It would be shopping at a clothing store. At a store like JC Penny, for example, they play music in the background to give a bit more cheerful mood. Kind of like the music played in a candy store, its give a more happy or cheerful feeling towards everyone around the store. I hope this helped you Astille897.
Strife means angry so it's bad it's negative connection. Weird means unusual so it's negative. Exhausting means making a person feel tired so it's negative. Caterwauling means a cat who yell which is annoying so it's negative. Begging means to ask someone for money gift etc so It's negative how the story said.