After more than an hour of negotiation, Xiao Ran reached a partial agreement with several French museum directors, but it was only a preliminary agreement.
Several museums, including the Louvre and the Museum of Modern Art in Paris, agreed to do deals with him.
However, the antique artworks to be traded by the two parties have not been completely determined and further consultations are needed.
Only Sophie from the Guimei Museum did not immediately accept the transaction conditions proposed by Xiao Ran, saying that she would have to think about it before making a decision.
While reaching a partial agreement, the two parties also determined the transaction method.
Once the two parties formally sign the transaction agreement, several museums in France will pack up all the Chinese antiques and artworks for trade and transport them to Beijing on charter flights.
After arriving in Beijing, Mr. Shan and Mr. Jin will organize an expert team to conduct appraisal.
Only after confirming that there are no problems with all Chinese antiques and artworks, Xiao Ran will hand over the corresponding stolen antiques and artworks, and Pierre and the others will transport them to Paris.
At this point, this series of heavyweight art transactions is complete.
After the meeting, Xiao Ran and the others went straight back to the presidential suite.
After a while, Pierre knocked on the door and came in.
After entering the door, he immediately said:
"Sean, if possible, you'd better come up with a list of antique art transactions as soon as possible"
"Martinez and the others want to complete this series of transactions as soon as possible to avoid long nights and nightmares."
"The U.S. government looted the Poles and intercepted Raphael's "Portrait of a Young Man" just happened. Martinez and the others were worried that the same thing would happen to them."
Hearing this, Xiao Ran suddenly chuckled.
Then, he nodded slightly.
"Okay, Pierre, I will pull out the transaction list tonight and send it to your phone."
"It is normal for Martinez and the others to have such worries. To be honest, I also have such worries."
"I also want to complete this series of transactions as soon as possible and be safe. I don't feel comfortable storing so many top-quality antiques and artworks in the vault of the Philadelphia Museum of Art."
"If the U.S. government loses its face and forcibly seizes all the stolen antiques and artworks, as well as the treasures I got in exchange, then we will be in big trouble."
Pierre nodded and then continued:
"It is indeed possible. With the US government's consistent gangster style, it is not surprising at all to do such a thing."
"If I'm not wrong, you donated antique artworks to the family foundations of the two American presidents just to prevent them from falling out, right?"
Xiao Ran nodded and then said:
"I do have this intention, but not all of it. Whether this kind of charitable donation will work, I can't say yet."
"In the United States now, the old and new presidents are fighting in full swing. The focus is on each other and they can't take care of other things for a while."
"When the new President of the United States takes office, no one can say whether that old white-haired guy will turn against him immediately. I have to be careful!"
"These matters must be dealt with before the new president of the United States takes office. If they are not dealt with completely, there may be some variables."
"About this, you'd better tell Martinez and others, especially Sophie, to hurry up. I won't wait for them too long."
Pierre's face suddenly became more solemn, and then he nodded.
"I know, Sean, I will tell Martinez and Sophie what you said later."
After a few more words, Pierre was ready to leave.
At this moment, Xiao Ran suddenly said:
"Pierre, let me tell you something. After a while, I may take someone to France to track down something."
"If you find something like a treasure map in Paris, you might as well keep an eye on it and I can fund the purchase."
"I will lead the team to France later. If I have enough time, I can also explore Paris. Maybe I will find something."
Pierre was stunned for a moment, and a look of surprise quickly flashed in his eyes.
The next moment, he asked excitedly:
"You are going to lead a team to France. Do you know what treasures are hidden somewhere in France, so you go to France to explore?"
Xiao Ran smiled and shook his head, then explained a few words.
"The reason why I took people to France is to trace the traces of Lu Qinzhai, a great antique dealer who died decades ago."
"Lu Qinzhai is the largest antique smuggler in Chinese history. He has smuggled countless top-quality antiques, cultural relics and works of art from China."
"In the 1950s, he ended his antique business in New York and took dozens of boxes of antique artifacts and works of art with him when he left New York."
"After he arrived in France, the dozens of boxes of antique cultural relics and artworks from China were missing. No one knew where they went."
"They may be hidden in some unknown corner of France. I went to France just to track down these Chinese antiques, cultural relics and works of art."
Hearing this, Pierre suddenly understood.
"It turns out that you are trying to track down the big antique dealer Lu Qinzhai. I have also heard about the batch of Chinese antiques and artworks."
"But no one knows where those Chinese antiques are, and the Guimei Museum, which has a good relationship with Lu Qinzhai, didn't get those treasures either."
"I heard that the Guimei Museum also organized personnel to investigate the batch of Chinese antiques and art, and visited Lu Qinzhai several times."
"But until Lu Qinzhai died, he did not reveal the whereabouts of the batch of Chinese antiques, and the matter eventually fell silent."
"If you can find those Chinese antiques and artworks, that would be great, and your private museum will have a lot more collections."
Xiao Ran nodded slightly and continued:
"That's what I mean. Such a large batch of Chinese antiques, cultural relics and works of art cannot disappear into thin air, and I don't want to let them go."
"For the past three to four hundred years, France has been the cultural and artistic center of Europe and the United States, giving birth to countless art masters and art schools."
"When I go to France this time, if I'm lucky, I might make some other surprising discoveries..."
With his words, Pierre suddenly became more excited.
Elaine and Fang Yufei, who were sitting nearby, also had excited eyes.
One of them wanted to go home, and the other wanted to go shopping in Paris. Of course, they raised their hands to support Xiao Ran's decision.
The next moment, Pierre continued:
"Sean, I will help you pay attention to the treasure map."
"There must be many treasure maps circulating in places such as the Saint-Ouan Antique Market in Paris and Montmartre."
"As for the authenticity of those treasure maps, we don't know. You need to judge by yourself."
Xiao Ran's eyes suddenly lit up and he nodded.
"I understand, Pierre, just ask for information, and I will judge the authenticity of those treasure maps."
"I have been admiring the Saint-Ouan Antique Market and Montmartre in Paris for a long time. I must go there to have a good time."
After chatting for a few more words, Pierre left the suite and returned to his room.
As soon as he left, Elaine and Fang Yufei immediately cheered.
"Great! We're going to Paris! Then I'm going to go shopping on the Champs Elysées."
"I really want to go back to Paris right away. I haven't been back for more than a year."
Looking at the two beauties cheering for joy, Xiao Ran smiled softly, and then poured a basin of cold water on them.
"Dear Yufei, it's a little early for you to celebrate now"
"We are going to Paris, the earliest will be in one and a half months, or even longer."
"After handling matters in Philadelphia, Boston and other places, we must first return to Los Angeles."
“After staying in Los Angeles for a while, it’s the Chinese New Year”
"By then, we may have to go back to Beijing to spend the Spring Festival and reunite with our families."
"After the Spring Festival, if there is nothing else, we will fly directly from Beijing to Paris."
"If something else happens, the trip to Paris may have to be postponed."
After the words fell, the two beauties couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.
Immediately afterwards, bright smiles broke out on their faces.
"This is a good arrangement. Let's go back to Beijing to celebrate the New Year first, and then go to Paris for shopping. We won't delay anything."
Fang Yufei said excitedly.
Before she finished speaking, Elaine continued excitedly:
"It will definitely be interesting to go to Beijing to celebrate the New Year. China's Spring Festival is very lively. I would like to go and see it before returning to Paris."
Xiao Ran smiled and shook his head.
"My dear, you may be disappointed. The current situation is special and this year's Spring Festival will definitely be very dull."
"But that's not important. The most important thing is that you can go home and reunite with your family. My family welcomes you very much."
Elaine was stunned for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes, reunion with family is the most important thing, but flights between China and the United States are still suspended. Can we fly to Beijing smoothly?"
Xiao Ran nodded confidently and said:
"Don't worry about this. Now we can enter and leave the United States at any time. Returning to Beijing is not a problem at all."
"Of course, after we go back, we will inevitably have to live alone for half a month. I will let my family make arrangements."
When they heard that they were going to live alone for half a month, the expressions of the two beauties immediately collapsed.
After chatting for a while, Xiao Ran took the laptop and started working.
While he was checking the situation of several French museums on the Internet, he was discussing with Elaine and others which Chinese antiques and artworks he should choose to exchange.
It took him about an hour to pull out a list of antique artifacts and works of art.
After making sure the list was correct, he sent it to Pierre.
By the time I finished all these things, it was already around ten o'clock in the evening.
Next, Xiao Ran took out his mobile phone and started a video call with his family.
The call was connected in a blink of an eye, and my parents appeared on the video screen at the same time.
Besides them, my sister-in-law was also sitting in her living room.
Before Xiao Ran could speak, his mother couldn't wait to say:
"Xiao Ran, why did you transfer so many U.S. dollars back today? The amount is really scary, nearly 3 billion U.S. dollars!"
"Your sister-in-law came over in the middle of the night, and we have been sitting awake until now, feeling very anxious."
"Just now, the leaders of the Administration of Foreign Exchange called to inquire about the situation. They were also a little surprised."
Hearing this, Xiao Ran suddenly laughed proudly.
"Don't worry, Mom and Dad, that money is my legal income, and every penny can withstand inspection!"
"Let me tell you a good thing. From today on, my money can be freely moved in and out of the United States."
"Neither the U.S. government nor the Treasury Department will restrict the free flow of my money as long as it is legitimate income."
Before he could finish his words, Dad already exclaimed.
"Ah! How is this possible? Did I hear correctly?"
"You must know that this is a capital flow of billions of dollars. It is subject to control in any country. How can we just leave it?"
Xiao Ran smiled softly and then explained the reason.
Although my sister-in-law is responsible for collecting money in the country and keeping an eye on the flow of this huge amount of money, she does not know the inside story.
For the sake of confidentiality, Xiao Ran did not tell his sister-in-law the truth before. He only said that billions of dollars might be transferred to domestic bank accounts today.
Now I heard Xiao Ran say that he openly bribed the two presidents of the United States through charitable donations to give him the green light.
Not surprisingly, both parents were completely stunned and froze on the spot!
Part of "Forty Scenes of the Old Summer Palace", currently in the Guimei Museum
