It is no exaggeration to say that "Picture of Proverbs of a Female History" is the earliest surviving Chinese silk painting and one of the earliest works of professional Chinese painters that can still be seen.
Just like the Dingguang Sword's status among ancient cold weapons, "The Picture of Proverbs of the Female History" also has a milestone significance in the history of Chinese art.
So Zhuang Rui set his first target on the copy of "The Picture of Women's History", and the other two items he mentioned are also the pinnacle of ancient Chinese art.
When Zhuang Rui visited the British Museum a few years ago, he noticed that the bronze statue of the Shang Dynasty was two conjoined sheep, carrying a round cylinder in the middle. The shape was very beautiful and exquisite. There was no similar type of statue in China.
Bronze.
As for the porcelain wine pot from the Song Dynasty, the base is surrounded by a lotus and a lion sits on the lid. Both in terms of shape and firing process, it is a treasure among fine products, so it was also included in Zhuang Rui's list.
in the exchange list.
After Zhuang Rui finished talking about these three objects, he thought for a moment and then said: "Well, brother Huangfu, that blue and white porcelain plate with mandarin fish pattern from the Yuan Dynasty is also included. The British hide these things in secret rooms all day long.
It’s time for the Chinese people to see these objects that were robbed more than a hundred years ago..."
Although the British Museum occupies a much larger area than the Dingguang Museum, the depth of their collections is also unfathomable. Many extremely precious items are not displayed at all, but have been sealed away for decades or even centuries.
as long as.
Now that there is this opportunity for exchange exhibitions, Zhuang Rui certainly wants to make those fine works of art that represent the pinnacle of Chinese art reappear in front of the Chinese people. Although the Chinese are much richer now, how many people can go to the UK?
How about viewing these national treasures?
Huangfu Yun's face also became serious, and he said seriously: "Zhuang Rui, your idea and starting point are good, but... will the British Museum agree to our request?"
You know, before the British Museum, even the Palace Museum's accounts were not sold, and it was even more difficult for domestic scholars to enter the secret rooms of the British Museum to study some unique works of art that did not exist in China.
Regarding the conditions offered by Zhuang Rui, Huangfu Yun felt that his boss had taken them for granted, and he was not very optimistic about this exchange.
"It doesn't matter if you don't agree. It's not us who proposed it. Brother Huangfu, if you ask for an exorbitant price, you can pay it back on the spot. However, the items I mentioned above must be included in the exchange items, otherwise it's fine..."
Zhuang Rui didn't care. It would be great to be able to facilitate this exchange. If it couldn't happen, he wouldn't have any losses. What's more, if William tried his best to promote this matter, the British Museum would definitely give the future king some face.
?
In addition, the pirate treasures in the pirate museum are only a bit novel to the Chinese people. At best, they can only increase their understanding of the history of foreign medieval pirates.
But for the British, these pirate treasures are of great significance, because they were the ones who wiped out the Klaus pirates, which represented Britain's powerful force and deterrence in that era. In the eyes of relevant people, their importance may not be
It is lighter than those Chinese cultural relics sold by Zhuang Rui.
"Okay, I'll do as you say..."
Huangfu Yunyi thought the same thing, and immediately made a list in Chinese and English and gave it to Zhuang Rui. According to the principle of exchanging one piece for another, he listed a total of eighteen Chinese collections in the British Museum.
In fact, Zhuang Rui didn't have much hope for this matter, but after he handed the list to William at noon, the subsequent progress was unusually smooth.
I don’t know if Prince William’s identity as the future king played a role, but the British Museum has tentatively agreed to this cultural exchange event. As for the details of the exchange of items, the two museums will need to send dedicated personnel to discuss it.
Of course, Zhuang Rui and William will not take care of these matters in detail. Poor deputy curator Huangfu has already started booking air tickets to fly to the UK in a few days while he is busy with the first exhibition of "The Imperial Seal" tomorrow, and
Zhuang Rui took Prince William and Bill to visit Panjiayuan.
…
Zhuang Rui and others were all dressed casually, and the glasses on Bill's face were changed into prescription sunglasses. Panjiayuan was a place where foreigners gathered, so they blended into the crowd without being noticed.
Recognize it.
However, the bodyguards following them had a much harder time. While protecting the target person, they also had to prevent some emergencies. They were all slandering Zhuang Rui who had brought Bill and William here.
Bill Gates has been to Panjiayuan several times, but this is the first time for Prince William. The dazzling array of Chinese "arts" dazzles this royal child who has received aristocratic education since childhood.
"Zhuang, that's great, I think... I've fallen in love with Chinese culture..."
William held a piece of Ruyi used by the ancients for scratching in his right hand, and held a cloisonné vase in his left hand. His face was full of excitement, and he crowded in wherever there were many people.
Although they are all fakes, modern production techniques make these "cottage" antiques more ornamental. If it weren't for Zhuang Rui's help in bargaining for prices, I'm afraid Prince William would have become the highest-status foreign guest that Panjiayuan has sold since its establishment.
"William, I still have gifts to give you..."
Zhuang Rui couldn't stand William anymore. When he bought things, Zhuang Rui bargained for them, which made the people setting up stalls in Panjiayuan look at him like a traitor. This was really uncomfortable.
Led William into "Xuan Ruizhai".
"Hey, Brother Zhuang, why are you free to come here today..."
Monkey, the third shopkeeper of Xuanruizhai, hurriedly greeted Zhuang Rui after seeing him. Compared with a few years ago, Monkey's demeanor was much calmer, and his speech was full of Beijing accent.
"I brought two foreign friends here to see them. Where are Nobita and Lao Zhao?"
Zhuang Rui glanced around and saw that there were not many people in the store at the moment, so he did not let William and Bill inside and invited them to sit down at the tea table.
Monkey quickly boiled water on the tea table, secretly looked at William and Bill's two bodyguards, and whispered: "Brother Daxiong and the others are out, Brother Zhuang, what do you two foreign friends do? Why are you still here?"
Are you following the bodyguard?"
"You don't know them?"
Zhuang Rui looked at the monkey in surprise. Bill and William had already taken off their sunglasses. He didn't expect that the monkey didn't recognize these two people.
Monkey looked confused and said: "I don't know, Brother Zhuang, are they foreign stars? But the older one is not very handsome..."
Although they have been together in Beijing for several years, Monkey neither reads newspapers nor watches TV. He just gave birth to a daughter last year, and he became a babysitter as soon as he got off work.
The divorced young woman he hooked up with at the gym also had similar tastes, so although he had heard that the world's richest man was Bill Gates, Monkey really didn't know him.
"Yeah, you really haven't made any progress at all. You read more magazines about world finance when you have nothing to do. You don't have any knowledge at all..."
When Zhuang Rui heard Monkey's words, he immediately couldn't laugh or cry. People like Bill Gates may have their biographies made in the future, but no film and television company in the world can afford to hire him to make a movie.
"Why am I reading all that? I don't know how to trade stocks..." Monkey muttered, showing a typical philistine mentality.
Zhuang Rui waved his hand to stop the monkey from pouring the tea, and said: "Okay, I'll pour the tea. You go and help my two friends carve a private seal. Well, use the good bloodstone in the store, the craftsmanship is better.
, otherwise I can’t afford to lose this person..."
Although the monkey looks like a sly eyebrow, it used to be idle all day long, but it can really be said to be ingenious. Over the past few years, I have learned Master Ge's seal carving skills to an eight-point level. After Master Ge suffered a stroke last year and went home to recuperate, he officially
He took over the craft of "Xuan Ruizhai" seal cutting.
After more than a year, Monkey has become somewhat famous, and many people in the capital have begun to collect his seals. The gift Zhuang Rui wants to give to Bill and William must be on his person.
After writing William and Bill's names on the paper and handing it to the monkey, Zhuang Rui started working on the tea table.
"Bill, William, try some Chinese tea. This is the best Pu'er tea, with a history of more than thirty years..."
Zhuang Rui often went to the old man's place in the past few years, and he actually got good at pouring tea. His smooth movements made Bill and William raise their thumbs.
"Bang! Bang!"
While Zhuang Rui and William were enjoying tea, several loud noises suddenly came from where the monkey had been sitting. The bodyguard at the door was so startled that he stepped in front of Bill and William.
"Huh? Where's the monkey? Monkey!"
Zhuang Rui noticed that the monkey who was sitting in front of the seal carving table just now had disappeared, and he shouted quickly.
"Zhuang...Brother Zhuang, I...I'm fine..."
The monkey's voice came from behind the table. After a long while, he covered his head and stood up. He pulled Zhuang Rui aside, pointed to the note in a low voice and asked: "Brother Zhuang, this name, he..."
Is that the richest man in the world?"
How can I eat pork if I haven't seen a pig running? After seeing this name, even if the monkey's brain is slow, he can still react.
Only then did Zhuang Rui know the reason why the monkey fell, and he couldn't help laughing and scolding, "Look at how promising you are. It's him. He went back and carved the seal. I'll let you take a photo with him holding the seal, enlarge it and hang it in the store."
Inside, you will be a celebrity from now on..."
"Oh, that's great, Brother Zhuang, just wait..."
As soon as the monkey heard Zhuang Rui's words, his eyes were filled with little stars. Being able to take a photo with the world's richest man, this celebrity effect is not exaggerated. The monkey seemed to have seen that he had become a famous seal carving master. Countless people cried and shouted to him.
