拔茅连茹

lit. pull up a plant and the roots follow (idiom); fig. also involving others / inextricably tangled together / Invite one and he'll tell all his friends.

to pull up / to pull out / to draw out by suction / to select / to pick / to stand out (above level) / to surpass / to seize

surname Mao

reeds / rushes

surname Lian

to link / to join / to connect / continuously / in succession / including / (used with 也[ye3], 都[dou1] etc) even / company (military)

surname Ru

to eat / (extended meaning) to endure / putrid smell / vegetables / roots (inextricably attached to the plant)