Northwards Episode 22 Recap
> Northwards Recap
The next morning, Xie Wanghe arrived at the company and presented his carefully prepared plan to Qiu Lin and Mr. Song. He announced that his first initiative would be to shorten delivery times and increase rider commissions. Qiu Lin immediately opposed the idea, calling it "wishful thinking" and questioning how the company would make a profit with already low margins.
Xie Wanghe clarified that delivery times would be adjusted from 50 minutes to 42 minutes, making them two minutes shorter than competitor Yuntu. He predicted this would lead to a significant increase in order volume, ensuring that even with higher commissions, profits would not decrease. Mr. Song expressed his support for Xie Wanghe's strategy, but Qiu Lin warned that the original 50-minute delivery time already pushed riders to their limits, and shortening it further could "cost lives."
Xie Wanghe dismissed Qiu Lin's concerns, stating, "You don't make the call here," and proposed they hear everyone else's opinions. The delivery riders soon gathered in the hall, openly discussing their dissatisfaction with the proposed 42-minute delivery time, claiming it would make their lives impossible. Xie Wanghe addressed them, asking if their primary goal was to earn money. One rider retorted that while they wanted to make money, they wouldn't risk their lives for it.
Xie Wanghe then broke down the numbers, highlighting that the previous commission of 5. 9 yuan per order resulted in a monthly income of only seven to eight thousand yuan, barely enough after expenses. He promised that with the new system, once they got used to the increased intensity, each of them could "earn over 10,000 yuan per month."
To address their concerns about payment, he announced a new real-time settlement method: half of the commission for each delivered order would be deposited immediately, with the rest settled at the end of the month, accessible via their phones, thus preventing future labor disputes. He also offered a substantial incentive, an additional 10,000 yuan cash bonus each month for the rider with the highest delivery quota. Convinced by the financial prospects, the riders agreed and eagerly returned to work.
Meanwhile, Xia Fenghua learned from He Tianming that Bee, described as a "big company with headquarters in Beijing," was aggressively poaching couriers from other companies in the high-tech zone by "offering higher salaries." He Tianming mentioned that one of Fenghua Express's early employees, Liu, seemed interested. While Xia Fenghua trusted Liu's loyalty, she worried about the significant pay difference. She instructed He Tianming to closely monitor Bee's activities and gather information on their recruitment methods.
Later, Xia Fenghua received a phone call from her parents, Xia Maotian and Li Yan, who were concerned about her well-being and asking if she had received some lotus roots. She mentioned she was too busy to cook and suggested giving them to Xie Wanghe. Her mother then subtly inquired about Xie Wanghe's promotion and salary, comparing it to Fenghua's earnings.
Li Yan then tried to set Fenghua up with a "handsome" young man from a prestigious university in Beijing, whose photo she and Xia Maotian had already approved. Xia Fenghua promptly hung up. Her parents then had a minor argument; Li Yan supported Fenghua's independent career in Beijing, while Xia Maotian believed she should get married at her age.
Li Yan, frustrated, retorted that if she hadn't been held back by him, she would have also gone to Beijing to "venture out like Fenghua" and become rich. At the same time, Xie Wanghe was holding a successful recruitment event, passionately appealing to job seekers. He declared, "We're not hiring delivery riders, but dreamers. Bee Group is willing to give everyone a chance to realize their dreams.
As long as you're willing to work hard, earning over 10,000 a month is not a dream." A large crowd eagerly lined up to apply. In stark contrast, Xia Fenghua struggled to recruit new couriers, with some employees leaving for higher pay. One departing employee explained that while he wouldn't quit for money under normal circumstances, his family's need for a new house meant he had to accept a better offer.
Xia Fenghua tried to defend her "small-scale operation," emphasizing their experience and efficiency, and warning about companies that "burn through money recklessly." Despite her best efforts at a job fair, including offering free lunch, she recruited "zero" people, feeling disheartened by Xie Wanghe's flourishing recruitment. Xie Wanghe then invited Xia Fenghua to lunch at a casual restaurant. Fenghua complained about the choice of eatery, but Xie Wanghe defended it as "down-to-earth."
He shared details about Bee's new "speed" strategy, explaining how their system uses real-time rider locations to prioritize orders by distance and navigates to avoid congested routes, all while increasing commissions. Xia Fenghua acknowledged its sophistication but was skeptical about its practical impact on speed. Xie Wanghe then casually mentioned an idea of providing subsidies for riders to purchase motorcycles, which immediately angered Xia Fenghua. She exclaimed, "Are you out of your mind?
Riding a motorcycle at that speed can be fatal!" and warned him not to claim acquaintance with her if he implemented such a dangerous plan. Xie Wanghe quickly clarified it was "just the initial idea." They then drifted into a conversation about their friends, noting how everyone seemed worried about a mixed-race girl, and Fenghua herself was hesitant to admit her feelings for Xie Wanghe.
Fenghua admitted she was "tired," stating that the parcel delivery industry had passed its peak and should aim for stability, unlike Bee, which still needed to "grit our teeth and push forward." Xie Wanghe playfully offered to support her if her company failed, which she quickly dismissed as a "jinx." She reminded him of his previous business failure, contrasting it with Zhou Haikuo, who had lost everything helping him. She emphasized that these were "favors you'll need to repay."
She also stated that he owed her, prompting Xie Wanghe to jokingly call her "auntie" for her nagging advice to "leave yourself a way out." That evening, Xie Wanghe found Zhou Haikuo at home, eating snacks on the sofa, looking dispirited due to "annoying things at the company." Recognizing Zhou Haikuo's discontent, Xie Wanghe extended an invitation for him to join Bee's Haidian branch, mentioning that Shao Xingchi was also coming.
Xie Wanghe acknowledged that the initial salary wouldn't be very high, but promised higher income with performance bonuses, though it would require more effort than his current job. Zhou Haikuo, a programmer, wondered what he could contribute to a food delivery company. Xie Wanghe reassured him that food delivery also falls under the "information and communication technology industry," and his talent wouldn't be wasted. He suggested Zhou Haikuo take two days off to "get a feel" for the company.
Zhou Haikuo playfully accused Xie Wanghe of "begging," then asked him to "open that nice bottle of wine." Meanwhile, Chen Rui and Shao Xingchi were engrossed in their research on the sunken ship. Chen Rui informed Shao Xingchi that the ship's owner was an Italian, and surprisingly, the surnames of his companions were Xie, Shao, Xia, and Zhou, which Chen Rui found to be a remarkable coincidence. Shao Xingchi got "goose bumps" upon hearing this.
Chen Rui further connected this to the Italian artifacts found in each of their families: Zhou Yipu's Italian silver coin, Shao Bingyi's Italian-made dagger, Xie Wanghe's silver wine flask with foreign writing, Shao Xingchi's shoehorn with foreign writing, and Xia Fenghua's makeup mirror, also with foreign writing. He speculated that all these foreign inscriptions might be in Italian, linking their families' histories. Shao Xingchi praised Chen Rui's efforts, calling it a "great service" if he could connect their families.
Chen Rui then visited Professor Su Weilang in Beijing to examine the original notebook found on the sunken ship. Professor Su showed him a blurry page with "Polo. D," identifying it as a "typical Italian name."
Professor Su advised Chen Rui to use the "method of exhaustion" to trace all surnames starting with 'D' and to contact the local cultural authorities in Verona, a city mentioned in the diary, as the owner's ability to travel with many attendants suggested he came from a "wealthy family" whose aristocratic records were likely well-preserved in Italy. Chen Rui decided to email the local cultural authorities.
Shortly after, Chen Rui informed Zhou Yipu, Shao Bingyi, and Chen Bo that Professor Su had located the original notebook, and he had found the ship owner's full signature, "Polo. D," on its cover. Zhou Yipu immediately recognized the name, exclaiming "Little Polo!" and confirming it was the same "Little Polo" from their oral history.
Shao Bingyi and Chen Bo were ecstatic, believing that with Chen Rui already having contacted the Italian cultural authorities, "it won't be long before we know Little Polo's entire life story." Zhou Yipu remarked that Little Polo's "story is about to surface." Elsewhere, Li Yan had arranged a blind date for Zhou Yanlin with a "Ms. Bian" at a restaurant.
Li Yan tried to reassure Ms. Bian that Zhou Yanlin was "very kind and genuine" but "a bit quiet," and advised her to find topics of conversation. She suggested "food," as Zhou Yanlin was a famous master of Huaiyang cuisine. However, the date quickly became awkward. Ms. Bian, a Chinese teacher from No. 7 High School, discovered that Zhou Yanlin's son had graduated from the same school, but she was still in college at the time.
When discussing food, Zhou Yanlin revealed he didn't cook much at home and preferred "quick-frozen products." Ms. Bian shared that her generation, like his son, tended to be "homebodies" who "enjoy the solitude of being single" and "don't want to get married," preferring to "eat snacks, read books, watch shows, and browse websites."
Li Yan and Zhou Yipu, who were eavesdropping, thought the conversation was going well, with Li Yan even commenting on Ms. Bian's appearance and suitability, dismissing the age difference. However, Zhou Yanlin later informed them he would not be arranging a second date, explaining, "She's from the same generation as Haikuo." He insisted that the decision about suitability was his alone. Meanwhile, Fenghua Express faced escalating conflict with Shuntong Express.
A Fenghua Express courier caught a Shuntong courier "stealing packages" in their territory, Keyuan Nanli, leading to a physical altercation. The Fenghua Express couriers were furious, with one boasting, "I'll beat him up every time I see him." He Tianming tended to an injured courier, as the team complained about Shuntong's relentless bullying. Xia Fenghua intervened, reminding them that the police's timely arrival prevented the loss of packages, which would have caused bigger problems.
She suspected Mr. Wei, Shuntong's manager, was orchestrating the aggression and decided to confront him. Noting Shuntong's bustling business, Xia Fenghua warned He Tianming that they were there to "negotiate, not to pick a fight." Mr. Wei greeted them sarcastically, implying Xia Fenghua was seeking revenge. Xia Fenghua attempted to discuss business boundaries, asserting that Fenghua Express had established itself in Keyuan Nanli first. An argument erupted between He Tianming and Mr. Wei's employee over who arrived first.
Xia Fenghua tried to calm the situation, suggesting the area had enough business for both companies. However, Mr. Wei defiantly stated, "Territory is won with fists. Whoever has the stronger fist calls the shots." Xia Fenghua countered, reminding him that they were "delivering packages, not taking lives. . . entrepreneurs, not thugs." Mr. Wei challenged her to "find out" if they were thugs, then arrogantly drove away, leaving He Tianming to lament the futility of reasoning with such people.
Back at Bee, unrest brewed as riders confronted a manager about the new fines. The manager blamed company policy and Xie Wanghe, directing them to address their complaints to him. The riders then surrounded Xie Wanghe, arguing that the fines, which increased alongside commissions, effectively negated their earnings. Xie Wanghe explained that "rewards and punishments go hand in hand," and while commissions had increased, they were contingent on timely deliveries, which many riders had failed to meet.
He offered to revert to the old system if they couldn't comply. The local boss, who had previously questioned Xie Wanghe, spoke up on behalf of the riders, arguing that the blame lay with the company's lack of agreements with nearby merchants, forcing long-distance deliveries, and a "buggy" navigation system.
In response, Xie Wanghe made a clear promise: by the end of the month, Bee would secure all neighborhoods within three kilometers to the east, and a major system upgrade would be implemented to eliminate all faults before launch. In return, the riders had to commit to reducing their overtime rate to five percent, or fines would increase further. The local boss pressed him on what would happen if he failed to deliver on his promises.
Xie Wanghe stated unequivocally, "Then I'll cancel the penalties. . . I have no right to make things difficult for you." The riders, satisfied, applauded. The manager encouraged them to continue approaching Xie Wanghe with questions, assuring them that "Mr. Xie doesn't mind the trouble." After the meeting, Shao Xingchi questioned Xie Wanghe about the local boss's confrontational attitude, suspecting a grudge. Xie Wanghe explained that the man had been the previous manager of that point, making his resentment understandable.
Shao Xingchi suggested firing him, but Xie Wanghe refused, stating the man hadn't committed any fireable offense. Zhou Haikuo then raised the issue of system bugs, and Xie Wanghe explained that they relied on a third-party navigation system, and modifying its interface often led to delays.
Xie Wanghe then outlined their strategy and assigned tasks: Shao Xingchi was to "canvass" the eastern three kilometers, meaning he had to "enter every door, talk to everyone, and sign a contract as soon as an agreement is reached," using "any method" necessary. Zhou Haikuo was tasked with "testing the system, finding bugs, and reporting back immediately." The team got to work, with Shao Xingchi approaching businesses and Zhou Haikuo diligently testing the system for glitches.
Xie Wanghe also instructed his team to promptly address program vulnerabilities and accelerate the third round of testing for their self-developed map by Thursday. Meanwhile, someone was dispatched to "find out about the current situation of Haidian branch."
