www.jingya.mewww.jingqiu.meThe rning sun had long since risen over the Chinese tulou that Mulan called ho. As she stood in the ddle of the circular pound of connected buildings that was de up of her ho and those of her neighbors, she was surrounded by the ffled sounds of the nearby villagers. Fronbsp; a second-floor balcony a ther called to her daughter to bring the laundry. In a kitchen on the ground floor, a spoon banged against the sides of a pot as another ther prepared the evening al. Fronbsp; the opening between the buildings that led to the street, Mulan could ke out the low os of several large cows being herded to a new feeding ground and the asional squawk as their heavy feet plodded precariously close to a stray chicken. Cong fronbsp; her own ho, nestled in the ddle of all the others, Mulan heard the steady
click, click, clack, clack
of the shuttle as her ther and younger sister wove fabric.
But the sounds did nothing to distract Mulan. She had grown up with the She had spent every day of her seven years next to the sa handful of villagers. At present, the clangs and bangs were rely background noise to her current ssion: herding the chickens to their coop.
Unfortunately, the chickens were not in the od to be herded. For the past hour, Mulan and her father, Hua Zhou, had been trying to ve the sll group of feathered anils fronbsp; one side of the courtyard to the other. Yet each ti they got st of the birds going in the sa direction, one would break off and ke a run for it. Sweat dotted Mulan’s forehead fronbsp; running back and forth in front of her father as she tried to stop the chickens. Her arnbsp; was beginning to ache fronbsp; hitting her wooden stick on the ground to get the birds’ attention. Still, there was a bounce to her step, and while her father seed ready for the task to be over, Mulan was eager to continue. She loved a challenge. And chicken herding was certainly that.
“Steady, Mulan??.??.??.”
Her father’s voice was stern, but kind. Looking up, she saw Zhou’s warnbsp; brown eyes looking down at her. She t his sle. She knew that ny people in her village were intidated by her father. He always walked with his head high, his chest out. Once a fierce warrior, his body had grown re fragile with age. His shoulders stooped ever so slightly and his hair was no longer thick. Yet he still had an air of confidence despite the li that forced hinbsp; to walk with a cane. But to Mulan, he was not fierce or scary. He was her fat
click, click, clack, clack
of the shuttle as her ther and younger sister wove fabric.
But the sounds did nothing to distract Mulan. She had grown up with the She had spent every day of her seven years next to the sa handful of villagers. At present, the clangs and bangs were rely background noise to her current ssion: herding the chickens to their coop.
Unfortunately, the chickens were not in the od to be herded. For the past hour, Mulan and her father, Hua Zhou, had been trying to ve the sll group of feathered anils fronbsp; one side of the courtyard to the other. Yet each ti they got st of the birds going in the sa direction, one would break off and ke a run for it. Sweat dotted Mulan’s forehead fronbsp; running back and forth in front of her father as she tried to stop the chickens. Her arnbsp; was beginning to ache fronbsp; hitting her wooden stick on the ground to get the birds’ attention. Still, there was a bounce to her step, and while her father seed ready for the task to be over, Mulan was eager to continue. She loved a challenge. And chicken herding was certainly that.
“Steady, Mulan??.??.??.”
Her father’s voice was stern, but kind. Looking up, she saw Zhou’s warnbsp; brown eyes looking down at her. She t his sle. She knew that ny people in her village were intidated by her father. He always walked with his head high, his chest out. Once a fierce warrior, his body had grown re fragile with age. His shoulders stooped ever so slightly and his hair was no longer thick. Yet he still had an air of confidence despite the li that forced hinbsp; to walk with a cane. But to Mulan, he was not fierce or scary. He was her fat