Song of Youth Episode 28 Recap
> Song of Youth Recap
Lin Shaochun realizes Sun Yulou deliberately left a lipstick mark to trick her, but she plays along, using the opportunity to compensate him for neglecting him. Her maid, Xiao Cui, admires Lin Shaochun's wisdom in marital relations and notes how Lin Shaochun, usually the one setting traps, fell for Sun Yulou's. Lin Shaochun admits Sun Yulou is good to her. Heavy rains destroyed Pan Shi Bridge, stopping grain transport and causing prices to spike in the capital.
Sun Xun requests funds from the Ministry of Revenue to repair it, but Liang Jingguan accuses him of attempted embezzlement. They argue before the Emperor, who, citing a treasury deficit, challenges them to find their own solutions, promising favor to whoever succeeds first. Liang Jingguan, confident, sends Jia Fengyuan to discover Sun Xun's strategy. However, Sun Xun sees through Jia Fengyuan's intentions and cleverly avoids revealing his plans, even making him agree a non-sour tea is sour.
Tao Yao, sold into a brothel by Chen Boyuan and forced to entertain clients even while pregnant and subjected to abuse, escapes while Chen Boyuan is drunk. She inadvertently hides in the back of Jia Fengyuan's carriage. Chen Boyuan, following her, finds a handkerchief dropped by Jia Fengyuan. At home, Jia Fengyuan discovers Tao Yao and, learning she knows Sun Shijie, brings her inside. Tao Yao tearfully recounts her ordeal and begs him to contact Sun Shijie.
Jia Fengyuan initially refuses to help and is uninterested when she attempts to seduce him. When she tries to commit suicide, Jia Fengyuan stops her, offering safety and riches if she obeys him. Chen Boyuan then arrives at Jia Fengyuan's residence, claiming Tao Yao is his runaway concubine and presenting her deed of sale. Jia Fengyuan hides Tao Yao, then tricks Chen Boyuan into drinking poisoned tea. Chen Boyuan passes out, and Jia Fengyuan destroys the deed.
Chen Boyuan wakes up in a prisoner's cart, having been exiled to the frontier after Jia Fengyuan accused him of trespassing and extortion. Yao Dizhu diligently helps Mr. Baicao treat injured soldiers. When Sun Junhao assists a resistant patient, tearing his clothes, Yao Dizhu offers to mend them, but Sun Junhao refuses and provocatively visits a brothel, embracing Hong Niangzi. Enraged, Yao Dizhu confronts him, but he ignores her, driving her away.
Hong Niangzi observes Sun Junhao's gaze and suggests he likes Yao Dizhu. Sun Junhao denies it, haunted by past tragedies with Qu Ling'er and Su Yingxue, fearing he would harm Yao Dizhu. Yao Dizhu complains to Mr. Baicao, deciding to give up on Sun Junhao, but Mr. Baicao assures her Sun Junhao's actions stem from affection, complicated by his role as commander amid renewed threats from the "Wild Wolves."
Inspired, Yao Dizhu dresses beautifully and visits the camp, charming soldiers who propose marriage. Sun Junhao, displeased, throws away her flower and scolds her. She argues that as a woman jilted in the capital, she needs a reliable husband. Sun Junhao, speechless, retreats to drink and orders his subordinate, A Jiu, to warn soldiers not to look at Yao Dizhu, threatening severe punishment. Soldiers subsequently avoid her. Yao Dizhu confronts Sun Junhao, accusing him of jealousy, which he doesn't deny.
She taunts him by saying she'll marry someone else, but he stops her. As she presses him to confess his feelings, news breaks that "Wild Wolves" have killed five people to provoke him. Sun Junhao rushes out, where black-clad attackers ambush him and Yao Dizhu. Sun Junhao protects her, then kills the attackers, who reveal "Wild Wolves" placed a 10,000-silver bounty on his head.
Yao Dizhu asks what he was about to say, but he coldly tells her to marry anyone she wishes, claiming indifference. Heartbroken but feigning strength, she vows to win him. Sun Junhao later confides in Hong Niangzi, who takes him to a tree hole by the river to share his worries. Wu Yuehong teaches children martial arts, while Sun Shijie teaches reading.
The children prefer martial arts but listen to Wu Yuehong due to her promise of candy, making Sun Shijie admire her increasingly. Wanting to reconcile with her, Sun Shijie seeks advice from Sun Yulou and Lin Shaochun. Lin Shaochun suggests sincerity, while Sun Yulou recommends visiting the wishing tree at Long En Temple. Later, at Long En Temple, Sun Yulou, Shen Shi, and others join Sun Shijie and Wu Yuehong in writing wishes.
One of Sun Shijie's wishes falls from the tree and is picked up by Wu Yuehong, who discovers his desire to be "like a pair of lovebirds" with her. Delighted, she embraces him.
