The World's Richest Man: Start with the Daily Intelligence System

43: Chapter 43 Is the Imperial Seal Fake?Everyone gasped upon hearing this. They had still underestimated the historical status of the imperial seal of china.

Yu Hongtao, regardless of the late hour, apologized and hurried to the balcony to call the Museum’s finance department.

After a while, he returned to the living room, pondered for a few minutes, and then said to Zhang Wei, ”Young Zhang, I won’t hide it from you. The maximum funds the Museum can currently allocate for acquisition is only ten million. I know this price is far from enough to purchase the imperial seal. If you took it abroad for auction, you could easily get over a hundred million.”

Seeing that Zhang Wei showed no impatience, he continued, ”My proposal is to lease this imperial seal for exhibition at our Museum. A twenty-year lease, and we pay you ten million. This amount is the absolute limit I can manage. What do you think?”

Zhang Wei had originally intended to sell it directly to the Shenghai Museum. After all, Yu Hongtao was a decent person and had spoken up for him quite a bit at the Criminal Police Brigade during the previous shelling incident. He would have accepted even eighty million from him.

However, the leasing proposal also showed Yu Hongtao’s sincerity. After all, in twenty years, with the intelligence system, Zhang Wei would surely be prosperous and no longer in need of money. He could then take the imperial seal back as a family heirloom. As for selling it abroad, that was unthinkable. How could a national treasure of China end up in foreign lands?

Having made up his mind, Zhang Wei called Liu Haorui and also asked An Xiaoxi for her opinion. After receiving their approval, he smiled at Yu Hongtao and said, ”Since Director Yu is so sincere, it would be ungracious of me to refuse.”

Seeing the matter settled, Yu Hongtao laughed heartily, ”Why call me Director Yu? Call me Uncle Yu from now on. Since it’s decided, I’ll have someone prepare the lease contract immediately.” The old man, as if injected with adrenaline, made several calls in a row, waking up most of the Museum staff.

He also notified the Museum’s publicity department to hurry over and take photos for promotion. The Museum’s Social Media Platform account had always been lukewarm. The previous shelling incident brought a huge wave of traffic, and this emergence of the imperial seal of china was sure to be explosive news.

Before long, people arrived to deliver the contract, take photos for publicity, filling Zhang Wei’s home to the brim. In the middle of the night, it became as lively as a marketplace.

Zhang Wei and Yu Hongtao discussed some details, such as requiring Zhang Wei’s personal consent if the imperial seal was to be exhibited in other provinces, and including the Shenghai Museum’s right of first refusal for lease renewal after twenty years, etc. Then both parties signed the contract.

Zhang Wei suddenly remembered that Wu Zhiguo planned to swindle him the next day, so he said, ”Uncle Yu, I’ll take the imperial seal tomorrow to tease that Wu Zhiguo. Please cooperate with me and come to take it directly then.”

Yu Hongtao thought those people were indeed going too far and, wanting to back Zhang Wei up, readily agreed.

With all the commotion, dawn was almost breaking. So many people had stayed up late working on his matter, and Zhang Wei felt a bit embarrassed. So he invited everyone to have morning tea nearby. The Museum’s finance department was also quite prompt, promising the ten million would be transferred that very day. Only then did everyone leave in high spirits.

At that moment, in a high-end teahouse in the City Name.

”It’s rare for an authority like Director Wu to visit the City Name. You must give me the opportunity to host you today,” a local Antique Dealer said with an ingratiating smile.

”Sure, sure,” Wu Zhiguo replied dismissively. As a leader in the industry, these Antique Dealers could thrive with just a bit of connection to their Museum and the official endorsement it provided. Conversely, if he ever questioned the authenticity of their items, even just once, they would immediately become pariahs in the industry. Giving them a chance to host him was doing them a favor.

Zheng Baochang sat to the side with a pained expression, worried things would get too ugly today.

Just then, Fan Haiyang entered with Zhang Wei. Zheng Baochang quickly stood up and introduced everyone. Wu Zhiguo nodded but remained seated firmly in the host’s seat without getting up.

Zhang Wei knew who this person was from the intelligence video but pretended to be surprised and asked, ”May I ask who this gentleman is?”

The Antique Dealer beside him hurriedly introduced, ”This is the industry authority, Director Wu. Young man, if you haven’t heard of his great name, you must be quite out of touch.”

”Just some empty reputation,” Wu Zhiguo said, feeling quite pleased by the flattery, offering a casual polite remark.

Zhang Wei deliberately put on an embarrassed expression, ”I’m not very familiar with the antique circle. Please don’t mind my ignorance.”

Once everyone was seated, Wu Zhiguo smiled and began, ”I heard you have a replica imperial seal, Young Zhang. Bring it out for us to see. Similar replicas can serve as reference material in the future.”

*Wow!* Zhang Wei couldn’t help butMake complaints internally. Judging it a fake without even looking? He’s doing psychological groundwork on me. How considerate.

Fan Haiyang, sitting nearby, frowned at this point. He had communicated with his friend last night. With Zheng Baochang’s expertise, it was impossible he couldn’t tell this was an old piece. How did it become a fake in Director Wu’s mouth?

Zhang Wei had come to watch the show anyway, so he didn’t say anything and simply took out the imperial seal.

Zheng Baochang examined it first, and a storm of shock raged in his heart. This was a national treasure! Not even the Capital Museum had a comparable artifact.

Wu Zhiguo also went through the motions of appraising it before saying to Zhang Wei, ”Young Zhang, the real imperial seal of china was destroyed long ago during the war. This is clearly a fake, a laughable imitation by later generations trying to copy the tiger by drawing a cat. I see the jade quality isNot bad. Out of respect for Teacher Fan, I can make an exception and accept your donation.”

The Antique Dealer nearby also chimed in with praise, ”Young man, you’ve hit the jackpot. Having the Capital Museum willing tocollect your item means you can walk sideways in the industry from now on. Who would dare look down on your capability? Hurry up and donate it.”

Zheng Baochang wanted to say something but was silenced by a look from Wu Zhiguo.

He was beginning to regret getting involved in this matter. His old friend Fan Haiyang trusted him and asked for his appraisal. He had thought that such a valuable item shouldtry be collected and exhibited by the Capital Museum, which is why he contacted Wu Zhiguo. But this guy had such an attitude, not caring about his reputation at all.

Seeing this, Fan Haiyang understood. He wasn’t foolish; after so many years in the industry, he could tell at a glance that this Wu fellow was up to no good. But the other party was a leader of an authoritative institution. Even he, whoIn Beijing Circle, didn’t dare offend himeasily. Thinking for a moment, he excused himself to use the restroom, went out, and sent Zhang Wei a WeChat message:

”The item is definitely old. This guy Wu is trying to trick you. It’s too valuable; I don’t recommend donating.”

Zhang Wei glanced at the message and sighed at how different people could be. Teacher Fan’s character was impeccable, worth deepening the friendship in the future.

Seeing Zhang Wei remain silent, Wu Zhiguo now waved the flag of patriotism, ”Young Zhang, you’d better think carefully. Donating is contributing to the country, something a patriotic youth should do. The state has created such excellent living conditions for your generation. You mustn’t disregard the state’snourish of you for a little personal gain.”

The Antique Dealer beside him also urged relentlessly, as if Zhang Wei would be a traitor to the nation if he didn’t donate.

Zhang Wei thought to himself, *’The state’snourish of me is just an excuse for scum like you to line your own pockets? This person is truly shameless to the core.’*