The next day, morning.
Harvard University Art Museum, Conference Room.
Xiao Ran is here to complete the settlement with the Harvard University Art Museum to complete the transaction that has been reached before.
The objects of delivery were the Indian antiques and gold products successively taken by the Harvard University Museum, as well as a series of Chinese antiques and artworks they exchanged.
In previous private auctions, although the Harvard University Museum acquired many Indian antiques, they did not deliver them on site.
Xiao Ran agreed with them that after all the auctions were completed, they would deliver the goods at once to save trouble.
Because of this, Xiao Ran came to the Harvard University Museum today with many Indian antiques and cultural relics they had photographed.
Also coming here is Professor Adrian from Yale University. This guy is here to supervise.
After the delivery is completed, the Indian antiques and gold artifacts photographed by the Harvard University Museum will be sealed on site and handed over to Yale University for relevant academic research.
After Yale University completes the research work, the Harvard University Museum can display these antique artifacts and conduct related research!
This situation made several professors at the Harvard School of History and museum executives very unhappy!
However, they could only grit their teeth and accept it all.
There is no way, this is something agreed upon before the auction.
For the sake of Harvard University’s reputation, they can’t break their promise!
At this time, the long conference table in the conference room was filled with various antique artifacts and works of art.
Among them are the newly discovered Indian antiques and gold products that Xiao Ran brought to trade, as well as many Chinese antiques and artworks collected by the Harvard University Museum and prepared for trade.
While talking, Xiao Ran had already finished reading a piece of bronze knight from the Warring States Period and gently placed it on the table.
This bronze jue is well preserved and has no problems. It is a very precious and rare bronze vessel.
The only pity is that there is no inscription on this bronze knight.
In addition, bronze ware is not allowed to be traded in the country, so the price cannot go up, which is why Xiao Ran got such a bargain.
Among the Chinese antiques and artworks put up for sale by the Harvard University Museum this time, there are many bronzes, each of which is outstanding.
And this is also the treasure that Xiao Ran wants most.
Compared with these treasures, those Indian antiques and gold products with exaggerated and weird shapes are not worth mentioning in his eyes!
After putting down the Warring States Bronze Lord, Xiao Ran looked at the pottery placed next to it.
This is a simple-looking painted pottery pot that is basically well preserved.
The pottery bowl is made of light yellow pottery, with some human-mask and fish patterns painted in black.
The human face is round, with a towering triangle above the head. The left half of the forehead is painted black, and the right half is a black semi-curved sickle shape.
This should be the face tattooing habit of the ancients at that time, and it is also related to the collective worship of fish by the ancients!
The human-mask and fish patterns on the clay pots still reveal a bit of innocence and childishness, giving them a sense of intimacy.
And this is exactly the record of primitive life by the Chinese ancestors.
When looking at this simple and exquisite painted pottery pot, Xiao Ran didn't even dare to touch it with his hands, for fear of causing any harm to the pottery pot!
Looking at this pinata, his eyes were extremely bright, and his eyes were so hot that they almost burned.
Fortunately, he lowered his head slightly and deliberately concealed it, so others didn't notice anything unusual.
In fact, several senior officials and appraisal experts from the Harvard University Museum were concentrating on appreciating and appraising the Indian antiques and had no time to pay attention here.
After admiring it intoxicatedly for a moment, Xiao Ran nodded and said:
"Yes, this is the famous Banpo Culture painted pottery pot. It is so rare!"
"This kind of light yellow clay comes from the Wei River and Han River basins, and it also has this exquisite human-mask and fish pattern."
"And this kind of innocence and childishness are the best proof."
Before he finished speaking, Mr. Qiu, who was far away in China and participated in the appraisal via video, said excitedly:
"What you saw is very accurate, Xiao Ran. This is indeed a genuine Banpo culture painted pottery pot."
"The same style of Banpo Culture painted pottery is included in the National Museum. It is a Banpo Culture painted pottery basin with human face and fish pattern, which was unearthed in Banpo Village, Xi'an."
"The painted pottery basin with a human face and fish pattern is a national first-class cultural relic, a national treasure among national treasures, and is strictly prohibited for overseas exhibitions."
"I didn't expect that your kid could get a human-faced fish-patterned pottery pot of the same grade this time. You're so lucky!"
Before he finished speaking, Mr. Shan couldn’t wait to continue and said:
"Xiao Ran, this is a national treasure, and it is very fragile. You must protect this national treasure."
"When you return this national treasure to China, it would be great if you can lend it to the Forbidden City for exhibition for a period of time."
"Of course, you can also put this treasure in your personal exhibition hall and display it publicly."
Hearing this, Xiao Ran couldn't help but smile proudly.
Then, he smiled and said:
"Masters, please rest assured, I will protect this national treasure and return it safely to the country."
"As for the exhibition matters after returning to China, we will talk about it later."
After a few more discussions, Xiao Ran suddenly looked up at Martha opposite and asked curiously:
"Martha, can you tell us the origin of this human-faced and fish-patterned clay pot?"
"How did your museum get this treasure? You didn't introduce it during the previous transaction."
Upon hearing his question, Martha immediately looked up.
She glanced at this painted pottery pot with a human face and fish pattern, thought for a moment, and then began to explain.
"This ancient painted pottery pot with human face and fish pattern was acquired from the great antique dealer Lu Qinzhai in the mid-1940s."
"There were five or six pieces of this style of painted pottery purchased together at that time, and this one is the most exquisite."
"It's a pity that this treasure has been targeted by you. In order to exchange for the Indian antiques that we like, we have to take it out and exchange it."
"Fortunately, we have several other pieces of painted pottery of the same style. Trading this treasure to you will not affect the collection and display of this category."
Before he finished speaking, Xiao Ran was already biting his back teeth and cursing.
"Fuck! It's that damn traitor Lu Qinzhai again!"
"How many national treasure-level antiques and artworks has this traitor freed up? I'm afraid I can't even count them!"
In anger, he copied it in Mandarin, so he didn't have to worry about Martha and others understanding it.
But Shan Lao and others far away in Beijing heard it very clearly.
The next moment, several old men also gnashed their teeth and cursed.
"A traitor like Lu Qinzhai can be dragged out and shot ten thousand times. He is truly a scourge!"
"In the 1930s and 1940s, Lu Qinzhai went to Xi'an many times to search for various antiques and cultural relics. It was probably at that time that he took away these national treasures."
After cursing a few words, Xiao Ran switched to English and said to Martha:
"Thank you for the introduction, Martha. I know the origin of this treasure."
"I am very happy to be able to exchange this treasure from you."
After a few polite words, he looked at another treasure next to him.
This is a green landscape painting by Wang Shimin, one of the four kings of the early Qing Dynasty. It is a very good piece of art and is worth a lot of money.
Xiao Ran first looked at the appearance of the scroll, then put on his gloves, gently opened the landscape painting, and admired it with interest.
Several old men far away in Beijing were the same, admiring this painting with bright eyes.
In the blink of an eye, it was already around eleven o'clock in the morning.
After appraising all the Chinese antiques and artworks exchanged and confirming that there were no problems, Xiao Ran made the delivery with Martha on the spot, completing the series of transactions.
There was naturally no problem with the Indian antiques and gold products he brought.
Later, Xiao Ran took it upon himself to put these Chinese antiques and artworks into several portable safes one by one.
Then he said goodbye and left, taking Elaine and David out of the Harvard University Museum.
As hosts, Martha, Professor Samuel and others sent them all the way to the entrance of the museum.
At this time, the two medium-sized helicopters Xiao Ran and the others were riding in were parked in the square in front of the museum.
Numerous bulletproof SUVs escorting the convoy were parked end to end on the roadside.
The news that Xiao Ran came to trade with a large number of Indian antiques and gold products had already spread throughout the Harvard campus.
In fact, they were too high-profile when they arrived!
Especially the two roaring medium-sized helicopters, which had already alarmed almost all Harvard students when they flew over Harvard.
After hearing the news, many Harvard students gathered at the entrance of the museum and came to watch the excitement.
As a result, when Xiao Ran and the others came out of the museum, they looked up and saw this scene.
The square in front of the museum was already crowded with Harvard students watching the excitement, and it was a dense mass of heads.
Seeing this scene, everyone couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.
Immediately afterwards, Martha joked:
"Sean, now you have become a legendary figure."
"Whether it is at Yale or at Harvard, many students are very curious about you and even regard you as their idol!"
"Not many people have this kind of treatment. You know, this is Harvard University!"
Hearing this, Xiao Ran and the others immediately chuckled.
"Hahaha, I am very honored to be regarded as an idol by Harvard students, and I am also a little scared."
"I have been admiring Harvard, a top-notch school, for a long time, and I have long wanted to come here to visit it."
“It’s a pity that I can’t do it this time. I have a lot of antiques and artworks with me, so I can only visit them another day.”
Xiao Ran said with a smile and said a few nice words by the way.
Following his words, Martha and the others smiled and nodded.
"Sean, when you are free someday, you are welcome to visit the Harvard campus. I believe you will make your visit worthwhile!"
“If you want to come to Harvard to further your studies, we are more than happy to welcome you.”
"You know, Harvard's economics is the best in the world. You can also come to Harvard Business School to study for an MBA."
The vice president of Harvard University continued and extended an invitation.
Regardless of Harvard, Yale, or other top schools in the United States and the world, which school doesn't want to recruit Xiao Ran now? No exception!
A young, super-rich man like him is the coveted target of every top university.
If you can recruit him, you will definitely receive a large donation and get a super-rich alumnus with unlimited potential and deep pockets.
Compared to other super rich people, Xiao Ran can bring more to his school.
For example, there are unknown treasures everywhere, antiques and artworks of astonishing value, as well as related academic research opportunities and results.
What just happened in Boston, with Yale's huge gain, is the perfect example.
Xiao Ran did not agree to the invitation from the vice president of Harvard, but he also did not reject him.
After a few polite words, accompanied by Professor Martha and Samuel, they carried heavy portable safes and walked towards the two medium-sized helicopters parked in the square.
When they walked through the crowd of Harvard students, there was a commotion.
"Sean, is your company still hiring? I'm studying art history, can I work in your company?"
"Where are you going for your next exploration operation? Sean, can you reveal the relevant information?"
Many Harvard students asked questions, all with curious eyes.
Xiao Ran greeted these guys while marching.
"Guys, if you want to work in my company, you can pay attention to some of our company's websites."
"We will publish recruitment notices from time to time, and you might be able to join my company."
"As for the next exploration operation, we can't say yet, so we can't introduce the situation."
While they were talking, they had already passed through the crowd and arrived in front of two medium-sized helicopters.
Afterwards, Xiao Ran shook hands with Martha and the others and said goodbye, then took Elaine, David and the others onto one of the medium-sized helicopters.
After a while, the two medium-sized helicopters roared into the air and flew straight towards the old city of Boston in the distance.
