Episode Summary
Xia Fenghua survives brain surgery, sparking emotional family reunions. Ancestral secrets explode as Ma Siyi reveals her Italian roots linking to 19th-century explorer Xiaoboluo. Meanwhile, Flower Street thrives with new businesses, rooftop nostalgia, and a tearful wedding finale tying past and present.
Spoiler Alert
Family Roots, New Beginnings & a Century-Old Secret Revealed
Hold onto your tea cups, folks! Episode 38 of Northward is a rollercoaster of ancestral drama, tearful reunions, and one wild historical twist that’ll make your jaw drop. Let’s dive in!
Medical Miracles & Dumpling Diplomacy
Xia Fenghua’s risky brain surgery goes smoothly (cue the confetti!), sending the Xie family into full-on happy tears. Xie Wanghe rushes to share the news with his overjoyed dad, Xie Tiancheng, while Li Yan ugly-cries in the best way possible. Over at Canal Family restaurant, Shao Xingchi finally earns Zhou Yanlin’s approval as customers rave about his cooking. The man’s grin? Pure “I’ve mastered the art of dumpling sorcery” energy.
Meanwhile, Zhou Haikuo and Chen Bo’s Canal Book Teahouse opens to fanfare—until Luo Zhimei walks in, leaving the Zhou men stunned. Who invited the emotional plot twists?!
Dirt Therapy & Mother-Son Feels
Post-recovery, Xia Fenghua returns to Flower Street with Xie Wanghe and Li Yan to ceremoniously return a jar of hometown soil (thanks for the assist, Grandma Ma’s folk wisdom!). Over in the tearjerker corner, Chen Rui surprises his mom, Gu Alian, with soup and gratitude for securing Xia’s new courtyard. Their heart-to-heart? A masterclass in “Asian parent guilt resolved over hot broth.” Spoiler: Gu Alian’s now #1 proud mama.
Museum Drama & That OMG Ancestry Bomb
Chen Rui’s Flower Street Folk Museum opening turns historic when Ma Siyi crashes the party with news: Her ancestor, Ma Fude (née Federico Di Marco!), was actually Italian—and the long-lost brother of Xiaoboluo (Paolo Di Marco), the mysterious foreigner tied to Flower Street’s sunken ship! Turns out, the Di Marco brothers were 19th-century Italian explorers separated by war. Federico settled in China, married local legend Qin Ruyu, and poof—a century later, their descendants reunite through destiny (and killer storytelling).
Flashback to 1800s Feels
Rewind time: Xiaoboluo (Paolo) and translator Xie Pingyao trek across a chaotic, war-torn China with crewmates Shao Changlai, sailor Lao Xia, and language-nerd Zhou Yiyan. They bond over boat life and fend off bandits (RIP Xiaoboluo’s camera dreams), but not before Xiaoboluo’s deathbed confession links their fates to Ma Fude’s lineage. Fast-forward 100 years: Their great-grandkids now share courtyard gossip. History, you emotional genius.
Present-Day Warm Fuzzies
Ma Siyi bonds with Zhou Haikuo over his aging father’s memory loss (tissues required), while Xia Fenghua sobs happy tears hugging her. At a rooftop hangout, Shao Xingchi trolls everyone with cringe-worthy high school projector slides (we’ve all been there). Romance alert? The group side-eyes Ma Siyi and Chen Bo’s suspiciously friendly chat.
Finale Feels: Boats, Weddings & Goodbyes
Luo Zhimei ditches Beijing for Flower Street (smart move), and Xie Wanghe gifts dad Xie Tiancheng a literal tourist boat for his birthday—because nothing says “I love you” like a government-approved tourism venture. The episode wraps with a tear-jerking courtyard farewell and Xia/Xie’s wedding on the family boat, sailing past memories (and maybe a ghostly Xiaoboluo waving from the shore?).
Verdict: This episode’s like a baozi—warm, stuffed with generational drama, and best enjoyed with a side of ugly-crying. See you next time on Flower Street! ✨
