haikuo's spirits, Zhou Yanlin made a deal: if Haikuo could rank in the top ten of his class, they would take him to Beijing to visit famous sites like the Bird's Nest, Forbidden City, Great Wall, and Tiananmen Square. Haikuo asked Ma Siyi to be his witness, and she agreed. Later, neighbors discussed Ge Siwei, with one calling him "hard to take care of."
Granny Ma admitted he was difficult when he first arrived but had improved. Another neighbor recounted how Ge Siwei cried when he woke up and realized he wasn't next to his mother. The neighbors cautioned Granny Ma that Siyi's mother was selfish and unreliable. Granny Ma explained her intention to build good karma, hoping Siyi's mother would treat Ma Siyi better if anything happened to her. The neighbors reassured Granny Ma that they would always be there for her.
That evening, Ma Siyi returned home with Ge Siwei, scolding him for getting into a fight. Ge Siwei blamed Xie Wanghe, who he called "brother-in-law," for teaching him a "scam" strategy: lying on the ground, rolling his eyes, and twitching to make bullies back off. Ma Siyi clarified that he used the trick to threaten classmates into buying him chips and got beaten up.
Ge Siwei insisted Wanghe liked Ma Siyi and called him "brother-in-law" because Wanghe "kept sneaking glances" at her. Annoyed, Ma Siyi chased him around. Granny Ma intervened, telling Ma Siyi to be gentler. After Ge Siwei fell asleep, Granny Ma gently nudged Ma Siyi about Xie Wanghe's feelings for her, expressing her support if they liked each other. Ma Siyi denied any interest, stating Wanghe liked Xia Fenghua because she "overheard Fenghua confess to him."
Granny Ma suggested Wanghe might not reciprocate Fenghua's feelings and believed he liked Ma Siyi. Ma Siyi, however, firmly declared her focus was solely on the Gaokao (college entrance exam), promising Granny Ma she would become a teacher and return to live with her in two years. Meanwhile, Xia Maotian returned home, telling Li Yan he only made 30 yuan from the floating supermarket that day, not even covering their meal costs.
He attributed their losses to Xie Tiancheng's excessive pride, which led him to give steep discounts to old acquaintances like Mr. Du and overstock goods without proper judgment. Li Yan complained about their continuous losses, contrasting their situation with other profitable supermarkets. Xia Fenghua, overhearing the argument, relayed the details to Xie Wanghe on the phone, adding that Xie Tiancheng's pride, constant discounts, and poor inventory choices were causing significant financial losses. Wanghe assured her he would find a solution.
Wanghe then confronted his father, Xie Tiancheng, who was drinking alone. Xie Tiancheng expressed his exhaustion and indignation, finding selling goods tiresome and demeaning compared to seafaring, especially having to "serve" his former peers. Wanghe attempted to offer business advice, suggesting his father research retail industry rules and adjust his mindset from a "commander of the elite army" to a collaborative business partner. Xie Tiancheng became furious, dismissing Xia Maotian as "cowardly" and asserting his own way of doing business.
He told Wanghe to focus on his studies. Wanghe retorted by asking if his father had made any money, contrasting it with his own improved grades, accusing his father of being "guilty" of the losses. Xie Tiancheng lunged at him, but Wanghe stopped him, urging him to cease drinking for his health. The next day, Xie Tiancheng attempted to return unsold inventory to a wholesaler. The wholesaler reluctantly agreed to take back bottled water, citing their long-standing relationship.
However, he adamantly refused to accept the bread, which was perishable and nearing its expiration date, with some loaves expiring the very next day. Xie Tiancheng pleaded, explaining the bread would go to waste if he couldn't return it, but the wholesaler was firm. Dejected, Xie Tiancheng returned home and started drinking again. When Wanghe tried to stop him, Xie Tiancheng became violent.
Later, after school, Xie Wanghe, Shao Xingchi, and Zhou Haikuo were buying snacks when a group of thugs ambushed and attacked Xie Wanghe. Shao Xingchi and Zhou Haikuo quickly intervened, chasing the attackers away, but Wanghe suffered fractured ribs and a fractured left arm. The thugs reported back to their boss, "Hai," who was pleased but vowed to "think about how to deal with that girl" (Fenghua), emphasizing that his pride had been wounded.
Meanwhile, Xie Tiancheng, while on his floating supermarket, saw an elderly woman attempting to jump into the river. Without hesitation, he rushed to her rescue and pulled her to safety. Xie Wanghe, with his friends, was being examined at the hospital for his injuries when Xie Tiancheng arrived, bringing the rescued elderly woman. Fenghua, upon hearing the news, rushed to Wanghe's side, crying with concern.
Wanghe and his friends quickly concocted a story about him falling while playing basketball, but Xie Tiancheng was unconvinced, questioning how one could simultaneously injure a left arm and a right cheek. He scolded Wanghe, calling him a "hollow log" only good for firewood, then hoisted him onto his back and carried him home, ignoring Wanghe's embarrassment.
Back home, with Li Yan, Ma Siyi, and Granny Ma present, Xie Tiancheng gave away his unsold bread to the neighbors, explaining that he had overstocked. Li Yan, frustrated by the ongoing losses, loudly complained to Xia Maotian, accusing Xie Tiancheng of recklessly giving away their hard-earned money. Xie Tiancheng sheepishly admitted his mistake. When Xia Maotian later asked Zhou Haikuo about the fight, Haikuo maintained the cover story of a basketball injury.
