Once upon a time, there was a landlord surnamed Zhu. The informal minister had a daughter named Thu Yingtai, who was gorgeous， intelligent and studious. Traditions of that era discouraged females from going to school. Therefore, Zhu Yingtai reclined on the lattices all day long to admire those students strolling along the street with their bookcases on the back. She envied them very much and thought: why should females stay at home and excercise embroidering? Why I can't go to school?

Suddenly she went back to the room and told her parents with courage: “Dad, mom, I want to go to Hangzhou to have classes. I can wear man's garments and act like a man and I will not be recognized. I promise. Please let me go, please!” The old couple didn't agree at first but had to do so later because Yingtai implored continually.

The next morning, Yingtai and her maid all in man's suits set out to Hangzhou happily after bidding a farewell to her parents. At school she met a classmate named Liang Shanbo who was excellent and knowledgeable. They were like old friends just the moment they saw each other for the first sight. The two talked and discussed together a lot from then on. Later, they decided to be sworn brothers and became more intimate than before.