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Sensinghisdaughter’sdifort,Zhousmiledwarmly.Hestoppedandlookedathisfamily.“Iamtrulyblessedtobeinthepresenceofsuchenchantingwomen,”hesaid.“IhavenodoubtthattodaywillbeamomentousdayfortheHuafam—”

“Nevermindthat,”hiswifesaid,cuttinghimoff.“Wemustbeontime.”Toemphasizeherwords,sheresumedwalking,herpacequicker.

Behindher,Mulanstruggledtokeepup.Herdresswasmeanttolookprettyitwasnotmeanttobejoggedin.Andherfeetwereboundintightandufortableshoes.Shenearlytoppledoverandwouldhavehadhersisternotreachedoutandsteadiedher.Then,asifoncue,Mulan’sstomachgrowledloudly.

“I’mstarving,”shesaid,statingtheobvious.

Lirolledhereyesimpatiently.“Ihavealreadytoldyou—youcannoteat.Itwillruinyourmakeup.”“Thefiercestwinterstormcouldnotdestroythismakeup,”Mulanretortedunderherbreath.Turningtohersister,Mulansawthathermother’sanxietyhadrubbedoffonXiu.Theyoungergirlwaswringingherhandsnervously.“Xiu,”Mulansaid,tryingtolightenthemood.Shepointedtoherface.“WhatamIfeeling?”

Xiulookedather,hereyessearchingMulan’sfaceforanytraceofemotion.“Ihavenoidea,”shesaid.

“Exactly,”Mulananswered.“Thisismysadface.”Theexpressiononherpaintedfacedidnotchange.“Thisismycuriousface.”Stillnochange.“NowIamconfused.”Oncemore,herfaceremainedthesame.

Atlast,asmilebegantobreakoverXiu’sface.Mulansmiledback—eventhoughhersistercouldn’ttell.Shehatedtothinkthatthecauseofalhisanxietywasher,butsheknewthatwasthecase.IfithadbeenXiuonherwaytomeettheMatchmaker,Liwouldhavebeenpracticallyskipping.Xiugavehermotherandfamilynoreasontoworry.Mulangavehermotherandfamilyonlyreasontoworry.