How was he to know that Chen Shutang was a girl of firm principle, for whom one was one and two was two, and who would never suffer anyone to cheat her? For a moment the driver was at a loss for words, but he steadied himself and said, "It's the New Year—don't be so fussy. All right, all right, when we get there I'll knock a little off the meter for you."

"Hey," Yang Ce said, brightening at once, "so you're taking me the long way around, are you? You've wasted our time, and you still think I'm going to pay you?"

"Not paying?" The driver's eyes bulged. With a screech he slammed on the brakes and pulled the car over to the side of the road. "Then get out if you're not paying. You can get out right here."

The driver wore the look of a man who had them cornered, for this was the outer ring bridge. Apart from the occasional car leaving the city, taxis rarely passed this way; if Yang Ce and the others got out, they would have a hard time flagging down another. And this stretch was a highway, where pedestrians walked at deadly peril, so the driver had no fear that Yang Yongjin would hold out.

"What kind of attitude is that? We're reporting you to the taxi management office of the transportation bureau!" Because of her family background, Chen Shutang was in the habit of defending her rights through laws and regulations.

"Ha, go ahead and call! You sure know a lot, but it's no use." The driver chuckled. "Today is New Year's Eve. The transportation bureau is closed for the holiday. Who are you going to find?"

To be continued.