On the airport runway.
Today is Sunday, and there are many people returning home.
On the flight, there was a huge flow of people boarding the plane, and the luggage compartment was packed in the blink of an eye. Dong Xuebin was one of the last people to board the plane. When he saw the situation, he didn't dare to put the bag on it. He simply held it carefully in his arms, found a seat, sat in the back row by the window, and tied it up. The seat belt tightened around the waist, and then the bag containing the Buddha statue and the landscape painting was gently placed next to the thigh.
Suddenly, the seat lifted, and a person sat down next to him.
The seats here are relatively narrow, and the cloth bag takes up a little space, so when the man sat down, his knee accidentally knocked against Dong Xuebin's leg.
Dong Xuebin felt a pain in his leg and took a breath subconsciously.
"Oh, I'm sorry." The middle-aged man apologized: "I'm sorry, young man."
As soon as he heard that the other party had a Beijing accent, Dong Xuebin smiled and said, "It's okay, it's just a joke, haha."
Mu Zhengzhong turned his legs inwards and said with a smile: "Beijing people? International students, right?"
"Studying abroad? I have been working for two years and I need to do some errands." Dong Xuebin looked at him and blinked, "You came here to travel? You look familiar."
Mu Zhengzhong said: "It's not a trip, I came here to buy some antiques, but I didn't make it."
"Antiques? Haha, I like them too."
Dong Xuebin looked very familiar to this middle-aged man, who was in his late 40s and under 50s. He had a Chinese character face and thick eyebrows. He seemed quite polite and humble. He had the character of a serious old Beijinger. They were all fellow villagers, and they were sitting together. Dong Xuebin was also idle, so he chatted about antiques with him. However, Dong Xuebin admired him as soon as he started chatting. Mu Zhengzhong was very knowledgeable in cultural relics. He was not Dong Xuebin at all. Comparable to those who are half-assed, the knowledge of cultural relics from generation to generation in the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties is readily available to everyone.
Dong Xuebin became more and more curious as he listened, and suddenly remembered a name. He couldn't help but slap his thigh, "Hey, look at my brain, are you Mu Zhengzhong?"
Mu Zhengzhong chuckled, "Do we know each other?"
"I know you, but you definitely don't know me. I have admired my name for a long time."
"It's not that evil." Mu Zhengzhong smiled and shook his head, "My reputation is all blown up by the media. Don't let the TV deceive me, haha."
"You are so humble."
Mu Zhengzhong's name is well-known in the collection world. Dong Xuebin worked in an antique shop when he was in college. Of course he knows him. In the capital, the first private museum was created by Mu Zhengzhong. His wealth is far beyond description. Without his personal property, if all the collections in his museum were sold at auction, I believe their value would be an astronomical figure. However, it seems that people do not open museums to make money, but just to provide a cultural environment. I heard that Mu Zhengzhong is also committed to charity. Dong Xuebin respects this kind of person very much.
What a coincidence.
Dong Xuebin said cheerfully: "This is meeting an old friend in a foreign country. Teacher Mu, you have to tell me about antique collection. It's not easy to meet you. I have to ask for your advice."
Mu Zhengzhong waved his hand and said, "I often punch in my eyes too."
"You are so humble, you are looking down on me."
"Haha, no, don't ask for advice, let's discuss it with each other."
"Okay, can I ask then? What do you think of antiques? What is its value?"
Dong Xuebin already had a preliminary idea in his mind. He originally planned to donate "Snow Boat Splash Ink Landscape Painting" to the Palace Museum. Now that he thinks about it, it is really inappropriate. It is nothing more than a second-class cultural relic, but it is a national treasure-level cultural relic. It involves too much, and it will inevitably cause some diplomatic disputes. Now it seems that a private museum is a good choice, at least it will not have much involvement at the national level, but Dong Xuebin is not interested in Mu Zhengzhong. He knew too well, so he maintained a cautious attitude. With this in mind, Dong Xuebin didn't even state his name, didn't take off his eyes, and just pretended to be an ordinary young man.
Mu Zhengzhong is very easy-going and low-key. He always flies in economy class. No one can tell that he is a rich man. He also has a good impression of Dong Xuebin and Mu Zhengzhong. They are both from Beijing. This young man has a good temperament, so Seeing Dong Xuebin asking questions, Mu Zhengzhong did not hide his secrets and simply told everything he knew about antiques. It would be good to have someone to chat with after a three-hour flight.
One hour…
Two hours…
The two of them had a very good chat, talking and laughing.
Dong Xuebin felt that he judged people fairly accurately. Mu Zhengzhong left a very good impression on him. He was not as hypocritical as people in official circles. He was sincere and magnanimous, and he was a person worth befriending.
Finally, Dong Xuebin brought the topic to "Snow Boat Splash-ink Landscape Painting".
Mu Zhengzhong smiled and said: "You can ask me about this painting. Haha, to be honest, I have only seen "Snow Boat Splash Ink Landscape Painting" twice with the National Museum. Well, as for the evaluation, I can't say, after all. There are some cultural differences with our country, but let me put it this way, even Mr. Qi Baishi’s paintings in our country cannot be called national treasures, and they are not even considered first-class cultural relics or second-class cultural relics. However, "Snow Boat Splash-ink Landscape Painting" can be regarded as a national treasure. It is regarded as a national treasure and even ranks among the best among national treasures. Needless to say, its historical and economic value.”
Dong Xuebin blinked and said: "Can you draw so well?"
"That's for sure. What's wrong, young man? Are you so interested in antiques?"
"Ahem, that's not the case. I'm just curious that they can draw better than Mr. Qi?"
"It can't be said that. The national conditions are different. The most important thing about "Snow Boat Splash Ink Landscape" is its historical value. Mr. Qi Baishi's paintings are good paintings, but they are more economical and ornamental. Compared with "Snow Boat Splash Ink Landscape" "Picture"... There is no comparison." At the end, Mu Zhengzhong added, "But "Snow Boat Splashed Ink Landscape" is indeed a good painting. Although I have only seen it twice, I am very impressed. Art has no borders. "
Dong Xuebin nodded and said no more.
While chatting, Mu Zhengzhong suddenly said: "Young man, I still don't know what your name is?"
Dong Xuebin smiled and said, "My name is too vulgar, so I won't let you laugh at me. I'm sorry to say it."
After being stunned for a moment, Mu Zhengzhong chuckled and didn't ask any more questions.
At about 6:40 in the evening, the plane landed on the runway of Beijing Capital Airport amid turbulence. Dong Xuebin got off the plane, went through customs again, and walked out of the lobby with his bag. In the distance, Mu Zhengzhong was lighting a cigarette at the entrance of the terminal, as if waiting for someone. After a few seconds, an Audi 8 stopped in front of him. There was only one driver in the car, Mu Zhengzhong. He smiled and nodded to the driver, put out his cigarette and got in the car.
Dong Xuebin had been following him. Seeing this, he walked up, pulled the rear door, and got in the car.
The driver's expression changed, he turned around and looked at him with a frown, wondering who this was.
Dong Xuebin said with a shy face: "Teacher Mu, I am a familiar person. Haha, can I give you a ride?"
"Haha, of course it's no problem." Mu Zhengzhong also looked at him suspiciously, without asking any more questions, and said with a smile: "I'm not in a hurry, how about I send you back first?"
Dong Xuebin secretly thought that Teacher Mu was really interesting. He nodded and said, "I'm sorry to trouble you."
The car drove off, got on and walked around the terminal building, preparing to get on the airport expressway.
Suddenly, on a service road outside the airport, Dong Xuebin stopped the driver, "Excuse me, please stop the car. Driver, can you please step aside? I have something to discuss with Teacher Mu."
The driver grimaced.
Mu Zhengzhong was also startled, "What's going on?"
Dong Xuebin looked around and said, "It's very important. I can only tell you about it."
Mu Zhengzhong thought about it, and his eyes were very puzzled, but he had a lot of experience and had seen everyone. Finally, he waved to the driver and said, "Old Zhou, get out of the car and have a cigarette first."
The driver warned: "This person..."
"It's okay, go down."
Helpless, the driver had no choice but to open the door and get out of the car, walking not far away.
Mu Zhengzhong smiled bitterly and said, "Young man, what's so mysterious? Can you tell me?"
Seeing that there were no intersection cameras around, Dong Xuebin hummed, "I'm sorry, Teacher Mu, the situation is quite special, but I was too abrupt. Please forgive me."
"It's okay, can you tell me?"
Dong Xuebin, who was sitting in the back seat, moved his body to make some room. He grabbed the cloth bag he had been holding in his hand, slowly unbuttoned it, took out a scroll, untied the rubber band, and handed it to the other party. On hand.
Mu Zhengzhong looked down in confusion, then took it and slowly opened it with his hands.
It didn't matter, even though Mu Zhengzhong was well-informed, he was also shocked, ""Snow Boat Splash-ink Landscape Painting"!?"
Dong Xuebin said nothing.
Mu Zhengzhong was a little confused and didn't bother to talk to him. He immediately spread out all the scrolls and looked carefully up and down. Finally, he took a magnifying glass to look at it for a while, and finally came to a conclusion that stunned him, "It's an authentic painting! Is it the original painting from the National Museum?" Mu Zhengzhong took a breath and finally understood why the other party was so mysterious and why he didn't even tell him his name. He said dumbly: "Young man, I just heard about the National Museum before I got on the plane. It was stolen in broad daylight, this is..."
Dong Xuebin smiled and said, "Then I don't know. What do you think of this thing?"
Mu Zhengzhong couldn't laugh or cry, "It's a national treasure, of course it's extraordinary. Young man, you showed me a hot thing. What does this mean?"
Dong Xuebin said: "I don't know how to deal with it, so I want to ask you for advice."
Mu Zhengzhong quickly calmed down, took a breath, and looked at the painting again and again for a while. In the past, the national treasures of the Republic were scattered overseas. Mu Zhengzhong never thought that one day he would be able to obtain the national treasures of other countries. Holding it in his hand, he seemed a little excited, and countless questions came to his mind. Was this young man responsible for the theft of the National Museum? But how did he escape? How did you get on the plane? Did you go through customs and take things back to your home country? Who the hell is this person? ? RO