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“Xiu,”shesaid,herhandgrowingstill.“Don’tpanic.Butthere’saspidercrawlinginyourhair.”

Xiu’sshoulderscreptuptowardherearsandsheturnedtolookatMulan,worrycreasingherinnocentface.“YouknowI’mafraidofspiders,”shesaid,herlowerlipbeginningtotremble.Thenhereyesnarrowed.“Thisisn’toneofyourtricks,isit,Mulan?”

Mulantriednottosmile.“Don’tmove,”shesaid.“Ifyouholdverystill,Iwillsquashit??.??.??.”Hervoicetrailedoffas,fromtheroombelow,sheheardhermother’svoicerise.

“Youindulgeher,”Lisaid,herloudvoicecarryingfromthelivingroom.MulanandXiupausedtolisten.Closinghereyes,Mulanheldherbreath.Shecouldpicturehermotherandfathergoingthroughtheirnightlyroutine:hermothertidyingupwhileherfatherslowlyunlacedthebindingonhisleg.Onlyonthisparticularnight,theywerenotgoingaboutitasquietlyastheyusuallydid.

“There’snoharminherdingchickens,”Zhouretorted.

Mulanheardthesoft,evenfootstepsofhermotherasthewomanmovedclosertoherhusband.“YouknowI’mnottalkingaboutchickens,”shewenton.“I’mtalkingabouther??.??.??.herboldspirit.Wecan’tencourageit.”

“Mulanisyoung,”Zhoucountered.“She’sstilllearningtocontrolherself.”

Upinherroom,Mulanbristled.Sheknewherfathermeantwell,buthewastalkingaboutherasifshewereanuntamedfilly,nothisdaughter.Sheshiftedonherseat,wishingshecouldstoptheconversationwhileatthesametimecurioustoseewhereitwouldgo.Shedidn’thavetowaitlong.