Northwards Episode 27 Recap
> Northwards Recap
Ma Siyi arrived in Italy, carrying photos of herself and her grandmother as she sought to trace her ancestral roots and uncover the story of Marford. Meanwhile, the excavation and research of a shipwreck, deemed less than a hundred years old and lacking artifact value by experts, were announced to be suspended by Mayor Gu.
Chen Rui, however, was vehemently against this decision, accusing them of discarding the cultural significance of the shipwreck once the Grand Canal's World Heritage application was successful. In a heated argument with Mayor Gu, Chen Rui pledged to self-fund the research and prove the shipwreck's importance to Flower Street. In Beijing, traffic control and overflowing warehouses left Xia Fenghua's express station exceptionally busy.
She worked tirelessly from dawn till dusk, directing her team efficiently, only for a new round of sorting to begin shortly after they had just finished. Concurrently, Beijing braced for high temperatures, impacting rider morale. Xie Wanghe called a company meeting to propose a temporary increase in rider commission to boost motivation. Qiu Lin, however, opposed this, arguing that such an increase would directly cut into their already thin profits.
Meng Wei, after hearing both sides, agreed to Xie Wanghe's plan but stipulated that the commission must be lowered again after the hot spell. To further combat the heat, Xie Wanghe introduced measures like heatstroke medicine and mung bean soup at stations, while Zhou Haikuo announced the early launch of their self-developed map for more accurate navigation, improving efficiency. Impressed by Zhou Haikuo's presentation, Meng Wei privately offered him a position as Chief Technology Officer at the headquarters.
Zhou Haikuo, however, politely declined, feeling that Xie Wanghe needed him and he couldn't leave at this time. Meng Wei did not press the issue but urged Zhou Haikuo to consider it carefully and keep the offer confidential. Elsewhere, Xia Fenghua felt dizzy under the scorching sun, which Mother He quickly attributed to low blood sugar. That evening, Xie Wanghe brought her hometown dishes for dinner.
As they chatted, Xia Fenghua almost fainted, prompting Xie Wanghe to express concern over her hands-on approach to everything. Xia Fenghua maintained that as a leader, she must lead by example. After work, Zhou Haikuo took Xiaohui shopping for clothes. Xiaohui worried about the cost, but her mood shifted to delight upon learning about Meng Wei's CTO offer. Her joy, however, turned to anger when Zhou Haikuo revealed his refusal, scolding him for lacking ambition.
Later that night, Xie Wanghe, Shao Xingchi, and Zhou Haikuo gathered. Zhou Haikuo vented about his argument with Xiaohui and mentioned Meng Wei's offer, reaffirming his decision not to go to headquarters. While Xie Wanghe wanted Zhou Haikuo to stay, he acknowledged that Xiaohui's perspective had merit and didn't want the couple to fight because of him. He encouraged Haikuo to make his own decision and take responsibility for it.
Shao Bingyi, meanwhile, discovered through his family tree that his ancestors did include porters. With Zhou Yipu's suggestion, Chen Rui and his father, Zhou Yipu, and Shao Bingyi formed a four-person research team. Driven by passion, they journeyed through streets and alleys, visiting hundreds of old families along the canal, uncovering rare artifacts, and recording numerous anecdotes.
With the successful World Heritage application of the Grand Canal, various private museums sprung up along its banks, deepening their understanding of its history. Their shared fascination with the shipwreck made them local celebrities in Flower Street, attracting more people eager to help solve the mystery. Chen Rui found immense joy in this work, feeling that he was getting closer to the truth and to fulfilling his promise to Ma Siyi.
Amid their busy efforts, the county gazette office reported a new lead: an elder from the Dong family had confirmed ancestral ties. At a quiet bar, Zhou Yipu heard a song sung by Ma Siyi. The owner revealed that Ma Siyi had visited recently, left a CD of her own singing, and mentioned plans to go to Italy to trace her roots, leaving behind a photo. On the way back, Chen Rui gazed at the photo, lost in thought.
He later shared it in their group chat, evoking mixed emotions among everyone who saw Ma Siyi's information. The next morning, Xie Wanghe discussed He Tianming with Shao Xingchi, who clearly did not want to delve into the topic. Xia Fenghua and Xie Wanghe made plans to return home together for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Xie Wanghe rented a car, and the four of them embarked on their long journey home.
