Zhao Zheng was stunned upon hearing this.
His emotions surged instantly.
Why send him pictures if you weren't selling?
Playing with him late at night?
To think he had brought his team members, only to be treated with such disrespect in a small place like Yucheng.
If not for her being the chairperson of the Yucheng Chamber of Commerce, he would have stormed out.
Even so, with a displeased expression, he asked, "Tang Lengyun, what do you mean by this?"
Few people in scientific research focus on interpersonal relationships. Their words are often blunt and sometimes unpleasant.
This is a world apart from merchants who deal with people all day long.
In his opinion, Tang Lengyun meant exactly what she said.
He couldn't suppress his anger.
"Vice President Zhao, are all you researchers this impatient?" Tang Lengyun's expression remained unchanged as she took in Zhao Zheng's every subtle shift in demeanor. Swaying her hips, she returned to the living room.
She simultaneously called out, "Since you're here, come in for a cup of tea."
Zhao Zheng's aged face flushed, unsure of what to do.
He was still far from mastering the art of dealing with these merchants.
Lin Ying, however, was composed and walked over with her gaze steady, naturally taking a seat.
Li Chonglou glanced at Fan Meng and followed suit without any noticeable movement.
Zhang Chen tugged at the still-standing Zhao Zheng and also trotted along behind them.
"Ms. Tang, I can tell you're not short on money. Zhao Zheng is a straightforward person, he says what he means," Lin Ying broke the silence, easing the atmosphere. "Since you've called us here, you certainly wouldn't deliberately toy with us."
"What are your conditions?"
Upon hearing this, Tang Lengyun cast an appreciative glance at Lin Ying. "You're a smart person. You understood what I said."
"I get tired talking to him."
The implication was that they were not on the same level, nor were they kindred spirits.
This only made Zhao Zheng more indignant.
He was, after all, a key member of the Yucheng Cultural Relics Protection Association. If not for the sake of that chipped gemstone, he wouldn't have bothered with these self-important profiteers.
Lin Ying said nothing further, waiting for her to elaborate.
As expected, Tang Lengyun continued, "I can give you what you need for free."
"However, I have one condition."
"I know you've been surveying the Western Xia tomb recently. There's an item in that tomb I've been looking for a long time."
"An exchange, one for one. Fair, wouldn't you say?"
Zhao Zheng's expression shifted slightly, and he said coldly, "Impossible. Cultural relics are protected by the state; they do not belong to anyone."
"You want us to hand over cultural relics to you; that won't happen!"
"He's right. We cannot agree to this transaction," Lin Ying added in agreement.
The chipped part on the totem and the gemstone were merely a key. Even if the transaction failed, they still had the "bean inflation method" provided by Li Chonglou.
This move was undoubtedly a threat.
Seeing this, Tang Lengyun showed no displeasure and began to prepare tea, remaining silent.
Fan Meng sat beside Li Chonglou, her expression uncertain, her eyes filled with anxiety.
"Have you been to that Western Xia tomb?" Li Chonglou, who had been silent until now, asked.
This question hit the core of the matter.
Tang Lengyun gave him an unusual impression.
Her words and actions seemed deliberately aimed at maintaining control. Only extremely arrogant people acted this way.
She didn't even bother with pleasantries and went straight to discussing a transaction.
With her intellect, she couldn't possibly not have foreseen the rejection.
"Of course, I have."
Tang Lengyun replied truthfully, "I know you have a responsibility to protect cultural relics, but that item originally belonged to my family!"
"My mother's surname is Li."
At these words, Zhang Chen and Zhao Zheng exchanged glances.
Lin Ying, however, revealed a mysteriously knowing smile. Li Chonglou's expression remained as usual; he was not surprised.
The Western Xia royal family bore the surname Li. In 881 AD, Li Sigong was appointed Jiedushi of Zhengnan, establishing the Western Xia regime, which lasted for 346 years.
The unidentified metal inlaid on the totem and the golden dragon cat's eye were not ordinary items.
It was unlikely they would be casually lost and fall into the hands of a wealthy merchant.
Tang Lengyun's statement seemed to explain their confusion.
If she were a descendant of the Western Xia royal family, then that tomb was her ancestral burial ground.
From her perspective, her statement was not unreasonable.
However, if she held the key to opening the tomb, why did she need to do business with them instead of opening it herself?
Perhaps she couldn't open it at all!
"Ms. Tang, with such a large enterprise, how can you not understand the law?" Zhao Zheng chuckled, shaking his head. "Those are cultural relics, protected by the state!"
"Even if you are a descendant of Western Xia, it doesn't belong to you now."
"And it doesn't belong to us either. Not only can we not take anything from inside, but we're not even allowed to move a single thread!"
His tone was extremely firm, Zhao Zheng's attitude unwavering like a rock.
His confidence stemmed from the nation.
"But I really need that golden Buddha. Please help me, it's a matter of life and death!" Before Tang Lengyun could speak, Fan Meng was already anxious.
She had come to Yucheng to ask Aunt Tang for help saving her father.
Having seen a glimmer of hope, only to receive such a reply, the psychological blow was immense.
She had thought that having had prior dealings with Li Chonglou would make things easier.
Who would have thought Zhao Zheng's tone would be so tough?
Without that golden Buddha, her father would be sentenced to death!
For her father, she was willing to sacrifice her dignity and face.
Hearing this, Li Chonglou's eyelids twitched. A memory surfaced.
He had met Fan Meng many years later in his previous life. By then, Fan Meng's father had already passed away, and she had become ruthless in her methods.
She was solely focused on controlling the family; it turned out it was because of this matter.
It seemed Fan Meng had not obtained that golden Buddha in her previous life either.
Otherwise, there wouldn't have been the subsequent changes.
If it were an ordinary item, out of past acquaintance, he would have found a way to help her.
But the Western Xia imperial tomb was no ordinary place, and none of the items inside could be touched. This was a principle.
As a member of the team, he was no exception.
Therefore, he remained silent.
"Little sister, the law shows no mercy. I think this matter is not up for discussion," Lin Ying also stated her position. "If you just want to take a few photos, I can agree on behalf of the team."
"Ms. Tang is a smart person and should know that even without what you have, we would still be able to open the stone wall."
"It's only a matter of time."
"Farewell!"
Saying this, she stood up to leave.
Within the team, aside from Professor Song, Lin Ying held the highest prestige. Once she stated her position, Zhang Chen and Li Chonglou naturally followed suit.
Zhao Zheng was already displeased with Tang Lengyun and was eager to leave.
"Wait."
At this moment, Tang Lengyun's expression was no longer as serene; she revealed a hint of helplessness. "Since we've reached this point, I'll be upfront with all of you."
"It's true that I've been to the tomb, but when I went, the front hall had already been ransacked."
"The piece of meteoric iron inlaid with the golden dragon cat's eye in my hand is something I retrieved with great effort according to my family's ancestral teachings."
"But this piece of meteoric iron and gemstone alone is not enough."
"For so many years, I've been trying to find the other component, but to no avail."
"If you can truly open that stone wall, I can agree to allow you to take photos, but not to take anything!"
The abrupt shift in her tone was astonishing.
Hearing this, Fan Meng became anxious. Just as she was about to speak,
Li Chonglou's calm voice cut through, "The other component you're referring to, is it this dragon-head totem?"
"So close, yet so far!"
"This totem, carved from a single piece of sulfur iron, is the key to stimulating the energy field of the golden dragon cat's eye. Unfortunately, tomb robbers only recognize the gemstone."