"Ha, I used to flatter myself I looked young, but next to you I'm miles behind," Zhang Yue said with a rueful shake of her head.

"Say, aren't you going to introduce me?" Xiao Qing pointed at the man beside Zhang Yue. "When did you get married? Why didn't you tell me?"

"My husband, Bao Shuping," Zhang Yue said. "We married three years ago. I meant to look you up, but after that business you dropped off the map—none of our classmates could reach you, and I couldn't find you either. And here you've gone and found yourself a nice man without telling me a word. That's a fine way to treat a sister."

Xiao Qing smiled, a little embarrassed. It was true—ever since the Song Hang affair she had shut herself away, rarely contacting old friends or classmates, and she had not even logged on to the alumni site.

"Qingqing and I only met last year. We registered not long ago and haven't held the banquet yet—when we do, everyone will be invited," Yang Ce said, stepping in to smooth over Xiao Qing's awkwardness. "Let me introduce myself. Yang Ce. I run a small business."

He did not mention that he was a student, since the role he played at Xiao Qing's side was that of a man roughly her age, so he simply named his occupation.

"I can tell. He treats you very well," Zhang Yue said with a smile at Xiao Qing, seeing that Yang Ce had spoken up first.

Xiao Qing had not expected Yang Ce to say such a thing, but now that it was out, she could hardly deny it. "Mm, we're happy together. So—where are you working now?"

"Still in Jingshan. I stayed on after graduation, and that's where I met Shuping," Zhang Yue said. "As it happens, Songjiang is hosting an international jewelry trade fair, and Shuping's company is in the jewelry business, so I came along while he reserves a venue in advance—and who should we run into but an old friend!"

There was no hiding the pride in Zhang Yue's tone. Even before a good friend, a woman cares greatly about face; to speak of her husband owning a jewelry company gave her a real sense of accomplishment.

Especially before Xiao Qing, who looked younger and prettier than she did—a little display of one's good fortune could still satisfy her vanity. After all, Yang Ce was plainly and unremarkably dressed, and he had said himself that he ran a small business, so he clearly could not have much money.

It was not that Zhang Yue looked down on Xiao Qing; the words came purely from instinct.

"That's wonderful," Xiao Qing said. Money had never been her concern, so nothing in Zhang Yue's words struck her as odd—she simply thought Zhang Yue had found herself a good husband.

Zhang Yue chuckled, taking Xiao Qing's remark as envy, and her heart swelled with satisfaction.

Zhang Yue was happy, but Bao Shuping was anything but—he was uneasy. He and Zhang Yue had arrived in Songjiang the day before yesterday and gone straight to the fairgrounds to reserve a space. His company was of decent size, so he had wanted a good display booth, only to discover that most of the prime locations were not for rent to outsiders, and that the company running the fair, Mingyang Entertainment, was arrogant besides—they told him flat out that the good spots were taken and only the leftovers remained.

Bao Shuping was a somebody back in Jingshan, with connections to match, and in his anger he had thrown out a threat on the spot, telling the organizers to wait and see—he would make them sorry. The other party had merely sneered.

In Bao Shuping's view, Songjiang and Jingshan were close enough that his own network ought to reach this far, and it was only a small entertainment company besides—nothing to worry about. A casual word to the right person would be enough to teach them a lesson.

But this morning the contact he had asked for help had called back, laid out Mingyang Entertainment's background in full, and told him plainly that there was nothing he could do.

Only then did Bao Shuping feel the chill of belated fear. He had never imagined the organizers wielded such power and such backing—and he had stood before them bragging that he would make them sorry.

Fearing retaliation, Bao Shuping did not much mind losing the venue; what he feared was that they would not let the matter rest, and then he would be in for it. So he planned to go back to the fair's office after breakfast and offer an apology. Naturally, to keep Zhang Yue from worrying, he said nothing of any of this to her.

Zhang Yue assumed that Bao Shuping's connections had made progress and that they were going today to choose a venue afresh—little did she know what twists lay behind it.

Still, since this was Zhang Yue's classmate, Bao Shuping could not let his worry show. He forced a smile and made conversation. "Bao Shuping. I'm in the jewelry trade. A pleasure to meet you both."

After the four of them finished eating and left the congee shop, Yang Ce and Xiao Qing, having nothing else to do, suggested that Zhang Yue and her husband join them in taking a look at the fairgrounds. Zhang Yue agreed readily—she wanted to show off before Xiao Qing just how influential Bao Shuping was, how even from far-off Jingshan he could find connections in Songjiang and reserve a prime spot.

Zhang Yue had assumed Yang Ce was merely a small businessman, so when he and Xiao Qing got into a BMW X5 with the plate "88b88," she was stunned. She and Bao Shuping moved in high circles often enough to know what such a plate meant: Yang Ce's connections in Songjiang had to be formidable, or he would never dare drive such a plate on the road. Without that kind of clout, flaunting such a plate was pure posturing, and invited contempt.

Even Bao Shuping was taken aback. Watching the X5 follow slowly behind his Mercedes, he asked in amazement, "Zhang Yue, what does your classmate's family do?"

"Xiao Qing's parents are both gone—she shouldn't have any connections. As for her husband, I don't know. This is the first time I've met him too," Zhang Yue said, shaking her head.

"We couldn't even get a plate like that back in Jingshan. This plate of mine, with a tractor on the tail end, cost me a fortune at auction. I'd say this Yang Ce is more than a small businessman," Bao Shuping said.

"You're right." Zhang Yue flushed a little. She had been boasting earlier, never guessing that the quiet one was the truly formidable one.

"Still, it's just as well they come along with us—we'll see whether they can put in a word for us," Bao Shuping said. He had not wanted Yang Ce and Xiao Qing to tag along, but now, seeing Yang Ce's car and thinking of who he might be, he had changed his mind. It was even possible Yang Ce knew the organizers; his own clash with them had been only verbal, and with Yang Ce to mediate, things might yet turn around.

"Put in a word? A word about what?" Zhang Yue was baffled.

"There's something I didn't dare tell you before. We're almost there now, so I'll tell you," Bao Shuping said, and with a helpless air he recounted the whole affair.

"What?" Zhang Yue's face went pale with shock. "You're saying we've offended the local underworld?"

"It's not as bad as all that. Mingyang has gone legitimate, though it's true they still indirectly control Songjiang's underground. We'll go and apologize in a bit—I doubt they'll do anything to us. They're a proper company now, after all," Bao Shuping said.

To be continued

1064. Matters Concerning the Trade Fair

1064. Matters Concerning the Trade Fair "Why did you say all that earlier?" Once they were in the car, Xiao Qing said with some embarrassment, "Zhang Yue keeps in touch with a lot of our classmates. You said we'd hold the banquet before long—if we don't, how am I supposed to explain it to them? They'll only think I've been abandoned a second time."