Lesson Content:
According to legend, in the period of the Eastern Jin dynasty, in Zhejiang Province, the landlord Zhu had a daughter, Zhu Yingtai. She was a beautiful and intelligent girl, lively, sincere and stubborn. From childhood she was fond of studying, she was thoroughly accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. Later, she convinced her parents to let her go study in Hangzhou, disguised in man's clothes. Soon on her journey she met with a young scholar, Liang Shanbo. The two were closely associated, showing deep feelings for each other. 3 years later, before Yingtai returned home, she entrusted her teacher's wife to act as matchmaker and to call on Shanbo to propose marriage. When Liang Shanbo was sending her off on the road, Yingtai many times didn't behave as to suggest she was a woman. But Liang Shanbo was honest and considerate. All along, he didn't grasp her intention. Later, Liang Shanbo knew the truth after pointers from the teacher's wife. It would be expected that her father would betrothe her to another man. No matter how Yingtai implored in every possible way, her father decided not to cancel the marriage. Liang Shanbo learned about it later, like a bolt from the blue. When he returned home he was overcome with grief and indignation. He fell ill and died. Yingtai heard that Shanbo killed himself, he was heart-broken and sorrowful. Soon, Yingtai was forced to get married. The bridal sedan chair made a detour to get to Liang Shanbo's grave. Yingtai insisted on getting off the sedan chair. All of a sudden, it became chilly and gloomy with wind and rain. Liang Shanbo's grave burst open. Yingtai fearlessly jumped in and suddenly the wind stopped and the rain too. The sky turned sunny again. A pair of butterflies danced into the sky from the grave.