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Asthedayspassed,Mulantried,andtried,andtriedtobethehonorabledaughterwhowouldmakeherfamilyproud.Shedutifullysatbyhermother’ssideandpracticedweaving.Shelettheasionalchickenwanderawayeventhoughherfeetitchedtogivechase.Whentheboysofthevillagegatheredinthecourtyardtoplay,shedidherbestnottokickthewaywardbalhatstoppedinherpath.

Butdespiteherbestintentions,itwashardtoalwaysbegood.SometimesMulancouldn’tcontrolherimpulses.Likewhenshejusthadtonudgetheballbacktowardtheboys,anditwasnotentirelyherfauthatwhenshedid,thekickwasharderthansheanticipatedandtheballhappenedtohitthepoorphoenixstatue,knockingoffitshead.Orwhensherodeherhorse,BlackWind,infromthefieldsalittletoofastandknockedovertheneighbor’slaundry??.??.??.again.

Asthedays,andthenyears,passed,Mulancontinuedtotampdownrecklessurges.Sheworkedonmakingsureherhairwaspulledbackinaneatbun—atleastwhenthedaystarted.Andshestayedfarawayfromtheshrineandthechickencoop??.??.??.forthemostpart.Bythetimesheturnedsixteen,shehadgrownintoherlong,lankylimbsandwastall,lithe,andbeautiful.Buteverysooften,thelittlegirlwhohadbrokenthephoenixstatuewouldappear—eagertodosomethingwildanddaring.

Arrivinghomeoneafternoonfromthecountryside,whereshehadbeenracingwithBlackWind,Mulanhastilyjumpedoffthehorse’sbackandputhiminhisstall.Shecouldsmelldinnerandknewthatshewaslate.Shegroaned.Hermotherwasnotgoingtobepleased.Quickly,shemadeherwayacrossthecourtyardandintoherhome.

Herfamilywassittingatthedinnertable.Rushingin,Mulangrabbedaplateandjoinedthem.“BlackWindandIrodealongsidetworabbitsrunningsidebyside,”shesaid,pickingapieceofriceoutofthebowl.“Ithinkonewasamaleandonewasfemale??.??.??.”Hervoicetrailedoffassherealizedherfamilyhadn’tmoved.Theywerealllookingather,theroomsilentexceptforherownvoice.“What?”sheasked,growingworried.Hadsheleftgrassinherhair?Wastheremudsmearedonherface?

Linervouslywrungherhands.Sheopenedhermouthandthenshutit.Mulan’seyesnarrowed.Thiscouldn’tbegood.Hermotherwasneveronetoshyfromstatingwhatwasonhermind.Butnowsheseemedalmost??.??.??.scared.

“Whatisit?”Mulanpressed.

“Wehaveexcellentnews,”Lisaid,thoughhervoicebetrayedheruncertainty.“TheMatchmakerhasfoundyouanauspiciousmatch.”

Mulan’sbreathcaughtinherthroat.Shefethecolordrainfromherfaceandreachedoutahandtosteadyherself.