We made slow progress through the street market. Vendors shoved colorful silks, plastic gems, and newly made vintage handbags in my face. Nothing had a price tag. Instead, numbers were shouted out as an opening bid for bargaining.
I didn’t shout back. Didn’t even open my mouth. But my eyes did catch on a sweet Tory Burch handbag. The enterprising saleslady stepped in my path and uttered a price that had me reaching for the wad of Yuan tucked inside my pocket.
In the end, I shook my head and continued, leaving the market and the bag behind. We were on a mission and had reached our destination. I stepped onto the pier behind Loren. She motioned with her hand for me to stay back. I did as she wished as she boarded a houseboat and knocked on the door.
The smell of fish permeated the air. Th
