AsenseofimpendingdoomhungovertheHuahousehold.Theyhadmanagedtoignoretheeventsoftheafternoonfortherestoftheday,butnow,astheygatheredaroundthedinnertable,thetensionwasthick.
Mulanplayedwithherfood.Shehadnoappetite.Howcouldshewhentherewasarockinthemiddleofherstomachfromthethoughtofherfatherfightingthenortherninvaders?Besideher,Xiutookahalf-heartedbiteandthenputdownherfood.Shewasn’thungry,either.
Acrosstheway,Mulan’smotherhadn’tevenbotheredtotakeaplate.ShesatwithhereyeslockedonZhou.Unaware,orchoosingtoignorethelooksfromhiswifeanddaughters,Zhouatewithgusto.
“You’reawarhero,”Lisaid,herwordssoftasshebrokethesilence.“You’vealreadymademanygreatsacrifices—”
Zhoudidn’tletherfinish.Heknewwhatshewasgoingtosay.“AreyousuggestingourfamilynotspplywiththeImperialedict?”
ThewordswereoutofMulan’smouthbeforeshecouldstopthem.“Buthowcanyoufightwhenyoucanbarely—”
Zhou’sfistslammedontothetable,stoppingMulanmidsentence.Furyfilledhisface.Hiswifeanddaughterslookedathimaghast.Hehadalwaysbeenamanwhopridedhimselfonrestraintandkeepinghiscalm.Thisoutburstwasunlikehim—anditwasfrightening.
“Iamthefather!”hesaid,hisvoiceboomingthroughthesmallroom.“Itismyplacetobringhonortoourfamilyonthebattlefield.Youarethedaughter.”Hepaused,hiseyesboringintoMulan.“Learnyourplace!”Pushinghimselftohisfeet,Zhoulimpedfromtheroom.
Atthetable,Mulansatstill,herheadhunglow.Herfather’swordsstung.Notjustbecauseoftheirtone,butbecauseofthemeaningbehindthem.Herfatherhadalwaysbeenherbiggestsupporter.Hehadalwaysencouragedhertobewhoshewasevenwhenshewastryingtohideherimpetuousnature,shehadstillfehisloveandencouragement.Shehadalwaysbelievedherfatherknewthatshewantedmore,couldbemore.