Explore Chapter 30 of 'Spring Ming Outer History' with the original Chinese text, English translation, detailed Chinese vocabulary explanations, and audio of the Chinese original. Listen and improve your reading skills.
A few days had passed since Yang Xingyuan and He Jianchen returned from the Amusement Park. That afternoon, Yang Xingyuan was reading the newspaper in the Guild Hall when a servant brought in a letter. Yang Xingyuan took it and saw it was from He Jianchen, inviting him to a small restaurant for a meal and a chat. Deeming it a good idea, he changed clothes and took a carriage to the appointed place.
Upon arriving at the restaurant, He Jianchen was already waiting. The two ordered dishes and chatted while eating. He Jianchen said, "There's something new today, have you heard?" Yang Xingyuan asked what it was. He Jianchen laughed and said, "A friend has organized something called the 'Women's Brigade,' all female students, and they want to form a 'Sisterhood Alliance,' causing quite a stir." Yang Xingyuan said, "What kind of thing is this?" He Jianchen replied, "It's just some young people following the trend, creating these motley societies. Tonight, they're gathering in the courtyard next to Pine and Bamboo House. Shall we go and take a look?"
Yang Xingyuan originally did not want to go, but He Jianchen said they would only look and not participate, so Yang Xingyuan agreed. After finishing the meal, the two headed towards Pine and Bamboo House. Upon arriving, they saw several carriages parked at the courtyard gate, and laughter could be heard from inside. He Jianchen pulled Yang Xingyuan, and they entered through a side door, hiding in a side room to peek.
They saw several tables set up in the courtyard. About a dozen women were seated, all around twenty years old. They wore various clothes; some had cut their hair short, resembling male students. In the center, a woman stood on the steps, speaking loudly: "We women must unite to strive for freedom and break free from the constraints of men. Today, we become sisters and establish the Sisterhood Alliance, supporting each other from now on." She spoke passionately, but her words were chaotic and incoherent, now talking of women's liberation, now of emulating male courage.
Several other women nearby joined in the commotion, some clapping, some cheering. Yang Xingyuan looked closely: a few faces seemed familiar, likely students from some academy, yet their attire was so outlandish it truly blurred the lines between the sexes. Just then, several men burst in from outside. Their leader pointed at the orator and railed, "Shameless creature! How dare you stir up trouble here!" It turned out these men were family members of some of the women. Having heard of their gathering, they had come to seize them.
Thus, a quarrel broke out between the two sides. The women did not back down, forming a circle and pushing against the men, instantly descending into a melee. Tables were overturned, teapots shattered, and chaos ensued. He Jianchen and Yang Xingyuan watched dumbfounded, though wishing to mediate, found themselves in no position to do so. After a while, it was only when the police arrived that the two sides were separated.
Yang Xingyuan shook his head and said to He Jianchen, "What a pointless uproar!" He Jianchen also laughed and said, "Let's go, there's nothing worth seeing." The two then quietly slipped away. Returning to the newspaper office, Yang Xingyuan was still tickled by the absurdity of it all and wrote a short commentary satirizing this so-called new-style organization.