This story is dedicated to two grandmothers of mine that have shown me what courage can change and do. They were both brought up as stereotypical Chinese women; deliberately crippled to conform to male ideals of beauty; living and abiding as the underlings of patrilineal society. Both of them obediently wedded the man they didn't know, bore them sons, and lived in never-ending loyalty, servitude, and submission. Arranged marriage was considered a quaint cultural taste that no modern people, especially in the west, could ever fathom.

Despite their oppression, both of my grandmothers became the most aspirational women to many younger women in our family. To the outside world, my grandmother appeared to be a failure, a victim of filial piety and testimony of what women willingly do to satisfy the whims and fancies of men. But underneath their delicate features, dainty hands and fragile appearance laid a true warrior's heart and an iron soul. They were individuals who were capable of restraining their selfish wants and needs, putting their children's welfare and their husband's honor before themselves. Their lives might never have been a fairy-tale or fabled legend; or end happily like a Disney movie; but their sacrifice, ardor, and zeal for life live as a legacy to their descendants to be retold.

"And though she be but little, she is fierce." -Shakespeare

"Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible." - Maya Angelou

"Fearlessness may be a gift but perhaps more precious is the courage acquired through endeavour, courage that comes from cultivating the habit of refusing to let fear dictate one's actions, courage that could be described as 'grace under pressure' – grace which is renewed repeatedly in the face of harsh, unremitting pressure." - Aung San Suu Kyi

The wind blew softly, disturbing the sweeping limbs of the ancient plum tree, creating a magnificent display of soft, pink petals dancing through the air. This was one of those fine spring days, where the air was filled with the sweet scent of blossoms and the pasture was dense with wildflowers. However, Mulan failed to cultivate any appreciation for the majestic display mother nature had brought her. Under the tree, she sat on the garden bench, her eyes staring dejectedly into space.

"Mulan?" She heard a familiar raspy voice calling. Mulan lifted her face to meet the sympathetic gaze of her grandmother. She averted her gaze back to the ground, fixing her sight on the dust collecting under the sole of her foot while the old lady approached and took a seat next to her.

"I am sorry to disappoint you, Grandma," Mulan said, almost inaudible to her Grandmother's ailing ears.

Mulan thought that everyone in her family would be furious after the epic apocalypse she created in the Matchmaker's house. But instead, Grandma Fa chuckled softly while rubbing Mulan's shoulder, offering her wordless consolation.

"I'm sure you'll have better luck next time," she said. There was nothing in her voice but patience and understanding. "I was once….a young lady too, just like you, going to the Matchmaker in search for...love." A nostalgic smile appeared on her face while her mind settled back into the past. "And just like you, being a girl doesn't always agree with me."

Mulan looked at her grandmother's kind, lined face.

"You mean, you were… ―"

"Klutzy? Ahem, yes, you got that for me. Sorry!" The old woman laughed, low and throaty. "My parents had a hard time finding a man who would be willing to marry me."

"Did you… create chaos at the Matchmaker's house too?" She asked gingerly, but she couldn't hide the hint of relief in her voice.

Grandma Fa's smile spread an inch wider. "Not exactly. It was in my father's house when I first met this young man, handsome, dark and tall... cute posterior too."

"You mean his...?"

Grandma Fa shook her head and smiled in memory. "During his visit, I managed to trip and fell over the door and slam the candle holder on the process. Alas, the candle was lit... it rolled under the table and stopped next to this young man's feet, and then his expensive silk trousers were...-" she choked a laugh. "You should have seen the mortified expression on my parents' faces. I nearly burned the house down! And nearly barbecued my newly appointed fiance!" She narrated between her sporadic chuckles."I was so scared and nervous...I nearly wet myself!"

Mulan joined in laughter. "Oh no! Is that the poor guy you ended up marrying?"

"No. His mother was furious when I almost neutered his only son and ended his legacy prematurely. But this has proven to us that we have to be open to the possibility of the universe when it comes to meeting the right spouses."

Mulan smiled, "Right you are, Grandma."

Seeing her granddaughter's mood lightened, the old lady inquired."How about you tell me what exactly happened at the Matchmaker's house?"

And Mulan began...

Mulan's sudden downfall started when the Matchmaker, an imperious-looking lady with an ample bosom, called her name. At first, she was just complaining about Mulan's lapse of grace and then criticizing her waist size because she deemed it was unfavourable for childbearing.

"Nonsense!" Grandma Fa grumbled. "She was just jealous, that obese imbecile! Look at the size of her girth yet not a single child!" Mulan was sure the last bit was an exaggeration, but she couldn't help but laugh at her grandmother's astute, yet disparaging remark.

"Perhaps she thinks her phenomenal waist size would be perfect for bearing sons," Mulan said absently, attempting to be kind despite the situation.

"More like bearing an elephant, I should think," Grandma Fa added another pinch of her sarcasm for good measure. No one insulted her granddaughter and got away with it!

And When the moment came to recite the final admonition, flicking her fan to mask her uneasiness, Mulan began to quote, 'Fulfill your duties calmly and res...pectfully, reflect before you snack― ' She spluttered,'―act! This shall bring you honour and glory.' She uttered while risking stealing a glance at the smudged inscription on her wrist.

"You... you cheat?"

Mulan smothered an urge to cringe. She flashed an innocent smile to cover her discomfort, while her free hand fumbled to straighten her sleeve and cover the evidence of her crime. "I'm sorry, Grandma. I don't mean..."

"You are absolutely cunning and creative! That's my girl!" Grandma Fa gushed. It was Mulan's turn to gape.

The next task seemed to be harmless enough. Pouring tea. What could possibly go wrong? It was something she had done every day of her life but, unfortunately for Mulan; she was unable to focus entirely on the trivial task. The Matchmaker's blackened palm (from despicably grabbing her wrist), had accidentally drawn two black lines on her face. Mulan ended up flooding the table.

Mulan finally managed to locate the teacup and fill it successfully. It was at that point that Mulan had wistfully thought the crisis was behind her. Then, her eyes discovered her lucky cricket relaxing blissfully inside the cup. With surprising grace, nearly impossible for a lady her size, the Matchmaker glided smoothly over to take a swig. It was an awful coincidence indeed. With her good intention to avoid giving the copiously-bosomed lady an unhealthy protein intake, Mulan attempted to tug the cup away forcefully, but the Matchmaker was equally adamant. The battle of dominance broke off for a split second with an obvious winner, but then the cricket had slipped into the Matchmaker's bra.

"You said this cricket will bring me luck," Mulan glowered. She couldn't conceal the accusatory edge in her voice. Cri Kee snorted indignantly upon hearing this, flicking his eyes to the old lady as if asking for judicial review, but Grandma Fa registered none of it, only laughing loudly at Mulan's expense.

Realizing her lapse of grace, Mulan attempted to rectify her blunder. However, she ended up festering the Matchmaker's fleshy butt into flames with her silk fan. Mulan then chased her around the room to douse it. She threw the entire pot of tea in a perfect, wrongly-timed throw that ended up bathing the Matchmaker's face and causing her thick make-up to run into a drippy mess.

By then Grandma Fa was laughing so hard, she almost fell over.

"The Matchmaker was right. I may look like a bride, but I will never bring honour to my family." Mulan had thought it wouldn't take a genius to regale a Matchmaker lady, but she obviously had a talent for turning simple tea parties into absolute mayhem.

While Grandma Fa was aware of her granddaughter's catastrophic clumsiness, she still believed Mulan was more than capable of being a perfect wife. "Mulan, just because you are unlucky today, doesn't mean there won't be anyone who wants you as his wife."

Truthfully, Mulan was wondering whether she would ever be fit to be a wife should anyone want her. She felt there was a certain prejudice stamped against her. Other girls were a shade or two fairer than she was. Their feet were neatly bound, peeking daintily from the hem of their hanfu. They kept their long hair in intricate buns, painted their nails neatly, and covered their faces with make-up that would enhance their natural beauty.

Mulan, in contrast, had a healthy hint of tan in her complexion. She never shied away from the sun or bothered to hide under the shadow of a parasol. Her feet were nimble and fast, free from the bondage of tradition and restraint. Her straight hair was running slightly longer than shoulder length, which she found a lot more practical and less time-consuming than keeping it long.

While other maidens her age busied themselves in perfecting their domestic competence and equipping themselves to reach their womanly potential, Mulan preferred spending her time exploring the dense coppice on the back of her black steed or teamed up with her younger brother to wield their blades against fictitious enemies.

She understood that her father brought her up differently. The retired Imperial Army General and great strategist, Fa Zhou, had decided to give his daughter the same opportunities as his son and equal freedom in her life choices. Mulan was free to pursue the things that she liked; such as riding horses and learning sword fight; the same as her younger brother, Fa Ping. But at her current life stage, Mulan didn't know; was she the ugly one, or the lucky one? Maybe she was just too naive of social rules and society's expectations.

"And who say that every woman should marry? You can have a happy, fulfilling life as a woman without needing a man," Grandma Fa said.

Mulan raised her brow. "But isn't that what everybody does? Besides, I don't think being a spinster will sit well with Baba."

"I'd say don't marry until you are ready. I'm sure your parents would understand."

Mulan bit her lip, struggling to think. Yes, her ever-supportive father who would give her the world would let her off the hook, but that would be utterly selfish of her. But why the most trivial thing seemed so hard for her? Was she the only girl who always struggle to fit into the usual norm?

"I can't imagine leaving Baba and Mama... and you, to be with a man I hardly knew, but I'll do it to bring honour to our family."

"Bringing honour is one thing. But you can't ever deny the woman that you are." Grandma Fa explained gently. "You need to learn to love yourself first...before loving someone else."

For a second Mulan was stunned, intrigued at her Grandmother's wisdom.

Love? Mulan ruminated. How could one love someone he or she hardly knows? But, her sight roamed through the garden archway where she could see her parents. Her father's hand enfolded her mother affectionately as they spoke. His eyes gleamed with tenderness and passion as if there were no one in the world but her! A warm wave wrapped her heart, hoisting her hope. Perhaps there is such a thing as love…. even in an arranged marriage.

"And I can feel that tomorrow the goddess of love will visit me! Who knew there is a lonely strapping older gentleman looking for an equally mature but incredible-looking wife?" Grandma Fa added throatily, breaking Mulan from her momentary trance. But before she could continue her rambling, a distinct growl came from down below, impolitely interrupting their conversation. Mulan smiled sheepishly.

"Mulan, you haven't eaten since morning?!" Grandma Fa rose from her seat. Her deceptively fragile hand tugged Mulan's forearm and dragged her towards the house. Mulan opened her mouth, about to refute it, but her stomach protested even louder.

"I think we better feed it before it causes an earthquake."

The next morning, with the dew still thick on the grass, Grandma Fa strode to the nearby temple to release Cri-Kee while taking a cauldron of soup for the monks. She serenaded a delightful tune as she walked, when a lady in a formal outfit walking in haste, accidentally barged into her. Both stumbled back from the impact of the collision and were promptly covered in a soupy mess.

"Oh dear gods, my apology!" The lady hastily offered her hand, aiding Grandma Fa to stand up.

"No, don't worry dear. At least I smell delicious," Grandma Fa waved her hand dismissively. "Shame for the soup though." Yes, it was a shame. Judging from the clump on the ground and the smelt it made, the soup must have been delicious.

"Don't worry about it. I can make another one."

Grandma Fa raked her gaze up and down the lady's figure, evaluating the situation. The lady's make-up was now smudged by a mixture of sweat and broth. There were a few slices of carrot and onion trapped in her beautifully styled hair, her silk slippers were coated with grime and ginger, and her fine silk hanfu was beyond recognition. But even in her chaotic appearance, Grandma Fa didn't fail to appreciate her striking features. Her big, dark eyes glinted under the sun, her sharp-hewn face was decorated with fine lines, a perfect balance of age and former beauty. Under her ruqun, the evidence of her tight, feminine figure was still obvious from her elegant posture. "I guess you need to fix not just the soup."

"It will take a few hours, but I can still go home to change." The lady replied, but Grandma Fa could sense exasperation in her voice. After a few minutes questioning her, Grandma Fa gathered the lady ―Mrs. Li, came to visit her cousin who lived two villages down the road. She was on her way to her niece's wedding ceremony.

"Would you like to come to my home? I live only a few blocks away. I am sure my daughter-in-law has some spare clothes she could lend you." Grandma Fa proposed. "I'm sure she won't mind if you use her kitchen to make a fresh pot of soup."

"Really?" her eyes brightened, making her look prettier than before. "I mean, that is terribly generous of you. Are you sure?"

Grandma Fa grinned. "If you leave me a portion then it's a done deal."

Ceaseless conversation echoed from Grandma Fa's quarters. With Mulan and Ping in school, and their parents visiting a relative over the weekend, Grandma Fa had the house to herself.

"Thank you for opening your house for a stranger like me," Li Yue said, politely taking a sip of her tea. "And this ruqun... I shall...-"

"Don't worry about it, my daughter-in-law has plenty. I bet she hardly noticed one of them was missing," Grandma Fa replied, pouring more tea into her own cup. "I believe our fateful meeting is not merely an accident."

"Maybe not," Li Yue smiled.

Minutes into the conversation, it became obvious to Li Yue that the Fa matriarch was a talkative and friendly lady―even indulging a little too much on a piece of scandalous tales. Grandma Fa's mesmerizing eyes twinkled with enthusiasm when she retold her own life story, including the dramatic escape as she ran away from home to marry her lover. Instead of feeling ashamed and curbing the temptation to spill more salacious stories, Grandma Fa fed her with more juicy scandal by saying her son was conceived outside the wedlock―the story that had become so intimately familiar with Li Yue.

"My life with him was this great, big adventure. Our life was, by no means easy. Our village people shunned us, both our parents disowned us...and we have to live the rest of our lives knowing the burden of dishonouring them was our choice and doings. But... we did have each other and we promise to conquer every storm of life together," Grandma Fa said, smiling somberly as she closed her story.

A glimpse of anger and regret rose in Li Yue's chest, but she chose not to say anything. This was someone else's life, someone else's story who happened to mirror her own... except that..―

"I should stop talking." Grandma Fa said. She must have noticed the swing of mood in the room.

Later on, Li Yue found out that Grandma Fa's son was none other than Fa Zhou, an illustrious soldier, and war strategist. She impressed Grandma Fa further with her knowledge of a few battle strategies Fa Zhou created during his time of duty before his injuries forced him to relinquish his position as Army General. And not only that, Fa Zhou and her husband, Li Jiang, were brother in arms long ago.

"I am honoured to get to know an incredible lady like you, Madam Fa," she flattered.

"You are quite knowledgeable yourself, Mrs. Li," Grandma Fa responded, "Not many women are well informed about what happens in the world of men, especially in the Army."

"Please, just call me Li Yue," she said with overwhelming sweetness in her voice. "No wonder your son's name ring so familiar. I recalled my husband speaking highly of him. He was an incredibly esteemed strategist. It's a shame about his early retirement though." Grandma Fa's eyes glimmered with pride as Li Yue lavished a string of spontaneous adulations over Fa Zhou's previous exploits.

Their repartee drifted from their husbands and sons to the betrothal. Of course, Grandma Fa didn't fail to mention Mulan's phenomenal performance at the Matchmaker's house, not that she considered it to be shameful, in fact, quite the opposite.

"I actually have a son who is of a perfect age to marry. However, we haven't found a suitable bride yet," Yue articulated persuasively. Considering Mulan came from a desirable background of excellent nobility, Li Yue couldn't help but get ahead of herself to offer her son's hand in marriage.

"He is a Captain working under his father's regiment. A very hardworking and promising young man," she advertised eloquently while her idle hands gracefully located her purse to show a modest portrait of her son.

Li Yue's lips curled in a contented smile when Grandma Fa's eyes widened in astonishment, captivated at the likeness of a handsome young man with perfect posture, sharp facial features and firmly toned muscles.

Realizing victory was within her reach; Li Yue went to insinuate further." He is twenty-four years old," she took the liberty to add extra information," and his name is Li Shang."

Lowering her voice to a conspiratory whisper, as if she didn't want anyone to know, "I am sure he would love to come and stay for dinner," she added, closing her offer with an accommodating smile.

By then the spark of interest in Grandma Fa's eyes had turned into a blazing inferno.

I am sure I want him to stay forever. Grandma Fa replied in her thoughts.