第一章（221字）

Chapter One: The Matchmaker Day

As the sun rose, Mulan sat at her doorstep, carefully writing on a prayer scroll.

Her family hoped she would be perfect for the matchmaker today.

Her father, Fa Zhou, watched her kindly but with worry.

Her mother and grandmother rushed around, preparing Mulan to look proper and elegant.

Grandmother Fa brought her a “lucky cricket.”

“It will bring you luck!” Grandmother Fa said excitedly.

As the gong sounded, the village girls gathered to meet the matchmaker.

Mulan looked proper, but her heart was pounding fast.

The matchmaker began testing her, asking her to pour tea, bow, and stay quiet.

Mulan tried to smile, but the lucky cricket suddenly popped out.

Mulan panicked and accidentally poured hot tea onto the matchmaker.

The matchmaker screamed, “Disgraceful! Outrageous!”

The room turned chaotic, and smoke ruined Mulan’s makeup.

Mulan tried to help, but everything only got worse.

The matchmaker shouted angrily, “You have dishonored your family!”

Mulan lowered her head, feeling ashamed and very sad.

When she returned home, her family comforted her, hoping she wouldn’t be sad.

Fa Zhou touched her shoulder gently. “Your worth is not decided by the matchmaker.”

Mulan looked up at her father warmly, yet still confused inside.

She knew she was different, but she didn’t yet know where her destiny would lead her.