As farmers, the hairpins they wore on their heads were all made of common wood.
In the last couple of years, as the family’s situation had improved slightly, they felt extravagant enough to buy jewelry.
The couple had gifts from their sons and daughters, but none were made of sandalwood like these ornaments.
Seeing Grandpa Li and Grandma Li’s gazes, Ye Shiqi felt her considerations had been somewhat lacking. She had gifts for her cousins, so how could her grandparents be overlooked?
There was also Uncle, Young Uncle, their wives, elder aunt, and Uncle.
Calculating it all, many gifts were needed, and it may seem inconsequential whether such a small child like her gave them or not.
Yet it seemed as if she represented the entire family in gift-giving.
When Grandpa Li and Grandma Li celebrated their birthdays, she hadn’t yet carved these ornaments, but later, when she did, she made sure to include all of her closest relatives.
For Grandpa Li and Grandma Li, she made more than one piece, creating combs and wooden hairpins for them.
Ye Shiqi took out several wooden objects from her pocket and said to her grandparents,
"Grandpa Li, Grandma Li, these are for you!"
Ye Shiqi didn’t know if other couples would use the same comb, as everyone has their own personal items, especially men in ancient times, whose long hair would easily break without a decent comb.
Ordinary people could afford cow horn combs, which were already a bit more expensive than plain wooden ones.
The couple’s combs were different, as were the wooden hairpins; you could say the patterns were different, the men’s were carved with auspicious clouds, the women’s with magpies.
Ye Shiqi dared not carve dragons and phoenixes, for while Pixiu could be worn by ordinary people, dragons and phoenixes had to be worn according to social status. If outsiders saw them and reported it to the authorities, one could be fined or even imprisoned.
Even the peony, after becoming the national flower, was something ordinary people dared not wear.
"These are for us? Our granddaughter is so sweet!"
Looking at the beautiful combs and ornaments, the couple held their gifts in their hands, unable to let go out of love!
There were no tears during the New Year’s celebrations, but now they were laughing so hard that they cried.
Seeing how happy her grandparents were, Ye Shiqi also felt that the hard work she put into carving was worth it.
So, she didn’t rest and started giving gifts to her cousins!
The teenagers, both boys and girls, received a gift each and wore them with joy.
Then they looked at each other’s ornaments and laughed happily without stopping.
The living room was not exclusive to them; there were also other relatives, all watching with envy.
Boys and girls tugged at the hands of their family members, hoping their elders would help them ask for a gift.
They looked on with envy, as close relatives, yet not as close.
The other relatives, seeing this line of people receiving gifts, were also envious, especially of the gifts given to Grandpa Li and Grandma Li.
Those who came to the Li family on the second day of the New Year were also somewhat closer relatives, perhaps some intentionally chose this day to visit and see Hongji’s family.
In the past two years, many able-bodied relatives had leveraged their connections to find work at Ye’s Mansion or the wood factory.
With envious praise, they lauded that the Li family had a good daughter and chose a good son-in-law.
They felt it improper to expect such a small child to give them gifts, or their children.
Grandpa Li and Grandma Li smiled with pride, yet humbly replied.
The boys and girls who had already put on their ornaments didn’t care about the envious gazes; they were eager to show off their fine jewelry to their parents.
Ye Shiqi hadn’t given gifts in secret when no other relatives were around, not to show off to the relatives.
The gifts she had given would be known by the other relatives eventually. Giving a gift was not something to be done in secrecy.
Expecting this, she had two bags in her hand with gifts still not given out, intended for boys and girls’ wear, each child receiving only one piece of jewelry, just like the others.
Ye Shiqi did not give away all the hair accessories she held, as some were gifts she had received. They couldn’t all be re-gifted.
Having received an ornament each, the boys and girls were happy and spoke with their parents, who smiled broadly even though they themselves hadn’t received anything.
Knowing such ornaments were not cheap, it wasn’t anyone’s fault for not giving; relatives couldn’t just demand gifts.
After giving these items, Ye Shiqi stopped handing out gifts and decided to wait until Uncle and Young Uncle and their wives were about to leave before presenting their presents.