It focuses on the delicate scenes depicting the ecology of ancient women and the intimate life among customers, and at the same time outlines a complex and diverse group of characters including promiscuous women, market scoundrels, those dependent on the powerful, greedy and corrupt officials, shrewd businessmen, and opera artists. The article describes bizarre social phenomena such as how cunning women resort to deception, mediocre officials abuse their power, secret collusion between officials and businessmen, and the use of public power to avenge private grudges.
