Butterfly Lovers

Butterfly Lovers

A long long time ago, there was a landlord called Zhu. He had a beautiful, smart and enthusiastic daughter called Zhu Yingtai. The girl was not permitted to go to school because only boys were allowed to get educated during this time. So she had to stay at home and every day she used to look at students coming and going to the school in the street through her window. She envied them very much and one day she thought: Why do girls have to stay at home? Why can't I go to school? 

Then she went back to her parents and said courageously: "Father, Mother, I am willing to go to school in Hangzhou. If school is for only boys, I will act like a boy and dress like other students; no one will recognize that I am a girl. I am begging you to let me!"

“No, you can not go outside and go to school. You are a lady, lady who goes to school is an immoral and corrupt girl.”

In the beginning elders refused, but a few days later they decided to let her go.

“Your father and i will give you permission if you agree with our arrangement about your marriage. We think leaning knowledge or skills will help you marry with a rich man.”

The next day, Yingtai and her maids dressed her in man's suit and she set out to Hangzhou happily after bidding a farewell to her parents. Yingtai didn’t know that this journey to college would change her life. But her fate was destined by a sad ending.  

At school she met a classmate named Liang Shanbo, who is excellent student but he is from poor family. The first time they saw each other, both of them felt like they had known each other for a long time. Since that day, they started to be friends and had a lot of fun together. One day, they decided to become sworn brothers and got close to each other. Liang Shanbo had to study hard to pass the government officer exam because it was the only chance for students from poor families. Meanwhile, his mother could not provide enough money to pay anything expect his tuition. Liang Shanbo had to have a part-time job in college, such as cleaning classroom or ringing a bell. Zhu Yingtai knew about his financial problem, so she shared food with him and helped him to finish his jobs.

Spring went; autumn came. Time flew as fast as an arrow; three years had passed. Love was in full bloom of beautiful rose. One day Yingtai received a letter from her parents that they wanted her to go back home. And she realized that it was time to say goodbye to Liang Shanbo and her school life. Liang also was so sad about her going home, but he still didn’t know about Yingtai was actually a girl. “I think i lost my heart to yingtai. Rita, my dear teacher, am i crazy? He is my bother, i can not believe my lover and my soul mate is a guy.”

Before she left, Yintai invited Shanbo to walk along peaceful and beautiful stream; both of them didn’t have the heart to break this kind of sad atmosphere.

“I hope you can pass the exam successfully” Yingtai said “and I know you will have good job and marry to someone lucky.”

“Do you have sister who looks like you and as kind as you? If you have, I want to propose to her.” Shanbo asked her.

“Yes, I have one younger sister. We look the same, and her personality is the same as mine. I had written letter to her about you, and I think she likes you because she always wants to hear about you.” Yingtai said bashfully, “she said she wouldn’t refuse, if you propose her after you became officer.”