The three heroines of the novel, Pan Jinlian, Li Ping'er, and Pang Chunmei, are composed of one word each. The theme of the novel evolved from the scene in "Water Margin" in which Wu Song kills his sister-in-law. Through the description of Ximen Qing, a representative of the philistine forces who has three identities: bureaucrat, bully, and wealthy businessman, and his family's sinful life, it reflects the appearance of folk life at that time and describes The book depicts a ghostly world consisting of the imperial masters who wielded power and dictatorship in the imperial court, down to the local bureaucratic bullies and even the ruffians, hooligans, eunuchs, and gangsters in the market. It exposes the darkness and corruption of the society in the mid-Ming Dynasty, and has profound cognitive value. It is listed as the first of the "Four Wonderful Books" of the Ming Dynasty.
