to ally / to unite / to join / (poetry) antithetical couplet
联
=
关
+
耳
:
Li Qingzhao (li) invented a machine able to combine (联) her hair into braids, and she is trying it out for the first time in the anthill's kitchen (an2). Just as the machine starts Li Qingzhao realizes it is going to combine both of her ears (耳) into one braid she quickly hits the machine's off button (关).
oath / pledge / union / to ally / league, a subdivision corresponding to prefecture in Inner Mongolia
盟
=
明
+
皿
:
Mahatma Gandhi (m) is searching his shallow bowl (皿) in the darkness of the engine's kitchen ((e)ng2) using a search light (明). He swears (盟) that if he ever looses it again he'll go absolutely mad.