Female Novel
Chapter 328 One Happy Family
Chapter 328 One Happy Family
A few days later was a big holiday.
A day of festivities around the nation.
Since they were in Eqitin, they had to celebrate together, so that afternoon, Natalia brought Anne and
Joy back to the old household.
It was the holidays, but Archie still had some business to take care of in the office and wouldn't get
back until later.
Natalia gave him a call beforehand and had him get back to the old household right after he was done
instead of heading back to Pinewood Manor.
The old household was bustling activity. It was rare for them to get back together like one big happy
family.
Ariana was overjoyed recently. You couldn't blame her. In past holidays, either Archie was overseas or
Faye couldn't make it back. Even if they came back, having only four people there made it feel a bit
lonely.
This year was different. Seeing her children and grandchildren surround her, Ariana felt a surge of
warmth and appeared younger by several years.
It was the holidays, so as a McCarthy, Faye did have to come back for such a big day.novelbin
Considering Natalia, though, Ariana did ask her about it indirectly to the side.
Natalia didn't have too big a grudge against Faye. Faye had only had to leave the country because of
the prospecting incident, so it didn't have too much to do with her.
Now that the prospecting scene was about dealt with, it was natural that she'd come back.
Natalia smiled and soothed the old lady. Seeing that she was fine with it, Ariana relaxed.
That afternoon, Faye was on Natalia's heels as they went back to the old home.
The two bumped into each other as they entered. Faye still looked as proud as ever, but with her recent
blow, she didn't act out as much. As unwilling as she was to see her, she simply scoffed and headed
inside without saying anything.
Natalia didn't bring it up against her.
She felt that it really wasn't easy for someone who was almost forty to still behave like a teenager.
Of course there was the pampering of the McCarthy family, but also because she was pure and
believed anything anyone said, her mind often couldn't turn corners.
Getting mad with someone like this would accomplish nothing other than making oneself
uncomfortable.
Natalia always treated herself well. If she wouldn't benefit from it, she couldn't be bothered to do it.
The old household hung with festive decorations and looked more joyous than ever.
After going in, Natalia had Anne go play around herself. Helen and another servant in the old
household took care of Joy, while she herself went into the kitchens to look for Ariana.
For the most important festival in the year, the old lady had always liked to get down and dirty herself to
make something nice for the family. This was a tradition of decades.
And considering Eqitin was far north in the country and cold, at this time of year, it was popular to eat
dumplings.
Since Ariana and Faye had grown up in the north, they were naturally no strangers to the dish.
But Natalia had grown up in Julio. Being a city in the south, she didn't have dumplings or noodles too
often.
So she was the only person in the entire family who didn't know how to make the darned things while
everyone else could.
She was a little embarrassed, while the old lady simply smiled, "If you want to learn how, come over
and I'll teach you."
Faye looked at her, wanting to poke fun, but paused, thought of something, and didn't speak.
Not noticing her expressions, Natalia heard Ariana's words and swallowed her lack of confidence as
she washed her hands and bit the bullet.
Other than the servants, there were only the three of them wrapping dumplings.
Archie came back at half past five and started playing chess with William.
Ariana slowed down her movements and said, "Look here. Put this meat in here, then pinch it here,
hold it still in the center with your left hand like an axis. Follow up with your right hand and circle around
it to make a pattern. That makes it both pretty and delicious. Try it."
Natalia stared at the old lady's motions and got the basics.
She nodded. "Okay. I'll give it a try."
But somethings were easier said than done.
She'd never known that it was this difficult to wrap dumplings.
The dough almost looked alive in the old lady's hands, following her every whim.
But in her own hands, they either stayed stubbornly still or ended up horrifically deformed as she
pinched them.
Putting too little meat in there ended up with a deflated center, but too much and it burst out.
She grew a bit frantic.
Seeing that, Ariana burst out laughing.
"It's no rush, take your time. It's easy! Try doing a few more and you'll pick it up soon enough."
Natalia blushed, feeling clumsy for the first time in her life.
Seeing the old lady twist her neck, she put her own dough down. "You must be tired, Mom! I'll help you
up to rest a while."
The old lady had been happy to get up early, so she'd worked all through the day already.
Ariana nodded.
"All right! Once the dumplings are done, take Anne to the square over there to watch the fireworks. And
get Archie to stop playing chess to take Natalia over too. There a bunch of the kids who grew up here
over there and it's great fun. Don't leave the young ones at home."
Nodding, Faye took her gloves off.
Only then did Ariana take her arm and go upstairs to rest.
Natalia continued to tackle the dumpling dough. They'd made enough for the night, but she didn't want
to give up.
She'd always been good with her hands and picked up anything she put her mind to. She didn't think
she'd be losing to a bit of flour.
No, she had to get it right.
As she struggled, a chuckle rang out from behind.
She jumped, turned around, and saw Archie standing behind her, looking at her motions and holding in
his laughter. Seemed like he'd been holding it in for a while.
Natalia went red and turned around, mumbling, "How long have you been here? Why didn't you say
anything?"
"I said something, but you were too focused wrapping dumplings and didn't notice."
The man walked up and looked at her failed products, unable to help laughing. "You're using too much
force. With the right technique, you don't need too much strength. Look, it's all twisted now."
Ariana had just laughed at her, and she was feeling down enough, and now he was coming over to
poke fun too.
She felt a surge of embarrassment and snapped, "Well, then you do it if you're so great!"
Archie cocked his eyebrow and actually went and washed his hands, put on his gloves, then started
wrapping dumplings.
Natalia stared.
The snowy white dough came alive in his broad palm.
Soon enough, he produced a pretty-looking dumpling.
Her eyes bugged out.
Archie winked at her.
Utterly defeated, Natalia said dejectedly, "Why can't I pick up something that looks so simple?"