Hello 1983

  Chapter 855 Bronze Horse Head

   Maradona led the Argentine team, and finally stumbled into the final.

  However, facing a powerful opponent, Maradona was no longer miraculous, and eventually lost.

  No way, since ancient times, beauty is like a famous general, the world is not allowed to see gray hair, Maradona is really old.

   When the final whistle blew, Lao Ma also burst into tears, crying like a child. This scene also touched hundreds of millions of fans in front of the TV.

  The era of Maradona is about to come to an end.

  However, talented people emerge from generation to generation, and generations of stars will emerge, making this sport more colorful and magnificent.

   But the real king of the ball, after Pele and the old horse, no one has won this honor.

  Even if they are as strong as Messi and Ronaldo later, they can only be regarded as superstars, not the king of the ball.

  The West German team won the Hercules Cup as they wished, and Liu Qingshan's performance during the World Cup also ended perfectly.

   There is a special newspaper that counts Mr. Mountain's gains: in the spinach company, the profit exceeds 50 million US dollars.

   With the popularity of the World Cup, the Jade Bird mobile phone has been sold all over the world, and the number of pre-orders has exceeded 1.5 million.

   Firstly, the Jade Bird mobile phone is indeed smaller and more convenient, and its performance is far better than Motorola's cellular phone.

  Secondly, during the World Cup, Jade Bird mobile phones were on sale, and the price was only two thousand dollars.

   And once the World Cup is over, the price will return to $3,000.

  If all the 1.5 million mobile phones are sold, it will be worth 3 billion US dollars.

  Even if costs, tariffs, and commissions for distributors are removed, Jade Bird's profit will definitely exceed one billion US dollars.

  A company like this can be ranked among the top 100 in the current world.

   It is not an exaggeration to say that it soared into the sky.

   This has also made many people covet it, and they have turned their attention to the field of mobile phones.

   What is even more enviable is that Liu Qingshan and the Mitsui Group have a commercial bet. Judging from the current market value of Earth Network and Columbia Pictures, the value is at least between 200 million and 30 billion.

   I'm afraid that Liu Qingshan can also have a place in the top 100 in this year's rich list.

  So this newspaper commented at the end of the article: The biggest winner of this World Cup is Mr. Mountain.

  At this moment, the big winner is in the hotel of the West German team to fulfill the promise of 10 million marks.

   During the World Cup, on July 1st, Germany and Germany issued a statement that they would unify their currencies: the original East German marks would be exchanged for West German marks at a ratio of one to one.

  Of course, this is not without conditions. There are still some restrictions, such as one of them: more than 4,000 marks, the exchange rate is one to two.

   Even so, Liu Qingshan's 100 million East German marks can be exchanged for more than 50 million West German marks, which can be regarded as a big profit for Longteng Company.

  The arrival of Liu Qingshan was also unanimously welcomed by the coaches, players and officials of the team. Who would not welcome the money-giving?

   "Congratulations to the whole team again, I have already said that you are the champions!" Liu Qingshan also delivered a warm congratulatory speech.

   These words are not hypocritical at all, because before the opening of the World Cup, Liu Qingshan promised a bonus of 10 million marks.

  Head coach Beckenbauer also expressed his thanks to Liu Qingshan on behalf of the team.

   It can be said that the cooperation between the two parties was very successful, and it was a typical win-win: the team won a high bonus, and Liu Qingshan's Jade Bird mobile phone also took off along with the championship.

   Then Liu Qingshan was retained by the coaching staff and waited until noon for lunch.

  The head coach also said euphemistically: Their domestic teams have a long history, tough style, and good strength. Many teams are worth investing in.

  He also heard some rumors that this Mr. Mountain wanted to buy a football club.

  Who wouldn't want to win over such a big benefactor?

  The newspapers have said that Mr. Mountain's current net worth is at least a few billion. There is no pressure at all to raise a team.

   But Liu Qingshan does not want to start a football club in Germany, the Germans are a bit conservative.

   Liu Qingshan doesn't like the teams in the Apennine Peninsula very much. Although the results are good, the concept of stalwart defense is really lacking in viewing.

  In addition, La Liga is also relatively popular, but La Liga is not easy to deal with, too self-righteous, and racial discrimination will always break out.

   Liu Qingshan is more interested in the current English league, which is later the Premier League, which is relatively popular.

  So for Beckenbauer's hint, Liu Qingshan could only smile back, saying that he didn't know much about football, and that he would hire a professional team to inspect the leagues of various countries.

  The head coach is really embarrassed to expose him: You don’t understand football yet, I heard that you won more than 50 million with 10 million!

  Beckenbauer is also a veteran of the world, knowing that Liu Qingshan doesn't like the Bundesliga, so he changed the subject and talked about other things.

   While they were talking happily, a few people walked in. Looking at their posture, they must be officials from West Germany.

   Sure enough, Beckenbauer got up to greet him enthusiastically, and among them was Merkel, the deputy minister of finance.

  Liu Qingshan also shook hands with them politely, but pondered in his heart: Could it be because of me?

   He really guessed it right. This Mr. Merkel quickly got to the point. Speaking of it, it was Liu Qingshan’s Longteng Company, which hoarded East German marks, which was a bit too eye-catching.

   After all, more than one billion yuan is not a small amount of money even for the government.

  Merkel said that according to the original plan, for more than 500,000 East German marks, they will be exchanged at a ratio of four to one.

   In this way, Longteng Company is basically busy for nothing.

  However, Merkel also said that considering Liu Qingshan's support for West Germany in this World Cup, he still maintains a ratio of two to one.

  Liu Qingshan also smiled and expressed his gratitude. Since everyone has said so, there is no need to add extra details.

  If the other party really doesn't pay attention to it and exchange it at a ratio of four to one, Liu Qingshan must have a good theory with them.

   After all, the money is all from Longteng Trading Company. It has been accumulated over the years, and it is not speculation. It is reasonable to sue the international court.

  The World Cup is over, and the sales of Jade Bird mobile phones are gratifying. Of course, Liu Qingshan is in a good mood, so he led Wu Tong for a few days in the Apennine Peninsula.

  Two people wandered together in the Colosseum in ancient Rome, and rowed together in the water city of Venice. The small days are still very pleasant.

   A week later, Wu Tong joined several producers of the Lion King animation and flew to the United States. They wanted to promote the animation in the United States.

  Liu Qingshan asked Lu Liang to follow Wu Tong as a follower, and he took Lu Fang and flew back to France, because the first stop of the Heart to Heart Art Troupe was there.

  It’s still Victor’s manor, old friends reunited, Victor swayed the red wine in his glass: “Liu, Gong Xi Fa Cai.”

Leo next to    was a little dissatisfied: "Liu, why do you always bet on the right match, but I lose more than 10,000 francs?"

   It’s right to lose, because most people lose.

  Liu Qingshan gently clinked glasses with Victor: "Leo, because you are stupid, why didn't you lose like Victor?"

   "He didn't bet at all, okay!" Leo muttered again.

  Liu Qingshan laughed loudly: "That's right, those who stand on the sidelines are the masters."

  The three chatted happily. Victor also invited Liu Qingshan to participate in the auction tomorrow, and Liu Qingshan readily agreed.

  In foreign countries, there are so many large and small auction companies, the one Liu Qingshan and the others participated in can barely be regarded as a medium-sized auction house.

  The old auction hall looked like it could hold two or three hundred people, but only less than a hundred people were seated.

  Liu Qingshan took over a list of auction items, most of which were gadgets, silver tableware, items used by a certain celebrity, and works by some unknown oil painters, etc.

  The difference between foreign artworks and domestic ones is that in addition to the value of the artwork itself, it also pays more attention to celebrity effects.

  Like Sherlock Holmes's pipe, if it is put up for auction, it will definitely sell for a big price.

  The premise is that if Holmes's pipe really exists.

   Liu Qingshan was not very interested in these lots, but there was a bronze ware among them that attracted Liu Qingshan's attention.

  Looking at the mighty bronze horse head on the roster, Liu Qingshan rubbed his eyes subconsciously: Could it be one of the animal heads of the twelve zodiac animals in Yuanmingyuan?

  These animal heads caused a lot of commotion later, and they fought over and over again. In the end, a few of them were still missing.

  The animal head appeared at the auction, and the price skyrocketed. At first it was several million, and later it was tens of millions or even hundreds of millions.

   But before that, like in the 1980s, animal heads were really worthless.

  In 1985, an antique dealer in the United States accidentally discovered a bronze statue of a horse head in a private house, along with cow heads and tiger heads.

  The antique dealer bought these three animal heads at a price of US$1,500 each.

   Note, it is 1,500 US dollars, and there is no 4D behind it.

  The same item, after 20 or 30 years, the price has increased tens of thousands of times. This is of course the malicious hype of those unscrupulous antique dealers.

   Must take this horse head!

  The only voice in Liu Qingshan's mind was shouting.

  But he calmed down quickly, since Uncle Lu wasn't here, he couldn't tell the authenticity of the animal head.

   Fortunately, Lu Fang followed. This kid has also learned from Uncle Lu for several years, so it should be no problem to identify animal heads.

  So Liu Qingshan handed the album to Lu Fang, and pointed to the picture of the horse head.

   But Lu Fang was a little dazed: "What kind of shape is this? Is it a copper art product from Europe?"

  Nowadays, the twelve beast heads are not well-known, and their fame has not been hyped, so most people don't know their existence.

  Liu Qingshan told him in a low voice: The animal heads of the twelve zodiac signs were originally placed in the Yuanmingyuan, and they were all animal heads with human bodies. Every hour, the mouth of the corresponding animal head would spew water jets to tell the time.

  Wait until noon, the twelve animal heads spray water together, which is a spectacular sight.

   This object was produced under the supervision of the famous foreign craftsman Castiglione during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty.

  The ancient method of copper smelting is adopted, and various alloys are added, so it has never rusted after two hundred years.

  According to Castiglione's original intention, he wanted to make sculptures of twelve zodiac signs, but later the emperor said it was indecent, so he changed it to the twelve zodiac signs that are more in line with Chinese characteristics.

  After listening to Liu Qingshan's introduction, Lu Fang was also shocked: "Boss, this thing is more precious than Xuande furnace, we must take it!"

   "You first appraise it, the time is right, don't get a foreigner's imitation, it will be a loss." Liu Qingshan reminded, and Lu Fang nodded vigorously.

  The two of them are muttering in Mandarin here, and the people next to them can't understand except Victor and Leo.

   "Liu, if you are interested in this, let me help you take pictures." Victor was cunning and did not intend to ask Liu Qingshan to take action.

  Liu Qingshan also agrees with Victor's proposal. A general auction house has babysitters who will help raise the price.

  During the World Cup, Liu Qingshan gained a lot of limelight. If someone recognized him as the rich and powerful Mr. Mountain, the price would definitely go up to the sky.

   Soon, the auction started, and Liu Qingshan called out the price several times, but it was quickly replaced by a higher price.

   Instead, Victor bought a set of silver tableware, which is said to be from Queen Victoria's era, which made him laugh from ear to ear.

  Finally it was the turn of the animal head to appear on the stage. A staff member lifted out the horse head mounted on the square plate. It was about half the size of a real horse head, but it was not light at all.

  The British and French allied forces back then probably thought it was mixed with precious gold, so they went all the way to get it back.

  The auction hall is not big, so Liu Qingshan sitting below can see it clearly.

  The horse's head is deep in color, its precious light is restrained, its shape is also very powerful, and its curly mane is fully visible.

  Liu Qingshan basically believes that this must be genuine.

   And Lu Fang also nodded slightly to him. Although he didn't get started, this kind of craftsmanship is obviously not something that ordinary people can imitate.

  The reserve price of the auction is also staggering: five thousand dollars.

   Not many people were interested in this animal head. Only a few people bid, and the price was raised several times before it could reach 6,000 US dollars.

   "Six thousand five hundred dollars!"

  Victor called a price, which suddenly increased by 500 yuan, but no one bid anymore.

  A bronze horse head was finally sold for 6,500 US dollars, can you believe it?

   Throughout the whole process, there was no disturbance, no thrilling bids, and no competition between you and me. It was nothing more than ordinary, and even being called Liu Qingshan felt a little unreal.

  He has experienced later generations, and he often hears that some precious cultural relics in China cost tens of millions or hundreds of millions at auction.

  In fact, in this era, the prices of Chinese antiques are underestimated. It is normal for the scene like this one.

  Suppressing his excited mood, Liu Qingshan looked at Lu Fang beside him, and thought about it: In the past two years, let Lu Fang and his brothers buy back Chinese antiques at major auctions in Europe.

   Firstly, Liu Qingshan has this kind of economic strength, and secondly, taking advantage of the low price now, he can avoid wasting money.

  When the auction was over, when Victor paid the money to pick up the goods, he seemed to ask casually:

   "This thing seems to be a group of animal heads, do you have any other here?"

  (end of this chapter)