Reborn As Super Heiress

Chapter 984: Chapter 980: A Different Museum Curator

”Uh...”

Huo Sining listened to Zhou Shitao’s words and felt a black line appear on her forehead.

She hadn’t expected that the old man was actually the director of the Forbidden City Museum. She hadn’t had much contact with Huang Zhenlong, but she knew his name. She hadn’t seen his real face, so she couldn’t match it to him. Now, seeing the real person, she still didn’t recognize him.

In Huo Sining’s perception, a director should be very serious, just like Qiao Zhenhuan’s uncle, Director Bai of the Taicheng Museum. Although Director Bai is kind-looking and speaks gently, he still carries an air of authority, even when he needs something from Huo Sining, he doesn’t drop his official manner.

But this Director Huang in front of her was different. Before Zhou Shitao introduced his identity, Huo Sining had always thought he was just some old friend within the circle who shared Zhou Shitao’s hobby, in whom there was no trace of officialdom or pretense, just an ordinary old man.

Huo Sining believed that if no one mentioned it, Director Huang, walking on the street, wouldn’t be considered any different by anyone because he looked just like a regular person.

Especially when Zhou Shitao introduced Huang Zhenlong, saying he was shameless, Huang Zhenlong’s face turned red with anger, looking just like a proud grandpa next door, making Huo Sining chuckle and instantly grow fond of Director Huang.

Huang Zhenlong looked frustrated, and being said like that by Zhou Shitao, he couldn’t help but weakly retort: ”How am I shameless? You already said I was borrowing, I signed a lease contract with Huo.”

Zhou Shitao didn’t care whether Huang Zhenlong wanted to save face or not, he first teased and then directly asked: ”You also said it’s a lease, so where’s the money? I haven’t seen you pay, you just wrote a contract without paying, isn’t that shameless?”

Huang Zhenlong was furious, wanting to say something to salvage his image, but realized he indeed did as accused, and no explanation could cover it up.

”Well, Huo, you’re also into antiques, you should know, the museum is not a profitable institution, the ticket sales every year aren’t enough to maintain these old buildings and artifacts, though I’m the director, I don’t really have much money. Well, last time when your Jubao Pavilion opened a new store, I sent a flower basket to congratulate you, don’t look at the monk’s face but at the Buddha’s face, girl, you...”

Knowing he couldn’t explain, Huang Zhenlong straightforwardly played the sentiment card, leaving Huo Sining once again dumbfounded, thinking this old man really had no integrity.

Ji Kun, standing aside, was quite accustomed to this scene, he directly said: ”Mr. Huang, just say you want to borrow this Precious Sword to exhibit it at the museum, there’s no need to say so much, my junior sister is already confused.”

Huang Zhenlong chuckled awkwardly twice, widening his eyes while looking at Huo Sining, full of expectation, almost wanting to ingratiatingly call her granny.

Though Huo Sining often felt soft-hearted and had a good impression of Huang Zhenlong, she never blurred major matters.

Ever since a piece of Zhong’s imitation secret-color porcelain emerged from the Taicheng Museum, Huo Sining had already developed doubts about the security and defense systems of domestic museums.

How could Old Mr. Zhong simply remove the authentic piece from the museum and transport it to Dongyang? The intricacies within were unknown to Huo Sining, but she was sure there were definitely loopholes in many domestic museum systems, plus some people in power acting as internal moles, shielding thieves, which is how Old Mr. Zhong succeeded.

Huo Sining didn’t want to doubt the Forbidden City, but in this matter, Huang Zhenlong’s sweet words wouldn’t change her mind.

A pair of enamel or a piece of Cizhou Kiln Porcelain Pillow, though rare, were not the only ones in existence, so Huo Sining was willing to lease to the Forbidden City Museum, knowing normally, no one would target these items.

Because the value of these items wasn’t enough for artifact traders to risk it.

But this Qixing Longyuan was different, one of the Ten Famous Swords, each one is unique, each one extremely precious.

This kind of item is the only one in the world, even with today’s technology, it cannot be perfectly replicated or restored.

Even if Zhou Shitao hadn’t mentioned it, Huo Sining clearly understood the value of such a sword is immeasurable, whether tens of millions, hundreds of millions, or even billions, no one could accurately state how such a sword is valued monetarily.

The Ten Famous Swords are not present in reality, like they are just mythical or legendary, except for the historical records, the true appearance of these swords remains unknown to the world.

Now that one finally appeared, Huo Sining could imagine the huge sensation that the emergence of this Qixing Longyuan would cause.

The gaze of all Huaxia and even the world may fall on this sword, how many would covet it, Huo Sining did not know, but she absolutely did not want to place it vulnerably on the exhibition stand of the Forbidden City Museum, allowing artifact traders to come and go. However careful you are, you might still slip up, and Huo Sining dared not take such a risk.

Seeing Huo Sining remain silent and unwilling to speak, Huang Zhenlong understood her intention, feeling somewhat regretful and disappointed, but more understanding and ashamed. He clearly knew Huo Sining’s mind; given the current state of domestic museums, they indeed lacked the credibility to assure collectors.

Some private collectors would rather build private museums on their own funds than lease items to state-constructed museums, which clearly indicates the weakness in the credibility of domestic museums, as the field is too murky, domestic museums no longer inspire confidence, and establishing private museums has become an inevitable or helpless choice for some collectors.

Huang Zhenlong’s face looked somewhat crestfallen, obviously not knowing how to persuade Huo Sining to change her mind, and he was already aware in his heart that though Zhou Shitao’s young apprentice seemed young, her eyes were clear and she had a strong mind, and would not easily change her decision just because of his few soft words.

Thinking that such a treasure couldn’t be shown to the general public, Huang Zhenlong felt an indescribable melancholy. He had dedicated his life to the field of museums, hoping they could encompass various artifacts and present a complete five thousand-year Huaxia civilization to the public, letting everyone fully understand the historical culture, instead of these antiques being stored at home, becoming a means and tool for profit for a small group of people.

But he was well aware, in the current domestic environment, such thoughts were absurd and impossibly acceptable, his power alone was after all an arm against a heavy cart, insufficient for the task.