"I agree fully," David said.

Sun offered David a saucer filled with dried watermelon seeds. "But I must admit that I have what you would probably call ulterior reasons for meeting with you today," Sun continued. "Like many of us in China who read the newspaper or watch television, I'm familiar with the good work you did for our country earlier this year. But we both know that what was in the news was not the full truth of those days. I do hope you'll forgive my immodesty when I say that I've been permitted the great privilege of sitting in on conversations with people very high in our government who are aware of the true nature of your deeds. Our nation has been honored by your work in uncovering corruption in our government as well as in your own."

David was in a country with the world's largest population, and yet he felt as though he had moved to a small town where everyone knew everyone else's business. Before he could say anything, however, Sun went on.

"I too am very concerned about corruption. As Premier Zhu has observed, the collecting of illegal fees sows seething discontent among the people. So, as you might say, you and I are on the same wavelength. I think that two people of such like minds should work together. I would be honored if you would accept me as a client."

"Are you in trouble?" David asked, the litigator in him showing through.

An awkward silence followed, and David felt Miss Quo's disapproving eyes on him. Then Sun laughed heartily and said, "Some people say that bluntness is the worst trait of Americans. In China we would never use words so freely. Well, maybe after you and I had known each other for ten thousand years and had been meeting here every day for ten thousand weeks, perhaps then you would have shown this weakness. But actually this characteristic is what I love about Americans as a people. You speak your mind. It makes you so very transparent, but I must admit it is refreshing."

The remarks were condescending, but Sun's affability took the sting out of them.

"To answer your question," Sun continued, "no, I'm not in trouble. But people have many reasons to need lawyers."

"I'm not an expert on Chinese law," David said. "You'd be better served by a Chinese law firm."

"You see, Miss Quo, there he is showing his open heart to us again," Sun said.

Miss Quo cast her eyes down modestly, pleased that her new boss had fallen into favor with such a powerful man.

"I don't need someone who is familiar with Chinese law," Sun said after a moment. "As your Miss Quo has already explained, I act on behalf of my province and my country when foreign companies come calling. I have actively sought foreign investment in Shanxi. You must understand, until very recently we didn't do much business using contracts. You don't need things like that when the government owns every business, factory, and farm. So in China we've had many problems with outsiders as we negotiate our deals. I think foreigners would be pleased to deal with someone like you who understands their ways. What I'm proposing is that you represent me both as an individual, for I have many investments of my own, and as the representative of Shanxi Province."

"It would be a conflict for me to represent you in any dealings with Tartan," David said.

"Again, that's just one deal. It's my job to bring many foreign companies to Shanxi."

"If I represent you, I'll be privy to many aspects of your business. There may be things you won't want Tartan to know and vice versa."

"Lawyers are supposed to be discreet."

"Discretion isn't the problem," David said. "Many clients simply prefer to know that there'll never be a chance that their affairs will be anything other than completely private, that work product won't somehow get misplaced or misfiled, that no one will be in the office and glance at something they shouldn't see."

"What you're saying, Attorney Stark, is making me nervous about you and Phillips, MacKenzie…"

"We are scrupulous with all work product, but accidents can happen. Not to mention…"

When David hesitated, Sun finished for him. "You're in China and you can't guarantee complete confidentiality anyway."

David turned his palms up and surrendered to that truth, then added, "In addition, what if five years from now there's a disagreement between you and Tartan?"

"There won't be," Sun said.

"But what if there were?" David persisted. "Wouldn't you want to know that your affairs had always been totally secure?"

"We're both working toward the same ends," Sun said. "There are no conflicts and there never will be."

"Still, if there were, I'd have to choose which client I'd represent. I'm afraid it would have to be Tartan."

"Because it's a bigger client than I am."

"And because my firm has represented Tartan longer."

"This is all right with me."

"Then let me call my office and Tartan to see how they feel about it. I'll get back to you as soon as I can with their answers as well as a waiver that you'll need to sign."

Governor Sun stood, signaling the end of the meeting. He shook David's hand, looked deeply into his eyes, and said, "As soon as you get your waiver, I'll send you a report of my various activities." He walked David and Miss Quo to the door. He bowed his head. "If you need anything before I see you later this week, please call my assistant Amy Gao." Then Sun turned his attention to a delegation of businessmen waiting in the foyer.

"There's something quite wonderful about listening to people's troubles, then trying to help them," David said to Hulan that night. "I made a couple of phone calls this afternoon and was able to resolve the problems with the winery. The pig thing will be a little more difficult, but Miss Quo has already drafted a couple of letters to whom she says are the right people. Hopefully we'll be able to have some meetings at the beginning of next week after the signing of the Knight deal and those pig guys can go back to their manufacturing with no more problems."

Hulan thought David still had a lot to learn about the way things worked in China.

He'd saved the news of his meeting with Governor Sun for last. Hulan absorbed the details, listening carefully for the usual Chinese nuances that David might have missed. They both laughed when he told her about the new Beijing-Taiyuan expressway. "How was I supposed to know it existed?" Hulan asked, groaning in mock horror at the needless misery she'd put herself through on those two trains, while at the same time thinking just how far removed Suchee and the others she'd met in Da Shui were from this life-changing news.

They laughed even harder when David got to the part about Sun speaking perfect English. "I should have known better," David said. "I do know better!"