Disclaimer: I do not own Mulan or any characters from Mulan. I only own Li Xieng, Lee Mei-Ying, Chin-Hwa, and Chun Ushi.

Chapter 3: The Lunch Date

It was already noon, and the generals were off to eat lunch. Typically, Shang often ate at home, but he already committed to go to Mei-Ying's house. He sent a messenger to his house to alert Mulan that he wouldn't come today for lunch and took off to Mei-Ying's house. As he rode off to Mei's house, a part of him felt happy, happy to get to know this girl who had seem to struck him a bit, but also a part of him felt a bit guilty, guilty because he had left his wife waiting for him at home. Soon, he arrived at Mei's small house and pulled the reigns of horse to stop.

"It's Shang!" said Chin-Hwa as he peeped outside of the window. Mei gasped as she was serving the food and left the kitchen to change her attire.

"Go outside and keep the General busy, Chin" Mei said as she left the room.

The small boy ran outside and greeted Shang. He chatted with Shang to keep him busy outside as his mother changed, and made a million questions to him as they waited. However, Chin-Hwa grew really impatient and wanted to go back in the house

"You want to come in my house?" the boy asked eagerly as he pulled his hand. Shang chuckled and smiled.

"If your parents don't mind." he replied, "By the way, where is your mother?"

"My mommy told me to keep you busy because she's changing." he said as he giggled.

Mei stepped out of the house and smiled as she stood there. Shang walked over with Chin to greet her and removed his helmet. As he walked towards her, he noticed something unusual about Mei that he didn't notice about her in the market.

"Hello General." Mei said kindly as she bowed.

The young general bowed as well and greeted Mei, but he stared down at her body and raised his eyebrow.

"Are you -?" he began to ask as he pointed to her stomach

"Pregnant? Indeed I am" said Mei as he cut Shang off and rubbed her very pregnant womb. "Almost 5 months."

Shang looked at Mei surprised. He couldn't believe that she was pregnant. How could he have not noticed that in the market?

"But -"

"But you didn't notice right?" Mei said as she cut off Shang once again. "Yeah, I tend to hide my pregnancies until it's inevitable to hide."

Shang congratulated Mei on her pregnancy as she welcomed him inside her house. The two of them chatted as she began to serve the food as the vivid young boy listened and made side comments. Once they began eating, Shang immediately complimented Mei on her spectacular cooking of Moo Shoo Pork, however as he kept talking to her, he felt like if he had known her from before. But he kept his thoughts to himself and continued to listen to her. However as she kept talking, he had recalled in thoughts that she did in fact live with her parents, but why didn't she want them to be around when he came over? And what about her husband?

"So why don't you want your parents around now? Is your father that strict?" he questioned Mei as he took the last bite of Moo Shoo Pork.

"Well, my mother isn't really strict, but my stepfather is." said Mei as she sighed.

Shang's eyes widen and looked at Mei with concern.

"What happened with your father?" he asked curiously.

Mei lowered her head and sighed again.

"He passed away a couple of month's ago." she said sadly.

Shang felt guilty for causing such sadness upon the young girl.

"Well that makes two of us." he replied "I'm sorry about your loss."

Mei nodded and gestured that it was alright. She decided not to speak more of the topic and kept eating. Shang took a sip of tea and questioned the young girl once more.

"So where's your husband?"

Mei bit her lip and looked at Shang.

"He's never really around. He's a - "she began

"A soldier?" Shang said, cutting off Mei

"Not at all!" Mei exclaimed. "He's an over-seas merchant."

Shang was once again surprised. She was definitely a strong woman; having her husband be an overseas merchant and her father passing away.

"You sure like to ask a lot of questions!" Mei said, as she chuckled.

"My wife says the same" Shang said as he chuckled. "My mother used to say the same."

Mei looked at Shang as she saw Shang's face sadden.

"Used to?" she questioned curiously.

Shang sighed and nodded his head.

"She passed away before the first war with the Huns." He said sadly.

Mei reached over and held his hand.

"I'm so sorry about both your losses." she said with sympathy.

Shang looked at Mei and half smiled. He nodded his head and gestured that it was fine.

"My poor mother died from all the depression and sadness." he continued. "Thanks to my ungrateful father."

Mei's eyes widen and looked at Shang in disbelief.

"Ungrateful father? Why are you calling your father ungrateful for? You must have lived a great life under his roof. "She said more seriously.

Shang frowned and shook his head.

"My father was never home. And if he was home, he always you argue with my mother." he continued. "Who knows, he probably had some other concubine of a wo-"

"Stop!" Mei yelled out.

Shang looked at her oddly and raised his eyebrow.

"You shouldn't talk about your father that way! He's dead for crying out loud." she continued. "I'm sure he was a great father to you and your sisters."

"Sister" Shang corrected. "I only have one. Her name is Xieng."

"Right" Mei responded. "Well let's just forget this whole thing" she added as she laughed nervously. Shang smiled and nodded and changed the subject. Soon, time went by, and Shang excused him, for he had to retreat back to the Imperial Palace. Mei-Ying invited Shang for lunch for tomorrow again and Shang kindly accepted. As Shang took off, his thoughts were all about the lunch he had with Mei and Chin. There was simply something about Mei that intrigued him and he was determined to find out what it was...

Meanwhile; back at the Li house...

"I still can't believe he didn't come for lunch." Mulan yelled in agony. She sat on a small stool and had her arms crossed.

"Maybe there was a reason why Master Li didn't come" replied Chun Ushi.

Ushi had arrived a little later in the morning, right after Shang had left. She was a small lady with grey hair, but showed very little age in her face. She didn't waste any time when she arrived and helped Mulan prepare lunch.

Mulan shook her head.
"Some 'meeting' he had, but I know very well he lied. I saw one of the generals going retreat back to the Imperial Palace a few moments ago." Mulan said as she pouted.

Ushi didn't know what else to say and she shrugged as she went to the kitchen to put away all the food.

"I can't wait till Shang comes home." Mulan thought to herself. "He's gonna have a lot of explaining to do... AGAIN"

AN: So what do guys think? Have any theories about Mei-Ying? I'm open to any suggestions and critizism. =) I will try to post Chapter 4 in two days. =)