"Of course, in saying all this, it is not my intention to ask everyone here to truly empathize with us, nor would it be possible for the descendants of Yanhuang to genuinely feel the trauma inflicted by that humiliating history over the past century. The only reason I have said so much is to make my own position clear!"
"As for the Twelve Zodiac Animal Heads, let alone nine million pounds—even ninety million pounds, or even nine hundred million pounds—I, Ye Chen, could afford to pay it. But I cannot, and I must not. It is not because I am reluctant to part with the money, but rather because the Twelve Zodiac Animal Heads, which were scattered through the violent looting of invaders, should not return to the sacred soil of Shenzhou through such a frenzy of competitive bidding. This is something that not only I, but hundreds of millions of Chinese people, cannot accept!"
"However, I, Ye Chen, have always respected the rules. I know that the organizers are merely acting as agents, so I will not overstep basic protocols and regulations. The starting price of nine million pounds—I will bid it! But it is my sincere and heartfelt hope that nine million pounds will be both the first and the last bid!"
Chapter 483