[NORTHWARD]
[Episode 15]
[By the Canal]
Just say hi.
I'm still cooking.
Just go and meet them.
They came here specially. Hurry up.
Our two Mr. Li's.
Let me introduce you.
This is my husband, Zhou Yanlin.
Master Zhou.
Hello.
I've heard so much about you.
Master Zhou, it's my honor to meet you.
Hello.
Zhou,
these two Mr. Li's came all the way from Beijing
to taste your cooking.
Give them a proper introduction.
Alright.
Here, please have a seat.
Come, come.
Let's get acquainted.
Okay.
Oh, you're also in this industry?
Yes.
This is...
Huaiyang-style imperial cuisine,
prepared using Qing Dynasty methods
Do you two think the taste is alright?
Master Zhou,
my brother and I
have been in the restaurant business for many years.
I've spent half my life in it.
But coming here,
this is the first time in my life
that I've been truly impressed.
You two are too kind.
Well, you see,
it's the Olympics again next year.
High-end dining in Beijing
will take off.
We've
secured a location near Workers' Sports Complex.
We're planning
to open a high-end restaurant.
We've even decided on a name.
It will be called Suzhen Pavilion.
So, Hangzhou cuisine.
Yes, Hangzhou cuisine.
We were actually thinking of selling that previously.
But
after tasting your dishes,
we've decided to focus solely on Huaiyang cuisine.
Master Zhou.
Yes, yes.
How about
you take a look at our design plans first?
You two take a look first.
It's so grand!
Master Zhou.
We
have set up the stage.
We're just waiting for you to take the stage.
As for Beijing,
I've actually been there
and stayed for a few years,
but I wasn't very happy there,
so I came back.
That must be because we aren't clear with the terms.
With us,
you can rest assured.
We
will pay you according to the highest standards.
Additionally, there will be shares.
We absolutely won't let your efforts go unrewarded.
Any apprentices you've trained
will receive corresponding dividends.
It's not about the terms.
The main concern is that
I can't leave this restaurant unattended.
Or how about
I send my apprentice over instead?
How's that?
Master Zhou, you must have some concerns.
If you have any concerns, please tell us.
We can find a solution together.
I have no concerns.
I really don't have any concerns.
It's just because...
I'm getting older and don't want to trouble myself.
No.
How old are you now?
Aren't you in your prime?
With your skills,
isn't it a waste to stay here
in this small place?
Small place?
What's wrong with this small place?
I just like to stay in small places like these.
Both of you,
please continue to enjoy your meal.
The dishes haven’t all arrived yet.
Let me have a word with my husband.
Okay.
Zhou.
Why are you so anxious?
Zhou Yanlin, what are you trying to do?
Do you really have to make things so tense?
They have good intentions.
It's such a good opportunity.
Why do you want to give it up?
If you aren't going to think about yourself,
you should at least think about Haikuo.
Haikuo is a senior now,
yet you want him to transfer schools?
Wouldn't changing to a new environment
affect his studies?
I've realized that we
can't really communicate anymore, can we?
What do you mean?
Don't you think it's pathetic?
I respect your choice.
Please respect my choice as well.
Do I not respect you?
How am I disrespecting you?
What were you trying to do with those guests just now?
What do you mean?
If you want to go to Beijing, I won't stop you.
But I don't want to go to Beijing.
Listen, Xu Peng,
you either give your best
or just quit otherwise!
If you don't want to work, just go home.
Dad.
Come in.
Have a seat.
You two had another fight, didn't you?
Someone invited him to open a restaurant in Beijing today.
A high-end restaurant near Workers' Sports Complex.
He flat out refused.
You feel that...
he should go?
It's such a waste
for his skills to be
confined to this small town.
A shame?
The business is so bad now.
It's hard to even break even.
First-tier cities offer better opportunities for growth.
Whether for himself
or for our son,
it would mean a better future.
But...
that's the future you want,
not what Yanlin wants.
But isn’t it nice for a family
to stay together,
live well,
and not worry about food or money?
Isn't that what we have now?
Zhimei,
if going to Beijing
is what makes you happy,
then go.
I support you.
But...
If Yanlin were to go,
he will not be happy.
Don't push him anymore.
Previously,
my job was very unstable.
We had to keep moving.
Yanlin has been wandering with me since he was little.
Life...
was really tough.
I rarely saw him smile.
Until one day,
I suddenly discovered that the child could smile.
I was puzzled.
He wouldn't tell me anything when I asked.
Later, I secretly followed him.
As it turned out,
that boy was hanging out at a restaurant's back kitchen.
He even found himself a master.
He was an old chef from Huai'an,
a family chef of Shen Jingsi.
He really liked Yanlin.
He taught him everything he knew.
After that,
he was smiling every day.
He was always smiling.
It was the kind...
that came from the heart.
Later, he told me
that when he was cooking,
he felt like
an orchestra's conductor.
Just hearing the sound of chopping
made him feel at ease and happy.
But it's cooking.
Isn't it the same wherever he works?
It's not the same!
The luckiest thing
for a chef isn’t making money,
but that there are people who appreciate his cooking.
As for Yanlin,
you know what he had experienced
in Beijing too.
But perhaps...
you haven't been able to
fully understand his pain.
I,
as his father,
sincerely hope he can be happy.
I hope he can regain
the smile he had when he first started learning to cook.
As for this marriage,
don’t rush into a divorce just yet.
How about you take some time apart
and cool off for a bit?
Or how about this?
Why don't we
wait until...
wait until Haikuo finishes his exams before deciding?
Okay.
Alright.
Then you should rest early.
Okay.
[By the Canal]
What time is it now?
Why aren't you in bed yet?
In a minute.
What do you mean by "in a minute"?
I'm talking to you.
Give it back to me.
What's wrong with you?
Nothing.
If you're upset about something,
don't bottle it up.
Tell me about it.
Will you?
When do you plan on divorcing?
I don't know.
It’s not my decision to make either.
Do you want a divorce then?
Have you made any effort?
What effort?
To try and keep Mom from leaving.
If your mom wants to leave,
there's nothing I can do to stop her.
Do you understand?
Then why don't you want to go to Beijing
when Mom asked you to?
What would I do in Beijing?
Would it make any difference?
Your mom spends the entire year filming.
What difference does it make
if I wait for her here or in Beijing?
Then why are you all getting a divorce?
She can continue acting
while you continue to be a chef.
Why can't we just go on like this?
Exactly.
Why indeed?
Dad.
When you two discussed divorce,
have you ever considered
how I might feel about it?
Siyi grew up without her parents by her side.
You can clearly see for yourself
what their family situation is like
and the kind of life they have been living.
So it means you're just being selfish.
You're absolutely right, Dad.
Mom wants to pursue her dreams,
and I support that.
You want to live your own life,
and I understand that too.
But I'm asking both of you
to think about me as well.
Zhimei, I want to ask you for a favor.
No matter what happens between us in the future,
or what decisions we make,
let's not hurt our child.
Let's not give him the impression
that marriage is a terrible thing.
Okay.
Son.
Son?
Mom's leaving.
Zhimei.
Let Haikuo sleep a bit more.
I guess he probably stayed up late studying last night.
Alright.
I want to eat this sesame ball.
Granny, I want to eat this fried radish cake.
Here, here.
Take it.
Thank you, Granny.
Good morning, Granny.
Morning!
Morning, Auntie.
You're here.
Auntie.
Come get your soy milk.
Okay.
Your mom left?
You didn’t go and see her off?
It's not like we're saying goodbye forever.
What's the point of seeing her off?
Are you okay?
Your mom doesn't want you either?
Just eat.
[Breakfast]
You’re young, but you’ve got a lot to say.
[Breakfast]
Don't be upset.
We can meet her when we go to Beijing in the future.
We'll watch a game at the Bird's Nest then.
We'll make your mom pay for it.
I want to go to Beijing too.
Sure.
Let's make a deal.
If you can get into the top ten of your class,
we'll take you with us.
We'll take you to visit the Forbidden City, climb the Great Wall,
and watch the flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square.
How about that?
You said it! It's a promise.
Yes, it's on me.
[Breakfast]
Siyi, can you be my witness?
Fine, I'll be your witness.
Come eat your breakfast quickly.
Let's go.
We're going to be late.
Granny, we're off to school.
Take it easy.
Be careful.
I want one more sesame ball.
Bye.
This kid.
Be careful.
Granny, we're leaving.
Be careful.
We're off.
Take it slow on the road.
Yan.
What are you doing?
Our child has eaten quite a bit.
No need.
Hasn't Fenghua ate plenty of your food too?
Take it.
However,
it looks like Siwei
is not easy to take care of.
It's alright.
He wasn't doing well when he first arrived a few days ago.
He might have gotten used to it in the past few days.
He's doing much better now.
One night, he said he couldn't sleep alone.
He was scared.
He insisted on sleeping with Siyi.
He ended up sleeping until 5 a.m.,
but when he realised it wasn't his mom when he woke up,
he cried.
It took me quite a while to comfort him.
Isn’t this just giving Siyi another child to look after?
Isn't it?
That's right, Granny.
He's not even your own grandson.
What are you getting out of it?
Granny Ma is just kind-hearted.
Kind people are often taken advantage of,
just like how a gentle horse gets ridden the most.
No.
This is how I see it.
I want to create good karma for myself,
but also...
do Siyi a favor.
In case something happens to me in the future,
Siyi's mother will need to treat Siyi better.
Granny,
let me be frank.
That person...
She only cares about herself.
She cannot be relied on.
Granny Ma,
it's okay.
You have us.
We're all here.
Yes, I have you all.
It's alright.
Yes, I do.
Yes, Granny.
Don't worry.
Yes, I won't worry.
Come, let's tidy up together.
No, just sit there.
I'm already done cleaning up here.
We don't need your help here.
No need at all.
I'll put it here.
What happened? Did you get into a fight?
My brother-in-law tricked me.
He said
if anyone bullies me,
I should lie down on the ground,
roll my eyes, and twitch.
That way, the other person will give in.
Grandma, look at him.
The teacher said no one even touched him,
but he just laid down on the ground
and threatened his classmates
to buy him potato chips,
or else he'd tell the teacher.
That's why he got beaten up.
Who taught you that?
My brother-in-law.
What's wrong with you?
Wait, who's this brother-in-law? Who is it?
He's talking about Wanghe.
Wanghe?
Why are you calling him brother-in-law?
He's crazy.
I’ve told you not to spew nonsense.
We're just good neighbors.
Wanghe likes you.
He wants to be with you.
Ge Siwei!
Stop talking nonsense!
Alright, alright.
I'm not talking nonsense!
He keeps sneaking glances at you on the way to school every day.
You won't stop, huh?
He even looks at you during breakfast.
Ge Siwei!
You!
You little...
Siyi, go easy on your little brother.
Ge Siwei!
Grandma, don't listen to his nonsense.
I know.
You like Wanghe.
What are you saying?
I also know that Wanghe likes you too.
I know everything.
Alright, alright.
Alright, Siyi.
Be gentle.
He's asleep?
He drives me crazy.
I don't know who he takes after.
He just blurts things out.
Children speak without malice.
You know,
you should talk nicely to your brother from now on.
Every time you're together,
you end up fighting.
You'll become enemies if this continues.
Isn't it infuriating?
He's only a few years old,
but he is already so gossipy.
It might not be gossip, right?
I mean...
Aren't you aware of
how Wanghe thinks about you?
Grandma...
Both of you
are good kids.
If you two really have feelings for each other,
I won't object either.
I don't have any feelings for him.
Don't talk nonsense.
Why not?
Wanghe...
likes Fenghua.
He likes...
He likes Fenghua?
How come I didn't notice that?
I heard them confess to each other.
Fenghua said she likes him.
Fenghua said she likes Wang He?
But Wanghe might not like Fenghua.
I think Wanghe likes you instead.
Anyway, I'm focusing all my attention on the college entrance exam now.
I won't let anyone
or anything distract me.
Grandma, give me two more years.
After I graduate from the teachers' college
and come back to be a teacher,
I'll be able to keep you company every day.
Alright,
I'll be waiting.
Come on.
You're back.
How was your day?
It was okay.
Did you make or lose money?
Made some.
How much did you make?
After a whole day's work,
I made 30 yuan.
That's not even counting the cost of meals.
What happened?
Did Boss Xie cause trouble again?
No.
Come on, tell me.
To be honest, we can't blame him.
When we were seafaring previously,
Mr. Du did help us a lot.
Boss Xie couldn't bring himself to refuse,
so he gave a pretty steep discount.
It's always like this.
All about his pride.
If he cares so much about his pride,
he should use his own money to cover it!
Why should our family be dragged into this?
Keep your voice down.
Why are you fussing over it?
Why should I keep my voice down?
How are we supposed to get by like this?
You tell me yourself.
Other people run supermarkets
and they all make money,
but you two keep losing money.
How can we go on living like this?
You need to do something.
Element.
What's wrong with you?
My parents are arguing at home.
When do they not argue?
This time it's because of your dad.
Because of what?
I overheard that...
your dad is being too prideful
and keeps offering discounts.
A few days ago, he wouldn't listen to advice
and stocked up too much.
And now, it can't sell.
Regardless, they lost quite a bit of money.
My mom is almost going crazy at home.
I mean...
should I not have let them start the floating supermarket?
I had good intentions.
But in the end, we didn't make any money
and can't even be friends anymore.
I really don't know what it was all for.
Alright.
It's not your fault.
Don't worry, I'll figure something out.
Let's go home.
Dad.
You're back.
You didn't sail today?
I did.
I've been busy all day.
Is the floating supermarket
doing well?
It's alright.
Did you make money?
Of course.
If it's not for the money,
w-what am I even doing all this for?
Why do I feel like you're a bit unhappy?
It's not that dramatic.
Everything's fine.
Then why are you drinking alone?
It's really tiring.
Selling things is quite different from seafaring.
You have to call out to customers
and talk to all kinds of people.
And those people are all your acquaintances.
It's frustrating.
You feel embarrassed, don't you?
Not exactly.
I just feel a bit indignant.
You see, everyone's starting point is about the same,
right?
But look at others.
They're still working on ships, aren't they?
They're all operating big ships.
Now, I've switched to a small ship
and I even have to serve them.
I've become a regular crew from being an elite.
Have some more.
Drink up.
If you have something to say,
just say it.
Every industry has its rules.
I'll print out some
information about the retail industry.
You can study it.
Study what?
How to make more money, of course.
Don't look down on supermarkets.
If you do well, you can also make it into Fortune 500.
Are you looking down on your dad?
You think I can't even run a supermarket?
No, that's not it.
I just think
since it's now a joint operation between two families,
we should discuss and plan together.
Discuss with whom?
Xia Lao'er?
He, he...
He's so cowardly.
What ideas could he possibly have?
What's there to discuss?
I'll do it my way
and he just needs to follow along diligently, that's all.
Dad,
he was your assistant when you were seafaring.
Now, you're business partners.
You need to adjust your mindset.
You can't act recklessly.
You little rascal.
Have you ever run a supermarket?
No,
why do you want to meddle in everything?
You should use that energy for your revision.
My grades have improved a lot recently.
What about you? Have you made any money?
Aren’t you done yet?
No, why are you getting so worked up?
Feeling guilty?
Y-You say that again.
Alright, alright.
I'll stop.
Just keep on losing money.
Let’s see how long you can keep up with the payments.
Stop drinking.
Hey!
Are you trying to boss me around now?
Xie.
What's going on with you?
You were the one begging us for wholesale,
and now, you're bringing it back for a refund.
It's been over ten days since you bought these goods.
We really shouldn't be refunding you for all of these.
No.
As you know, I’ve only just started in this line of work.
I don't know what sells well and what doesn't.
I, I, I...
Could you please...
give me a refund?
All my money is tied up in this.
You've been working on the river for so many years.
Don't you know what seafarers need?
Well...
I thought I knew.
You see, when I was working on boats,
we were all drinking
bottled water like these.
And this bread,
these were all essentials on board.
I stocked up on three boxes, and guess what?
I've only sold five or six packets of this bread.
I...
So I'm asking you...
Back in your day,
making money on the canal was so easy.
Seafaring is such a tough job now.
Who’d be willing to buy bottled water like this on the ship?
Or bread for that matter?
Forget it, Xie.
For old times' sake,
I'll give you a refund.
Okay, great.
Thank you, thank you.
Xie!
We can't take back this bread.
Why can't you take it back?
This bread has an expiration date.
It's only good for about ten days or so.
It might have already expired.
That's impossible.
These are still sealed.
Look!
This one expires tomorrow.
No way.
We really can't take this back.
No, no.
Y-You listen to me first.
I mean, if these items were to be
displayed in your store,
it will probably sell out in a day.
But with me, they'll just go to waste.
That won't do.
Nowadays, customers always check the expiration date.
No, I won't take it back.
How about this?
I'll give you a refund
for all of the drinks.
Give it to me!
Stop drinking!
You're drinking every day!
It's fine to drink occasionally.
Do you still want your liver?
You misbehave as soon as Mom leaves.
How will she go out without worrying about you in the future?
Give it to me!
I'll beat you to death!
I... I...
[Striving unceasingly with unwavering resolve]
Okay.
Class dismissed.
Stand up!
Goodbye, Sir.
Want some grilled sausages?
My treat.
No, thanks.
I'll have some.
Hurry up, you two.
I'll wait for you up ahead.
Boss!
Two grilled sausages, please.
Alright!
These chicken strips look pretty good.
You want some?
If you're treating, I'll have some.
Fine, I'll treat you.
One more chicken strips too.
Coming right up!
So you're Xie Wanghe.
What's the matter?
Beat him up!
Whack!
What's going on?
What are you doing?
Run! Run!
Wanghe, are you alright?
What happened?
What's this all about?
Who did you offend?
How would I know?
Is your hand injured?
-Sir. -Sir.
it's been taken care of.
I don't want that 10,000 yuan anymore.
Consider it as medical expenses for that kid.
Hai is so generous!
Generous.
Thank you, Hai.
Hai, if something like this happens again,
just give us a call.
We'll take care of it for you directly.
No rush.
Let me think about how to deal with that girl.
I personally
don't lack money,
but I'm lacking my pride.
[Floating Supermarket]
Flower Street Floating Supermarket!
We have cigarettes, alcohol, snacks, daily necessities,
rice, oil, and vegetables,
One-stop shopping,
fast and affordable.
We warmly welcome you!
Mon, don't be like this!
I don't want to live anymore!
Mom, no!
Don't jump, Mom!
What should we do, Boss?
Help!
Save my mom, please!
Dock now! Dock now!
Be careful, Boss!
Save her!
Help!
Mom!
Mom, hang on!
I'll get you out of there.
Don't move, stay still!
Mom!
How is she?
Is she okay?
Is... Is she alright?
Mom!
Is she okay?
Is she alright?
Come on, come on.
Sit up.
Are you okay?
You scared me!
You really scared me!
Are you alright, Boss?
Why would you do something like that?
Put this on.
How do you feel?
Are you feeling better?
That was too...
too dangerous.
Thank goodness it was you.
Here's your medicine.
Thank you.
How are you?
Fractured ribs
and a fractured left arm.
Good thing it's your left hand that's injured.
Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to even do your homework.
Do these fractures count as internal injuries?
No, it doesn't.
Think about it carefully.
Who did you offend?
Who could I have offended?
Could it be that guy who promised Fenghua commercials?
He asked us for money before, and we didn't give it to him.
We even threatened him.
Regardless of whether it was those guys or not,
we can't let Fenghua know about this.
Why?
With that pig brain of hers,
she won't be able to help with anything.
if she finds out, she'll just cry.
It's annoying.
If it really was them,
we should just report it to the police.
Your injuries are considered severe.
He'll be sentenced once caught.
Evidence?
There are cameras at the school entrance.
There are cameras at the school entrance,
but not there.
If they had already decided to beat me up,
would they leave any evidence?
There are many ways to get revenge.
But I'm not sure
what they might do if they get desperate.
The key is that Fenghua is around.
If they target her, it could be troublesome.
But what should we do then?
Just take a beating for nothing?
Don't worry about that.
I, Xie Wanghe, can tolerate anything,
but I won't be taken advantage of.
Let's align on how we will explain what happened today.
With our families,
just say that I fell while playing basketball.
Whatever you do, don't say I got beaten up.
With my dad's temper,
if he finds out what really happened,
he might go after those guys with a knife.
Who hit you?
Nobody hit me.
I fell while playing basketball.
Nonsense!
You disappeared right after school today.
I checked the basketball courts, and no one was there.
Tell me, who did it?
Can you be more reasonable?
I really just fell while playing basketball.
Was it Hai?
No.
So it's him.
He asked me for money before and I didn't give him any.
So he went after you.
It really wasn't.
Can you stop crying, please?
Can you shut up for a while?
You're giving me a headache.
You got hit on the head?
Let me see if it hurts.
Can you stop being so mushy?
How am I being mushy?
Alright, everything's fine.
Take this.
I'll hold him.
Don't press on my hand.
D-Don't touch me.
My dad!
Xie Wanghe!
Uncle.
What brings you here?
You got yourself into this state just from a fight?
What fight? It wasn't a fight.
I fell while playing basketball.
How did you fall?
Well...
I was pushed from behind while going for a rebound
and fell to the ground.
Is that so?
Yeah, that's right.
Yes, yes, that's correct.
We can testify that's what happened.
Don't worry, Uncle.
We're good boys who never fight.
You sure know how to take a fall.
Landing on your left arm and right cheek at the same time.
What kind of posture is that?
Someone demonstrate it for me?
Left arm...
So, he was going for a layup, then got pushed, and...
So, were you alone this time?
Who beat you up?
How many of them were there, and what do they do?
I told you, it wasn't a fight.
I know what I'm doing.
You don't have to worry about it.
You know what you're doing?
But getting beaten up like this?
You're a hollow log that
is only good for firewood.
Let's go home.
My ribs hurt too.
Then get on.
Come on.
Get on.
Come.
It’s embarrassing with so many people watching.
Cut the crap. Get on.
Hurry up!
Gently, gently.
Bring my bicycle back for me, will you?
Take it easy, Dad.
Alright.
Okay, okay.
You lie down first.
What are you waiting for?
Go, go, go.
Go home.
Just go home!
Fenghua.
G-Go home.
I won't.
I have nothing to do at home anyway.
Who on earth beat you up like this?
How pathetic.
Wanghe,
What do you want to eat?
I'll ask my mom to make it.
Please just go home quickly.
Can you stop hovering around me?
No way.
Well...
A snack for you if you are hungry.
Thank you.
Where are you going?
Why should I report everything I do to you?
He's back?
Yes.
-He just got carried back. -Where is Wanghe?
He got carried back?
Carried?
Boss, how is Wanghe?
That kid’s tough as nails.
He'll be fine in a few days.
It's not that easy to recover.
It takes a hundred days to heal bones and muscles.
I'll make him some pig’s trotter soup for dinner
to strengthen his bones.
Yes.
You're treating him like your son-in-law.
Of course.
Granny.
Please have this.
Here.
You have a business to run.
Just have some.
I had overstocked
and it's not selling.
Maotian said it won't sell,
but you didn't believe him, did you?
A lesson learned the hard way.
No one’s money comes easily.
That... that's right.
You are right.
Just take it.
Share it around.
Ask me for more when you're done.
Okay, I'll visit Wanghe again.
Tell me if you need anything.
Look, take a look yourself.
I didn't know all of this bread would be so hard to sell.
My heart aches for you
and for our family.
If you continue this way,
how are we going to live?
So much nagging.
I know I did wrong, okay?
You nag all day.
Have you considered how hard I've been working?
We’ve put so much money into this.
All of it is hard-earned.
And now, you're just giving it all away.
Can you be more careful?
Haikuo!
Come.
Uncle, what's wrong?
Are you looking for me?
Why did you all get into a fight?
We didn't fight.
He fell while playing basketball.
How many of them were there?