Song of Youth Episode 18 Recap
> Song of Youth Recap
Lin Shaochun initiated household reforms by making maids confess their wrongdoings and report others. She exposed Rongshou's wife's numerous crimes, threatening to report her to officials and expel her from the residence. Rongshou's wife begged for mercy, leading Lin Shaochun to arrange for her daughter, Xiaocui, to replace maid Xiaohong. This action, however, cut off Xu Fengqiao's income streams, deeply enraging her.
Lin Shaochun's effective management and money-saving efforts earned praise from Sun Xun, who encouraged Xu Fengqiao, Su Yingxue, and Wu Yuehong to learn from her. Shen Qingyao also commended Lin Shaochun for uniting the female dependents of various households to manage purchasing, which saved significant silver. While Sun Xun admonished Wu Yuehong for her lack of interest in household affairs, Xu Fengqiao made sarcastic remarks towards Lin Shaochun.
Sun Yulou defended Lin Shaochun, and Shen Qingyao intervened to stop the bickering. Sun Yulou advised Lin Shaochun that her sharp approach, though well-intentioned, could be too confrontational for family life, and Lin Shaochun promised to get along with her family, vowing to manage those who couldn't. Lin Shaochun then attempted to foster better relations: she made Wu Yuehong's favorite snacks, but Wu Yuehong initially refused, stating Xu Fengqiao had forbidden her from speaking with Lin Shaochun.
However, a hungry Wu Yuehong eventually ate the snacks, praised Lin Shaochun's cooking, and came to view her as a good person. Lin Shaochun advised her to trust her own judgment over gossip. Lin Shaochun also played the pipa in the garden, attracting Su Yingxue. While Su Yingxue expressed disinterest in household management, she confessed to envying Lin Shaochun and Sun Yulou's mutual affection.
Lin Shaochun then approached Xu Fengqiao, who feigned gratitude for being relieved of her duties and explained past misunderstandings, claiming they were family. Lin Shaochun suggested that once Xu Fengqiao recovered, they could manage the household together. Xu Fengqiao, however, internally scoffed at Lin Shaochun's perceived attempt at reconciliation. Lin Shaochun privately noted that while Wu Yuehong was straightforward and Su Yingxue kept to herself, Xu Fengqiao seemed outwardly friendly but schemed behind her back.
Later, Shen Qingyao announced her intention to gift her pearl headpiece, bought by Sun Xun during a trip to Jingzhou, to Madame Zhang for her birthday. She asked Lin Shaochun to retrieve it from the storeroom, which Lin Shaochun now managed. Xu Fengqiao, who had already pawned the headpiece, was startled and dropped her teacup, catching Lin Shaochun's attention.
Fearing exposure, Xu Fengqiao, inspired by seeing Qingxi's wife eating a sugar-made spatula, had Yinsuo arrange for a replica pearl headpiece to be made of sugar, intending to frame Lin Shaochun. When Lin Shaochun searched the storeroom, she couldn't find the headpiece. Xu Fengqiao then arrived, presenting a new-looking headpiece and claiming she had kept it in her room. Lin Shaochun noticed a fruity, sugary scent, which Xu Fengqiao quickly dismissed as dropped candy.
Xu Fengqiao then locked the headpiece in a cabinet and gave the key to Lin Shaochun. That night, Lin Shaochun, suspecting a trick, went to the storeroom and found the sugar headpiece melted. Rongshou's wife, learning of the missing headpiece from Xiaocui, spread rumors that Lin Shaochun had sold it for money, hoping for Lin Shaochun's downfall. She quickly congratulated Xu Fengqiao, who, believing she would regain household management, hosted a celebratory dinner for Rongshou's wife and Qingxi's wife.
Lin Shaochun, however, saw Sun Jingge gambling away money. Knowing his addiction, she devised a plan. She reported the "stolen" headpiece to Shen Qingyao. Xu Fengqiao immediately accused Lin Shaochun of embezzlement. Lin Shaochun then revealed that Sun Jingge was responsible. She claimed to Shen Qingyao that she had mistakenly docked Sun Jingge's monthly allowance by three "qian", causing him to get angry and create a disturbance in the storeroom, during which the headpiece accidentally fell into the river.
To stage this, Lin Shaochun deliberately docked Sun Jingge's allowance. When he came to confront her, Xiaocui discreetly hung a crude replica pearl headpiece (made by her mother) on his back. Lin Shaochun, Wu Yuehong, and Su Yingxue then "chased" Sun Jingge, who ran to a bridge. The replica headpiece "accidentally" fell into the lake, frightening Sun Jingge, who then hid.
Upon learning of the incident, Shen Qingyao reprimanded Xu Fengqiao and docked her and Sun Jingge's monthly allowance to cover the cost. After Xu Fengqiao scolded Sun Jingge, Lin Shaochun arrived to speak with her privately. Lin Shaochun returned the kickbacks Xu Fengqiao had received from the purchasing agents, stating that Rongshou's family, believing Xu Fengqiao would resume management, had used her name to demand these.
Lin Shaochun then tore up the old documentation of these dealings in front of a speechless Xu Fengqiao, exposing her charade with the pearl headpiece and warning her not to repeat such actions. Lin Shaochun expressed her desire for them to coexist peacefully and stabilize the family, warning that she would deal with anyone who caused chaos.
Lin Shaochun also privately promised Sun Jingge that she would not dock his pay again, and she and Sun Yulou would help bear part of the cost for the pearl headpiece. Meanwhile, Shen Qingyao was despondent, having brought a simple gift to Madame Zhang's banquet and feeling embarrassed by the other guests' lavish presents. Lin Shaochun found her sulking and offered to help her save face.
Knowing Madame Zhang's youthful love for dancing, Lin Shaochun performed a "Jinghong" tune on the pipa. Madame Zhang was moved and spontaneously began to dance. After the performance, a delighted Madame Zhang thanked Lin Shaochun, who graciously credited Shen Qingyao for the idea, further pleasing Madame Zhang, who then requested another song.
