Northwards Episode 33 Recap
> Northwards Recap
Xie Wanghe rushed to the express station, finding Xia Fenghua resting in her room, looking frail. A colleague mentioned she had been experiencing dizziness and difficulty standing, possibly from exhaustion. Xie Wanghe urged Xia Fenghua to go to Xiehe Hospital for a check-up, offering to accompany her, but she brushed off his concern, claiming she’d already had one and it showed nothing serious.
She then angrily brought up He Tianming’s death, reproaching Bee for their inaction and revealing she spent the entire day arranging He’s death certificate and funeral parlor. Xie Wanghe admitted his oversight, acknowledging he was too focused on compensation, and promised to implement her suggestions if she would agree to a comprehensive medical examination at Xiehe Hospital.
Xia Fenghua agreed to consider it only after wrapping up her current tasks, while Xie Wanghe affirmed his ongoing efforts to secure the highest possible bereavement payments for He’s family. Soon after, Xia Fenghua overheard a heated argument and discovered He’s mother trying to prevent He’s wife from leaving. He’s wife had received 300,000 yuan from Yuntu, who also offered to fund a lawsuit against Bee, provided she continued to publicly denounce Bee.
He’s mother suspected Yuntu’s motives, but He’s wife was swayed by the immediate financial aid, pointing out Bee had done nothing for them. Xia Fenghua immediately saw this as a cynical commercial tactic by Yuntu. She instructed He’s wife to return the money, promising to personally give her 300,000 yuan and guaranteeing that Xie Wanghe and Bee would provide a resolution regarding compensation within one day.
Following this, Xia Fenghua called Sun, arranging to meet him the next morning to discuss some "good news." Meanwhile, Xie Wanghe confronted Meng Wei in a company meeting room, pressing him again about the bereavement payments for He Tianming. Meng Wei remained unyielding, stating that the company could not afford to pay above the standard.
He explained that with Bee’s impending IPO and millions of riders, setting a precedent of "excessive compensation" would create an unsustainable burden, jeopardizing the company's future. Meng Wei coolly suggested Xie Wanghe pay out of his own pocket for "peace of mind." Dismayed by Meng Wei's coldness, Xie Wanghe personally drafted a commitment letter. He pledged to pay off He’s family’s house mortgage in full and fully sponsor He Tianming's unborn child’s education.
He attempted to present this to He’s grieving mother and wife, who were burning paper offerings outside, but they dismissed his letter as a "worthless piece of paper" and refused to forgive Bee. Xie Wanghe clarified that his commitment was a personal promise separate from the company's official compensation and offered to have it notarized, vowing to honor his word. That evening, Zhou Haikuo warned Xie Wanghe about a surge of online criticism, suspecting Yuntu had hired trolls.
Xie Wanghe, however, believed the leak came from within Bee. His suspicions were confirmed when Qiu Lin privately approached Li, Xie Wanghe's assistant. Qiu Lin presented Li with evidence of minor irregular expense claims, hinting at severe career repercussions, and then tried to persuade him to betray Xie Wanghe, portraying Xie Wanghe as a "conscienceless" person who was doomed to be removed. Soon after, a large number of reporters gathered outside the Bee headquarters.
Under pressure, Meng Wei held a press conference, where he boldly announced that Xie Wanghe, as the head of the Haidian district, bore "undeniable responsibility" for the accident and had "officially resigned." Meng Wei offered condolences to the family and apologies to the public.
Xie Wanghe, unaware of his "resignation," appeared at the press conference, reiterating he bore the "main responsibility" and stating that the incident had "nothing to do with the company" and was a result of his "personal decision." He emphasized the importance of safety for all riders. News quickly spread of "Mr. Xie's" dismissal. Xia Fenghua and Zhou Haikuo tried desperately to contact him, but he remained unreachable. Zhou Haikuo called Xia Fenghua, urging her to meet at Xie Wanghe's place.
Xia, who was with He's family advising them to avoid media interviews as Bee's representatives had arrived to discuss compensation, was delayed. Realizing Xie Wanghe was likely hiding, Xia Fenghua sent him a text message, playfully threatening to tell his mother they had been in a relationship and he was "abandoning me," hoping to provoke a response. Xia Fenghua eventually found Xie Wanghe at the planetarium, where he had been drinking "just a little."
She struggled to comfort him, and he dismissed her concerns, stating it wasn't his first failure, only a "shameful" debut in the media instead of ringing the Nasdaq bell. When he inquired about He’s funeral, Xia Fenghua advised him not to attend to avoid causing further distress to the family, who still harbored resentment. Xie Wanghe asked if she was still angry with him. She clarified that she wasn’t personally involved and knew he didn't act intentionally.
She urged him to learn from the tragedy, emphasizing the lifelong pain it inflicted on the family. He solemnly promised such an incident would never happen again. Xia Fenghua then shared observations about Betelgeuse, the brightest star, and a celestial body destined for a supernova, mentioning an online belief that souls originated from and returned there after death.
As they sat together, the starlit sky transported Xia Fenghua back to her childhood, recalling carefree days watching stars and singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" with their group of five friends. Back in Flower Street, the community was abuzz with the news about Bee. Shao Xingchi explained that Xie Wanghe was being made a scapegoat, a belief widely accepted by the parents.
The mothers expressed a strong desire for their children to return home, but the fathers argued passionately that Flower Street couldn't offer the opportunities found in Beijing, deeming their children's return a waste of potential. The discussion ended in a lively disagreement. Xie Wanghe drove Xia Fenghua home, earnestly persuading her to get a full medical check-up at Xiehe Hospital that weekend. He pointed out her pale complexion, dull eyes, and weak voice, which he found "heartbreaking."
Xia Fenghua reluctantly agreed to consider it. However, upon returning home, she immediately began packing. The next morning, she met Sun at a large factory building, which he envisioned as the new, merged express station, complete with a staff lounge. Xia Fenghua expressed approval of the location and confirmed she was entrusting the station to Sun. When her employees learned of her departure and the merger, they were upset.
Xia Fenghua reassured them that she had negotiated excellent terms for them, including social insurance, housing fund, paid annual leave, and year-end evaluations, ensuring their benefits would be no less than those at larger companies. She also offered to use her connections at headquarters to help them find new positions if they chose not to stay, emphasizing the importance of health and safety.
On the day of Xia Fenghua’s departure, her employees gathered at the express station to bid her farewell. Zhou Haikuo urgently called Xie Wanghe, informing him that Xia Fenghua had left Beijing and wouldn't be returning. He also mentioned that Xia Fenghua had asked him to give the time management software he developed for her to Mr. Sun, as she would no longer be managing that aspect of the business.
Xie Wanghe frantically tried to call Xia Fenghua, but she didn’t answer. He rushed to the express station, only to find her already gone and Sun overseeing the moving of equipment. Xie Wanghe realized, with a heavy heart, that she had truly left.
