Northwards Episode 38 (Ending) Recap
> Northwards Recap
After undergoing successful brain surgery, Xia Fenghua's recovery brought immense joy to her loved ones. Xie Wanghe immediately shared the good news with his father, Xie Tiancheng, who, along with his wife, was ecstatic. Li Yan was moved to tears by the successful outcome. Meanwhile, Shao Xingchi found profound satisfaction and contentment as his culinary skills finally earned Zhou Yanlin's approval, with guests continuously flocking to By the Canal and praising his cooking.
Concurrently, Zhou Haikuo and Chen Bo celebrated the grand opening of their Canal Bookstore, a moment made even more delightful by the unexpected arrival of Luo Zhimei, much to the surprise of Zhou Haikuo and his father. Upon her discharge from the hospital, Xia Fenghua, accompanied by Xie Wanghe and Li Yan, returned to Flower Street.
They performed a traditional ritual, returning a handful of soil from her hometown, a custom taught by Granny Ma, to thank the God of the Land for his blessings and protection. In another heartfelt moment, Chen Rui visited his mother, Gu A-Lian, bringing her a bucket of soup as a token of gratitude for helping Xia Fenghua find a new courtyard.
They sat down for a long-overdue conversation, during which Gu A-Lian spoke of her past anxieties about Chen Rui's future. Now, seeing his accomplishments, she expressed immense pride in him, and the mother and son finally reconciled. Soon after, the Flower Street Folk Culture Museum, curated by Chen Rui, officially opened. Both he and Gu A-Lian delivered speeches. The event was made even more special by the sudden appearance of Ma Siyi, who brought exciting news about her ancestors.
She revealed that her family's lineage was indeed connected to Little Polo, explaining that her great-great-grandfather, Fidel Dimark, also known as Marford, was the biological brother of Paul Dimark, who was Little Polo, involved in the Flower Street shipwreck. Ma Siyi explained that Fidel and Paul Dimark were from Verona, Italy, a city near Venice. Fidel Dimark had embarked on a journey to China, inspired by Marco Polo, traveling thousands of miles with a porcelain trading firm.
During his time in China, Fidel sent numerous letters to his family, vividly describing the suffering and brutal warfare he witnessed. He attempted to return home but couldn't secure a ship ticket. Due to the ongoing conflict, he eventually lost contact with his family and adopted the Chinese name Marford, later marrying a Chinese woman named Qin Ruyu.
Driven by concern, his older brother, Paul Dimark, came to China in search of him, becoming the "Little Polo" everyone in Flower Street spoke of. Xie Pingyao, a translator, was entrusted by a close friend to accompany Paul on his northward journey. Their companions included Shao Changlai, a porter hired in Hangzhou, Xia, a shipman met in Suzhou, and Xia's apprentice, Zhou Yiyan. During their journey north, Little Polo observed China undergoing immense change.
He used his "soul-capturing cannon"—an early camera—to capture diverse images of the Chinese people, finding every landscape and dock to be a novel experience. Zhou Yiyan, Xia’s apprentice, soon developed a keen interest in Italian, studying the foreign books Little Polo carried. He harbored dreams that by learning the language, his descendants might also become translators, securing a carefree life for generations to come.
During the days spent away from the shore, the group developed a strong bond of trust and an extraordinary friendship, sharing meals and daily life. Little Polo often enjoyed sitting on the deck, reading the "Poetry Collection in the Year of Jihai" or teaching Zhou Yiyan Italian, while diligently maintaining his diary. However, one night, as their ship docked, bandits boarded, attempting to steal their possessions.
Little Polo bravely resisted when they tried to take his cane, leading to a violent struggle. He was gravely wounded, bleeding profusely. The others fought valiantly but were forced to abandon the burning ship and escape to shore, watching it sink into the river in flames. As Little Polo's injuries worsened, he revealed his true purpose in China to Xie Pingyao: he was searching for his brother, Fidel Dimark, also known as Marford.
He explained that the last letter from his brother was hidden within his cherished cane. In his final moments, on August 4, 1901, Paul Dimark, having grown to love the canal, bequeathed his belongings to his companions before passing away. His tomb, marked with a cross, faced the grand canal, as if he continued to enjoy Chinese tea while feeling the canal breeze.
More than a century later, the descendants of the four families who were on that ship and Marford's descendants were brought together in a courtyard on Flower Street, a fated reunion that brought the long-separated brothers’ families together again. Ma Siyi later accompanied Zhou Haikuo to visit Zhou Yipu, and her heart ached as she witnessed his deteriorating memory, mistaking her for a young student and worrying about her studies.
Overcome with emotion upon seeing Ma Siyi return, Xia Fenghua hugged her and cried her eyes out. That evening, as everyone gathered on the rooftop, they looked through Ma Siyi’s travel photos. Ma Siyi spoke with Chen Bo, commending him on the excellent official account he had created, which she had followed regularly. In the ensuing days, everyone's lives settled into a new rhythm. Luo Zhimei decided to stay in Flower Street, choosing not to return to Beijing.
Recognizing his father's enduring regret over their old boat, Xie Wanghe bought Xie Tiancheng a cruise ship as a surprise birthday gift, leaving his father astonished. Xie Wanghe explained that with strong government support for Flower Street's tourism, the ship could be used for various activities, including catering, embroidery, and small stage performances. Thrilled, Xie Tiancheng sat in the pilot’s cabin and laughed heartily, imagining the future possibilities.
As they began to organize the new courtyard, Xia Fenghua asked for everyone’s input. Ma Siyi deferred to Chen Bo, playfully asking for his opinion, which prompted the others to playfully tease them about their relationship. Shao Xingchi added to the nostalgic atmosphere by projecting old photographs and videos from their high school days, filling the air with laughter and emotional tears. Before long, the families residing in the old courtyard prepared to move out.
They paused to take a cherished group photo, capturing their collective memories. Later, Xie Wanghe and Xia Fenghua's wedding was held on Xie Tiancheng’s newly acquired cruise ship, welcoming all their neighbors from Flower Street. As the cruise ship gracefully sailed towards the ship lock, it was as if they saw reflections of their past selves along the familiar waterway. Xia Fenghua expressed her desire to sail past the lock and beyond, even imagining reaching the Suez Canal.
During the ceremony, both Xie Wanghe and Xia Fenghua declared their "I do," reaffirming their commitment to forever love and cherish each other. The celebration concluded with a joyful kiss, marking the beginning of their new journey together.
