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.