Once upon a time, there was a landlord surnamed Zhu who was called Councillor Zhu. He had a daughter named Zhu Yingtai. Yingtai has been smart and eager to learn since she was young. She is eager to go to school like others. But girls at that time could not go to school. She had to lean against the window bars every day and looked at the scholars coming and going on the street, admiring them very much.
One day, she finally got up the courage to ask her parents: "Mom and Dad, I want to go to Hangzhou to study. I can dress up as a man, and I will not be recognized by others, so you can promise me!" I wish the couple outside the Councillor didn't agree at first, but they couldn't help but plead with Yingtai, so they had to answer.
So Zhu Yingtai disguised herself as a man, said goodbye to her parents, took her bookcase and went to Hangzhou to study happily.
In the school, Zhu Yingtai met her classmate Liang Shanbo. Liang Shanbo comes from a farmer's family. He is kind, simple, hardworking and eager to learn. When Zhu Yingtai saw Liang Shanbo's outstanding knowledge, he often asked him for advice. Liang Shanbo also felt that he was very congenial to Zhu Yingtai. During the days of reading together and getting along with her every day, the relationship between the two became better and better, but Liang Shanbo never found Zhu Yingtai was a girl, but Zhu Yingtai secretly fell in love with the poor scholar.
Spring passed and autumn came. Three years later, they were about to return home. Liang Shanbo sent Zhu Yingtai off one trip after another with the feeling of parting. Finally, the two agreed to meet at Zhu Yingtai's home in a month.
When they got home, they both missed each other very much. A month later, Liang Shanbo was invited to visit Zhu's family. Liang Shanbo was surprised that Zhu Yingtai, who had taken off her men's clothes, suddenly became a young and beautiful woman. At that moment, both of them understood that the feelings between them were not simply the friendship of schoolmates, but the mutual affinity between men and women, vowing not to separate.
So Liang Shanbo decided to propose marriage to Councillor Zhu, but how could Councillor Zhu look up to this poor scholar? He had already betrothed his daughter to Mr. Ma, the young master of the local rich family. Despite Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai's entreaties, Councillor Zhu still refuses to agree to the marriage.
Liang Shanbo was disillusioned. When he returned home, he fell ill of love and soon died of illness at home.
Hearing this sad news, Zhu Yingtai, who had been struggling with her parents, suddenly became very calm and agreed to marry with Mr. Ma. On the wedding day, Zhu Yingtai put on her red dress and bridal sedan chair.
When the wedding procession passed Liang Shanbo's grave, suddenly the sand and stones flew all over the sky, and the procession had to stop.
Zhu Yingtai stepped out of the sedan chair and came to Liang Shanbo's tomb. She burst into tears and was overwhelmed with grief. God seemed to be moved. Suddenly, lightning flashed, thunder thundered, and wind and rain came. Suddenly, the tomb opened. Zhu Yingtai shouted Liang Shanbo's name and jumped down resolutely. The grave closed again with a loud noise.
After the rain, a rainbow appeared in the sky. A pair of beautiful butterflies fly from the grave and dance freely in the sun. People say that those two butterflies are the incarnations of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai. They stay together and live together. They fly everywhere without separation.