In "The Golden Vase of Plums", the love story between Ximenqing and Pan Jinlian has always been the focus of attention. Although their relationship is full of controversy and criticism, we cannot deny that Ximenqing does have deep feelings for Pan Jinlian. So, why did Ximenqing like Pan Jinlian back then? There are three main reasons.
First of all, Pan Jinlian's beauty is one of the important factors that attract Ximenqing. In "The Golden Vase of Plums", Pan Jinlian is described as a beautiful and moving woman, whose beauty not only attracts Ximenqing, but also makes many men fall in love with her. As a wealthy businessman, Ximenqing has no shortage of beauties around him, but he has a soft spot for Pan Jinlian's beauty, mainly because Pan Jinlian's beauty reveals a bewitching and charming atmosphere, which makes Ximenqing feel a unique charm.
Secondly, Pan Jinlian's ingenuity is also one of the reasons for attracting Ximenqing. At that time, women were generally less educated, but Pan Jinlian was an exception. She is smart and witty, and she is good at dealing with all kinds of complex situations, which makes Ximenqing feel admired and appreciated. In business operations and social situations, Pan Jinlian's ingenuity provided valuable advice and assistance to Ximenqing, which made the relationship between the two closer.
Finally, Pan Jinlian's personality is also an important reason why Ximenqing likes her. In "The Golden Vase of Plums", Pan Jinlian is a woman with an independent personality who dares to pursue her own happiness. She would not give up her choice because of the pressure of society, and this personality was very rare in the society at that time. As a businessman, Ximenqing is good at recognizing and employing people, and he appreciates those who dare to challenge tradition and think independently. Therefore, Pan Jinlian's personality traits have also become an important factor that attracts him.
To sum up, the reason why Ximenqing liked Pan Jinlian back then was mainly because of Pan Jinlian's beauty, intelligence and personality. These three reasons are intertwined with each other, and together constitute Ximenqing's deep feelings for Pan Jinlian. However, we should also see that this kind of affection is not pure, beautiful love, but is based on the pursuit of power, wealth, and desire. Therefore, we should maintain an objective and rational attitude when evaluating this relationship.