After a while, Xiao Ran and the others had returned to the presidential suite upstairs.
After everything was disinfected and everyone changed into clean clothes, they were ready to go to the restaurant for dinner.
For safety reasons, a tourist restaurant on the top floor had already been booked by Xiao Ran.
Everyone in this restaurant, from chefs to waiters, is employed by him.
All the ingredients used in the restaurant every day, even the seasonings and drinking water, are purchased randomly by the employees, and they are followed by security personnel, so there is no need to worry about safety issues.
Even the entire cooking process is under strict control.
In this case, basically no one can do anything about the food, and you can eat it with confidence.
What's more important is that every time he enters the restaurant and before eating, Xiao Ran will thoroughly look through all the corners and people in the restaurant!
Even if someone was tampering in the restaurant, they couldn't escape his eyes that saw everything.
He could tell at a glance the mood swings and nervousness of the chefs and waiters.
This basically eliminates the possibility of being plotted, at least not in this restaurant!
Just as Xiao Ran and the others were about to leave the suite, Pierre suddenly came over.
As soon as he entered the door, he asked with concern:
"Sean, are you okay?"
“When we returned to the hotel before, we saw many people protesting in front of the hotel.”
"In the hotel lobby, there were many diplomats from embassies and consulates of various countries, including the Polish Ambassador and the French Cultural Counselor in the United States."
"These guys are all very aggressive, and they look like they are going to attack the enemy."
Xiao Ran looked at his father-in-law's pole, then nodded with a smile and said:
"Thank you for your concern, Pierre, we haven't had any trouble."
"We have encountered this kind of scene many times and know how to deal with it. Don't worry!"
Pierre nodded, thought for a moment, and then continued:
"It's okay, Sean, I'm relieved!"
"But I think, are you too high-profile during this period? That would easily make enemies everywhere."
Xiao Ran smiled confidently, and then shook his head indifferently.
"We have a saying in China: If you are not envied by others, you are a mediocre person!"
"You know, I am a professional treasure hunter. As long as I find a treasure, it will definitely attract eyes of envy, jealousy, and even hatred. This is human nature!"
"What's more, I have discovered so many amazing treasures. I want to keep those treasures as my own. It's hard not to make enemies!"
Pierre was silent and nodded slightly.
He knew very well that Xiao Ran's words were absolutely correct.
If it weren't for Elaine, he, who came on behalf of the Louvre, would probably have regarded Xiao Ran as his enemy at this time.
After a pause, Xiao Ran continued:
"Another point is that in the United States, a society where money is paramount, being high-profile can be regarded as a means of self-protection."
"I am a foreigner and a Chinese. If I want to make a fortune by hunting for treasures in the United States, I will probably be chewed to the bone by others!"
"In this case, if I make a high profile and attract the attention of everyone and the media, it will actually make some people with ulterior motives fearful!"
"Of course, I must always be careful not to give those guys any chance, and I must have enough strength to protect myself!"
After the words fell, Pierre nodded immediately and said:
"You have a point, Sean."
"You have to be more careful in the future, now you are no longer alone!"
"I know, Pierre, don't worry, I will protect Elaine and prevent her from getting hurt."
Xiao Ran nodded in response.
He knew very well what Pierre was really worried about.
After a few more words, they changed the subject.
"Sean, when will we start the meeting? Let's make arrangements."
"You also know that it is late at night in France, and Martinez and the others are still waiting for a reply."
Pierre said seriously.
"We are going to have dinner, so let's start the meeting after dinner, in the small conference room on the top floor."
"Martinez and the others can participate remotely via video call, or they can wait until tomorrow morning to give me the results."
Xiao Ran immediately gave the answer.
After the words fell, Pierre immediately nodded and responded:
"Okay, I'll go back and inform Falgot and the others, and we'll start the meeting after dinner."
After chatting for a few more words, they walked out of the suite together and went to the restaurant to eat.
Pierre returned to his room, reported to Martinez, and discussed with Falgot and others!
An hour later, the small conference room on the top floor.
When Xiao Ran, Elaine and David walked into the conference room, Pierre, Falgot and others had been waiting here for a long time.
After everyone met, they first exchanged a few polite words.
At the same time, Nick and the others quickly established video contact with Martinez and others in France.
In the blink of an eye, Martinez and several other directors of famous French museums appeared on the big TV screen.
Xiao Ran greeted them one by one and exchanged a few polite words.
Afterwards, everyone got down to business.
"Sean, today I heard Pierre introduce you to a series of transactions with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art, and other American museums."
"It seems that the method you formulated to deal with stolen antiques and art works is impossible to change."
"Since even the Metropolitan Museum accepts this method of disposal, we can only trade with you in this way."
"Tell me, what top Chinese antiques do we need to get back in exchange for the antiques that once belonged to us?"
"In addition to the stolen antique artworks in our museum, we also want to acquire some unowned stolen antique artworks. We can also discuss related transactions."
Martinez said with a smile, a hint of helplessness in his smile.
However, Xiao Ran did not respond immediately.
He pretended to think for a moment, then nodded with a smile and said:
"Martinez, since you accept my approach to the stolen antiques and artworks, everything is fine!"
"If you want to get back those stolen antiques and trade them for a batch of unowned and stolen antiques, in principle you can only exchange them for top-notch Chinese antiques."
"Under normal circumstances, I do not accept cash transactions. Unless the value of the transaction object between the two parties is not equal, cash can be used to supplement it."
"As far as I know, the Louvre has tens of thousands of Chinese antiques in its collection, many of which are exquisite."
"It's very easy for you to trade some of them and it won't cause any harm!"
"Many Chinese antiques and cultural relics collected in the Guimet Museum originally belonged to the Louvre. I believe you can reach relevant agreements with the Guimet Museum."
Hearing this, Martinez and the director of the Guimet Museum in Paris were both stunned.
Then, Martinez nodded helplessly.
"It seems that you know our relationship very well and must have done a lot of work!"
"It's no wonder, Elaine is your girlfriend, and the Louvre has almost no secrets from you!"
Elaine, who was sitting aside, couldn't help but chuckle.
But she didn't explain much, and probably not many people believed her.
After a pause, Xiao Ran continued:
“Among the Chinese antique artworks in the Louvre and Guimet Museum, the treasures I want are as follows”
"First of all, there are those treasures from Dunhuang. They were treasures that Pelliot took away from China at the beginning of the last century, and they are the most essential part of the Dunhuang scriptures."
"More than a hundred years later, it's time for them to return to China. I believe your museum must have produced electronic versions."
"That is to say, you won't lose anything if you trade those Dunhuang scriptures."
As soon as he said this, the director of the Guimet Museum couldn't help but interrupt.
"Sean, our Guimei Museum has a total of 220 volumes of Dunhuang scriptures, as well as wood carvings and other antiques from Dunhuang. The number is quite amazing!"
"You want all the Dunhuang scriptures, this is simply impossible!"
"The antique artworks stolen from our museum, as well as the non-antique artworks we want to acquire, all combined are not as good as those Dunhuang scriptures."
Xiao Ran looked at the French woman, smiled and shook his head and said:
"Ms. Sophie, I may not have made it clear. This time I do not expect to exchange for all the Dunhuang scriptures collected by the Guimei Museum."
"My purpose this time is to exchange for some of the Dunhuang scriptures. I will send you the specific list later."
"But I believe that there will be transactions between us in the future, and I want to gradually take back the remaining Dunhuang scriptures."
"Wow! It seems like you have great ambitions!"
Sophie sighed with emotion, but there was a bit of worry in her eyes.
Later, Xiao Ran picked up the previous conversation.
"In addition to some Dunhuang scriptures, I also have a special interest in the group of "Ling Gui" from the Western Zhou Dynasty and "White Jade Tiger" from the early Han Dynasty collected by the Guimei Museum."
“I am very interested in treasures such as the largest extant Shang Xiang Zun and the blue-glazed white dragon-patterned plum vase from the Yuan Dynasty.”
Before he finished speaking, several French guys across the conference table, as well as Martinez and others from far away in France, all stood up with eyes full of disbelief.
Especially Sophie, the director of the Guimet Museum, was so angry that she jumped up from the sofa.
The next moment, this elegant-looking old French woman screamed at the top of her lungs, regardless of the elegant image she had built over the years!
"Impossible, this is absolutely impossible!"
"Sean, you are so greedy. You are going to sweep away the essence of our Guimei Museum!"
Xiao Ran looked at the lioness who was about to explode, then smiled and said:
"You don't have to be so excited, Ms. Sophie."
"This is just the transaction condition I proposed. Whether you agree or not is up to you. We can discuss it slowly."
"Even if we can't reach an agreement in the end, it doesn't matter. Business cannot be done without justice!"
After hearing his words, Sophie suddenly became calmer.
She also knew that she had somewhat lost her composure.
Next, she nodded slightly and said nothing more.
At this moment, Falgot, who was sitting across the conference table, suddenly said:
“Sean, our museum doesn’t have many antique artifacts and artworks from China.”
"But our museum has the most stolen antiques and art. How can we trade between us?"
Xiao Ran looked at the other party and immediately gave the answer.
"Based on the cooperation agreement you reached with the Louvre, the Louvre should be able to offer corresponding Chinese antiques for trade."
"Even without this cooperation agreement, the works of modern Chinese artists collected by your museum can still be traded."
"For example, the works of Chinese art masters such as Qi Baishi, Zhang Daqian, and Xu Beihong"
"As far as I know, your museum collects many paintings by Zao Wou-Ki, and I am also very interested in his paintings!"
"ah!"
Falgot exclaimed and was stunned.
The rest of the French people were the same, their eyes were full of surprise and fear!
Yuan blue glaze white dragon pattern plum vase
