Zhang Tianxing's mood calmed down. When facing major events, one needed inner peace. Panic would lead to loss of composure and self-disruption.
"Thank you, Jane. You're very thoughtful," Zhang Tianxing realized his heart had been disturbed.
It was just a Chinese cultural relic that had unsettled him.
Soon, a woman in a tight-fitting skirt gracefully walked over. Upon seeing Jane, a look of joy appeared in her eyes.
"Darling, here's the list you wanted." She stepped forward and gave Jane a hug, handing her a list.
Jane casually passed the list to Zhang Tianxing, who took it and opened it directly.
"By the way, which of the items on display this time are particularly famous?" Jane asked Sarah.
"Oh yes, for instance, the twelve zodiac heads from China, as well as some renowned paintings, and of course, the oil paintings from the Renaissance."
Hearing this, Zhang Tianxing suddenly interjected, "I have a question. Are all the exhibits here owned by your museum?"
Sarah chuckled and shook her head. "No, only a very small portion belongs to us. Others are from private collections, and some are from other museums."
"Regarding the twelve zodiac heads, I only see one here. How many are there this time? Where is it from? Is it convenient to say?" Zhang Tianxing continued to ask. He had seen the names of the twelve zodiac heads on the list, but only the pig head was present.
"This one is from a private collection, and the owner only brought out one. We haven't seen the others," Sarah explained in detail. She was a bit curious, as it was evident Jane had requested the list for this man.
This man was so interested in the twelve zodiac heads, and considering his oriental appearance, what exactly did he intend to do?
"The twelve zodiac heads are just ahead. You can go and take a look. I have other matters to attend to and cannot entertain you further. Please explore on your own, and contact me if you need anything." After saying this, Sarah hurried back to her work.
Jane smiled at Zhang Tianxing and linked her arm through his. "Zhang Tianxing, let's go take a look first."
Zhang Tianxing nodded, and the two walked towards the location of the twelve zodiac heads.
Upon arriving, Zhang Tianxing looked closely. Indeed, what was on display was one of the twelve zodiac heads: the pig head.
Its surface was of a deep color, yet it held an inner radiance, enduring for over a hundred years. The pig's bristles were clearly visible.
Jane glanced at it. "This is just a craft, it seems to be well-made. I wonder why Zhang Tianxing is so excited."
At this moment, someone nearby began to speak.
"This pig head is from the Haiyan Hall water clock in ancient China, used for telling time. The craftsmanship is quite good."
"Alas, in the end, it's just a faucet. I can't fathom how such an item could be in a museum."
"It has history. To be frank, I snatched this pig head from China. I have great achievements there, with stories and legends to tell. It's more than a relic."
Hearing the people nearby belittling the pig head, Zhang Tianxing's expression turned unpleasant. However, with people coming and going, Zhang Tianxing said nothing, only speaking softly to Jane.
"Can you help me contact them and find out who the collector of this pig head is? I'd like to meet with them."
"You're not planning to buy this pig head, are you?" Jane, being intelligent, asked after hearing Zhang Tianxing's inquiry.
Zhang Tianxing nodded. He did have that thought, but it would depend on the price. It would be excellent if he could bring the twelve zodiac heads back to his homeland.
But this was only one of them. He couldn't drive up the price, otherwise, it would be difficult for the other zodiac heads to return.
Greed knows no bounds. These foreigners were not good people.
They were all full of wicked intentions.
Jane was not surprised by Zhang Tianxing's answer, but she was a little curious. "Is there anything special about this? You seem to value the zodiac heads greatly. The people here just said it's merely a faucet."
"This is no ordinary faucet. Think about it, which faucet has lasted for over a hundred years and still possesses such inner radiance and deep color?"
"This represents the pinnacle of Chinese craftsmanship. Its material is an alloy bronze used by the imperial court. It has a history and contains multiple precious metals, making it impervious to the ravages of time."
"Its craftsmanship is beyond doubt. It was meticulously created by artisans from the Imperial Workshops, who served the emperor. The casting is exquisite, and the surface is intricately engraved with fine chisel work. Even subtle details like animal fur are forged stroke by stroke, clear and lifelike. Key areas like the nose, eyes, and ears, as well as the wrinkles on the nose and neck, are rendered with extreme delicacy, showing no trace of carelessness, demonstrating an extremely high level of craftsmanship."
"Moreover, its design is our Chinese heritage."
Before Zhang Tianxing could finish speaking, Jane posed a crucial question: "I heard these are human bodies with animal heads. How can they be Chinese heritage? I find it a bit frightening."
"China has had legends of human-animal hybrids since ancient times. Many unearthed relics since the Tang Dynasty prove this, with historical records dating back to the Tang Dynasty."
After hearing Zhang Tianxing's explanation, Jane nodded. "Going by what you say, this zodiac head must fetch an astronomical price?"
"No, its intrinsic value is here. Furthermore, it symbolizes China's shame. In our nation's weakened state, it was taken away from its homeland. We hope for the return of the twelve zodiac heads, but I personally do not wish to buy them back at a high price."
Zhang Tianxing's intention was simple. As a Chinese person, he had patriotic feelings and was willing to spend a significant amount of money. However, he couldn't alter the existing situation.
If he rashly bought it back at a high price this time, what about the remaining zodiac heads? This was not the only cultural relic lost abroad.
Too many cultural relics had been lost. If all of them were to be bought back at high prices, it would be a pain China could not bear.
Zhang Tianxing would not allow such a thing to happen.
True heroes reveal themselves in times of crisis. Zhang Tianxing was willing to try this matter.
Everything in this world has value, and Zhang Tianxing believed he also had value now. His offer was not limited to financial wealth.
Hearing Zhang Tianxing's explanation, Jane found his thoughts somewhat incomprehensible.
"Zhang Tianxing, I can't understand your reasoning. You say this is a cultural heritage of the Chinese nation. Will you buy it if the price is high? And if you don't offer a high price, how can they possibly give you the zodiac head?" Jane, who had always believed in the spirit of contract, couldn't understand.
How could Zhang Tianxing obtain the pig head without offering a high price? Zhang Tianxing chuckled upon hearing this.
"The mountains have their own clever plans. Just watch. Help me contact the collector. Facts will prove everything."
Jane didn't believe it. The prices of cultural relics were soaring now, unlike in the past. As far as she knew, the prices of cultural relics were constantly rising, especially for items with symbolic meaning like the twelve zodiac heads.
If it were truly as Zhang Tianxing said, it would hold special significance for China and could command a very high price. She wanted to see how Zhang Tianxing would resolve this matter.