Story 2: Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai

Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai

Author: Anonymous

Once upon a time there was a landowner named Zhu, known as Zhu Yuanwai. His daughter Zhu Yingtai was not only beautiful and generous, but also very smart and studious. But since women were not allowed to study in schools in ancient times, Zhu Yingtai had no choice but to lean on the window railing every day, watching the scholars coming and going on the street carrying book boxes, and she felt extremely envious!

Can women only do embroidery at home? Why can’t I go to school? She suddenly asked herself: Yes! Why can’t I go to school?

Thinking of this, Zhu Yingtai hurried back to her room and mustered up the courage to ask her parents: “Dad, Mom, I want to go to Hangzhou to study. I can wear men’s clothes and pretend to be a man, and I will not let others recognize me. Just promise me!” Zhu Yuanwai and his wife disagreed at first, but couldn’t stand Yingtai’s coquettish pleading, so they had to agree.

Early the next morning, just after dawn, Zhu Yingtai and her maid dressed in men’s clothes, said goodbye to their parents, took their book boxes, and happily set off for Hangzhou.

On her first day at school, Zhu Yingtai met a male classmate named Liang Shanbo, who was outstanding in knowledge and character. She thought: If such a good person could be together every day, he would definitely learn a lot and be very happy.

Liang Shanbo also felt that he was very close to her and felt like old friends at first sight. As a result, they often wrote poems and talked together, and they were in love with each other. They cared about each other and stayed side by side, becoming childhood sweethearts. Later, the two became sworn brothers and were inseparable all the time.

Spring has passed and autumn has come, and three years have passed in a flash. The school year is over, and it is time to pack up, say goodbye to teachers, and return to my hometown. After being classmates for three years, Zhu Yingtai has fallen deeply in love with her brother Liang. Although Liang Shanbo didn’t know that Zhu Yingtai was a girl, he also admired her very much. They reluctantly parted ways, and after returning home, they missed each other day and night.

A few months later, Liang Shanbo visited Zhu’s family. The result surprised and delighted him. It turned out that the Zhu Yingtai he saw at this time was no longer the handsome little scholar, but a young and beautiful girl. The moment they saw each other again, they both understood their feelings for each other, and they were already close to each other.

After that, Liang Shanbo invited people to Zhu’s house to propose marriage. But how could Zhu Yuanwai like this poor scholar? He had already betrothed his daughter to the young master Ma Gongzi from a wealthy family. Liang Shanbo suddenly felt hopeless and couldn’t afford to fall ill, and died soon after.

Upon hearing the news of Liang Shanbo’s death, Zhu Yingtai, who had been fighting against her parents against arranged marriages, suddenly became unusually calm. She put on a red dress and a red skirt and walked into the sedan chair to welcome the bride. The procession to welcome the bride was beating gongs and drums all the way, it was so lively! When passing by Liang Shanbo’s grave, sand and stones suddenly flew around, and the sedan chair had to stop.

I saw Zhu Yingtai stepping out of the sedan chair, taking off her red clothes and wearing plain clothes. She walked slowly to the tomb, knelt down, and cried loudly. Suddenly, the wind and rain shook, there was loud thunder, and with a “boom”, the tomb opened. Zhu Yingtai Tai seemed to see the gentle face of her brother Liang again, and she jumped in with a smile. Then there was another loud bang and the tomb closed.

At this time, the wind dissipated and the sky cleared after the rain. Various wildflowers swayed gently in the wind, and a pair of beautiful butterflies flew out from the grave and danced freely in the sunshine.

Source: China Folktales Network

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