The Mu mansion was alive with the festive energy of the Lunar New Year. Red lanterns swayed outside the windows, their soft glow casting a warm light over the snowy courtyard.
The scent of spices and simmering broth filled the air as firecrackers popped in the distance, marking the start of the most anticipated night of the year.
Inside the kitchen, Liu Duoduo stood at the marble counter, rolling out dumpling wrappers with a focused expression. A dusting of flour clung to her fingers as she carefully stretched the dough, determined to make each wrapper thin but sturdy.
Auntie Feng stood beside her, folding dumplings with practiced ease. Her hands moved swiftly, pleating the edges into perfect crescent shapes. Every now and then, she would glance at Duoduo's work and nod approvingly.
"Young Madam, your skills have improved quite a bit," Auntie Feng remarked with a smile. "Soon, you won't even need me in the kitchen."
