Li Niang Gui Yuan (Li Niang's Bitterness) was adapted from the novel Yu Li Hun (The Soul of Yuli) written during the early Republic of China (1912-1949) and it tells a story about Li Niang, who and her husband love each other deeply. Unfortunately, her husband dies when he's still young and leaves a little child and his old father with her. Li Niang's life is miserable but she tries to overcome all difficulties. While choosing a tutor for her child, she gets to know a man named He Mengxia. He loves her very much but she dare not accept his love due to restrictions of feudal ethics. Finally, He Mengxia leaves her for other places and joins a revolution. After he returns, he finds that Li Niang has already passed away. He is so sad that he rejoins the revolution and dies in the end.

Li Niang Gui Yuan was written by famous writer Jin Mengping and it depicts Li Niang's inner world in face of her family, her husband, her child and He Mengxia in detail. The description is of particularity and profundity with elegant words and expressions. With the outstanding performance of noted Yuequ artist Yan Shufang, Li Niang Gui Yuan becomes a piece of the favorite Yuequ work for many people. In addition, Li Niang Gui Yuan is rare in terms of selecting subject matter of the kind.