Chapter 722: The Proactive Raina

The bustling first month of the lunar year passed in the blink of an eye, and soon it was the fifteenth. Little Una was growing exceptionally well. His wrinkled face had become fair and tender, and his eyes had opened. He looked just like Lana Steiner, with delicate features.

However, the doctor had advised them early on that Una needed to be raised with great care. Because Lana Steiner’s health was poor and she had been on medication for years, it would inevitably affect Una’s constitution. The doctor said Una might have respiratory issues and a weaker digestive system. In short, he was born with a delicate constitution, but as long as they were careful, the child would surely grow up healthy and strong.

Frederick Thorne and his wife were already extremely content. They had thought they would be childless their whole lives, but now heaven had blessed them with an adorable son. What did a few minor health problems matter? They had all the patience in the world and would definitely raise their son to be plump and healthy.

"Grandma, I want to roll sweet rice balls too."

After teasing little Una for a while, Tang Xiaonan ran out to help roll sweet rice balls. On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, every household had to eat them. Raina had kneaded a large basin of rice flour dough early that morning—a mix of seventy percent japonica rice flour and thirty percent glutinous rice flour—which she then rolled into balls. In Vessaria, they were called ’tangtuan,’ but it meant the same thing.

However, in Vessaria, these rice balls were savory. Much like how they prepared rice cakes, they would boil the balls with some green vegetables. The savory dish was delicious.

Of course, there were sweet versions too, but Tang Xiaonan preferred the savory kind. Whether it was zongzi or tangyuan, she only liked them savory.

"Here, take this and go roll it."

Raina, thinking Tang Xiaonan was just getting in the way, pinched off a small piece of dough and shoved it at her, letting her play with it. Tang Xiaonan pouted. ’I can totally roll them properly. Why can’t she trust me a little more?’

’What’s the point of rolling such a tiny piece of dough? I don’t even want to bother.’

Feeling huffy, Tang Xiaonan tossed the dough back into the basin and went outside to find Jim Thorne and the others to play. ’If she won’t let me roll them, fine. I’ll just eat the finished ones.’

Raina muttered, "I knew she had no patience. She got tired of it before she even started playing. When Xiaonan gets a little older, Phoebe, you need to teach her how to do chores properly. Don’t let her grow up not knowing how to do anything. When she gets married, she won’t even know how to cook rice."

"Xiaonan is only seven. It’s too early for that," Phoebe Huxley retorted, displeased. ’If my daughter doesn’t know how, then she doesn’t know how. So what? If she marries Adrian Hawthorne, she’ll live close by anyway. If she can’t cook, she can just come home to eat. What’s the big deal?’

"It’s not too early. If you don’t teach her now, you won’t be able to when she’s older."

Raina continued to nag. This made Felix Thorne, who was kneading the dough, even more unhappy. He slapped the dough hard a few times and said irritably, "It’s no big deal if she doesn’t learn. We’ll just have to find her a son-in-law who can cook, won’t we?"

’Why must the woman be the one to cook? There’s no law that says so.’ Felix Thorne decided that "must know how to cook" had to be added to the list of criteria for his future son-in-law.

Raina shot him a glare and snapped, "What man knows how to cook? Do you? With the way you two think, Xiaonan is going to suffer later on. Fine, I won’t count on either of you. In another two years, I’ll teach Xiaonan myself."

’While I’m still able, I have to teach my granddaughter how to cook, do laundry, and make shoes. These are essential skills for a young woman. Otherwise, she’ll never find a good husband’s family.’

Phoebe Huxley pursed her lips. ’I don’t really care either way, but I doubt Felix Thorne would agree. Xiaonan is the apple of his eye; how could he bear to let her learn housework? It’d be great if my mother-in-law actually managed to teach her, but I’m afraid Felix would start a fight with her before the lessons even began.’

’When the time comes, I’ll just watch the show. I’m not picking a side.’

Once the first lunar month was over, Adrian Hawthorne also had to get busy. Goldie Thorne had already made a trip to Tristone and returned today. The first thing he did was go look for Adrian Hawthorne.