Episode Summary
Xia Fenghua and Xie Wanghe defy parental resistance to marry, aided by Xie’s supportive father and emotional compromises from their mothers. The couple ties the knot at the marriage bureau, while Flower Street’s redevelopment sparks nostalgia. Meanwhile, Shao Xingchi’s kindness to scrap collector Lao Mo takes a mysterious turn.
Spoiler Alert
The Northward rollercoaster hits peak emotional turbulence this week as Xia Fenghua and Xie Wanghe’s star-crossed romance faces its biggest hurdle yet: mom disapproval. Let’s just say, Chinese moms don’t play.
Love vs. Mom Logic
Liang Haihong (Xie Wanghe’s mom) ain’t having it. Her son marrying a woman with a potentially life-threatening illness? Hard pass. Li Yan (Xia Fenghua’s mom) isn’t any warmer to the idea, refusing to let her daughter “burden” Xie Wanghe. But our couple? Chill as ever. Xia Fenghua reassures her man that marriage licenses are overrated—she’s just happy he loves her. Cue the squad (their ride-or-die friends) cheering them on.
Dads vs. Tears
Xia Maotian stumbles upon his daughter’s medical report, and let’s just say the man’s heart shatters like a dropped porcelain teacup. Meanwhile, Xie Wanghe takes Xia Fenghua on a nostalgia trip to their old middle school classroom, where they revisit their desk-carved teenage love notes. Spoiler: She’s living her “love me back” dream. Aww.
Parental Showdowns (with Booze)
Xie Tiancheng (Xie Wanghe’s dad) becomes the MVP of dads. Unlike his wife, he gets it. Flashbacks to his own rebellious marriage days? Check. He gives his son the ultimate pep talk: “Go get your girl.” Later, he crashes Xia Maotian’s pity party with liquor and a surprise twist—he’s Team Love. Xia Maotian, moved to tears, caves faster than a soggy wonton wrapper.
Moms: Still Not Vibing
Liang Haihong tries to strong-arm Li Yan into ending things, but Li Yan beats her to the punch, vowing not to “trap” Xie Wanghe. (Mom code for: Take the win and go.) But when Liang clashes with her husband over the marriage, she drops the mic: “A ship with a hole sinks fast.” Xie Wanghe isn’t here for the nautical metaphors. He empties his savings account, threatens to elope to Beijing, and—boom—mom folds.
Wedding Bells (and Dad Jokes)
Next morning, Xie Wanghe drags Xia Fenghua to the marriage bureau… where both sets of parents are already waiting. Plot twist! Cue tears, hugs, and a freshly minted marriage certificate. Post-vows, the crew heads back to Flower Street, where Xie Wanghe instantly morphs into a hilariously whipped husband. Xia Maotian deadpans: “Don’t spoil her too much—she’ll start climbing onto the roof!”
Bittersweet Goodbyes & Mystery Noodles
Amid the chaos, Flower Street’s iconic archway gets demolished for redevelopment. The gang mourns the end of an era but vows to stay connected. Meanwhile, night owl Shao Xingchi whips up Yangchun noodles for Lao Mo, a local scrap collector. The man declares it the “best meal of his life”… then promptly collapses. Wait, WHAT?
Final Thoughts
This episode serves drama, tears, and a masterclass in parental guilt-tripping. But love wins—until next week’s noodle-related cliffhanger, anyway.
