[NORTHWARD]
[Episode 38]
I think we can
plant vegetables
or something like that here.
Plant vegetables? It's a garden.
And raise some ducks and chickens.
It can be lively here.
Right?
You'll ruin the environment if you build a vegetable garden.
Look.
I think if we're going to make a vegetable garden...
Haihong!
Where are you going?
Haihong!
What?
Haihong!
Look!
What should I be looking at?
[The operation went well]
All right. All right.
Thank you.
Thank you, Director.
Don't worry.
I'll come here every day.
Okay, thank you.
You've passed.
I'm not the youngest one.
Come and try it.
Try it. Come on.
Today is a great day!
Today, the Canal Bookstore
built by our Flower Street residents
is going to be opened!
Come on, join us.
I hereby announce
that Canal Bookstore
is now officially opened!
Great!
[Canal Bookstore]
[Congratulations on the opening of the Canal Bookstore]
Great! Great!
Welcome to our bookstore.
We're offering various promotions,
as well as free snacks.
Welcome.
Welcome, welcome.
Watch your step.
[Congratulations on the opening of the Canal Bookstore]
Watch your step.
[Canal Bookstore]
Please come in.
Haikuo, all right, that should be enough.
[Canal Bookstore]
Go in now.
Dad.
You are...
Long time no see.
Yeah.
Mom.
Wait for me.
Before I left,
I begged the God of the Land
to ask him to bless me.
Otherwise, I wouldn't return the soil.
Look at her.
You even threatened the God of the Land.
This is the rule Granny Ma taught me when I was little.
She told me and Siyi when we were young.
She said if we were weak,
we should take some soil with us.
It can replenish our energy.
When we move,
we should take all the soil away with us
to let the God of the Land
continue to bless us.
Yes, bless us.
Dad said you liked it.
I just bought it.
Drink it while it's hot.
Are you still busy with the shipwreck?
It goes well.
I've found the origin of the families on the ship.
It's such a coincidence.
They were on the same ship 100 years ago.
Now their descendants
are living in the same courtyard,
like a family.
No wonder they don't want to be apart.
Have a seat.
It's good.
Back then, you refused to listen to me
and insisted on going to Honghuai Normal University.
I was really sad.
After graduation,
you didn't want to work.
You tell me yourself.
Whose parents
would like that
to happen?
Seeing you idle around all day,
I felt more anxious than anyone else.
You are my son.
But I couldn't do anything about it.
My words didn't work.
I couldn't change your mind at all.
Your dad always talked to me
to make me believe what you did is meaningful.
He said I didn't believe you.
You proved that
what your dad said is right
with your persistence.
The history of families along the canal
has been ignored.
You have studied it
on your own
for so long.
I know it's not easy.
You suffered a lot.
You felt wronged.
I admire you from the bottom of my heart.
And I'm proud of you.
All right.
I just gave you a couple of compliments.
Are you that easy to be so moved?
All right.
I know.
[Opening Ceremony of the Flower Street Folk Culture Museum]
Now,
the opening ceremony
officially begins!
Let's welcome Mayor Gu to address us.
Let's applaud!
Dear fellow citizens,
good day.
[Opening Ceremony of the Flower Street Folk Culture Museum]
Today,
the Flower Street Folk Culture Museum
has officially opened.
Since the successful application for World Heritage status,
more and more citizens
have paid attention to the history,
culture, and customs of Flower Street.
That makes a venue where
Flower Street's culture, history, and customs can be showcased
particularly important.
With the unremitting endeavor
made by our young Curator Chen Rui,
today,
the museum
has finally opened.
[Opening Ceremony of the Flower Street Folk Culture Museum]
Now, Curator Chen, please say something.
Chen Rui!
I'll skip it, Dad.
There are so many senior figures here.
Chen Rui!
It's an important day. Just go and say something.
Chen Rui!
Great!
Hello, everyone.
I'm Chen Rui.
I know I'm too young
to be a curator at my age.
But I promise
my feelings for Flower Street are real.
In the future,
I'll...
[Opening Ceremony of the Flower Street Folk Culture Museum]
Siyi.
At first, we heard that you went to Italy.
We thought we'd never find you again.
But Chen Rui
never gave up.
Now you are being shy.
How did you force me back then?
You asked me to...
The man of great credit.
Mayor Gu contacted me, saying
after the canal's successful application for inscription on the World Heritage List,
Flower Street will be renovated.
She asked me to come back if I was available.
Like you won't come back if Auntie Gu doesn't ask you.
Do you know how much we miss you every year?
Every New Year, we bet
Siyi would come back this year,
but every year...
You lost the bet.
Enough. Enough.
Now,
she's right sitting here.
That's good, right?
It's good that she's back.
Siyi,
you're not leaving
this time, right?
I haven't thought
about the future.
I've focused on what happened before
all these years.
Ever since I left Flower Street,
I've asked around
on my trip.
Now the truth has finally come to light.
My ancestors did have something to do with Little Polo.
They were Italians
from the Dimarks.
They lived in Verona, Italy,
a city near Venice.
My great-great-grandfather's name
is Fidel Dimark.
To trace Marco Polo,
he traveled thousands of miles to come to China
with a business firm engaged in the porcelain trade.
When he was in China,
he wrote many letters to his family in Italy.
The letter recorded
his life in China in detail.
In Beijing and Tianjin,
he witnessed the suffering of China back then.
The cruelty of war
made him suffer and fear.
He tried to return to Italy,
but failed to buy a ship ticket.
During his flight for life,
he didn't give up writing to his family.
But because of the war,
all the letters were mailed back.
At that time,
he had a Chinese name,
called Marford.
He also married a Chinese girl,
called Qin Ruyu.
Their children
is my great-grandfather.
The last letter mailed to home from Marford
caused his brother,
Paul Dimark, concern.
So they decided to go to China
to look for their younger brother.
This person is
Little Polo everyone has talked about.
Look.
It's the one your grandpa talked about.
Later, we found there were four people
on the ship of Little Polo:
Translator Xie Pingyao,
Porter Shao Changlai,
Ship Boss Xia...
Boss!
I'm the boss!
And his disciple,
Zhou Yiyan.
He's here.
Boss.
Boss, here, here, let me toast you.
Now, the boss has changed.
Really.
Xie Pingyao was a translator.
He was entrusted by his best friend
to go north with a foreigner.
This foreigner
was Paul Dimark.
He preferred people to call him Little Polo.
At first,
he only said he was a canal expert
who came all the way to China because of Marco Polo
to inspect the Grand Canal.
Along with him
were Shao Changlai,
the porter he hired in Hangzhou,
Xia, the shipman he met in Suzhou,
and Xia's disciple and the sailor,
Zhou Yiyan.
On their way north,
Little Polo saw
China experiencing a huge change.
With the soul-capturing cannon he brought,
now called camera,
he photographed various Chinese people
in his mind.
Every scenery
and every dock
were a new experience
to Little Polo.
Soon,
Xia's disciple Zhou Yiyan
was very interested in Italian.
He studied the foreign book Little Polo brought.
He thought
as long as he mastered English,
his descendants
can possibly become translators as well
and lead a carefree life
for generations.
When staying away from the shore,
they sailed and cooked.
All they talked about were daily necessities.
When Little Polo had nothing to do,
he liked to sit on the board of the ship,
getting to feel the breeze while drinking some tea
with a square table
and a bamboo chair,
reading the Poetry Collection in the Year of Jihai in a desultory way,
or teaching Zhou Yiyan Italian.
He wrote his diary every day.
They traveled together for days
and established sufficient trust
and extraordinary friendship.
One night,
the ship stopped at the shore.
A few bandits got on the ship in the dark.
They wanted to rob them of their property.
When one of them took Little Polo's cane,
Little Polo suddenly stood up resisting him
and tried to get it back.
They had a fierce fight
with the bandits.
Little Polo was injured and he was bleeding non-stop.
Everyone had no choice
but to take him and run away without taking the ship back.
When they turned around,
the huge ship that traveled with them along the way
had already sunk to the bottom of the river
amidst the raging flames.
Little Polo's injury gradually deteriorated.
He told Xie Pingyao
that he cherished
the cane he always carried
because the last letter
that his little brother wrote to him was in it.
He came to China
just to find his little brother,
Fidel Dimark,
also called Marford.
Soon,
at the last stage of his life,
Little Polo admitted
that he had fallen in love with this canal.
He distributed his belongings
to his traveling companies.
On August 4, 1901,
the Italian man Paul Dimark died.
That tomb
stuck with a cross
facing the vast canal
is just like Little Polo
still sitting in the mud
and enjoying Chinese tea,
while getting to feel the breeze from the canal.
More than 100 years later,
the descendants of the four families on the ship
and Marford's descendants
met in the courtyard on Flower Street.
Maybe, it's fate.
The canal led them
to reunite.
The path that stretches for thousands of miles still exists,
[By the Canal]
while people come and go over a decade.
Little Polo couldn't find Marford.
The descendants of Little Polo's friends
[By the Canal]
found Marford's descendants
under the mysterious arrangement of fate.
The brothers who never had a chance to meet again
[Flower Street]
have got reunited
in this way.
Grandpa.
Look who's back.
Grandpa Zhou.
Siyi, you're back.
Why did the school get out so late today?
You need to work harder for the college entrance exam next year.
But don't push yourself.
You're a smart girl.
You can be admitted
to any school you want.
Don't listen to what your grandma said.
Your grandma has never been educated.
♫Far away, so far away♫
She doesn't understand that taking a rest is as important as studying.
♫The hometown I can never return to♫
As for studies,
you have to listen to me.
♫Sitting quietly in the city♫
♫Listening to the river flow♫
Are you crying?
What's wrong?
Did you feel wronged in school?
Who bullied you?
♫Hometown, oh hometown♫
Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry.
♫Now a distant place I can't go back to♫
Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry.
I'll go find them at school tomorrow.
♫Sitting quietly in the city♫
All right, stop crying.
Your grandma will suffer
♫Listening as time drifts by♫
if she sees you like this.
Good girl. Don't cry.
Don't cry.
♫The sunsets in the city♫
♫Hold no poetry, no distant dreams♫
♫Walking through a world like a song♫
♫From oblivion to oblivion♫
♫The love that passed through those remaining years♫
♫Without complaints or piano music♫
♫The coolness after the gentle breeze♫
♫I'm destined to be like you♫
♫Far away, so far away♫
♫The hometown I can never return to♫
♫Sitting quietly in the city♫
♫Listening to the river flow♫
Look who's back!
Where have you been these years?
My name is Fenghua.
What's your name?
Ma Siyi.
What?
Louder, I can't hear you.
Are you deaf? Her name is Ma Siyi.
Let's go to school together,
go home together,
and do homework together at home.
It's decided then?
Let's go.
Go to sleep.
Siyi,
go!
When will you and Wanghe hold a wedding?
I haven't decided yet.
I need to get better first.
You're not allowed to leave.
This is the most important moment in my life.
You must be there.
It's said
bridesmaids can't be prettier than the bride.
Who is prettier?
Speak honestly.
It has to be you.
Really?
I'm telling you,
don't bring your girlfriends back.
Otherwise, I'll spill your dark secrets to them.
What's wrong?
Nothing.
Put it on.
I'm fine.
Sit down and take a rest.
Don't tire yourself out.
You are so annoying.
What is depicted in a poem written by Su Shi
is just a perfect description of the relationship between Fenghua and Wanghe.
"Suddenly I heard the fierce roar of my shrewish wife,
and my walking stick dropped from my hand, leaving me in a state of bewilderment."
Come on, Siyi, don't just stand there. Come on.
Sit down, Siyi.
Let's drink. Here.
Come on.
Let's drink. Come on.
Not with him.
What do you mean? Come on.
Here.
Cheers!
Come on. Come on.
Although I'm toasting with a cup of water.
Come on.
Cheers. Cheers.
Welcome home!
Come on.
Siyi, have some.
It's freshly roasted.
Suit yourself.
Siyi.
Try this. It's not spicy.
Okay. Okay. Okay.
I'll take my time.
Are you not used to it?
How about
Xingchi cooking some dishes for you?
Like pasta?
Tell me what you want to eat.
I can cook anything you want.
When you were not back,
I was the female lead.
They were all focusing on me.
Yet the moment you're back, I'm neglected.
Why don't you leave?
Where should I go?
Have you left me a room in the new courtyard?
Yes.
You're still staying in the central hall.
My grandpa told me
to keep it for Granny Ma.
And there must be
an air conditioner
and a new TV.
Even the model was picked by my grandpa.
Isn't the old man awesome?
He could even pick a model when he has such a bad memory.
He just remembers this.
Be careful.
I'm fine.
All these years,
I've bought postcards
wherever I went.
I didn't have the courage to send them back.
So you can see a thick stack of postcards here.
It's all
I wanted to tell you back then.
See for yourselves.
Let me see. Let me see.
Don't grab it.
We all have the chance.
Don't grab it.
Our friendship is so deep while we're separated.
Long time no see.
The official account you made
is great.
I watched every issue.
Really?
I heard you have a lot of collections about the canal.
Can you show me when it's available?
Of course.
Anytime.
I'm waiting for you.
Okay.
Deal.
You're still so charming on stage.
But the rehearsal time is too short.
If I had more time,
I could have sung better.
I finally understand what you said before.
[To build a successful life, learning takes precedence, and at the core of learning lies reading]
Stage
is so important
to you.
Actually, over the years,
I've been to many places.
I didn't expect
that I would be
the happiest
and most relaxed
when I'm on this small stage.
Well,
according to what you said,
you have to
sing more here.
Of course.
I've promised Dad.
He's here.
Boss Xie!
Boss Xie, hurry!
Your son is looking for you!
Hurry!
Boss Xie!
What are you doing here?
We've finally found you. Hurry!
Your son has something to tell you.
Hurry. Hurry.
Lao'er, ask him to walk quickly.
Boss Xie, we're waiting for you.
Your son is looking for you.
Look at this.
Your son asked us to bring you here.
So what do you bring me here
for?
Dad!
Happy birthday!
[Grand Canal]
This cruise ship
is your birthday present!
Let me tell you, Wanghe.
Don't joke around.
Don't think I won't beat you up because you're married!
Is it fun?
What?
[Grand Canal]
Really!
What do you mean?
It's really for you!
I can also drive it.
Hurry and come up!
Come and have a look!
This is his kindness. Hurry!
Hurry. Let's take a look.
Hurry. Hurry.
[Grand Canal]
Son.
Go upstairs and have a look.
This is...
Hurry. Hurry.
Don't make yourself fall.
Dad.
What's going on?
How is it?
This ship
is not only for you
but also for our whole courtyard.
We used to
buy a ship together before.
When we sold it,
you were not
proud of us.
Seems
you were in a daze all the time.
It's not that serious.
I'm not... Not that fragile.
Dad.
Now that Flower Street
has been included in the World Heritage List,
it's going to embrace prosperous development.
Mayor Gu said,
we can start with the tourism industry.
So we can use this ship
to offer catering services,
produce embroidered products,
and perform
small-scale shows.
Let me show you around the cockpit.
Let's go!
Embroidery...
We can just do it here.
I just saw
the sunset is beautiful outside.
Let's go take some photos.
Let's go.
There...
There are so many electronic devices.
I'm not familiar with them.
I've never... Never...
I've never operated them.
Just learn how to do it.
The basic principles are the same.
Take your time.
You're so smart. You'll master it soon.
You're right.
Come on, sit down and feel it.
Okay.
It's different from your previous one.
Of course.
I can see far away by sitting here.
You're holding it upside down.
Yes.
Interesting.
So interesting!
One, two, three!
[Six months later]
Let's go. Let's go.
I saw it when I was young.
It can be traced back to the Qing Dynasty.
It's my dad's precious thing.
You guys,
come up and have a rest.
Let's go up and take a rest.
Are you tired?
Have some soft drink.
You should drink it.
Thanks, but no.
Chen Rui,
let me give you a massage.
You must be exhausted.
Let me give you a massage.
Go away.
The central hall of the new courtyard seems much bigger than this.
It's much higher.
Yes, we demolished and rebuilt it.
The foundation has also been reinforced.
If you have any opinions,
remember to tell us in advance.
Or it'll be too late to make any changes after we move in.
I don't have any opinions.
What about you?
Me?
Why?
You don't want to live in the courtyard?
Fine.
If you don't, I'll stay with Siyi.
You can sleep in your museum as you want.
What happened?
When did that happen?
Why would Siyi
be willing to be with you?
What did you do behind our backs?
I'll give you a rear naked choke!
Shameless!
I'll give you a rear naked choke!
Shameless!
I'll give you a rear naked choke!
Shameless!
Show us the evidence!
Enough! Enough!
When was that?
Stop it. Stop it.
Be careful not to spill it.
You should
think about
what you haven't done
before you move in.
I remember something.
You guys continue.
I remember Grandma once said,
when she came here,
she dug some soil from the dock of Linqing
and sprinkled it
under that tree.
I want to take it away.
Otherwise,
Grandma will get lost.
Turn around.
We will be together
♫Life is always too slow♫
forever!
♫The fallen leaves cover the whole pond as I move to a new home♫
Where am I?
You said it. Don't cheat.
♫A twenty-inch color TV and a leather sofa♫
I said it. I won't.
♫Big Pinwheel animation at half past five♫
What are you doing?
I saw it.
Everything has been recorded.
♫Enjoy the cool night under the starry sky after dinner♫
They are dating
on the balcony.
♫Fireflies, a gentle breeze, and a crescent moon♫
Make sure to catch it all on camera.
It'll serve as evidence in the future.
What are you writing?
♫Adults are chatting about things that I can't understand♫
A meal ticket for life.
♫Ghosts and monsters are all hiding under the bed♫
Mr. Xu,
you were the first to be heartless to Wanghe,
so don't blame me and Haikuo for being unkind in return.
♫We grow up day by day♫
♫In my memory, the rain keeps pouring♫
Who did it this time?
♫The summer vacation is over amidst cicadas' chirping♫
Who?
It's too much!
♫It's time to get a haircut again at the start of the new semester♫
It's too much!
Siyi,
have you decided where to go?
♫We grow up day by day♫
What are you shooting? Can't you stop for a while?
Stop laughing. Stop laughing.
♫Starting to have expectations and changes♫
Fenghua, your hair looks nice today.
I look good every day.
This is where we grew up together.
♫Once we thought we were so great♫
By the canal.
♫I wrote poems but dared not to give them to her♫
♫We grow up day by day♫
♫While listening to tapes, we unexpectedly met under the banyan tree♫
♫A white shirt, the evening twilight, and an acoustic guitar♫
♫The innocent cheeks of youth♫
Yanlin.
I have a box containing porcelains.
Put it gently when you take it.
Be careful.
Grandpa!
Stop doing that.
Go back to your room.
We're moving these things out. Please be careful not to get bumped.
Grandpa.
Be careful.
♫We thought we were great♫
Move the sofa
to the second car!
♫I wrote poems but dared not to give them to her♫
Don't make a mistake!
Move?
Where are we moving to?
Didn't we just move here yesterday?
♫I dared not to give them to her♫
Why are you taking this?
Wanghe doesn't need it now.
What if our grandson needs it in the future?
You're really...
Good for you.
Can you bear to hit your grandson?
I can't anyway.
Let's move to a new place.
Boss Xie.
Lao'er.
What are you wearing?
How come you're dressed in patterns that look just like those on playing cards?
He bought it online.
I couldn't stop him.
I'm trying something new in my life.
You...
Why? Do you need a new wife too?
You're such a naughty woman.
You're so fashionable.
You're out too?
Everything's packed up?
Yes.
All right.
Is it done?
Done.
Come on, let's go.
It's okay. Take your things.
Let's go.
Take your stuff. Take your stuff.
♫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♫
Let's go.
♫Leaving only small talk and pleasantries♫
Wait.
Should we take a photo
♫Spring feels short, while autumn lingers♫
in this courtyard?
Sure.
Let's take a photo.
♫A gentle breeze carries dreams away♫
Come on.
Let's stand here.
Down here. Okay.
Okay.
♫Dreamland and dreams♫
The tall ones stand behind.
Lao'er, move forward.
Mom, here.
Mom.
♫Life is long♫
Young Master.
Come on.
Look at the camera.
♫No need to dwell♫
Are we within the frame?
Three, two, one.
♫Like moonlight♫
Cheese!
♫Don't forget♫
♫Life is long♫
♫No need to dwell♫
♫Like moonlight♫
[One year later]
♫The old times♫
Now,
we're at Flower Street.
We can see the couplets inscribed in both piers of the memorial archway:
A thousand sails pass by the sunken boat;
[Flower Street]
After a hundred years, my heart has returned to tranquility.
[I miss you so much at Flower Street]
The pier
and this bridge we're seeing now
have over 400 years of history.
The stone tablet in front of us
was inscribed by
[Yu Dock]
Liu Yong, also known as Liu Luoguo, a renowned calligrapher
during the reign of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty.
You can take a picture here.
[I miss you so much at Flower Street]
Hello?
Got it.
The wedding dress has just been altered.
Who would've known she would gain so much weight?
All right, stop rushing me.
I'll be back soon.
Mom! Mom!
Why is this ship
decorated
like this?
[Grand Canal]
Because someone is getting married today, Sweetheart.
The bride and groom
grew up by the canal.
In ancient times,
getting married on a ship
was a tradition for those living by the river.
The bride is here!
Young Master.
Who will drive the ship today?
My dad and your dad.
Didn't you ask others for help?
Yes.
They are petty.
They won't let anyone drive the ship.
When they get drunk,
I'll ask others for help.
Don't worry. I've arranged everything.
Ladies and gentlemen of Flower Street,
welcome to
the wedding today!
Our cruise ship is ready!
Yes!
-Where do you want to go today? -Look what he said.
Who should decide the destination?
The bride.
Yes.
The bride.
When we were young, we saw you go through the ship lock
on the shore.
We are all curious
about the world on the other side of the ship lock.
Okay, let's go through the ship lock today.
We won't stop after going through it.
We'll keep going forward!
Great!
We'll reach beyond the sea.
We'll keep going forward
until we reach the Suez Canal!
Ready to set sail.
Flower Street!
Flower Street.
Look! Look!
Master!
By the Canal!
Yes, right there.
Can you see it?
Fenghua, slow down!
Xingchi!
Run faster!
Thank you for coming to the wedding of the groom Xie Wanghe
and the bride Xia Fenghua.
Now, please applaud
to welcome the beautiful bride!
♫Inexplicable and strange♫
♫I can't both love you and let you go♫
♫I want to say something but keep silent♫
♫Just quietly listening to my heart thudding♫
Okay. Bride and groom, please get ready.
♫But you don't know♫
Then I have a question
♫When I turn around, my eyes water too♫
for the bride and groom.
The groom Xie Wanghe,
will you marry the beautiful Miss Xia Fenghua,
♫I was already giving my all♫
♫To maintain a final bit of dignity♫
whether in poverty or wealth,
and never be separated from her?
♫Fortunately♫
♫You once gave me a warm hug♫
Yes, I do.
The bride Xia Fenghua,
♫Unfortunately♫
♫I can't have you, yet I still crave you♫
will you marry the groom Xie Wanghe,
♫How can I decide♫
whether in poverty or wealth,
♫Which is messier♫
♫The beginning or the end?♫
and never be separated from him?
♫Both are unforgettable♫
Yes, I do.
♫Why does your kindness♫
♫Vanish♫
♫The moment I let go?♫
Great!
♫How could you leave me so heartbroken♫
♫That even my tears♫
Now,
♫Feel like they're burning?♫
we're going to proceed to the most important part.
♫Maybe it's a relief that we're not meant for each other♫
Should the bride and groom
♫No need to suffer too long♫
kiss each other in front of us?
Yes! Yes!
♫Why can you♫
♫Forget my kindness♫
♫The moment you let go?♫
Kiss! Kiss!
♫Making me look like a fool♫
♫Even my longing♫
♫Feels like begging♫
♫I'll let go eventually♫
♫I'll say goodbye and disturb you no more♫
♫Why does your kindness♫
♫Vanish♫
♫The moment I let go?♫
♫How could you leave me so heartbroken♫
♫That even my tears♫
♫Feel like they're burning?♫
♫Maybe it's a relief that we're not meant for each other♫
♫No need to suffer too long♫
One, two, three. Cheese!
♫Why can you♫
♫Forget my kindness♫
♫The moment you let go?♫
♫Making me look like a fool♫
♫Even my longing♫
♫Feels like begging♫
♫I'll let go eventually♫
Congratulations on your wedding!
♫I'll say goodbye and disturb you no more♫