PFC Chapter 114 Distributing Gifts
Chapter 114 Distributing Gifts
Seeing that Li Xiaoxiao had bought gifts for everyone but herself, Mrs. Bai said, "Xiaoxiao, why are you only buying gifts for us? See if there's anything you like and I'll buy it for you."
Hearing this, Li Xiaoxiao felt a warm feeling in her heart. "Mom, I have a lot of jewelry at home. Did you forget that Yun Che gave me a lot before, but I never wore them? No need to buy them."
"How can they be the same? What Yun Che gave was given by Yun Che. Take a look and see if there is anything you like. Mother will buy it for you." Bai Shi insisted.
Li Xiaoxiao couldn't persuade Bai, so she followed her into the shop to choose. She looked around and chose a jade bracelet. It was soft in texture, elegant in color, and very beautiful.
"How much is this bracelet?" asked Bai.
"Madam, you have a really good eye. This is top-quality Hetian jade, priced at eighty taels." The shopkeeper said with a smile.
When Mrs. Bai heard the price, she hesitated. Li Xiaoxiao quickly grabbed her hand and said, "Mom, it's too expensive. I don't want it."
But Bai was determined to buy it. She took out a silver note of one hundred taels from her bosom and handed it to the shopkeeper. Then she put the jade bracelet on Li Xiaoxiao's hand and said, "Mother hopes you will be safe and sound wearing it."
Li Xiaoxiao was deeply moved and hugged Bai and said, "Thank you, mother."
After paying, the few of them left the jewelry store satisfied with their gifts.
By this time, the sun had risen high in the sky, and the market was even busier. "It's getting late, let's go to the town entrance to find your grandmother and the others," said Mrs. Bai.
"Okay, Mom." Li Xiaoxiao replied.
They quickened their pace and headed towards the town entrance. Along the way, Li Xiaoxiao and his brothers and sisters chatted and laughed, feeling particularly happy.
On the way to the town entrance, Li Xiaoxiao discovered many interesting things. For example, an experienced artist was weaving various lifelike animals from bamboo strips, attracting the attention of many children. Nearby, a stall was filled with colorful sugar paintings. The craftsman skillfully sketched various designs on the board, drawing rounds of admiration. Li Xiaoxiao couldn't resist buying five sugar paintings each, giving one each to Li Fang and Li Linlin, and two more for her cousin Bai Qiwen and her cousin Bai Shao. Li Xiaoxiao carefully held the sugar paintings in her hands, feeling the sweetness and happiness.
When they were almost at the town gate, Li Xiaoxiao ran into her uncle and his family who were also on their way to the town. Li Xiaoxiao handed the sugar painting in her hand to Bai Qiwen and Bai Shao. "Cousin, cousin, here, this is the sugar painting I bought especially for you, take it quickly."
Bai Qiwen and Bai Shao took the sugar painting and said happily, "Thank you, Xiaoxiao."
Li Linlin on the side also said, "Cousin, cousin, this sugar painting is delicious, you should try it..." Looking at the children's happy smiles, Wang, Bai and others smiled at each other, and then they walked to the town entrance together to wait for Bai Jing and the others.
Not long after, Bai Jing and Li Jia also arrived at the town entrance. Seeing that everyone was gathered, they boarded the oxcarts, with Bai Dong and Bai Jing driving each one, slowly heading towards Lijia Village. The wind was biting, and the two oxcarts moved slowly through the snow. Li Xiaoxiaoniu gathered his thick cotton coat and pulled down the brim of his hat to ward off the chilly north wind.
Seeing this, Bai hurriedly asked Li Xiaoxiao to move closer. Li Xiaoxiao moved closer to Bai and asked Li Fang and Li Linlin to move closer as well. They all kept each other warm.
Li Xiaoxiao thought to herself that she must buy a carriage after the New Year. In order to keep a low profile and with the help of Bai Jing and Bai Dong, she rarely went to the town and had not considered buying a carriage. Now it was really uncomfortable to brave the cold wind.
Li Xiaoxiao and her younger brothers and sisters leaned together, sharing the warmth in each other's hands.
On the way home, they met returning villagers from time to time. Everyone greeted each other. Although the weather was very cold, it could not resist the joy of the upcoming New Year, and laughter and joy never stopped along the way.
Back home, Li Xiaoxiao and Bai Shi began to get busy. They sorted the ingredients they had bought, putting some in the kitchen to prepare lunch and some in reserve for the New Year. "Mom, why don't we invite my uncle and my younger uncle's families to celebrate the New Year together this year? It'll be more lively."
After hearing Li Xiaoxiao's suggestion, Mrs. Bai smiled and nodded, "Okay, I'll tell your uncle later."
Li Xiaoxiao clapped happily, it was great to celebrate the New Year with everyone!
At this time, there was a knock on the door. Li Xiaoxiao ran to open the door and saw his uncle and aunt standing at the door carrying New Year's goods.
"Xiaoxiao, we are here to bring you some New Year's goods." said the uncle with a smile.
Li Xiaoxiao quickly invited her uncle and aunt into the house, and everyone sat together and chatted about family matters.
Seeing Bai Dong and the other two coming over, Mrs. Bai smiled and said, "Xiao Xiao just suggested to me that we all have the New Year's Eve dinner together this year? And now you guys are here."
"That would be great!" Bai Dong agreed readily. "It would be great if all of our families could celebrate the New Year together and have a lively time!"
After dinner, Li Xiaoxiao took the opportunity to deliver the gifts that she bought in town that morning to Bai Jing and his wife and mentioned to them the idea of having New Year's Eve dinner together. Both of them agreed, so they decided to have this year's New Year's Eve dinner at Li Xiaoxiao's house.
After leaving Bai Jing's house, Li Xiaoxiao and Bai went back home again, took the gifts they bought for their grandmother and uncle's family, and then turned around and went to Bai Dong's house.
When they walked into the courtyard, Bai Dong's family was chatting and warming themselves by the fire in the main room. When they saw Li Xiaoxiao and her daughter coming, they quickly asked them to sit down and warm themselves by the fire together.
"Grandma, uncle, and aunt, I'm here to give you New Year gifts." After saying that, Li Xiaoxiao took out the new clothes she had bought in town that morning and gave them to everyone. She also took out the agate beads she had bought at the jewelry store from the basket and handed them to Wang. "Grandma, I made this especially for you. Do you like it?"
Wang Di took the agate necklace with a smile on his face, looked at it and scolded, "You kid, you bought new clothes for grandma, why did you buy such an expensive thing?"
"Grandma, please keep it. This is a little gift from me. I just hope you can be safe and healthy." After saying that, Li Xiaoxiao took out the jade pendants and other gifts for Bai Dong and others and gave them to the corresponding people. Everyone was very happy to receive Li Xiaoxiao's gifts, especially Bai Shao. Which little girl doesn't like beautiful jewelry? She kept looking at the hairpins and earrings given by Li Xiaoxiao. She was so fond of them that even her aunt beside her couldn't bear to watch.
Seeing everyone’s happy faces after receiving the gifts, Li Xiaoxiao felt that it was all worth it.
After chatting for a while, Li Xiaoxiao and Mrs. Bai said goodbye and went home. On the way, Mrs. Bai asked Li Xiaoxiao about her plans for the New Year's Eve dinner. Li Xiaoxiao excitedly said that she had already thought about it and would have hot pot for this year's dinner. As Li Xiaoxiao spoke, she imagined the lively scene of everyone sitting together eating hot pot and couldn't help laughing. Mrs. Bai also smiled and nodded. She always supported her daughter's ideas.
As night fell, every house was brightly lit. The Li family's yard was filled with the aroma of food, making people salivate.