Northwards Episode 18 Recap
> Northwards Recap
The Xie family faced immense difficulty raising the 100,000 yuan compensation. Li Yan, overwhelmed by guilt over her daughter Xia Fenghua's role in the incident, brought money to help. She told Liang Haihong, "This matter happened because of this 10,000 yuan. As her mother, I made a mistake. I didn't stop her from doing such a stupid thing, implicating Wanghe. Wanghe did it for Fenghua. So take it. Saving the child is more important."
Zhou Yanlin also offered financial assistance, but Liang Haihong was hesitant, noting that they themselves needed the money. Li Yan insisted, saying, "No, it's an emergency. Take it. I'm leaving." Liang Haihong accepted, assuring them she would remember their kindness and repay them later, to which Li Yan replied, "No need. We should pay for it." Despite their own financial struggles, Granny Ma gave Ma Siyi 2,000 yuan to deliver to Liang Haihong.
However, Liang Haihong refused to accept it, telling Siyi to take it back. She explained that if Xie Wanghe could share meals at their home when she was away driving trucks, it would be the greatest help. Another neighbor, Mr. Zhou, added, "Siyi, they've got us. Go back and tell Grandma. We're here. Don't worry." He reassured Siyi that they would not let her worry.
Faced with a significant shortfall for the compensation, Liang Haihong, after exhausting all other options, resorted to borrowing from loan sharks. She needed another 20,000 yuan and offered her two pieces of gold jewelry as collateral, promising the lender, "I'll pay you back the principal and interest together when the time comes. Not a penny less!" While playing with Ge Siwei, Granny Ma felt unwell and retreated to her room to rest, telling him, "Play by yourself. I'm tired.
I'll take a rest." In the kitchen, Ma Siyi overheard Li Yan and Liu Yuling discussing Liang Haihong's desperate measure. Liu Yuling mentioned that even after "Lao'er" (Xie Tiancheng) asked Fenghua's aunt, it still wasn't enough. Li Yan worried, "Don't borrow money from loan sharks. With the interest, you could go bankrupt." Liu Yuling confirmed, "Haihong must have gone to borrow money. She can do anything for Wanghe."
They feared that even if Xie Wanghe were released, he would be burdened by debt for life. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Ma Siyi entrusted her younger brother, Ge Siwei, to Xia Fenghua, saying, "Siwei, Grandma is resting. I'll take you to Fenghua's house for some treats." She then asked Xia Fenghua to watch him and make his dinner, as Granny Ma was sick.
Ma Siyi then went to Chen Rui, asking if his offer to lend her money was still valid. Chen Rui readily agreed, offering up to 30,000 yuan. Ma Siyi requested 20,000, promising to repay it with bank interest, a condition Chen Rui waved off. Meanwhile, Ge Siwei persuaded Xia Fenghua to take him to see the movie "Iron Man," as all his classmates had already seen it.
That evening, Ma Siyi delivered the 20,000 yuan to Liang Haihong, imploring her to accept it and secure Xie Wanghe's release quickly, so as not to jeopardize his college entrance exam. Liang Haihong questioned the source of the money, but Ma Siyi insisted it was within her means and reiterated Wanghe's need for freedom to focus on his studies. After delivering the money, Ma Siyi returned home, calling out for Granny Ma.
She soon discovered her grandmother had quietly passed away in her bed. The next morning, Shen Yong picked up Xie Wanghe from the detention center, assuring him that the police had handled the issue of the photos, supervising the person who posted them to delete all copies and punishing him according to the law. Xie Wanghe and his parents, Liang Haihong and Xie Tiancheng, went to a restaurant.
Though relieved, Liang Haihong cautioned her son to be more thoughtful and less impulsive in the future. Xie Wanghe was stunned to learn they had paid 100,000 yuan in compensation. He adamantly declared he would rather die than "bow down to these thugs and scoundrels." Enraged by his obstinacy, Liang Haihong slapped him, asking, "Can you be mature? Enough!" Later, Xie Wanghe sat alone by the river.
His father, Xie Tiancheng, brought him food and sat down, reflecting that Wanghe's temperament, always standing up for others, was much like his own youthful self. Xie Wanghe defended his actions, saying he wasn't wrong to protect Fenghua from that "bastard" who uploaded those photos. " If I were a coward, who knows what might happen in the future? So I absolutely refuse to bow down to such people. I was protecting my family and friends. Was I wrong?"
Xie Tiancheng then revealed the full extent of the sacrifices made for the 100,000 yuan, explaining that neighbors and outsiders contributed, including Ma Siyi's 20,000 yuan. He shared the heartbreaking news that after Siyi returned with the money, Granny Ma had already passed away from a cerebral hemorrhage, unable to receive timely rescue because no one was with her. Xie Tiancheng urged his son to "Grow up quickly. Your mother and I are old.
We can't keep up with your antics anymore." Overwhelmed with grief upon hearing the news, Xie Wanghe rushed back to the courtyard, collapsing in tears before Granny Ma's portrait. Ma Siyi, who had been kneeling by the portrait, continued to express her regret, weeping, "I just went out for a moment, how could I lose my grandma just like that?" Xia Fenghua, witnessing Ma Siyi's profound sorrow, was deeply affected.
At home, Xie Wanghe knelt before Liang Haihong, tearfully admitting his mistakes. Liang Haihong, accepting his apology, instructed him, "From now on, be better to Siyi. Do your best in this lifetime to spare her from suffering. This is what you owe Granny Ma." Meanwhile, Xia Fenghua was consumed by self-reproach, confessing to her mother, Li Yan, "I feel terrible inside. I didn't take it seriously. . . I even took Siwei to watch a movie.
If we had been at home, Granny Ma wouldn't have passed away. . ." Li Yan tearfully comforted her daughter, reminding her that cerebral hemorrhage was very dangerous and that even medical intervention might not have saved Granny Ma. The neighbors were deeply concerned about Ma Siyi's well-being. Mr. Zhou found her refusing to eat, still grieving. He gently urged her to eat, reminding her, "If you get hungry, your grandma will come to our dreams and scold us."
He then revealed that a month prior, Granny Ma had approached him to draft a power of attorney, instructing him to sell her house if necessary to ensure Ma Siyi could complete her university education, as Siyi was her greatest concern. Mr. Zhou then told Siyi that the house might not need to be sold, as he was there to represent all the neighbors. He assured her, "You don't need to worry about money.
Even if you study for a doctorate, we'll support you. From this moment on, you, Ma Siyi, are the child of all of us." Ma Siyi broke down, weeping in his arms. While the neighbors busied themselves with funeral arrangements, they worried about the impact on Ma Siyi's studies, especially with her younger brother, Ge Siwei, to care for. Zhou Yanlin proposed speaking with Siyi's mother to have her take Siwei back, at least for the critical final semester.
Some neighbors voiced distrust towards Siyi's mother, recalling her past demands for money. Zhou Yanlin advised caution, suggesting they first assess her attitude before taking a unified stand against any unfairness. On the rooftop, Xie Wanghe and his friends also expressed their sorrow, lamenting that they would no longer taste Granny Ma's fried radish cakes. Siyi's mother arrived on the day of the wake, immediately criticizing Ma Siyi for not adequately looking after Granny Ma.
When Mr. Zhou and Li Yan spoke with her, she declared her intention to take Ge Siwei with her, leaving Ma Siyi to focus on her college entrance exam. Mr. Zhou reassured her, "Actually, regarding Siyi, you can rest assured. We neighbors treat her like our own child." He informed Siyi's mother that their families had established a fund to cover Ma Siyi's living expenses and future university tuition. Hearing this, Siyi's mother beamed, expressing gratitude for such wonderful neighbors.
However, after the neighbors departed, Siyi's mother turned to Ma Siyi and muttered, "Mom knows they're good to you, but they're still outsiders, aren't they? They can be nice to you for a few days, but they can't be nice forever, can they?" Ma Siyi, already weary from grief and her mother's comments, simply responded, "I'm tired. Do as you please." Her mother then disparaged her as a "heartless and unfeeling child," solidifying Ma Siyi's deep annoyance with her.
