Northwards Episode 37 Recap
> Northwards Recap
Mo was rushed to the hospital in critical condition after collapsing. Shao Bingyi and Liu Yuling arrived, anxiously awaiting news. A doctor informed them that Mo was declining rapidly and advised them to prepare to say their goodbyes. Though Shao Bingyi suggested Shao Xingchi enter, the medical staff specifically requested Liu Yuling. Inside, Mo, on his deathbed, expressed regret for the hardships Liu Yuling had endured and wished to see her and their son one last time.
He gave her a bank card containing his life's savings, revealing the password was Shao Xingchi's birthday, and asked her to give it to their son. Mo passed away moments later. As Liu Yuling emerged from the emergency room, Shao Bingyi pressed her to reveal Mo's last words. Liu Yuling then silently handed the bank card to a bewildered Shao Xingchi, explaining it held Mo's life savings and that the password was his birthday, entrusting him with Mo's funeral arrangements.
Shao Bingyi stepped out for a cigarette, urging Liu Yuling to tell Shao Xingchi the truth herself. Confused by the events, Shao Xingchi demanded to know Liu Yuling's relationship with Mo, insisting he could handle any truth. Liu Yuling then tearfully revealed that Mo was Shao Xingchi's biological father. Liu Yuling sat Shao Xingchi down and recounted her past. She and Mo were childhood sweethearts, but her family vehemently opposed their union due to Mo's poverty, leading them to elope.
Their lives changed drastically when her family tracked them down. By then, Liu Yuling was pregnant with Shao Xingchi. In a desperate attempt to protect her and their unborn child from her family, Mo accidentally paralyzed Liu Yuling's cousin in a struggle and was subsequently imprisoned for aggravated assault. Her family forced Liu Yuling home and pressured her to have an abortion, but she refused.
In despair, she fled to the canal, contemplating suicide, only to be rescued by Shao Bingyi, who was there on a creative excursion. Shao Bingyi gave them a home and raised Shao Xingchi as his own son. Liu Yuling expressed her profound love and respect for Shao Bingyi, acknowledging the immense guilt she carried for the burden placed upon him. Deeply shocked by the revelations, Shao Xingchi returned home to find Shao Bingyi sitting alone.
Shao Bingyi admitted they had intended to tell him when he was older but kept postponing it. He then offered to distance himself, worried he might be an "annoying old man." Shao Xingchi reassured him, emphasizing that he and his mother wouldn't have survived without him and that they owed him nothing, as Shao Bingyi acted out of love and even sacrificed his own career.
Shao Bingyi initiated a heartfelt, man-to-man conversation, confessing his past struggles with controlling his emotions and expressing regret that Shao Xingchi might have sacrificed his chance at college due to resentment, feeling he had hindered his son's path to a decent life. He apologized for his shortcomings as a father.
Shao Xingchi, through tears, affirmed that Shao Bingyi had given them a new lease on life, lauded him as a successful man with a loving wife and a son who wished to care for him in old age, and urged him to confide in him. Shao Bingyi, deeply moved, promised to try his best. Later that night, Shao Xingchi visited Mo's usual spot under a bridge, discovering his childhood toys and photos among Mo's belongings.
He also found a pair of new leather shoes, realizing that Mo had secretly left him new shoes every Lunar New Year, silently watching over him throughout the years. Meanwhile, Zhou Haikuo accompanied his grandfather, Zhou Yipu, to a storytelling house, only to learn from the owner, Mr. Xu, that it was closing due to a lack of audience.
Zhou Haikuo recalled a recent lively show, "The Legend of Yue Fei," which Zhou Yipu admitted he hadn't heard in a while. Inspired and wanting to spend more time with his grandfather, Zhou Haikuo later proposed to Chen Rui the idea of a modern storytelling house combining traditional performances with a bookstore, coffee shop, and tea, to appeal to younger generations and foster a new cultural lifestyle.
Chen Rui enthusiastically supported the idea, offering to join and seeing it as a perfect addition to Flower Street, akin to hearing stories from a beloved elder. Concurrently, Xia Fenghua met with Mayor Gu Alien to discuss the Flower Street renovation. Mayor Gu, recalling Xia Fenghua's childhood, welcomed her warmly. Xia Fenghua expressed her strong desire for the old neighbors to continue living together after the renovation, highlighting that elders thrive when surrounded by familiar faces.
While Mayor Gu stated the plans were largely fixed, she was open to residents' collective input and advised Xia Fenghua to gather a unified consensus from the elders on whether they preferred to self-build or accept the existing relocation plan. Xia Fenghua was confident the elders would choose to stay together.
Following their meeting, Xia Fenghua and Xie Wanghe presented a plan to the elders: a large, old courtyard had been found which could be renovated with shared costs, and the demolition compensation for their house would go to Ma Siyi, ensuring everyone could remain neighbors. Everyone quickly agreed, though Shao Bingyi briefly hesitated, mentioning the pleasant green spaces in the government's relocation apartments. However, Shao Xingchi promptly raised his father's hand, securing unanimous approval.
Xie Wanghe volunteered to cover all costs for common areas and promised to enlist top designers for the individual homes, much to the neighbors' delight. Later, at a teahouse, Shao Xingchi and Xia Fenghua chatted. Xia Fenghua playfully commented on how quickly she and Xie Wanghe married and then encouraged Shao Xingchi to find his own love. Shao Xingchi hinted he had someone in mind, boasting that his cooking skills would easily attract a wife.
Xia Fenghua then jokingly asked Shao Xingchi to "take her away" if Xie Wanghe ever misbehaved, amusing Shao Xingchi, who imagined them comically brawling. Xia Fenghua then sincerely wished Shao Xingchi happiness and a loving partner, to which Shao Xingchi returned heartfelt blessings for her and Xie Wanghe's lifelong happiness. Meanwhile, Zhou Haikuo informed his grandfather, Zhou Yipu, about the Flower Street renovation, mentioning everyone would move.
Zhou Yipu worried about new living arrangements, but Zhou Haikuo assured him that Xia Fenghua had found a large courtyard where their family, along with the Xie, Xia, and Shao families, would all move. Zhou Yipu was pleased, but insisted on reserving the central hall for Granny Ma and installing a new air conditioner, a 40-inch LCD TV, and a new washing machine for her, lamenting her habit of hand-washing clothes. Zhou Haikuo readily agreed.
The night before Xia Fenghua and Xie Wanghe's departure for Beijing, the three friends gathered on a rooftop. Zhou Haikuo lamented missing his bookstore's opening, but Xie Wanghe assured him they would return. Shao Xingchi wished Zhou Haikuo prosperity, who humorously hoped merely not to lose money. Xie Wanghe explained that Xia Fenghua wanted to drive north along the canal to Beijing, a week-long journey, to enjoy the scenery.
Shao Xingchi clarified that Xia Fenghua, having grown up by the canal, found solace and "recharged" by its waters, and planned to do so along the entire route before her surgery. Zhou Haikuo and Shao Xingchi wished them a safe trip and a quick return. The next morning, with well wishes from family and friends, Shao Xingchi drove Xia Fenghua and her mother, Li Yan, north along the Grand Canal.
Concurrently, Zhou Haikuo and Chen Bo found a large, riverside location for their new bookstore. As Zhou Haikuo prepared for the opening, he met a young woman who inquired about the store; an instant attraction sparked between them. Shao Xingchi, now a skilled chef, served his first dishes to satisfied customers, feeling immense joy.
In Beijing, Xie Wanghe accompanied Xia Fenghua for her medical check-up, where the doctor confirmed a high success rate for her craniotomy, with risks to be minimized. Li Yan reassured a nervous Xia Fenghua, promising to be there for her.
