[NORTHWARD]
[Episode 7]
[Model Competition]
Ladies and gentlemen.
Mom, you're back.
Let's eat.
Okay.
It seems we've got ourselves a little Cinderella in the house.
Here. I didn't use soybean oil to stir-fry it.
I used rapeseed oil.
Stir-frying with rapeseed oil makes it more delicious.
You've learned well from me.
You're looking at it again.
You really want to be a model?
Mom, I also told Siyi about it just now.
If she could also do the shoot,
that would be awesome.
It's much faster money than working a regular job.
Aren't you worried they might prefer Siyi
and eliminate you?
That's not likely, is it?
Who would choose a Xiali when they could have a Mercedes?
Mom!
I was just teasing you.
In my heart,
my daughter Fenghua is the prettiest.
Even prettier than Gong Li or Zhang Ziyi,
or anyone else.
What's wrong?
Are you worried?
If they could only choose one of us for the ad shoot,
I'd rather they choose Siyi.
I'm okay with that.
Why?
I have parents and everything.
Siyi needs the money more than I do.
What?
Is it wrong for me to think this way?
No, it's not wrong.
If you treat her as a friend,
it's right to think of her needs more.
Money-making opportunities,
if lost, can be found again.
But it's just,
if one day,
you need to give up something else...
Something else? What do you mean by that?
It's nothing.
What is it?
Never mind.
Fenghua, are you home?
I'm not!
Fenghua.
Go away.
Let's talk for a bit.
Not available.
Come on, just a quick chat.
Come on.
Alright, who wants to go first?
[Reimbursement Voucher]
What is this?
A reimbursement voucher for Chris Lee's concert ticket.
What does that mean?
From now on, when you buy concert tickets,
no matter how much they cost,
we'll reimburse you.
[Reimbursement Voucher]
[To the Future You]
That's not necessary.
I don't need your money.
This is our way of showing we care.
Sorry!
We were wrong.
Is Chris good?
Yes.
Does she sing well?
Yes, she does.
If any one of you dares to mess with me again,
I...
I'll sneak into your rooms at night
and shave all your heads one by one.
Why aren't you dodging?
Why are you laughing?
Don't let this happen again.
Fixed that. Let's go.
What's got you so happy?
Nothing.
Cheers.
Alright.
The other day,
I ran into Siyi at the hospital. She was going to tutor Chen Rui.
Well,
I don't know what I was thinking.
I... I just
blurted out to Siyi,
"Why don't you come stay at our place?"
You invited Siyi to live with us?
Are you trying to kick me out?
Or are you
trying to create an opportunity for her and our son?
No, it's not like that.
I only did that for our son's studies.
His tutoring while in the hospital is the most important thing right now.
That girl has been helping Chen Rui.
And I thought since she's going through a lot,
I wanted to help her out too.
After all, I have a car.
Stop, just stop.
You're meddling too much.
Our son has complained to me many times in private,
saying you meddle in everything,
from his studies,
his life, to his friendships.
He's fed up with it.
Boys need to be given more freedom, you know?
If I don't take care of those things, who will?
I'm his mother.
And speaking of his friendships,
just look at those friends he made,
like Xie Wanghe.
Is there even one good student among them?
They'll all have a bad influence on him.
Poor grades don't mean they're bad people.
That's a different matter.
We are all neighbors. We know each other very well.
Besides, Ma Siyi
hangs out with them every day.
It hasn't affected her studies.
She got into the same school as our son,
No. 1 High School, right?
Oh, please.
Can't you tell your son's got a crush
on Ma Siyi?
I can.
So what?
"So what?" Let me tell you.
This little spark of our son's puppy love
must be strangled at birth.
It's non-negotiable.
You're too cold-hearted.
You know what?
I was also
once our son's age.
It's normal for a boy to like a girl.
As the ancients said,
"A beautiful and virtuous woman
is what a gentleman pursues."
Back in my day...
What happened back in your day?
Back in my day...
Which year do you mean exactly?
And who's in that story?
Why haven't you ever told me about this?
Back in my day,
I didn't have the chance for puppy love.
But times are different now.
Our son is at this age when
the more you try to control him, the more he'll rebel, you know?
He'll do the opposite of what you say.
So according to you, I should just leave him alone
and let him be?
Free to date like you were?
You need to use the right approaches and methods.
We should learn wisdom from the ancients.
Look at how Yu the Great controlled the floods.
He mainly adopted the method of diversion and channeling instead of...
Don't give me that useless talk.
Let me tell you.
Regarding our son's puppy love,
you better handle it well.
Show me what great wisdom you have.
If you can't handle it properly,
we'll deal with it from the root.
Then you'll have to come clean with me:
Who was your puppy love?
What's her name?
Where is she now?
Are you still in contact?
Is our son taking after you?
Please rest assured, Boss.
I promise I'll complete the mission.
Dad.
What's up?
Can you do me a favor?
Go ahead.
Could you help me deliver this letter?
[To Ma Siyi]
A love letter?
No, it's not.
What are you talking about?
Don't make wild guesses.
[To Ma Siyi]
It's nothing like that.
We're just good friends, nothing more.
There's really nothing going on.
There's absolutely nothing ambiguous, you know...
Alright, forget it. Just give it back to me.
It's just the other day,
my mom said something inappropriate to her, right?
So I thought I'd explain to her.
You understand, right?
Why are you so nervous?
I'm not your mom.
Yeah, right.
Still...
Besides,
even if it is a love letter,
so what?
Everyone's written a love letter at some point.
You want to hear my story?
I promise I won't tell mom.
When I was in senior high school,
there was also
a female classmate I was close to.
Back then, we also wrote letters often.
Just the stamps alone,
I collected enough to fill a small, thick album.
So you'll be a second-generation celebrity?
I can't say whether I'll be a second-generation celebrity or not,
but I surely will have connections in the entertainment industry.
Isn't that Siyi?
Siyi!
Stop there!
Siyi!
What are you doing?
Are you working part-time?
It's none of your business.
Does Granny know about this?
If you dare to tell her, I won't forgive you.
Siyi.
How much more money do you need?
We'll make up the difference for you.
Go back to school immediately.
Do you hear me?
You should be the one to go to school and study, okay?
You don't have to worry about me.
I can't get into college, so a degree is enough for me.
But you can't do that.
This last year is very important for you.
You can't waste a single minute.
Go home!
If you don't go home, I'll tell your homeroom teacher.
I'll have her contact Granny.
Let go.
Go home!
Let go of me!
Can't you just listen to me?
Xie Wanghe!
You may be able to tell me what to do once or twice,
but do you think you can do that for the whole life?
I can!
I can't.
Siyi!
So,
in the end, which one of you
changed their mind first?
We...
We never confessed our feelings to each other.
So...
We can't really say who fell out of love first.
Why didn't you confess your feelings?
How should I put it?
Your generation,
when it comes to relationships,
it's more...
casual.
If you like someone, you just get together.
If you don't feel it anymore, you break up.
It was different back in our time.
Even if you liked someone,
you had to weigh it carefully in your mind.
Weigh it.
Weigh what?
What is it?
Whether you can make that person happy or not.
If you like someone,
you only need to be thick-skinned
to confess your feelings.
But if you truly like someone,
you must be clear about
what you can do for that person.
But if there's something I can't do now,
it doesn't mean I won't be able to do that in the future, right?
Right.
So if you want to make that person happy,
you must do everything you can
to make yourself stand out.
In a responsible relationship,
actions speak louder than words.
Right now,
you're relying on your parents.
If you can't provide that person
with enough support and care
on your own,
then it's not the time to be in a relationship.
Are you alright?
How are you feeling?
What time is it now?
We have to hurry up.
I still have to meet Jiu for the card game.
You're annoying.
Crippled Sun!
Xie Tiancheng, what are you doing here?
If you don't give me the money today,
I'll kill you!
I told you I have no money. Which part of that you don't understand?
No money? You have no money, but you are fooling around with a woman?
You even drive a Mercedes.
You've got some nerve, Xie Tiancheng.
You even dare to break in and steal.
Murder! Murder!
It's not very serious.
Rest more at home.
Keep that in mind, okay?
Alright.
Come on, come on.
Have a seat.
Come on, come on.
Have a seat.
Sit.
What are you looking at?
It doesn't seem
like a big deal.
I'm fine,
but you're not.
Aggravated assault.
That's enough for a few years in prison.
I only kicked you once.
You lost your balance.
You fell
and injured yourself.
How did that become an aggravated assault?
W-What do you mean I did it to myself?
I didn't take these X-rays, did I?
I got seven stitches
and a mild concussion.
Let me tell you something.
If I report this to the Public Security Bureau,
it would be assault and battery,
where the victim doesn't accept mediation.
Think about the consequences yourself.
Give me back the money first.
I'll take full responsibility.
Taking full responsibility?
Can you really handle it?
Let me ask you,
you hit me first, didn't you?
You kicked me, didn't you?
You could have sued me
for not paying you.
Why did you have to use violence?
I'm telling you,
if I were less decent,
I could add another charge against you.
Burglary.
Even if it was just an attempt,
that would be enough to convict you.
Xie.
We're both reasonable people,
so I won't beat around the bush.
This beating,
to put it bluntly,
I had it coming.
The money I owe you,
let's consider it as my medical expenses.
This matter between us,
let's put an end to it, okay?
What? What?
What do you mean put an end to it?
On what grounds?
This won't do!
Let's go then.
Let's go!
Where are you going?
To the Public Security Bureau.
What?
To assess injuries and determine sentencing.
Come on, let's go.
You'd better think about
where you're going to borrow money for legal fees.
You...
What are you doing?
You...
Are you going to continue causing harm to me?
You, you...
How many stitches did you get?
Seven stitches.
What?
Are you going to remove them for me now?
Take it.
Take it
and make
a cut right here.
I'll pay you back those seven stitches.
I don't want it.
I'll do it myself.
Give it to me!
Xie!
W-What are you doing?
Cripple.
I'm begging you one last time.
Please give me back that money.
That money may seem like a small amount to you,
but for me,
it's life-saving money.
Cripple.
Please?
Xie!
I'm a victim too.
What did you say?
You're a victim?
I'll be honest with you.
My supplier
abandoned his construction project
and ran off with the money.
He still owes me the final payment.
My Mercedes
will have to be used to pay off debts.
It'll be taken away the day after tomorrow.
Xie.
If there's no water upstream,
no boat can move.
I'm back.
Have you had dinner?
Yes, I have.
Have you eaten?
Our son wasn't home tonight,
so I didn't cook.
I had a bite at Yan's place.
About that money...
[Galaxy Hotel]
Come on and take a look. Soy milk and fried dough sticks.
Freshly fried dough sticks.
Yan, take a rest. Sit down and save some energy.
There's even no place for me to use my energy, you know?
We make so many every day,
but we can't sell any of it.
Forget about making money. We're just suffering losses.
It will get better.
Everything will be fine.
How about I sing a little for you
while there's no one here?
Sure. That's great.
It's been so long since I last heard you sing.
The 'Amusement park nightmare' again?
Sure.
I love hearing this one.
Alright.
♫Originally♫
♫The purple♫
♫And red blossoms bloom everywhere♫
♫Everywhere♫
Look.
I'm old now.
I can't even catch my breath anymore.
It's nice.
Take a rest.
Could you watch the stall for me for a bit?
I have a pot on the stove at home,
simmering some lotus root soup.
I'll go back and check on it.
[By the Canal]
Be careful.
Okay, okay.
You go.
Go. Don't worry.
[Breakfast]
Take a rest at home.
We're here.
Let me.
It's okay. Look.
This one's burnt.
What's wrong with Granny?
She doesn't look well.
Look at these fried radish cakes.
She put them in and forgot to take them out.
Later,
I'll have Wanghe call a traditional Chinese doctor
to check on Granny Ma.
Let me see your tongue.
How have you been sleeping lately?
I've always slept quite well.
But recently, in the middle of the night,
I'd wake up around three or four o'clock.
Come on, squeeze my hand.
Harder.
This one.
I... I... I...
What's wrong with me?
Don't worry. It's nothing serious.
As people get older,
some symptoms start to show up.
I'll prescribe some medicine for you.
Take it for now.
Okay.
As for physical chores around the house,
try to do less of them from now on.
Alright.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Thank you, Doctor,
for coming all this way.
How is Granny's condition?
Are you all her relatives?
Yes, we all are.
Any immediate family members?
She's our biological Granny.
The elderly lady may have had a cerebrovascular event recently.
In other words, a stroke.
If it's severe, it could lead to hemiplegia.
At her age, if she has a stroke,
it'll be a disaster for the family.
You need to keep a close eye on her.
Also, be mentally prepared.
You are finally home.
Why don't you just live outside? Do you know what time it is?
I had things to do.
What could you possibly have to do?
All you do is eat and mess around.
Even the second-generation rich don't waste their time like you do.
Oh, right.
What did the traditional Chinese doctor say?
Is Granny Ma alright?
Granny Ma...
May have a stroke soon.
The doctor said
Granny Ma is showing signs of an impending stroke.
We need to be prepared.
A stroke?
That's no small matter.
The doctor suggested
we take Granny Ma to the hospital
for a comprehensive examination.
Yes.
We must do it.
I'll find a way to take her there for the examination.
Also, Mom,
starting tomorrow, Granny Ma can't work at her stall anymore.
She can't overexert herself.
And there has to be someone
watching her at all times.
If she really has a stroke
and doesn't receive immediate treatment,
the consequences could be severe.
But with her family's financial situation,
how will they make ends meet without working?
I'll figure out a way to handle the money issue.
What are you up to this time?
Mom.
You're not allowed to drop out of school.
I'm telling you again,
I won't allow it.
Your father and I
are still here.
It's not your turn to meddle in this.
I'm not dropping out.
I'll just apply for a one-year leave of absence.
Once I make enough money...
That's a hard no!
Granny Ma is in a dangerous situation right now.
If anything happens to her,
Siyi will have no way out.
I have to help her.
How are you going to help her?
I have many ways to make money.
As long as I have enough startup capital
and time.
One year will be enough.
I can not only help Siyi,
but I can also fill the financial holes in our family.
Please trust me, Mom.
No means no!
This matter is not up for discussion!
Why are you being so unreasonable?
Your father said
he'd be able to collect the outstanding debts soon.
Once we get the money back,
everything can be resolved.
You only need to study hard
and bring home your diploma.
After that, you can do whatever you want.
I won't interfere anymore.
What are you doing?
Just staying here for a bit.
What's there to stay for in the midnight?
You have school tomorrow.
Come on, go to bed.
Dad,
don't go yet.
Let's talk for a bit.
Talk about what?
How did you earn
your first bucket of gold?
Well, back then,
when I was about your age,
I went to Guangdong
with your Uncle Maotian
to buy goods.
Do you know what we bought?
What?
Gauze and silk scarves for women.
We bought them there
and sold them here.
Do you know how big the price difference was?
Do you remember
our family's first small ship?
It was bought
with that money.
That was our first pot of gold.
Not bad, Dad.
Has mom been captivated by these silk scarves?
She wasn't captivated,
she was trapped.
Dad,
I need to tell you something.
Don't get angry.
Go ahead.
I want to take a leave of absence from school.
Just for a year.
I told you not to get angry.
Take a leave of absence?
Why?
Siyi.
I've warmed up some milk for you.
You haven't finished your homework yet?
Almost done.
Grandma, you should go to bed first.
It's alright.
I'll
knit a sweater to keep you company.
Siyi,
actually,
I'm not against you getting a part-time job.
Grandma.
We didn't have enough food at home when your father was young,
so he went out to earn money.
I won't scold you.
After all, you're both doing it for the family's sake.
Don't worry, Grandma.
I won't let it affect my studies.
Are you sure it won't affect your studies?
I've been watching you from the doorway for a while.
Usually when you're doing homework,
you're very focused.
You can write for an entire evening.
How many times have you yawned just now?
A person's
energy is finite.
I know you're thoughtful,
and that you're trying to ease my burden.
But child,
everything has its priorities.
If your grades are poor
and you can't get into college,
then I would accept it.
But your grades are so good.
Wouldn't you be missing out on such an opportunity?
If you go to work part-time
and ruin your future,
I would feel like I've let your father down.
Your father would blame me too.
Alright,
get back to your homework now.
How much?
The medicine from before 1993
cost more than 8,000 yuan per pill.
It might not even be enough for one pill.
If someone really gets sick,
it can be a big expense
for hospitalization,
nursing staff
and so on.
Given Granny's family situation,
even if Siyi gets into college,
they can't afford it.
So I have to plan ahead.
These...these troublesome matters,
l-let us adults handle them.
Dad,
you used to make money seafaring,
but now?
The highway is open,
and our family business isn't very good.
What are you planning to do about it?
Well, any industry
has its ups and downs.
I believe the canal will improve.
It might get better in the future,
but I can't wait.
You...
Making money isn't that easy.
It's not something that just comes to you
whenever you want it.
Well, I have to try.
I have confidence.
I believe in myself.
It's not about confidence.
You... you need a plan.
I have.
I have several, actually.
I just don't know which one to use right now.
Look at you.
Several plans, huh?
Tell me one of them.
Let's see if it's feasible.
I'll tell you one that doesn't require seed money.
Creating a website.
What kind of website?
Online smart question bank.
It's something that can help students
quickly improve their grades.
If such a thing exists,
can it improve your grades first?
Of course.
I can not only help myself,
but I can help a lot of people.
I can also make big money.
How much can you earn?
At least I'll be the richest person in Honghuai.
Son,
you should
focus on getting into college.
Don't worry about our family matters.
You really don't need me to?
No matter how useless your father is,
he can still provide for the family.
Is that all the ambition you have?
Are you
really disappointed in your father now?
Yes.
Dad,
making no money isn't a big deal,
but you can't lose your aspiration.
As long as you have the spirit,
starting a new business won't be a problem.
Also,
I...
Oh no.
What's wrong?
Your mom must be awake.
she's probably looking for me now.
Where is she?
You two even have telepathy?
Look at you.
I'm telling you, I know what your mom's going to do.
even if she just turns over in bed.
Seems like everything's fine now.
Nope.
Maybe there's too much going on now.
It's not working this time.
Put it on. Don't catch a cold.
Son,
I'll be honest with you.
I'm unable to do anything but seafaring.
If you don't know, then learn.
My dad is so smart and capable.
Once you set your mind to something,
just keep pushing forward,
you'll definitely succeed.
Really?
Really.
♫When the moon hangs in the sky♫
♫And it's cooling in the yard♫
♫Who is still by your side?♫
♫As time passes♫
♫Is a lifetime really that long?♫
♫When youthful company fades, leaving only small talk and pleasantries♫
♫Spring feels short, while autumn lingers♫
♫A gentle breeze carries dreams away♫
♫Of sweet dreams♫
♫Life is long♫
♫No need to dwell♫
♫Like moonlight♫
Fenghua, wake up.
It's so late. Why aren't you up yet?
♫Don't forget♫
What's the matter?
Look at you, dawdling around.
You're so slow.
I'm resting.
Hurry up!
There are so few people on Flower Street.
Business is getting worse.
Let's not set up the stall on weekends anymore.
If you don't set up the stall, what are you going to live on?
You're always saying useless things.
I'm so tired.
Morning, little white girl.
That photographer you mentioned the other day,
is he reliable?
Of course he is.
Why don't we give him a call and ask?
Okay.
Just a moment.
Yes.
Yes, yes.
Alright.
Great, great, great.
Okay, goodbye.
How did it go?
He said we should go over there.
He wants to talk face to face.
To the city?
Well, you're asking to be a model.
If they don't see you in person,
how will they know if you're suitable?
That's true.
If you're scared,
we can ask Shao Xiaopang to come with us.
That guy can keep a secret.
No way.
We can't let too many people know about this.
It wouldn't be good if word goes out.
What's the big deal?
Being a model isn't illegal.
Besides,
once you've taken the photos,
they can be seen online anyway.
Even if you don't say anything now,
everyone will find out sooner or later.
If you want to make money, don't be afraid of losing face.
If the teacher asks later, just say
your relatives opened a shop
and you're helping out.
What era are we living in?
As long as we're not breaking the law,
the more money we make, the more glorious it is.
Let's go.
Time to make some money.
Put them on.
Here.
Take a good look.
What?
The business plan I wrote last night.
Take a look now.
If there are any issues, just say it.
Don't hold back.
Wake up.
Come on, come on.
Hurry up, take a look.
Online question bank.
What do you think? Is it feasible?
There are two key points.
The quality of the questions and intelligent data processing.
We can get questions from major key high schools.
As for the program automation, we can only rely on you.
You think he's Bill Gates?
Studying and working at the same time.
Even if you work him to death,
he can't finish it all.
We'll start small.
We can use existing programming templates.
Once we have money,
then we can spend it
to hire programmers from outside.
There are virtual servers online,
but if you want to guarantee storage and internet speed,
you must rent a dedicated server.
Then let's go to Beijing.
I've already talked to my dad.
He didn't agree.
But he didn't object either.
What's the use of your dad agreeing?
You won't get your mom's approval.
We have to try, right?
I don't believe
When Bill Gates dropped out from Harvard,
his mom could agree.
To do great things,
we must all forge ahead through difficulties.
Anyway, I must do this.
If we really can make money,
how do you want to spend it?
First, pay off debts.
I haven't finished paying off
my mom's debts yet.
I plan to buy a phone,
the latest model.
Then,
I'll make calls in front of Xie Wanghe every day.
Hello, darling,
have you been missing me these days?
Which darling?
It doesn't matter.
The point is to make him see my new phone.
I'll make him so jealous.