Chapter 166: Negotiations Should Be Elegant — An Old Treasure Appraiser’s Experience

"So you have a crappy little lab, big deal? We in Huaxia don’t have one, not because we lack the ability, but because it’s completely unnecessary!"

"The culture of a great and vast nation, and look what you’ve made of it! A painting by Sima Xiangru? I just want to wring all your necks!"

Gu Shengsheng: "..." She swallowed involuntarily.

’Wait, weren’t we supposed to be elegant?’

She leaned over and asked Wang Yu, "Director Wang Yu, is this... normal for appraisal negotiations?"

"I don’t know... This is my first time seeing this, too." Wang Yu was also clearly a bit shaken. "Let’s just follow Mr. Qiu Xiaojun’s lead. I never expected him to be so hot-blooded. He said everything we were thinking."

Gu Shengsheng nodded. "I get it now. So-called elegance just means arguing elegantly."

"..." Wang Yu seemed to want to caution her, but after a moment’s thought, he realized there was nothing to say.

’Gu Shengsheng got it. Simple and crude... it actually wasn’t a bad approach.’

After being berated by Qiu Xiaojun, the female researcher on the other side was the first to stand up. "How could we not understand your Huaxian culture? Could it be that *you’re* the ones who don’t know? That your own understanding is lacking?"

"How many of your cultural relics are in our United States? And weren’t they all appraised by our own people? Our capabilities are recognized across the globe."

"A powerful institution is simply powerful. If you don’t dare to challenge us, then fine."

She had looked down on these people from the start. Although she couldn’t quite understand everything the old man was shouting, the sight of his spit flying everywhere infuriated her.

’Looks like we’re going to have a shouting match no matter what!’

Qiu Xiaojun was absolutely livid. Gu Shengsheng went over and gave him some water to help him calm down. Next, Zhang Rulan stood up.

She was also full of righteous anger. "Speaking of our country’s relics, I have no idea where you get the nerve to hold on to them and not return them. When it came time for appraisal, was there a single one that didn’t involve help from our people?"

"We thought we were making a contribution for the sake of the relics, but who knew you would just take all the credit for yourselves. How is that fair?"

"I, Zhang Rulan, can’t stand to hear such talk. You’d better apologize to me this instant!" With that, Zhang Rulan slipped off her traditional-style red cloth shoe.

She hurled it right at the other woman’s face!

The situation was absolutely explosive!

Gu Shengsheng rushed over to shield Zhang Rulan. The other woman reacted quickly. After being hit in the face, she recoiled in disgust and immediately threw the shoe back!

Gu Shengsheng grabbed a water bottle from the table and blocked the attack, preventing it from hitting Zhang Rulan’s face.

Although Zhang Rulan was still shaken, she stood ramrod straight, looking as if she wanted to eat the woman alive.

The other woman was now also furious.

Words were thrown carelessly. By now, it wasn’t even clear who had struck the first blow.

Qiu Xiaojun was already scuffling with a man from the opposing team.

Soon after, Wang Yu and Zhang Zhengyi jumped into the fray. Gu Shengsheng had intended to try and de-escalate, but she never imagined one of the other researchers would grab her by the hair and refuse to let go!

Gu Shengsheng: "..."

She whirled around and started kicking and punching furiously at the men, not even sure who was who in the brawl.

Gu Shengsheng finally understood why people in charge of diplomacy needed to be physically fit—and preferably, know how to fight.

Back then, Gu Shengsheng had only glanced at that requirement and thought nothing of it. Now, she understood...

’It was a mandatory requirement for negotiations!’

’If she hadn’t been vicious enough, she would’ve been beaten to a pulp by these people!’

Gu Shengsheng, leading her four middle-aged and elderly colleagues, managed to beat the tall, sturdy Americans to the ground.

All around, people were sprawled on the chairs in disarray.

Every single one of them had an aching back...

Shang Jinhao arrived with the cultural relic. He saw everyone sprawled about, with only Gu Shengsheng left standing.

He asked in disbelief, "What stage of the negotiations are we at?"

"The brawling... no." Gu Shengsheng’s expression was complicated. "We should be at the verbal disagreement stage. The actual analysis of the relic hasn’t begun."

"With everyone in this state, I don’t know if we can even continue today."

Zhang Rulan took a sip of water and struggled to open her eyes, which were now badly swollen. "I can go on..." she said.

Leaning on his cane, Qiu Xiaojun also pushed himself up. "This old man can, too."

After that, as if refusing to admit defeat, everyone sat up ramrod straight, including the researchers on the other side.

The looks they exchanged were sharp enough to kill.

Zhang Rulan snorted. "Shang Jinhao, let’s get this started."

"Stop dawdling. Bring out the relic so we can appraise it. I’m eager to give the other side a good look."

As she spoke, the opposing team turned on their projector. The female researcher tied up her hair, straightened her lab coat, and once again looked perfectly sharp and competent.

"Since you’re all so obstinate," she said, "we have no choice but to let the data do the talking."

She said with great pride, "Our lab recently updated its database. It contains data and test results for cultural relics from all over the world, which helps us in our investigations."

"The reason we could identify your Huaxian ancient painting as a work by Sima Xiangru is simple: the data points all showed a 99% match. Most importantly, our past authentications of your Huaxian relics have always yielded correct results."

"We have never been wrong. Not a single error has ever occurred. This shouldn’t have been a big deal, so there’s no reason to make things this unpleasant for us."

"We trust our data, and we trust the advanced technology of the United States."

"As I recall, you in Huaxia don’t have this kind of technology, do you? You rely entirely on your own eyes. Is that really enough?"

The weary, battered experts were indignant, but they simply didn’t have the strength left to argue.

Gu Shengsheng stood up. "Stop saying ’Huaxia’ every other word. You don’t have the right. We’re here to examine a relic, so let’s examine it. We can determine its authenticity together. Both sides have their own established methods."

"Besides, if your database is so powerful, what are you even needed for? As I recall, the director of your lab was once a student of Mr. Qiu Xiaojun."

"By discrediting Huaxia, aren’t you also discrediting your own director?"

The female researcher pointed at her. "You... How do you know about our director?"

"I don’t just know about your director. I know about you, too," Gu Shengsheng said nonchalantly.

"Let’s just talk about the relic and cut the irrelevant chatter." With that, Gu Shengsheng unrolled the artifact.

[System]

Item: T-shaped silk painting (Partial scene of daily life)

Era: Han Dynasty, Mawangdui Tomb No. 1

Description: Above are the sun, moon, and immortal mountains; below are ghosts, monsters, tigers, and dragons. The painting is exquisite, but due to its great age, some parts are unclear and require conservation and restoration. The calligraphy is clear and confirmed to be that of Sima Xiangru. Has collection value.

Market Value: 250 million

Recycle Price: 230 million

’I can’t believe it. The calligraphy really is Sima Xiangru’s, but the silk painting itself has nothing to do with him...’