在1921年的秋季，西沙遭遇了极为严重的水灾，这场自然灾害威胁到了当地农民的生存。许多人面临着断炊的危险，而地主们依旧坚持按年收取租金。在这种背景下，刘万芳这位勇敢的女性领导者发起了抗争。她联合了一些同样对待这样的状况感到愤怒和绝望的人，如袁守元、范崇英等，共同策划了一次大规模的农民运动。
他们组织了数千名农民前往县城，与当局交涉减轻租金负担。刘万芳及其他十位代表与县知事进行了直接谈判，最终迫使知事作出了让步。这一行动不仅成功减轻了农民们的经济负担，而且还打击了一些逼迫农民支付高额租金的地主。
紧接着，在1922年，他们又一次集结数千名farmers, attacked the Three Lights Town Hall, which was a stronghold of landlords who supported the oppressive regime. This bold move not only brought fear to those who had once bullied and oppressed the farmers but also sent a powerful message to all.
As a result, local authorities filed lawsuits against Liu Wanfang and other leaders of the movement. To defend themselves, they had to raise funds for legal fees. In response, tens of thousands of farmers marched into town in solidarity with their leaders. Ultimately, they emerged victorious in court.
This remarkable struggle led by Liu Wanfang is remembered as "The West Field Movement" in the annals of Chongming's history. The following year (1926), party representatives Lande Qiang and Yushucai came to West Field to organize agricultural movements and took up residence at Liu's home under her hospitality.
Under their guidance, Liu joined the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) and began working under its leadership on agricultural movements in West Field. She played a key role in establishing an Agricultural Association for County Farmers' Cooperatives and held influential speeches during rent negotiations with county officials.
In 1930-31 after several years fighting for justice without success she was arrested by Nationalist forces while attempting to flee from Chongming county; later imprisoned in Nanjing jailhouse where she died at age 55 due to ill-treatment conditions within prison walls.
Liu Wanfang dedicated her life fighting against injustice towards ordinary people like herself – small-scale landowners - seeking better living conditions through collective action that would pave way for future generations advocating social change via peaceful means rather than violent rebellion or revolution alone as seen elsewhere across China during this tumultuous period known as The Great Leap Forward era when millions lost lives amidst failed policies aimed at rapid industrialization & economic growth leading national pride among citizens worldwide!