Chapter 93: Bar Encounter

Naturally, once the local cultural heritage department took over, Liang En and his team no longer needed to be involved in the archaeology of this site. As a treasure hunter, it was now time for him to tally up the gains from this treasure hunt.

"To be honest, these lead pieces don't hold much economic value if considered purely for their material worth. Even adding the sculptures doesn't give them a significant advantage," a middle-aged man, the head of the local cultural heritage department, told Liang En.

Upon hearing these words, Liang En maintained a polite smile. After all, even though the initial impression of the statement might have been disappointing, it contained some important information.

"However, due to your proactive involvement this time, the preservation of this cultural relic site is remarkably intact. Therefore, we've decided to award you £25,000 as compensation for your treasure hunting efforts."

Observing Liang En's courteous demeanor, the official from the English Cultural Heritage Department nodded with a smile and announced the decision they had reached.

"These artifacts will be taken to the University of Bath's Cultural Preservation Center for a brief cleaning and maintenance. Afterward, they will be publicly exhibited in the Bath Museum."

"You're right, Bath has indeed yielded quite a harvest," Fang Meng remarked while soaking in the hot springs that afternoon. "I never thought we'd be able to uncover such treasures from that barren valley."

"Actually, it involves a lot of information gathering," Liang En explained from the other side of the hot spring pool. "For instance, that road can be seen on satellite maps, and clues about the fountain itself can be found in local construction documents—"

"Yes, yes, not everyone can do that," Fang Meng interrupted, shaking his head. "At least I'm certain I can't sift through so much data and extract what I need. So, I'll stick to providing the physical labor."

After their hot spring session, Liang En and the group headed to a bar near the hotel. For the British, a pub was the most essential social hub in the community, without a doubt.

The bar had an air of antiquity, and the interior decor was quite appealing. Upon entering, one could see many black-and-white or color photos adorning the wooden walls.

"It seems quite a few celebrities have been here," Liang En remarked. Despite the aging of some of the photos, they could still recognize a few individuals they had encountered in certain references or even textbooks.

For instance, in one corner, they spotted Churchill raising a glass of wine, smiling at the camera alongside five or six others.

Perhaps because they arrived during a time of less crowding, the bar was occupied by fewer than ten people. Consequently, after they settled in, a waiter quickly approached them with enthusiasm.

Thus, Liang En and his companion ordered two beers and some appetizers. Soon, everything was delivered to their table.

"Ancient artifacts are quite fascinating, like the lead pieces we found today, something I had never even considered before," Liang En commented as he noticed Fang Meng's interest in the items they had unearthed in the past two days.

As a student studying archaeology in the West, Latin naturally became a mandatory subject for Liang En. After undergoing prior intensive training, his proficiency in this ancient language had reached that of a native speaker.

Therefore, upon receiving those lead pieces, Liang En swiftly deciphered a substantial amount of content inscribed on them—content that consisted of curses cast by ancient individuals against others.

"For instance, on one of these lead pieces, it's written that the writer cursed a wretched thief, hoping that the thief would lose his hands. This thief had stolen the writer's woolen outer robe while he was bathing," Liang En explained.

"Is a woolen robe worth such a vicious curse?" Fang Meng's eyes widened, and his expression showed his perplexity. "Of course, stealing is wrong, but it's just a woolen robe—"

"The woolen robes of that era can't be described as 'just' anything," Liang En raised his glass for a sip before continuing.

"For many commoners in ancient Rome, a woolen robe served both as their outerwear and their blanket at night. It might even have been their only possession. In such a situation, losing something like that could have felt as dire as us losing a car today."

In ancient times, especially during the Roman era, people owned significantly fewer personal belongings compared to today. After all, the production capacity of that period was limited. For someone of modest means, a sturdy woolen robe might have constituted a significant portion of their belongings.

"In other words, if I were to travel back in time, I could get rich just by bringing along a cartload of woolen fabric," Fang Meng quipped after hearing Liang En's explanation.

"That's an interesting thought. After all, in both the Western and Eastern worlds of that era, textiles were a form of hard currency, sometimes even used as money," Liang En explained.

"Of course, the naturally colored wool felt that's popular now might not have been as well-received in that era. Instead, fabrics dyed with vibrant colors would have been in demand."

"I know, I read about this in history books," Fang Meng raised his glass and clinked it against Liang En's, then continued. "For instance, during the time when the Gothic leader Alaric besieged Rome, he demanded 3,000 pieces of red fabric as part of the ransom."

"Yes, dyed fabrics during that era could have been priced several times higher than undyed ones. Especially those fabrics dyed with chemicals that we don't particularly favor today would have been more popular in ancient times."

"Because those fabrics were not only colorful but also resistant to fading. In those times, the potential harm of chemical dyes to health wasn't a concern."

"Excuse me, are you Mr. Liang, the renowned scholar in deciphering Ancient Egyptian?" While the two were enjoying their appetizers and drinks, a young woman suddenly approached. She had been circling around them and finally addressed Liang En.

"I am the person who deciphers Ancient Egyptian, but I wouldn't yet claim the title of 'renowned scholar.' May I know who you are?" Confusion flashed across Liang En's face as he looked at the young woman. She seemed like a student, but Liang En had no recollection of knowing her.

"Oh, I'm Diana Black, a student at the University of Bath. I've seen you speak before," the young woman quickly introduced herself upon noticing Liang En's puzzled expression. She then explained the reason for her approach.

As it turned out, Diana was not only a student at the University of Bath but also a long-term resident of Bath, spanning several generations. Due to recent circumstances, she was in urgent need of money.

Having heard Liang En introduce himself as a treasure hunter during his lecture, Diana had come over to the bar hoping to invite him to her place for a treasure hunt.

"If your family has indeed lived here since the Victorian era, as you've mentioned, then there's a possibility that your home might contain items of value," Liang En addressed the short-haired girl in front of him.

"However, I must remind you that the purchase price I offer you would definitely be lower than the selling price of these items elsewhere. If you're agreeable to this condition, we can visit your home later."