Episode Summary
Xie Wanghe's team improves efficiency, causing employees to leave Xia Fenghua's station for Mifeng. Xia Fenghua tries to recruit Shao Xingchi, but Xie Wanghe wants her to join Mifeng instead. A traffic accident involving a Shuntong courier leads to a partnership between Xia Fenghua and CEO Wei. Xia Fenghua proposes an insurance plan for her employees, but it's rejected. Meng Wei rewards Xie Wanghe with a car and announces bonuses. Xie Wanghe tries to recruit Xia Fenghua again, but she refuses. Xie Tiancheng is stabbed while preventing a theft, leading Xie Wanghe and Xia Fenghua to rush to Tianjin. Zhou Haikuo and Shao Xingchi handle company matters in their absence.
Spoiler Alert
In episode 23 of "Northward," Xie Wanghe and his three-person team have finally managed to get their delivery timeout rate down to 5%. Seeing the great benefits offered at Mifeng, employees at Xia Fenghua's delivery station start handing in their resignations. Xia Fenghua has no choice but to approve them, reminding them to take care of their health while they pursue better opportunities. Later, Xia Fenghua invites Shao Xingchi for coffee, trying to recruit him to her station. However, Xie Wanghe refuses to let Shao Xingchi go and instead suggests that Xia Fenghua join him at Mifeng.
Xia Fenghua declines Xie Wanghe's offer and decides to handle deliveries herself. During one of these deliveries, she witnesses a Shuntong courier getting hit by a car. Xia Fenghua immediately has He Tianming call the police and stops the offending vehicle, saving most of the Shuntong packages. CEO Wei, upon hearing the news, rushes to the scene. He feels grateful and ashamed when he sees Xia Fenghua's actions. After stabilizing the situation, Xia Fenghua leaves with He Tianming.
Meanwhile, Shao Xingchi is worried about Xia Fenghua, but Xie Wanghe thinks she's just making things hard for herself. He believes that if she worked at Mifeng, she'd have financial security and support. That night, Shao Xingchi brings Xia Fenghua some crayfish takeout and apologizes, hoping she's not mad at him. Xia Fenghua instead tells him to keep an eye on Xie Wanghe, making him a bit jealous.
Shuntong couriers once again bully workers at Huazi's delivery station, but CEO Wei happens to pass by and intervenes. When Xia Fenghua arrives, CEO Wei surprisingly admits his mistakes, and the two discuss a partnership to cover the Keyuan Nanli area.
Concerned about the high accident rate among delivery workers, Xia Fenghua proposes a plan where the company and employees split the cost of insurance premiums. However, the employees are reluctant, viewing insurance as unnecessary and not wanting to spend the money. Xia Fenghua's request for support from headquarters is denied.
Meng Wei is pleased with Xie Wanghe's performance and rewards him with a car. He also motivates the riders in the Haidian District by announcing a double bonus for the next month. Xie Wanghe, beloved by the riders, introduces Shao Xingchi and Zhou Haikuo to Meng Wei.
After meeting with Meng Wei, Zhou Haikuo tells his girlfriend, Xiaohui, about his plan to quit. Xiaohui doesn't seem to think it's a good idea, reminding him that childhood friendships are precious, but adulthood requires self-reliance. During a celebratory karaoke session, Xie Wanghe extends an offer to Xia Fenghua, promising to hire her employees. Xia Fenghua, unimpressed, flatly refuses.
Concurrently, Xie Tiancheng and his wife are on a long-haul trucking job when they encounter someone stealing oil. Xie Tiancheng confronts the thief but is stabbed in the stomach. Xie Wanghe, receiving the call, rushes to a hospital in Tianjin. Xia Fenghua, concerned that Xie Wanghe had been drinking, drives him to Tianjin, leaving Shao Xingchi and Zhou Haikuo to look after the company.
At the hospital, Li Yan explains to Xie Wanghe that Xie Tiancheng's injuries, while requiring many stitches, are not life-threatening. Xie Wanghe stays by his father's bedside while Xia Fenghua chats with Li Yan, who asks her to keep an eye on Xie Wanghe.
Xiaohui learns that Zhou Haikuo and the others are trying to poach Xia Fenghua. Zhou Haikuo believes Xia Fenghua would never join Mifeng, as she originally came to Beijing for Xie Wanghe. Becoming his subordinate would likely ruin any chance of a relationship. Zhou Haikuo thinks Xie Wanghe is aware of this, but the two have never openly discussed it.
The next morning, Xie Tiancheng wakes up to Xie Wanghe's complaints. Xia Fenghua pulls Xie Wanghe aside, urging him not to upset his father. Meanwhile, CEO Song and Qiu Lin are looking for ways to cause trouble for Xie Wanghe. With Xie Wanghe absent, Shao Xingchi and Zhou Haikuo have to deal with the situation.
