Zhang Ailing's novel, The Story of the Golden Lock, was a long novel that described the social class of Shanghai in the 1930s. It told the story of a young woman, Jin Suo, who grew up from an innocent and lively girl full of dreams to a twisted, dark and cold woman. From the perspective of Jinsuo, the novel reveals the dark side of society and the distortion of human nature through her relationship with many men. The novel's concise language, exquisite plot twists and turns, and rich emotions are considered one of Zhang Ailing's representative works.