It took a while for Chu Heng to calm down. He forced a smile on his face and said, "It's a perfect work of art."
"I think so too, that's why I put them in such a conspicuous position."
Ben Shaming nodded in agreement, and then he talked endlessly about the artistic value and stories of animal heads. After a while, he changed his tone and said: "Except for these two bronze heads, I have no other bronze heads."
The things are also good and have high artistic and historical value. Please follow me, Mr. Chu Heng."
Like a child with a toy house, he excitedly took Chu Heng to look at other collections, showing off his knowledge from time to time.
Chu Heng looked at each piece one by one, and it could be said that the more he looked at it, the more heartbroken he became.
Bronze wares from the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, tricolor paintings from the Tang Dynasty, ancient porcelain from the Song Dynasty, jade seals from the Qing emperors, court beads, golden Buddhas...
The rare treasures made him feel more and more heartbroken as he looked at them, and his back molars were almost broken.
After wandering through most of the collection room unknowingly, Chu Heng came to a display cabinet covered with velvet cloth. He couldn't help but become curious. He thought it contained some treasure, so he reached out and lifted the velvet cloth: "Hey, this
yes……"
Halfway through his words, he froze.
Inside the display case is an open photo album. The photo revealed is Benshamin's grandfather, Vice Admiral Ariel Abel. He is standing in a war-torn ruins with various things piled up around him.
Antiques and jewelry, there are snake heads underfoot, and behind them are corpses lying in a pool of blood. Judging from their clothes, most of them are Qing soldiers, there are also some eunuchs and maids, and a very small number of dead foreign devils.
.
Chu Heng's breathing suddenly froze, and he also understood why Ben Shaming wanted to cover the display cabinet.
This is because I am worried that he will feel psychological discomfort after watching it.
From this point of view, Ben Shaming was quite considerate, but Chu Heng could see from the way the album was displayed that the grandson did not feel any guilt for his grandfather's act of burning down the Old Summer Palace, and even felt guilty about it.
So proud, otherwise why would you display this photo in the album alone?
"It's better not to read this, Mr. Chu Heng. I don't think you have any interest in it." Seeing this, Ben Shaming's expression changed, and he immediately stepped forward to cover it with a flannel and pulled Chu Heng away.
Chu Heng turned back and took a deep look at the display cabinet where the photo album was stored, and secretly swore in his heart that he must get this photo album, and it would even have priority over the animal head!
Because that is incriminating evidence!
"Look at this, Chu." At this time, Ben Shaming led Chu Heng to a display cabinet, pointed to the two ancient books stored in it and introduced: "This is a copy of the Yongle Grand Ceremony of the Ming Dynasty in China. I
It took a lot of effort to get it from a small Baga collector."
Chu Heng lowered his head and looked at it. There was an introduction on the edge of the book. The two volumes were Volumes 2268-2269 and Volumes 7391-7392, both of which were handwritten during the Jiajing period.
This reminded him of a piece of news from later generations. Perhaps in 20 or 21, someone sent these two volumes to the auction house. At that time, they sold for a high price of more than 60 million Chinese coins!
Unexpectedly, these two volumes of books came from the Abel family.
After staring at the books in the display cabinet for a few times, Chu Heng finally sighed deeply and walked elsewhere to continue admiring Benshamin's collection.
It's just that his steps are much heavier than when he first came in.
A hundred years of humiliation!
He was even tempted to kill...
In the blink of an eye, it was three o'clock in the afternoon.
Chu Heng also finally visited Benshaming's collection.
After the two came out of the collection room, they returned to the living room. After Chu Heng drank a cup of black tea to calm down, he glanced at Ben Shaming, who was still talking about his collection, and said tentatively:
"Mr. Benzamin, I have a request."
How could Benshamin not know what he wanted to say? Hearing this, his heart suddenly suddenly jumped, and he refused without even giving him a chance to speak: "If you want to buy my collection, please don't speak. I am
I will never sell them, they are my favorites and they are very important to me."
"Is there no room for negotiation at all? They are witnesses of Chinese history and represent the splendid civilization of ancient China. They should also return to their hometown. Therefore, I hope you can give me a plan. You can charge whatever price you want.
, as long as you are willing to take action." Chu Heng said solemnly.
But Ben Shaming was unmoved and shook his head firmly: "Sorry, Mr. Chu, I will never sell it."
"Okay then." A look of regret appeared on Chu Heng's face. He lowered his head and picked up the tea cup and took a sip. A cold light flashed in the corner of his eyes unintentionally.
If you don’t want the opportunity given to you, then don’t blame me for collecting debts from you...
After that, Chu Heng no longer mentioned buying antiques, and happily chatted with Benshaming about the history of China and France, walked around in the garden, and went to the racecourse to ride horses for a while.
During this period, his eldest daughter Vera kept pestering Chu Heng, chatting with him about the world of wizards and literature. Maybe it was spring, or maybe Chu Heng was too handsome. She would sometimes make secret glances and secretly request to open the door, but nothing happened.
Being ignored by Chu Heng was very annoying.
He really wanted to take revenge, but Vera, a foreign woman in her thirties, had sagging skin and a strange smell, so he really couldn't eat it.
Fortunately, Vera did not bother Chu Heng for too long. After he played at the racecourse for a while, a servant from the manor came over to inform Ben Shaming and told him that the guests were coming. Chu Heng quickly went back to the castle with him.
.
In order to entertain Chu Heng, a great writer, Ben Shaming specially prepared a dinner and also invited some business and political celebrities from Paris. Firstly, he asked them to accompany him to show how much he valued Chu Heng. Secondly, he wanted to show off to others.
own connections.
Even the mysterious wizard Chu knows him, so I ask you if you accept it?
After Chu Heng came back, he got to know those people, and after chatting for a while, the dinner began.
A group of people sat at a long table, eating, drinking, and chatting. In a blink of an eye, it was around nine o'clock in the night and they dispersed.
"Goodbye, Mr. Chu Heng, I look forward to meeting you next time."
"I don't think it will be long."
"Really? That's so happy."
As the guest of honor, Chu Heng, who had been waiting here all day, got into the hotel car and left the manor, greeted by a group of people.
In the car.
Chu Heng looked back at the quiet manor under the night, and the smile on his face instantly faded, as if it was covered with a layer of frost.
This trip to Abel Manor was really uncomfortable for him. Looking at the treasures, he felt like a light was stuck on his back, he felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, and he felt like there was a lump in his throat.
There was even a moment when he wanted to sneak over and grab the thing, steal it!
He really didn't want to wait a minute longer.
So, after the car returned to the hotel, Chu Heng immediately went to the front desk and said: "Book me two tickets to Washington at the earliest. The sooner the better."
