In the sixteenth year of Yongxing, that Spring Festival was the worst New Year the Yan Family ever had.
Originally, with the arrival of Old Madam Yan and the third branch of the family, this should have been the most complete year for the Yan Family, but from the end of the year to the beginning of the New Year, a somber and oppressive atmosphere enveloped the household.
With Old Madam Yan holding the highest status in the family and Madam Li in charge of the finances feeling discontent, no one else could find it in themselves to be cheerful even if they wished to.
In dealing with outsiders, Madam Li paid close attention to keeping up appearances for the sake of the Yan Family's reputation, and she prepared all sorts of New Year items thoroughly, but when it came to things for the Yan Family's own use, she became perfunctory.
