Episode Summary
"Northward" Episode 21 sees tensions rise at the delivery depot, leading to a business split. Shao Xingchi is urged to change his ways, considering a delivery job after a run-in with the police. Meanwhile, the Flower Street shipwreck investigation continues, and Xie Wanghe faces new challenges at the Haidian branch, dealing with internal sabotage and competition. Zhou Haikuo contemplates quitting his job due to his supervisor's behavior. A potential sighting of Ma Siyi adds a layer of mystery.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with Shao Xingchi getting an earful from his parents. Fresh off returning to his cramped basement apartment, Xingchi receives a call from his folks, urging him to come home and learn the family craft of bamboo carving. Xingchi, clearly not interested, hangs up on them. His father, Shao Bingyi, is furious, repeatedly calling back to no avail. He laments that other people's children are successful, while his son is still stuck in a rebellious phase.
The next morning, Xia Fenghua arrives at the delivery depot, where the supervisor, Sun Daxiao, is trying to kick out the family of He Tianming, one of Fenghua’s oldest employees. Sun believes that having Tianming's family around hurts the depot's bottom line. Fenghua, knowing Tianming's difficult situation and that his mother and wife also help out at the depot, patiently tries to reason with Sun.
However, Sun is completely unsympathetic, insisting that Tianming's family must leave. He even mocks Fenghua for trying to help others when she herself isn't financially secure. Fed up with Sun's attitude, Fenghua declares that they'll split the business. Because Sun took his business with him, Tianming feels guilty and takes on extra work, earning Fenghua's gratitude.
Meanwhile, at the site where the Flower Street shipwreck was unearthed, Shao Bingyi, Chen Bo, and Zhou Yipu—who have been studying the wreck for seven years—often gather. They send Chen Rui to Beijing with new clues to consult with Professor Su Weiliang. Chen Rui asks Professor Su to retrieve copies of a notebook found on the ship, hoping it will prove that the families in the Flower Street Courtyard are descendants of the shipwreck survivors.
Back on Flower Street, life is returning to normal. Li Yan has opened a successful bean curd shop and, seeing the increasing river traffic, wants to convince her children to return home. Liang Haihong visits Li Yan and mentions that she wants to set Zhou Yanlin up on a date. They discuss how Luo Zhimei has a new partner, and they ask Zhou Yipu to gauge Yanlin's reaction, but Yanlin flatly refuses.
Elsewhere, Xie Wanghe meets with Zhou Haikuo, subtly mentioning that his parents are looking for a partner for Zhou Yanlin. Haikuo thinks his father should have started looking a long time ago. Wanghe also tells Haikuo that he's being transferred to a branch office, where he'll have to face not only the competition from Yuntu but also the complex office politics. Haikuo is confident that Wanghe will handle it well.
Soon after, Xie Wanghe arrives at the Haidian branch and directly conveys Meng Wei's dissatisfaction to the branch managers, Qiu Lin and CEO Song. Qiu Lin, already upset that Wanghe is taking his position, speaks to him sharply, blaming the company's insufficient subsidies for their low market share. Wanghe, however, makes a bold pledge: if he fails, he'll take the responsible parties down with him.
In contrast, Shao Xingchi, while job hunting, runs into Officer Xia, the policeman who previously arrested him. The officer suggests that Xingchi try food delivery and offers to help him get started. Officer Xia, having seen Xingchi's two-year record of courageous acts, believes he's not a bad person and genuinely hopes he'll turn his life around.
At work, Zhou Haikuo's supervisor scolds him for chatting with his girlfriend. Haikuo, furious, snaps back. His girlfriend pulls him away, and Haikuo tells her that he helped the supervisor a lot in the past, and seeing his current behavior makes him want to quit.
After work, Xiao Li approaches Xie Wanghe, revealing that Qiu Lin seems to be encouraging the delivery riders to join Yuntu, promising them big rewards. Wanghe asks Xiao Li to keep an eye on things and suggests that Xiao Li should have his own team.
Later, Xie Wanghe brings dinner to Shao Xingchi and tells him about the situation at the Haidian branch, inviting him to join the delivery team. Xingchi is tempted, but then Chen Rui suddenly calls, saying he saw Ma Siyi at a bar. By the time they rush to the bar, Siyi has already left.
