Outside of Beijing Airport.
In the Audi.
Mu Zhengzhong stared at the painting for a long time.
Dong Xuebing looks at him. “Mr. Mu, we had just met, but I know you are a patriot like me. I have no worries showing you this painting and have no ill-intentions. I cannot tell you the details, but I will leave with this painting if you think this is too hard to deal with. We will treat it as we have not met before.”
One second…
Two seconds….
Mu Zhengzhong did not let go of the painting and continued to examine it. He sighed. “Young man, I had not made myself clear on the plane. This is worth much more than you can imagine for Japan. No wonder the airport tighten its security and have so many police officers. They had lost their National Treasure… and mobilized all its officers to search for it. If Japan knows this had already left its borders and entered China, the whole world will be shocked.”
Dong Xuebing replied nonchalantly. “I don’t know if the world will be shocked or what. They had stolen lots of our country’s cultural relics from us, and it’s normal to get one of theirs back. This is called retribution, and what’s the big deal?”
Mu Zhengzhong is speechless with Dong Xuebing’s bold statement.
No matter how dumb a criminal is, he will not be dumb to steal a country’s national treasure. This is seeking death. A country’s national treasure is valued based on its historical values and not its economic value, as no one will dare to buy it. It is not worth stealing it, but this young man had changed Mu Zhengzhong’s thinking. Not only he had stolen Japan’s National Treasure, but he is also nonchalant about it. He doesn’t even want to hide and even dare to show it to him. This person is extraordinary.
Mu Zhengzhong took a deep breath. “I want to ask you a question. Why did you bring back this painting? What is your motive?”
“Hmmm… I just want to vent my anger and give them some problems.” Dong Xuebing replied.
“Give them some problems?” Mu Zhengzhong is astounded. “Just because of this reason?”
Dong Xuebing laughed. “Actually, I took it on my way out. I cannot tell you the real reason. Sorry.”
Took it on his way out?!
Taking a Country’s National Treasure on his way out?!
Mu Zhengzhong is speechless again. He felt his mind cannot catch up with what this young man said. He had met bold people, but he had never met anyone daring as Dong Xuebing!
This person is not scared at all?!
Mu Zhengzhong had guessed correctly. Dong Xuebing is a government leader and is not afraid people to suspect and investigate him. Even if he is suspected and investigated, what’s there to be afraid of? He had returned home, and even if he is in Tokyo now, he is not afraid. He has STOP and BACK to protect himself, and no one can stop him from leaving.
“Teacher Mu, have you considered?” Dong Xuebing asked.
Mu Zhengzhong frowned and slowly roll up the painting. “… yes… Haha… I had made up my mind once I saw this painting. Young man, name a price. I will buy this painting from you.”
Dong Xuebing blinked. “You are not afraid of getting into trouble with this painting?”
“Haha… you are not afraid of anything, and how can I lose to you?” Mu Zhengzhong calmly replied. “You are right. Tit for tat. Japan had stolen so many of our cultural relics from us, and stealing one of their National Treasure is nothing. This is China. Do they dare to use force to get it back?” He is influenced by Dong Xuebing. “Just imagine if their National Treasure is displayed in our Museum. It will be an uproar. But if it is displayed in our National Museum, it might affect diplomatic ties. But mine is a private museum. What’s there to be afraid of? If the higher-ups want to pursue this matter, I will just close my Museum! Hahaha…”
Dong Xuebing felt he had not picked the wrong person. Teacher Mu is also someone fearless.
“Old Mu, You will be my friend from now on.” Dong Xuebing said. “Err… Will it be too disrespectful if I address you as Old Mu?”
Mu Zhengzhong waved his hand and laughed. “If you name a lower price, you can even call me Xiao Mu!”
Dong Xuebing is overjoyed. “What are you talking about? Just take it. I will not take a single cent from you.”
“Huh?” Mu Zhengzhong is stunned and looked at Dong Xuebing in his eyes. “Young man, are you serious?”
Dong Xuebing laughed. “I had told you that I had only wanted to create some trouble for those Japanese and had never thought of selling this painting to you. Using their National Treasure to make money? This is an insult to me! Oh, when you exhibit this painting, you can mention that this is donated by a patriot. This will prevent people from suspecting your Museum of getting people to steal it. I don’t want to get you into trouble, as you had set up your Museum to serve the community.”
Mu Zhengzhong looks at Dong Xuebing again. “Alright! You will be my friend with just this sentence alone!” He is full of respect for Dong Xuebing. Stealing the from Japan but doesn’t want anything in return. Other than respect, he is also curious about this young man.
Dong Xuebing added. “But after exhibiting this painting for some time, and made the Japanese anxious for a while, we can use it to exchange for our relics. This painting is useless to us, after all. Of course, this is only a suggestion. You can decide when the time comes.”
Mu Zhengzhong kept quiet for a few seconds and replied. “If we can use it to exchange some first-tier relics or even our National Treasures, every Chinese will have to thank you.”
Dong Xuebing shook his head. “They should be thanking you. This has nothing to do with me, and we have never met today.”
Mu Zhengzhong laughed. “Alright. I owe you one favor. This is my mobile phone number. If you need me, just call this number.”
After taking down Mu Zhengzhong’s number, Mu Zhengzhong invited him to have dinner.
But Dong Xuebing looked at the time and rejected his invitation. He alighted from the car and rushed to the carpark for his Mercedes MPV. Madam Han will celebrate her birthday this evening, and Sister Xie had reminded him to reach early. He is already late!
