Northwards Recap, Plot, Synopsis

Northwards Synopsis

Northwards Recap

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In 1901, a brown-haired, blue-eyed man traveled from Italy to China, personally inspecting the historic canal project. There, he made close friends, settled down, and started a family. Over the long years that followed, the canal nurtured and enriched generations of families living along its banks. The boats traveling north and south carried memories spanning ancient and modern times. For the people living by the canal, it was more than just a route—it was a compass guiding them toward the world, representing a lifetime of connection to their homeland.

Time quickly passed, and by the summer of 2000, Xia Fenghua, Xie Wanghe, Shao Xingchi, and Zhou Haikuo had all grown up along the canal in Huajie. At just ten years old, they were lively and mischievous, the kind of kids both adorable and exasperating. As usual, the four worked together to sneak into a boat’s cabin to steal watermelons. Even when the boat owner caught them, they weren’t afraid—they just laughed and jumped into the river, carrying their stolen watermelons triumphantly back to shore to share their "hard-earned" prize.

The boat owner was furious but couldn't really lay a hand on the kids. Instead, he went straight to Xie Wanghe's mother, Liang Haihong. Upon hearing what happened, Liang Haihong quickly assured him that she would pay for the watermelons. Meanwhile, the four little troublemakers were squatting by the riverbank, watching a lively boat wedding ceremony. Xia Fenghua admired the scene and hoped that when she grew up, she could have a wedding just like this—and she wanted to marry the one she always thought about, Xie Wanghe.

Grandma Ma returned home with a girl who had distinct mixed-race features. The children excitedly ran up to greet her and learned that she was Grandma Ma’s granddaughter, Ma Siyi. Ever since Ma Siyi’s father passed away, her mother remarried and had a son, sending Ma Siyi back to live with her grandmother. Without the love and attention of her parents, Ma Siyi became overly mature yet withdrawn. Aside from greeting everyone politely, she mostly remained silent.

In stark contrast to Ma Siyi’s quiet nature, Xia Fenghua was noticeably lively and talkative. She often went to Grandma Ma’s house for meals and enthusiastically started chatting with Ma Siyi. During dinner, Grandma Ma told Xia Fenghua about Ma Siyi’s grandfather, whose ancestors were foreigners. She even showed the two girls some old photos, which thrilled Xia Fenghua.

After dinner, Xia Fenghua took Ma Siyi around to introduce her to the neighbors. They first visited Zhou Haikuo’s grandfather and parents, then moved on to the Xie and Shao families. The children eagerly vied for the chance to play with Ma Siyi, and the warm atmosphere gradually helped her feel at ease.

Just then, Shao Xingchi’s father, Shao Bingyi, returned on his bicycle. With a mysterious air, he whispered to the elder Zhou Yipu that Xie Tiancheng was planning to replace his boat. Xie Tiancheng, Xie Wanghe’s father, was the most well-known boat owner in Huajie. Because the neighbors trusted him, they all invested in his cargo ship. However, Shao Bingyi was puzzled and displeased about the decision to change boats.

Soon, Xie Tiancheng returned from his shipping trip, proudly carrying gifts into the courtyard. He even handed out money to everyone, brightening their otherwise ordinary days. Since he had made a small fortune through cargo shipping, Xie Tiancheng was considering upgrading his 500-ton boat to a 1,000-ton one. He proposed pooling together another 100,000 yuan, but this put the neighbors in a difficult spot.

According to Zhou Yanlin, the Beijing-Shanghai Expressway was set to be fully operational by the end of the year. The highway might impact canal shipping, but Xie Tiancheng didn’t take the concern seriously. He believed that despite the highway’s existence, its costs were too high. As long as they focused on the Honghuai shipping route, they could still make a huge profit. Zhou Yanlin wanted to say more, but his father, Zhou Yipu, suddenly stood up and opposed him. Deeply attached to the canal, Zhou Yipu firmly reminded them that they were born by the water and must not forget their roots.

That night, Xie Tiancheng’s wife, Liang Haihong, felt that replacing the boat was a big decision and that the neighbors should have had more time to prepare. However, Xie Tiancheng insisted that upgrading the boat would bring nothing but benefits. When he found out that his son had stolen a watermelon, he grabbed a slipper and chased after him. Meanwhile, Xia Fenghua couldn’t escape punishment either.

Shao Bingyi, already displeased with Xie Tiancheng’s plan to change boats, became even more frustrated upon seeing how poorly his son wrote his essay. As a scholar, he cared about appearances and didn’t want to be the only one to withdraw his investment, so despite his resentment, he kept his dissatisfaction to himself.

Li Yan and her husband, Xia Maotian, also discussed the boat replacement issue. However, Xia Maotian's casual remarks quickly angered Li Yan, and soon her loud voice echoed through the courtyard again. Meanwhile, Luo Zhimei returned home and complained that Zhou Yanlin shouldn’t have spoken so pessimistically. Zhou Yanlin understood that his father deeply cared about the canal’s fate, so he was willing to contribute money to upgrade the boat. However, Luo Zhimei worried that Grandma Ma’s family might be struggling financially and unable to contribute.

At the same time, Ma Siyi lay in bed, unable to sleep. She leaned against Grandma Ma, listening to her tell stories about their ancestors. She learned that the Italian man who traveled to China long ago had changed his name to Ma Fude. He once had a violent encounter with a Japanese man and was ultimately mauled to death by a wolfdog. On his deathbed, Ma Fude regretted not finding the brother who had also traveled to China. So, his descendants followed the canal southward until they finally settled in Huajie.

Early in the morning, Liang Haihong stood in front of her stall, deep in thought. The mothers in the courtyard gathered around to ask what was wrong. Liang Haihong was worried about losing money after switching to a larger boat. After all, they were just small households, and hiring workers would significantly increase transportation costs. Meanwhile, Ma Siyi transferred to the elementary school where Xia Fenghua and the others studied.

Because of her mixed-race appearance and unique demeanor, she quickly drew attention. When Xie Wanghe passed a note to Ma Siyi, Xia Fenghua tattled on him, resulting in both of them being punished by the teacher to stand outside.

On the other hand, the mothers in the courtyard, upon learning that Ma Siyi would be staying with them, couldn’t help but complain about her mother, who only gave birth to her but didn’t raise her, showing no sense of maternal responsibility or conscience. During dinner, every household in the courtyard was bustling with liveliness—except for Ma Siyi’s home, which was silent and cold.

The loneliness made Ma Siyi miss her mother, and she sat alone in her room, silently shedding tears. The next day, the courtyard was once again bustling with activity. The mothers helped Grandma Ma sell breakfast at her stall. Xie Wanghe asked his mother for five yuan to buy ice cream, and Xia Fenghua pestered him to share. Later, the four of them saw Ma Siyi secretly calling her mother on the street, hoping to live with her.

However, her mother was cold and indifferent, not considering Ma Siyi’s feelings at all, and quickly hung up after a few words. Seeing Ma Siyi sobbing, Xia Fenghua, Xie Wanghe, and the others felt heartbroken for her. Soon, Ma Siyi’s appearance once again drew the attention of her classmates. A boy named Sun Sanliang started pestering her, determined to befriend her. To protect Ma Siyi, Xie Wanghe got into a conflict with Sun Sanliang. Fortunately, the teacher intervened in time.

While being punished to stand outside, Xie Wanghe noticed that Ma Siyi didn’t have a backpack, only an old cloth bag. He then gathered Shao Xingchi and Zhou Haikuo to discuss pooling money together to buy her a new one. Xia Fenghua helped Ma Siyi secretly climb out of the window and took her to make sugar syrup.

Since Ma Siyi was an excellent student and particularly good at writing essays, Xia Fenghua proposed a deal: Ma Siyi would help her with her essays, and in return, Xia Fenghua would drive away those annoying boys who kept pestering her. Ma Siyi nodded in agreement, and the seeds of friendship began to take root in their hearts. Xie Wanghe and the others gathered to count their money, but they realized it wasn’t enough for a new backpack.

So, they went into the river to catch clams and sold them to Shao Bingyi for eighty yuan. When Ma Siyi received the new backpack from her friends, she was deeply touched, and the bond between the five of them grew even stronger. As noon approached, Zhou Yanlin’s restaurant, "Canal Family," was bustling with activity. He set up a small dining table specifically for the children.

At that moment, District Chief Gu Ailian arrived at the restaurant with her son, Chen Rui. Because of her busy work schedule, she wanted to enroll Chen Rui in the dining group. Coincidentally, Chen Rui was in the same class as Xia Fenghua and the others, and he quickly blended into their little circle. While riding his bicycle past the restaurant, Shao Bingyi caught sight of Gu Ailian and eagerly went up to greet her, expressing his thoughts on cultural creation.

As the children ate, they listened to Zhou Yipu tell stories. Zhou Yipu mentioned an Italian foreigner who had come here and made great contributions to the area. Xie Wanghe assumed it was Ma Siyi’s ancestor, but Ma Siyi immediately denied it. Sun Sanliang pestered Ma Siyi again, infuriating Xia Fenghua, Xie Wanghe, Shao Xingchi, and Zhou Haikuo, who rushed up and gave him a beating.

Their clothes were covered in dirt, and they were afraid of being scolded by their parents, so they sneaked back into the courtyard—only to be caught by Liang Haihong. Liang Haihong dragged Xie Wanghe inside for a scolding. When she found out he was protecting Ma Siyi, she realized her mistake and took the initiative to apologize to her son, instructing him to protect Ma Siyi as an older brother in the future.

Standing outside the door, Ma Siyi overheard their conversation and was once again deeply moved. With this group of friends, Ma Siyi’s life became more colorful. She actively asked Grandma Ma about the families in the courtyard. Grandma Ma told her that everyone in the courtyard was good-hearted. Later, the four families gathered to discuss the boat upgrade. Grandma Ma was the first to step up and offer financial support, and the others also contributed their money.

Finally, Xie Tiancheng successfully upgraded to a thousand-ton ship, returning to Flower Street with a boat decorated in red silk and flowers. The bond between the children grew stronger. They often went swimming in the river, spending their childhood in this lively and warm environment, growing up day by day. Seven years later, all five of them were now in high school. Xia Fenghua refused to go into the river and even took away everyone else’s clothes.

Just then, cries came from the neighboring area. The five of them hurried over and discovered that Lao Wu, a boatman from Flower Street, had accumulated a huge debt and, overwhelmed with despair, had jumped into the river to commit suicide.

Seven years ago, the Beijing-Shanghai Expressway, spanning the Yellow River and crossing the Yangtze River, was fully opened to traffic. Since then, it has greatly promoted the economic development of the surrounding regions and even the entire country. Cars on the road have been running faster and faster, while the number of boats on the river has dwindled. The sense of honor and achievement among boatmen has gradually faded, business has declined, and profits have shrunk.

Although canal shipping seems to be moving forward alongside this fast-paced world, in reality, it is heading in the opposite direction. Nowadays, Shao Xingchi’s culinary skills have become increasingly refined, and he has won over his courtyard friends with just a bowl of eel noodles. While everyone was gathered around the table enjoying their meal, Ma Siyi was still feeling sorrowful over the man who had committed suicide by jumping into the river.

Xie Wanghe and the others, however, disapproved of such an act of desperation, believing that a man should take responsibility and withstand any hardship, even if the sky were to collapse. Xia Fenghua dismissed them as self-righteous and joined in playful banter. After the meal, as usual, they rode their bicycles to school together but parted ways as they attended two different high schools due to their academic performance.

The outstanding students, Ma Siyi and Chen Rui, studied at First High School, which was filled with top achievers. In contrast, the others attended Seventh High School across the street, known for its mediocre grades and lack of discipline. The four of them escorted Ma Siyi to her school, where they ran into Sun Sanliang. Just like before, Sun Sanliang was mischievous but not malicious—he simply wanted to be friends with Ma Siyi.

However, Xia Fenghua always stood in his way, chasing him off each time. As the senior year approached its end, the principal stood on the podium, encouraging the students to study hard and change their destinies. But the students below remained indifferent and scattered, in stark contrast to the disciplined and unified chants of First High School’s students, highlighting the stark difference between the two schools.

During class, Xie Wanghe was caught daydreaming by the teacher but remained unfazed and even argued back with Teacher Xu. He believed that getting into college was not the only way to change one’s fate. If success was solely based on rote memorization, then why were successful people still a minority? Using his sharp wit, Xie Wanghe swiftly outlined a career plan for Teacher Xu—how he could make extra money without affecting his primary job—by running a cram school.

Seeing the bewildered expressions of Teacher Xu and his classmates, Xie Wanghe confidently explained the profitability of cram schools, painting a grand vision of its immense business potential. His economic insight stunned everyone in the room. Eager to test the numbers, Teacher Xu grabbed a brush and started doing calculations on the blackboard. Thanks to the amusing back-and-forth between Xia Fenghua and Xie Wanghe, they exaggerated Teacher Xu’s future wealth to the point of making him feel like a billionaire.

After school, Sun Sanliang blocked Xie Wanghe and the others, claiming that Xia Fenghua had ruined his shoes. However, the moment he spotted Xia Fenghua emerging from the school building, he panicked and fled on his bicycle. Meanwhile, Xia Fenghua was eager to make money so she could attend an idol’s concert, fantasizing about spending extravagantly. But her daydream was suddenly interrupted by the sound of her parents arguing.

Times were changing, and canal shipping was no longer as prosperous as before. Every family was struggling financially. It turned out that Xia Maotian’s family had repeatedly borrowed money. In the past, when their financial situation was stable, Li Yan had tolerated her mother-in-law’s favoritism toward sons over daughters, silently giving money whenever asked. But now, things were different, and her grievances erupted.

Xia Maotian was left speechless by his wife’s outburst, while Xia Fenghua stood at the doorway in silence. Similarly, Xie Tiancheng, once a proud ship owner, had fallen into decline. Seeing that Sun Sanliang’s father had become a wealthy businessman, he felt a deep sense of disparity.

The Sun family still owed the Xie family money, but since Xie Tiancheng’s business depended entirely on Old Sun, he never dared to bring up the debt, which frustrated Liang Haihong and led to a heated argument between her and her husband. Feeling restless, Xie Wanghe went up to the rooftop, where he encountered Xia Fenghua, who was also troubled by her family’s financial struggles. Sitting side by side, they shared their dreams for the future.

Meanwhile, Shao Bingyi’s writing topics were falling out of sync with the times, leading to frequent rejections from publishing houses. His son, Shao Xingchi, suggested he try writing tomb-raiding novels like "Ghost Blows Out the Light", but Shao Bingyi, holding onto his literary pride, stubbornly refused to write what he deemed to be lowbrow content.

Luo Zhimei, unable to bear having her acting career stifled and spending her days as a housewife, vented all her frustrations on her husband and decided to go to Hengdian to pursue her career. Feeling helpless, Zhou Haikuo also went up to the rooftop, only to find the other four already there. The five of them sat together, talking about life after graduation, gradually dispelling the burdens weighing down their small courtyard.

That night, after parting ways with her friends, Ma Siyi returned home, only to find her long-lost mother crying to her grandmother, explaining why she had sent Ma Siyi away years ago. Back then, after marrying her second husband, Old Ge, she had accidentally caught him peeping at Ma Siyi while she was bathing. Fearing for her daughter’s safety, she had no choice but to send her to Grandmother Ma.

Now, Old Ge had gone bankrupt, and there was no money left for their child’s school fees. Ma Siyi’s mother had come specifically to borrow money from her mother-in-law, hoping to head south and start anew. Meanwhile, in class, Ma Siyi and Chen Rui were caught passing notes in Morse code. After school, Ma Siyi ran into her mother, who was hiding in the corner, and tearfully asked how much debt she owed.

Wanting to help Ma Siyi resolve her financial troubles, Xie Wanghe and the others devised a plan to steal diesel at night. When Xia Fenghua found out, she insisted on joining them.

Ma Siyi, with no way to make money, proactively sought out Zhou Yanlin, hoping to work part-time to earn some money for her meal expenses, and asked if she could receive an advance on her wages. Zhou Yanlin immediately saw Ma Siyi's troubles and offered to lend her money, insisting she should not let work interfere with her studies. However, under Ma Siyi's stubborn insistence, he reluctantly agreed, but only under the condition that she could work on weekends.

Meanwhile, Xie Wanghe and the others arrived at the riverside under the cover of darkness, preparing to board a boat to steal oil. However, before they could take action, the sound of sirens filled the air, and everyone fled in panic, with only Xie Wanghe staying behind to protect the group and ultimately getting caught by the police.

As Xie Wanghe was led to the police car, Xia Fenghua’s eyes filled with tears in her panic, and Shao Xingchi suggested that they ask Chen Rui to speak to Gu A Lian on their behalf. Unbeknownst to them, Chen Rui was at the dinner table, receiving a stern reprimand from his mother. The Chen family’s father and son dared not speak a word. Upon hearing of Xie Wanghe’s arrest, Gu A Lian firmly refused to intercede on his behalf.

When Chen Rui tried to sneak out to visit Xie Wanghe, Gu A Lian stopped him, and in the process, he accidentally fell down the stairs. Inside the police car, Xie Wanghe repeatedly explained to Officer Shen Yong that it was his first offense. Upon learning that Shen Yong had some history with his father, Xie Wanghe feared that Shen Yong would take revenge, and broke down crying, thinking he would spend the rest of his life in prison.

Shen Yong spoke harshly to scare Xie Wanghe but later took him to a late-night food stall for a meal. Xia Fenghua, Shao Xingchi, and Zhou Haikuo hid in a corner, secretly observing. During dinner, Xie Wanghe shared his grand plans for making money, complaining that his father, Xie Tiancheng, had missed out on great opportunities and had gone from being a ship captain to a mere crew member.

Hearing this, Shen Yong became enraged, unable to hold back his temper, and slammed the table in anger. Once he had calmed down, he began to recount his past with Xie Tiancheng. In truth, Shen Yong had been bullied by Xie Tiancheng as a child, and he harbored some resentment in his heart.

However, when his mother suddenly fell ill, Xie Tiancheng had come to his aid with money, not only lending him money but also hiring a nurse, arranging for his friends to take turns caring for her in the hospital, and urging him to focus on his studies. To Shen Yong, Xie Tiancheng was a man of great character, and he hoped that Xie Wanghe would not bring shame upon his father.

After Shen Yong paid the bill and left, Xia Fenghua and the others brought Xie Wanghe back home. With no way to gather money anymore, they had to come up with another plan. Unexpectedly, their conversation was overheard by Ma Siyi. Enraged by Xie Wanghe’s reckless actions, Ma Siyi told him to be careful and, before leaving, went to her room and cried.

Seeing this, Grandma Ma comforted her, revealing that she had long noticed Xie Wanghe’s feelings for Ma Siyi. He had always been there to fulfill her requests and even injured his leg for her. While Ma Siyi was in the hospital, Xie Wanghe had tried to impress her by inserting a wire into an electrical socket, getting himself electrocuted. This clearly showed that he was reckless but also loyal.

In the middle of the night, Xie Wanghe was kept awake by his father’s snoring. When he woke up, he saw his mother still working in the living room, calculating the family’s expenses. Due to the decline of the shipping business, Liang Haihong was considering selling the boat and switching to land transport.

Xie Wanghe felt guilty for not being able to ease the burden on his family and promised his mother that he would succeed in the future and make them proud. Li Yan was up late making leather bags to help support the family, and she spoke about her mother-in-law, who favored sons over daughters. Every time she visited, she would bring a group of relatives to eat and take things, leaving with more complaints about being poor.

When they married, the old lady had claimed to give Li Yan a Han dynasty jade, but after appraisal, it turned out to be a cheap imitation. Xia Fenghua and Li Yan shared a laugh, and when Xia Fenghua spoke of Xie Wanghe with admiration, Li Yan quickly poured cold water on her thoughts. She imagined Xie Wanghe and Ma Siyi, dressed fashionably, arriving at her small stall, and with a heavy heart, she returned to her room.

The next day, since Ma Siyi hadn’t shown up, the group had no choice but to ride to school first. Xia Maotian went to Xie Tiancheng to complain, and Xie Tiancheng advised him to set rules at home so that the daughters-in-law would know to respect him. On the other hand, Liu Yuling had been injured by her husband, Shao Bingyi, and Liang Haihong, furious, advised her to establish some rules at home.

Chen Rui’s father, Chen Bo, also spoke to Shao Bingyi, suggesting that women need to be treated kindly. Grandma Ma knew that Luo Zhimei had gone to Hengdian and urged him to stay in touch with his wife, reminding him that a couple should always support each other.

Since Chen Rui didn’t come to school today, Ma Siyi learned from Teacher Xia that he had fallen and fractured his leg. After school, she hurried to the hospital to visit him.

At the hospital, Gu A’lian’s work phone kept ringing. Seeing that her husband, Chen Bo, was late because of matters related to the Writers’ Association, she complained to him endlessly, while Chen Rui lay on the hospital bed, feeling utterly helpless.

Meanwhile, a group of kids arrived at the hospital and tried to ask the front desk nurse about Chen Rui’s room. The nurse, concerned about patient privacy, refused to disclose the information. However, Xia Fenghua pretended to have heart pain, successfully distracting the nurse long enough to sneak a look at the room number. They all rushed to the ward, and the long-frustrated Chen Rui finally broke into a smile. Gu A’lian disapproved of her son associating with underachievers, but when she heard that Ma Siyi was willing to share her class notes with him, she secretly felt pleased.

Later, Gu A’lian spoke to Ma Siyi alone, thanking her for letting Chen Rui copy her notes. She invited Ma Siyi to stay at their home for a few days and emphasized that outstanding students like her and Chen Rui should focus on their studies rather than wasting time on underachievers. Ma Siyi immediately understood her meaning and politely refuted her before turning to leave.

Xie Wanghe overheard Ma Siyi saying she wanted to send money to her mother and became anxious, worried that she was selling her blood to make money. His relentless questioning annoyed Ma Siyi, especially after recalling what Gu A’lian had said, which only made her even more disappointed in him. Not wanting to owe Xie Wanghe any favors, she firmly reminded him that if he wasn’t going to study properly, he should drop out immediately. But if he planned to take the exams, he needed to focus on his revision and take responsibility for himself.

Ma Siyi’s attitude hurt Xie Wanghe deeply, and he sat alone on the rooftop, feeling dejected. Xia Fenghua came to find him and expressed her understanding of Ma Siyi’s words. After all, someone as smart as him should be dedicating himself to studying instead of doing things he would regret later. He shouldn’t always make his parents worry.

However, when Xie Wanghe returned home and discussed dropping out with Liang Haihong, explaining that he wanted to start a business to help ease the family’s financial burden, she strongly opposed it. Meanwhile, Xie Tiancheng went to Ding Sheng Building Materials Company to demand money from Sun Quezi, but Sun Quezi kept making excuses, acting poor, and speaking dishonestly. Enraged, Xie Tiancheng took Sun Quezi hostage, only to be countered when Sun Quezi threatened him with Xie Wanghe’s safety, forcing him to give up on collecting the debt.

Luo Zhimei was pursuing her acting career in Hengdian, but things weren’t going smoothly, so she considered returning home early to be with her husband and son. Her friend Ailinlin brought her a script and urged her to cherish this opportunity. However, when Zhou Yanlin learned that Luo Zhimei was going to Beijing for an audition, he appeared calm on the surface but was actually furious inside.

Shao Bingyi went to ask the museum director why his research topic was rejected. The director explained that he spent all his time studying Su Xiaomei, a historical figure who never even existed, and even focused on researching her foot-binding cloth, which was completely worthless. In contrast, Chen Bo’s topic, which studied the evolution of dialects in the Honghuai region and their relation to the Grand Canal’s role in China’s economic and cultural exchange, received special funding and even attracted a publisher willing to print 8,000 copies.

This deeply frustrated Shao Bingyi. Back in the office, he sarcastically mocked Chen Bo, implying that he only received the funding and publishing opportunity because of his wife, the district chief. Chen Bo clarified that his achievements had nothing to do with Gu A’lian, and the two started arguing. The museum director intervened to mediate. However, when Shao Bingyi returned home, he continued to vent his anger. After drinking, he lost control and pushed his wife, causing her old back injury to flare up. Shao Xingchi witnessed this and angrily warned him that if he acted violently again, he would report him for domestic abuse.

Xie Tiancheng failed to retrieve the money and, feeling dejected, drank alone. Liang Haihong later found a condom in his pocket and suspected he was cheating on her. In reality, Sun Quezi had slipped it into his pocket, leading to a furious chase and beating from his wife. Xie Wanghe was already used to this kind of chaos at home and instead went to the rooftop to chat with Shao Xingchi and Zhou Haikuo. Zhou Haikuo shared the story of how his parents met and fell in love.

Meanwhile, Luo Zhimei was fully dedicated to her acting career, making Zhou Yanlin increasingly frustrated. Back at home, Xie Wanghe listened to his father explain the misunderstanding, but the thought of Sun Quezi refusing to repay the debt still infuriated him. He stormed out, intending to smash Sun Quezi’s car. However, at the last moment, he hesitated. Just then, Xia Fenghua appeared, relieved that he had the sense not to go through with it.

That night, Xia Fenghua accompanied Xie Wanghe on the bridge, having a heart-to-heart conversation. She sighed in relief that he was no longer as impulsive and reckless as before. If he had really smashed the car tonight, it wouldn’t just affect him but would also make things even worse for his family. Xie Wanghe admitted that he hadn’t thought that far ahead—he just felt that since he was about to turn eighteen, it was time to live differently.

Xia Fenghua praised his intelligence since childhood and encouraged him to believe that one day, he would achieve great things. Her words resonated deeply with Xie Wanghe, and the two of them walked home, chatting and laughing. Shao Bingyi couldn’t shake off his frustration. He felt he had talent but nowhere to use it, so he wandered alone by the river, engaging in idle conversation with strangers.

The next day, Grandma Ma took the initiative to call Luo Zhimei, asking when she would come home. Luo Zhimei replied that she would return after finishing her current work. However, her absence made the usually refined and composed Zhou Yanlin irritable—he frequently lost his temper at his employees. Understanding and kind-hearted, Grandma Ma visited his restaurant, patiently comforting him while also advising him to show more care for Luo Zhimei.

In the evening, Zhou Yanlin stepped out of his restaurant and overheard his son, Zhou Haikuo, playing pool and chatting with Xie Wanghe and the others. Xie Wanghe believed that the issues between Zhou Haikuo’s parents were mainly Zhou Yanlin’s responsibility. After all, most people naturally aspire to move forward in life and seek better opportunities.

Zhou Haikuo, thinking of the worst-case scenario, said that even if his parents divorced, he would still stay with his father because he worried Zhou Yanlin wouldn’t be able to handle it alone. Hearing his son’s words, Zhou Yanlin felt a pang of guilt. He returned home deep in thought, gazing at the starry night sky.

Memories of his past with Luo Zhimei surfaced, prompting him to send her a message of concern along with a photo of the night sky. When Luo Zhimei replied, his mood finally eased. Similarly, Shao Bingyi showed care for his wife by personally massaging Liu Yuling’s injured back, and Xie Wanghe managed to bring back some money, preventing his family from struggling too much financially. Meanwhile, Xie Wanghe and his friends returned to their courtyard, joking and playing around.

Inside her room, Xia Fenghua imitated Li Yuchun’s concert performance, while Ma Siyi played her father’s guitar alone. As usual, the courtyard was filled with trivial yet beautiful moments. The next day in class, Xia Fenghua listened to music while sketching a portrait of Li Yuchun. Shao Xingchi noticed and teased her, leading to her punching him outright. After school, Sun Sanliang showed off his newly bought motorcycle, only to crash it into a tree moments later.

Unwilling to be bullied by Xia Fenghua, Shao Xingchi teamed up with Xie Wanghe and the others to come up with a prank. They posted on the school forum, pretending to reveal Li Yuchun’s QQ number. As expected, Xia Fenghua fell for it, eagerly adding the contact. When she got accepted, she couldn’t wait to tell her mother. On the weekend, Ma Siyi took on a part-time job at the Yunhe Renjia restaurant, delivering food orders.

Meanwhile, at the hospital, Chen Rui lay in bed sketching a portrait of Ma Siyi. Upon accidentally discovering that his mother had been interfering behind the scenes, he became so furious that he knocked over his meal. Elsewhere, Xie Wanghe and his friends were stationed at an internet café, waiting for Xia Fenghua to send a message to "Li Yuchun’s" QQ account. The moment she did, they replied in Li Yuchun’s tone, inviting her to Chengdu for a concert.

Xia Fenghua soon noticed Xie Wanghe and the others hiding nearby and realized they had been impersonating Li Yuchun. Furious, she declared that one day, Li Yuchun would perform in the biggest stadium, and she would make sure to get a front-row seat. On her way home, Xia Fenghua noticed Ma Siyi working at Yunhe Renjia and saw that she was in low spirits. Sitting at a street stall, she unexpectedly encountered a photographer taking pictures of her.

That night, Xia Fenghua took the initiative to pick up Ma Siyi from work and suggested that she could make quick money by becoming a print model. Ma Siyi found the idea unreliable, but to convince her, Xia Fenghua showed her the photos the photographer had taken and proposed visiting the studio. After some effort, she finally persuaded Ma Siyi to give it a try. Liang Haihong returned to the courtyard, carrying goods.

Ma Siyi stepped forward to help and mentioned that she planned to apply to a second-tier university to better take care of her grandmother. Seeing how considerate Ma Siyi was, Liang Haihong felt both comforted and saddened. After all, with her academic performance, she could easily get into a top university. She reminded Ma Siyi that being too sensible wasn’t always a good thing—otherwise, life would be even harder.

Li Yan learned that Xia Fenghua was preparing to shoot a commercial and suddenly asked if she wasn’t afraid that the photographer would only be willing to sign Ma Siyi. Xia Fenghua hesitated for a moment but felt that since Ma Siyi's family was struggling financially, it wouldn’t be a problem if she got signed.

Just as Li Yan was about to ask what Xia Fenghua would choose if she had to pick between two options in the future, Xie Wanghe and his friends suddenly arrived. Standing under the pavilion, they handed her a reimbursement receipt for Li Yuchun’s concert and solemnly apologized to her. Xia Fenghua’s anger instantly disappeared, and she happily accepted the receipt. Chen Bo accompanied Gu A’Lian out for a late-night snack.

Gu A’Lian repeatedly reminded Chen Bo to keep an eye on Chen Rui and not let him fall into puppy love at such a young age. Chen Bo, however, thought it was normal for a boy to like a girl and couldn’t help reminiscing about his past, which unintentionally made Gu A’Lian jealous. Left with no choice, he reluctantly promised to complete the task.

Later, Chen Bo visited the hospital to check on his son, and Chen Rui asked him to help deliver a letter to Ma Siyi. Although Chen Bo supported his son in having romantic feelings, he told Chen Rui that if he truly wanted to bring happiness to someone, he needed to find a way to make himself outstanding. In a relationship, actions speak louder than words.

If he couldn’t support and protect the other person with his own abilities, then it wasn’t the right time for love. Meanwhile, Xie Wanghe discovered that Ma Siyi was working part-time and immediately confronted her, demanding that she quit and focus on her studies. However, Ma Siyi refused, and the two had an unpleasant argument. Frustrated, Xie Wanghe rode his bike recklessly and almost got into an accident, barely managing to avoid disaster.

That night, Xie Tiancheng secretly sneaked into Sun Quezi’s office to break into the safe. However, Sun Quezi happened to return with a woman, forcing Xie Tiancheng to reveal himself and demand repayment of his debt. In the struggle, Sun Quezi hit the back of his head on the corner of a table, bleeding profusely before losing consciousness. Panicked, Xie Tiancheng instinctively fled from the Ding Sheng Group office.

Initially intending to escape responsibility, Xie Tiancheng soon realized the gravity of his actions and decided to take Sun Quezi to the hospital instead. The doctors stitched him up with seven stitches. Unexpectedly, Sun Quezi turned the tables on him, insisting that his medical expenses be deducted from the debt he owed. Naturally, Xie Tiancheng refused and, in desperation, handed Sun Quezi a screwdriver, telling him to stab him in return—pleading bitterly for the repayment of his family’s life-saving money.

However, Sun Quezi had troubles of his own and confessed that his unfinished building project hadn’t been settled, and even the cars under his name were about to be seized to pay off his debts. Because he failed to retrieve the money, Xie Tiancheng returned home in despair, something his wife, Liang Haihong, quickly noticed. The next day, Grandma Ma and a few other mothers set up a stall by the river to sell goods.

However, since there were no customers, everyone was in low spirits. To lift their moods, Grandma Ma started singing an opera tune, but before she could finish a few lines, she suddenly felt dizzy. Sensing something was wrong, the mothers hurriedly called a traditional Chinese doctor. After a preliminary diagnosis, the doctor suspected that Grandma Ma was showing signs of a stroke and warned everyone to be mentally prepared.

Xie Wanghe returned home and told Liang Haihong about the situation, proposing to take a year off school to earn money. Liang Haihong strongly opposed the idea. Meanwhile, Xie Tiancheng was still troubled over financial matters and had no one to confide in. Late at night, father and son sat on the rooftop, chatting. As a father, Xie Tiancheng recounted his glorious past to his son.

When he learned that Xie Wanghe wanted to take a break from school to help raise funds for Grandma Ma’s medical expenses, he was deeply moved. Liang Haihong watched the two of them sitting side by side, gazing at the starry sky, and felt a surge of warmth in her heart. Early the next morning, after much persuasion, Xia Fenghua finally convinced Ma Siyi to go with her to Brother Hai’s photography studio.

Meanwhile, Xie Wanghe sought out Zhou Haikuo to evaluate the feasibility of his business proposal. After reviewing Xie Wanghe’s plan for an online question bank, Zhou Haikuo believed it would be extremely difficult to implement, but Xie Wanghe had already come up with countermeasures.

Xia Fenghua took Ma Siyi to the Photography Art Center, which was the studio of the photographer, Brother Hai. Both of them were amazed by the studio’s environment and equipment, feeling as if they had stepped into a whole new world. After a brief chat, Brother Hai told them that becoming a model required signing with an agency and persuaded them to sign under his name.

Brother Hai then went upstairs to retrieve the contract and casually mentioned to another man in the studio that two rookies had arrived this time, and one of them was even a virgin. Unaware of this conversation, Xia Fenghua and Ma Siyi remained oblivious. When Xia Fenghua learned that signing the contract would immediately earn her 10,000 yuan, she ignored Ma Siyi’s concerns and the 50,000-yuan breach penalty and signed her name on the contract on the spot.

Meanwhile, the mothers in the courtyard were all worried about Grandma Ma’s health, so they had Liu Yuling take her to the hospital for a check-up. Knowing that Grandma Ma was at the hospital, Gu A’Lian deliberately sent over some nutritional supplements from her son’s hospital room. She also asked Liu Yuling to remind Grandma Ma to take good care of herself.

On the way back, Ma Siyi complained that Xia Fenghua was too reckless, never thinking about the consequences of her actions. Xia Fenghua then shared stories about her parents, explaining that her mother had suffered a lot of grievances for giving birth to a daughter. Because of this, she had always wanted to bring honor to her parents, and shooting commercials was her only opportunity to make money. Hearing Xia Fenghua’s words, Ma Siyi was touched and decided that she also wanted to sign the contract next week so she could use the money to help her grandmother.

After returning to the courtyard, Liu Yuling informed Liang Haihong and Li Yan about Grandma Ma’s health condition, which seemed concerning. In private, they discussed conducting a stroke drill as a precaution. That evening, Li Yan pretended to be an unconscious Grandma Ma, while Liang Haihong carried her from the courtyard to the bridgehead, planning to prepare a stretcher and an emergency vehicle for Grandma Ma in the future.

When Li Yan returned home, Xia Fenghua proudly took out the 10,000 yuan and the contract, boasting to her mother about her ability to make money. However, Li Yan was uneasy about the densely packed text in the contract and took it to Xie Wanghe for help in reviewing the terms. Xie Wanghe discovered that the contract included a 50,000-yuan breach penalty. Hearing this, Li Yan became extremely anxious, fearing that they had fallen into a scam. To prevent Xia Fenghua from being deceived, Xie Wanghe promised to accompany her the next time she went for the commercial shoot to assess the situation.

Excited about earning money, Xia Fenghua happily planned how to spend it—buying a new phone for her father, a watch for her mother, and rewarding herself with a 100-yuan lipstick. Meanwhile, Xia Maotian and Xie Tiancheng were drinking by the river. Seeing that the Grand Canal was becoming less and less prosperous, Xia Maotian advised Xie Tiancheng to sell his boat and find a different line of work.

On the other hand, Shao Bingyi returned home feeling downcast. He asked Liu Yuling how much money was left in her account, intending to self-fund the publication of his book. Liu Yuling hesitated, knowing that her son would be going to university next year and that she needed to set aside some savings for him. Shao Bingyi realized she had a point and decided to visit Xie Tiancheng to ask for a share of the profits.

Originally, Xie Tiancheng was still debating whether to sell his boat, but seeing that many neighbors, like Shao Bingyi, were also struggling, he gradually made up his mind. He reassured Shao Bingyi not to rush and asked for a week’s time. Xia Maotian, upon seeing the 10,000 yuan on the table and confirming that the contract seemed fine for now, no longer opposed it. He told Li Yan that the era of the Grand Canal was over and that those who lived on the water needed to come ashore as soon as possible.

Xie Wanghe went up to the rooftop and felt uneasy as he watched his father standing alone. Xie Tiancheng told him that he had decided to sell the boat, as he couldn’t let personal selfishness harm the interests of others. Xie Wanghe asked him to give him a year to help plug the financial gap, but Xie Tiancheng refused, saying that the men of the Xie family could shoulder their own burdens.

During class, Xie Wanghe was caught by Teacher Xu while burying his head in writing a business proposal. Teacher Xu confiscated it on the spot. After class, Xie Wanghe approached Teacher Xu and requested to take a year off from school. Teacher Xu repeatedly emphasized that while a high school diploma might not be worth much, lacking one would make it even harder to find a future in society.

Just as Teacher Xu was complaining about Xie Wanghe’s far-fetched ideas, the principal unexpectedly took an interest in his cram camp concept. Believing it would greatly benefit the school, the principal suggested launching a free cram camp to improve the students' college admission rates. In this way, the school essentially stole Xie Wanghe’s business idea, leaving him both angry and frustrated. In retaliation, he stuffed a drawer full of soaked instant noodles as a prank on Teacher Xu.

Later, Xie Wanghe told Xia Fenghua that he had prepared an alternative plan—creating an online intelligent question bank. To realize this plan, he intended to take a leave of absence and head straight to Beijing. Xia Fenghua offered to support him financially, but he politely declined, promising that one day he would invite her to Beijing to join him in his venture. After school, Ma Siyi went to the hospital to borrow Chen Rui’s notes.

Throughout the exchange, Chen Rui seemed distracted and cautiously probed her thoughts, relieved to confirm that she didn’t mind what Gu A’Lian had said earlier. Meanwhile, since starting a business required a computer and servers, Zhou Haikuo sold his gaming account to fund Xie Wanghe’s startup. This act of support deeply moved Xie Wanghe. In addition, Xie Wanghe, Shao Xingchi, and Zhou Haikuo found an old boat cabin to use as their office.

Xie Wanghe decided to travel to Beijing to rent servers and, if possible, try to persuade industry leaders at an entrepreneurial park to invest in them. The three of them were excited as they returned home, only to find Shao Bingyi waiting in the courtyard. Furious, he scolded Shao Xingchi, insisting he should focus on studying for college entrance exams. Sensing an imminent father-son clash, Xie Wanghe quickly apologized to Shao Bingyi and had Shao Xingchi withdraw from the venture.

After this incident, Xie Wanghe suddenly felt lost, sitting alone on the rooftop, doubting whether he could truly succeed in his entrepreneurial dream. Taking the opportunity, Xia Fenghua confessed her feelings to him, but he didn’t take it seriously. The two playfully bickered while enjoying the evening breeze and city lights—until Ma Siyi accidentally stumbled upon the scene and silently walked away. Soon, the school sports event arrived.

Sun Sanliang spotted Ma Siyi at Seventh High and deliberately provoked her, nearly instigating a fight with Xie Wanghe and the others. Fortunately, Teacher Xu arrived in time to stop it. During the relay race, Sun Sanliang secretly sabotaged Xie Wanghe’s team, causing them to slow down and fall into a pile of white powder, leaving them in an embarrassing mess. Shao Xingchi and Zhou Haikuo took Xie Wanghe to the school rooftop to wash off.

The three of them stripped down and played around, unaware that Sun Sanliang was secretly live-streaming them and broadcasting the footage onto the big screen. The entire school erupted in chaos, and it was Xia Fenghua who rushed over in a panic to warn Xie Wanghe. At the end of the school day, Sun Sanliang admitted that Xia Fenghua was a loyal and righteous girl, even offering her rare praise.

Meanwhile, Ma Siyi subtly reminded Xie Wanghe to cherish Xia Fenghua. However, Xie Wanghe remained completely oblivious. When she got home, Xia Fenghua proactively asked her mother for the 10,000 yuan she had previously earned, planning to use it to support Xie Wanghe’s startup. After Xia Fenghua finished a photo shoot at the studio, Brother Hai informed her that there was a sneaker commercial the next day, in which she would be the lead actress.

He arranged for her to stay in a hotel that night. Excited, Xia Fenghua believed she was getting closer to her idol, Li Yuchun. However, Brother Hai suddenly barged into her room, attempting to force her downstairs to drink and entertain guests. Xia Fenghua resisted with all her might. At the critical moment, Xie Wanghe appeared and knocked Brother Hai down, rescuing Xia Fenghua and pulling her away.

However, due to her injured leg, she collapsed after only a few steps. Xie Wanghe wanted to take her to a pharmacy for medicine, but Xia Fenghua, still traumatized, instinctively grabbed his arm to stop him. Sensing her distress, Xie Wanghe carried her on his back. Noticing that she was suppressing her emotions, he gently told her that if she wanted to cry, she should just let it out—he wouldn’t laugh at her.

Worried about Xia Fenghua, Xie Wanghe asked Zhou Haikuo to investigate Brother Hai’s studio and hacked into their website’s photo album. He discovered that, while they appeared to be taking photos for Taobao, they were actually making money through lingerie and explicit photography. Upon learning that Xia Fenghua had already arrived in the city, Xie Wanghe rushed over in a panic—fortunately, nothing had happened to her.

Xie Wanghe took Xia Fenghua to a food stall to celebrate her narrow escape, but he didn’t forget to scold her for always dreaming about opportunities falling from the sky. Though Xia Fenghua responded with playful banter, acting indifferent to Xie Wanghe’s rescue, deep down, she was incredibly moved. Xie Wanghe even personally bought her medicine for her injuries. The next morning, Xie Wanghe took Xia Fenghua back to Huajie.

She was still considering whether to call the police, but he pointed out that Brother Hai’s photos were technically just lingerie shots, making it difficult to determine if any laws had been broken. Moreover, reporting it might harm her reputation. Xie Wanghe told her to return to the courtyard while he prepared to head to Beijing. Watching him leave, Xia Fenghua couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease.

When Xie Tiancheng and his wife found out, they were furious and immediately called Shao Xingchi and Zhou Haikuo over. The two, though hesitant, expressed their support for Xie Wanghe, only to receive a harsh beating from their own parents. Meanwhile, Xie Wanghe, full of confidence, boarded the bus to Beijing. As he arrived in the bustling metropolis, he felt like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden—overwhelmed with excitement and curiosity.

However, due to the small scale of his project, potential investors dismissed him outright. In the end, they merely arranged for him to use a second-hand domestic server. Seeing how insignificant his startup was compared to the billion-dollar projects in Beijing, Xie Wanghe couldn’t help but feel humbled. Back at school, Xia Fenghua and the others helped request leave for Xie Wanghe.

Teacher Xu agreed to cover for him but urged them to have Xia Fenghua’s parents provide an official leave note—just not to mention anything about starting a business in Beijing. During class, they brainstormed a reason for Xie Wanghe’s leave, and Sun Sanliang eagerly joined the discussion. After school, Xia Fenghua went home and persuaded Liang Haihong to write the leave note.

She repeatedly emphasized that Xie Wanghe’s entrepreneurship was a good thing, but Liang Haihong remained skeptical that he could accomplish anything significant. At the hospital, Gu A’Lian saw Ma Siyi and Chen Rui discussing homework and invited Ma Siyi to join Chen Rui for tutoring over the weekend. Ma Siyi initially wanted to refuse but reluctantly agreed under Chen Rui’s persuasion. Meanwhile, the neighborhood mothers noticed that Grandma Ma was missing from her usual spot at the market.

Worried, Liang Haihong rushed home, only to find Grandma Ma weakly lying on the floor. In a panic, they called Zhou Yanlin for help, and together, they rushed her to the hospital. At the hospital, Liang Haihong ran into Ma Siyi and brought her to the ward, where she finally learned that Grandma Ma had suffered a stroke. Overwhelmed, she clung to the bedside and cried her heart out. Grandma Ma gently comforted her, telling her not to worry.

Watching from the doorway, Li Yan and Liang Haihong sighed, knowing that the Ma family was already struggling financially, and now, things had only gotten worse. That night, Ma Siyi returned home feeling devastated. Xia Fenghua dragged her over for soup, hoping to keep her from overthinking. Meanwhile, Zhou Yanlin gathered the neighbors to discuss how to support Grandma Ma, either by helping her apply for social assistance or pooling money and resources.

Since Gu A’Lian managed similar cases, Zhou Yanlin asked Shao Bingyi to help out. Though Shao Bingyi initially put up a tough front and refused, he secretly bought gifts the next day and went to reconcile with Chen Bo. After school, Xia Fenghua and the others immediately went to visit Grandma Ma. The neighborhood elders had already installed a phone in her home, and Zhou Yanlin took Gu A’Lian to inspect her stall.

Gu A’Lian admitted she couldn’t handle the case directly but advised them to submit a formal request to the community office for further assistance. At this crucial moment, everyone pitched in however they could—whether financially or through labor—creating a heartwarming sense of unity among the people of Yunhe. Meanwhile, at an internet café, Xie Wanghe messaged Zhou Haikuo, informing him that he had secured a server. Just then, he overheard Brother Qiang next door discussing internet business. Realizing that Brother Qiang was experienced in the field, Xie Wanghe eagerly approached him for guidance.

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