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t gets barnacles, and the Porsche is teroundskeepers and maids and—I don’t know— people in and out of the place all the tih, but it’s true!”

Hulan was laughing, but she was also listening to the subtext Michael Quon had been serious when he’d said he’d gotten “very, very rich”

“Hobbies are the other thing people in my position are supposed to take up,” he continued “I started buying conte Dynasty poets, even sat in on a couple of classes at Stanford I give theh money, so why not?”

He chatted, she listened They ate and drank until they were full When he finally set down his chopsticks, the waitress instantly appeared at his side and asked if they were done He nodded, and she cleared the table She returned again and asked if they wanted anything else

“Please bring soarded Hulan questioningly, then asked, “How about another bottle of wine? We don’t have to drink the whole thing, but it would be nice, don’t you think?”

When Hulan agreed, the waitress slipped away and brought back another icy bottle She refilled their glasses, then stepped to her spot against the wall Michael picked up where he’d left off

“My mother alanted in searching for my place in the world The old family and district associations are still operational in San Francisco, but they tend to focus on old-timers—Cantonese speakers from the early days ant only a banquet at Chinese New Year The Organization of Chinese Aton, but where do you put someone like me?”

“The Committee of 100?” Hulan asked I M Pei and Yo-Yo Ma had founded the group in 1989 after the crackdown in Tiananmen Square Today it boasted 140 of the self-proclaimed most important Chinese Americans Michael Quon should have been a member

“They asked and I turned them down What can I say? I think the Co to be comfortable at the annual fae of allegiance, followed by ten courses, karaoke, and an appearance by Miss Chinatown, all for the big-ticket price of fifty dollars”

“It can be hard to find your niche,” Hulan sympathized

But Michael shrugged off the suggestion and hurried on “What else have I done? Good deeds, naturally But giving away ive aBill Gates’s gift, your donation isn’t enough to get your na That would take ten million dollars So what does that leave? Travel—”

“And women”

“Yes, and woood-naturedly “You can spend a lot of money on women”

“Anyone in particular?”

“Not really”