Chapter 416: Zhu Sheng Gets Angry

"The other goal, I think, is nothing but Wen Han trying to pull the Wang Family into trouble; at present, relying only on the Wen Family, trying to bring down the Zhou Family is difficult," Zhu Sheng said.

"Zhu Sheng, you're absolutely right; that's exactly what Wen Han means."

He wants to rely on the Wang Family to bring down the Zhou Family. Now the two families are at odds.

However, Wen Han explained to me that we must depend on a third party's support; otherwise, toppling the Zhou Family is impossible.

"Do you know why I came back to Zaocheng this time?" I said.

"You came back to retrieve Zhou Fuhai's phone and computer, right?" Zhu Sheng said.

"That's just a minor matter; if I hadn't returned, Ding Li could have handled it. My main purpose in coming back is to obtain the bronze artifacts."

"What bronze artifacts?" Zhu Sheng asked.

"The museum's prized exhibits—the few treasures that guard the museum. They are the four bronze items I discovered in Beishan and later donated to Zaocheng."

"Wen Han wants to use them as gifts, claiming they are for the Wang Family, so that the Wang Family can help us," I said.

After I finished speaking, Zhu Sheng took a sharp drag of his cigarette and looked at me, asking directly, "Jianqiang, did you really give those treasures to Wen Han?"

I nodded,

"Yes, they've already been taken to Sijiucheng and handed to Wen Han. I got them from Director Lu, costing a total of 6,000,000. It almost went wrong, but I had taken precautions, so I secured those treasures,"

"I sent someone straight there by car, and I returned to the province."

"Nonsense. Jianqiang, you're a serious offender. Giving them to the Wang Family will just lead to all those treasures being smuggled out." After I finished, Zhu Sheng, angry, threw his cigarette to the ground and crushed it with his foot.

The first time I've seen Zhu Sheng so angry.

I looked at Zhu Sheng, not knowing what to say. I felt I hadn't done anything wrong.

Zhu Sheng stared at my silent expression,

then let out a long sigh,

"Jianqiang, there are things you don't know—these items are national treasures, precious heirlooms of our cultural heritage.

Our nation has survived for millennia because of cultural inheritance.

What cultural inheritance,

classic texts such as the Book of Documents, Analects, I Ching, Great Learning, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Chu Ci, Han Fu, Tang poetry, Song lyrics, and other cultural works.

These are the crystallized wisdom of the ancients; the ideas they convey now influence every aspect of our lives.

We must rely on these classics for spiritual uplift; without them, our path lacks light and guides—this is soft culture.

Excavated relics constitute hard culture.

Like those bronze artifacts, those treasures prove our nation's technological superiority.

Western civilization is only a few hundred years ahead of us now, yet they seek world domination, trying to prove they were ahead of us in antiquity.

How ridiculous! Two thousand years ago, what did the West have? They were still at the stage of gnawing hair and drinking blood, while our ancestors had already crafted exquisite bronze items with inscriptions to preserve history.

Our recorded history spans three thousand years, whereas the West knows exactly how short their own recorded history is.

Thus, in the realm of artifact forgery, they truly have a hundred flowers blooming.

Various crooked schemes keep emerging.

Why did I send Haohao abroad to study (Zhu Sheng's son is named Haohao),

He studied artifact restoration. During his years abroad, he learned that the West has many forged relics.

Haohao told me many times, sigh, I once told our scholars, but who listened?

We've worshipped the West for too long; we believe whatever they say.

Especially in cultural knowledge, some of us have knelt for too long and can no longer stand up.

The West doubts our history, our culture, our past,

but we have tangible evidence—excavated relics as proof.

Jianqiang, you understand, this is hard culture. The bronze artifacts are truly priceless treasures.

The four treasures you mentioned, I know; each bears inscriptions.

These items are over two thousand years old, having been tempered by time, witnessing our nation's endless vitality.

Our nation's strength and longevity in the world stem from this soft and hard culture.

This is what the West lacks and envies.

The inherited bronze artifacts are more important than your Da Heng Group.

Some things cannot be measured by money; do you understand?

We should protect these treasures with our lives, ensuring they are passed down so our descendants know how ancient our history is,

our past, how glorious,

our technology, which once led the world for so long.

Now the West is only a few hundred years ahead,

and they think they're great, able to be blinded by a single leaf.

Jianqiang, do you know what must be conquered first to subjugate a nation?" Zhu Sheng sat up straight and asked me.

I shook my head.

"It's culture. Back then, Woguo did exactly that—they plundered our relics, erasing our history and causing our culture to vanish.

Culture outweighs population, land, and wealth.

We can create land, wealth, and population, but without culture we have nothing.

Then we cannot stand in this world.

Today, I'm telling you this so you understand why we strive—not just for your Da Heng Group.

That's too petty," Zhu Sheng said angrily.

Seeing Zhu Sheng erupt in anger,

I don't even know what to say.

I just keep smoking, because in my mind there's nothing like these things.

I only want revenge; I only think about taking back my Da Heng Group,

I never thought about the value of these bronze artifacts.

They are actually more valuable than my Da Heng Group; this is something I never imagined.

After calming down, I thought Zhu Sheng was right; my Da Heng Group is just a few buildings.

Compared to history and cultural heritage, what does my Da Heng Group amount to?

I stood up at this moment,

"Zhu Sheng, only after you say this do I realize the importance of these things."

I, Zhao Jianqiang, have made a mistake; my mind is only on how to take revenge, how to seize back my Da Heng Group.

Like this: while the treasures have just arrived in Sijiucheng, I want to find a way to take them back.

I'm going back now; Zhu Sheng, I understand—Zhao Jianqiang isn't important, nor is the Da Heng Group.

The importance of those treasures.

"I must seize them back to make up for my wrongdoing."

Zhu Sheng sighed at this moment,

"Jianqiang, I can understand your feelings. Don't get agitated—I have a bad temper and easily flare up when things happen."

You don't know the importance of these things—doesn't Director Lu know?

His stealing and selling of cultural relics is a major crime.

What I'm telling you today is: if you know the importance of these treasures, then you should think of ways to protect them. They have already been taken out—Wen Han is preparing to deliver them to the Wang family.

If we go again to seize them back, it would be directly offending Wen Han.

We wouldn't be able to get our revenge, and the treasures might not be recovered either.

You have to know that the Wen family's power is so great that even the Zhou family is enough for us to handle; if we also provoke the Wen family, we'll be completely finished.

These treasures were discovered by you back then.

Since they have utilitarian value, it shows these treasures are meant to repay your kindness.

"After Wen Han finishes delivering the gift, then think of a way to retrieve the treasures. This way, Zhao Jianqiang, you will have settled the matter perfectly."