1136 Cleopatra’s True Looks (1/2)
Indeed, as Jack had said, many things in the Khan el-Khalili market had been made in China, but they were absolutely not available in China, probably because there was no market.
The shop window showed a series of plaster statues or reliefs, such as Ramesses II, Tutankhamun, Akhenaten, Nefertiti, and other famous ancient Egyptian pharaohs and queens.
Of course, it was hard to convince people that there was no trace of Cleopatra VII's face in there. After all, she was no less well-known than any of the others.
In fact, there were several pieces of her plaster statues, all in striking positions in the window.
”Habibi, what do you need?”
A plump shopkeeper with a mustache greeted them with a smile. His eyes paused slightly on Zhang Zian's hair, and he stared at Fina's fur with slight surprise.
The meaning of ”Habibi” was ”dear friends.” Although the tone was very warm, they might stab this friend in the back with their prices.
Gao Ke and the rest, who were walking ahead, found that Zhang Zian had fallen behind and returned to check the situation.
Jack told the shopkeeper, ”We want to look at your goods for sale.”
”Welcome, welcome! The goods in our shop are of high quality and low price. It's perfect to buy them as souvenirs.” The shopkeeper gestured, welcoming them in. ”Where are my distinguished guests from?”
”My friends come from China,” Jack said.
”China!” The shopkeeper stared. ”Very few customers from China come to our shop. My humble shop is honored by your presence!”
Those words were true. Not many Chinese tourists went to Egypt. Although many people would buy some souvenirs to return, basically no one would buy these ancient leaders' plaster figures. Most Chinese people were not interested in such things as plaster statues. It also conflicted with standard norms to buy them and put them in their homes. The most suitable place for display would be art classrooms or European castles.
Zhang Zian was a layman. If it had been his decision, he would not have gone into this kind of shop of his own accord. Its style was too elegant.
”Our products are handmade, and the quality is impeccable. Please choose at will.” The shopkeeper was confident. He raised his hand to block He He's mobile phone, smiled, and said, ”Our shop does not allow customers to take photos, and I must ask the guest to put down her mobile phone.”
”Why? It's not like it's something rare!” He He was very dissatisfied.
Instead of translating her words, Jack explained to her that when people arrived in Egypt, they had to comply with Egyptian rules. Photographs were not allowed in many parts of Egypt. A while ago, some foreign tourists had been put in a police station for a month after they refused to listen when someone advised them not to randomly take photos.
”Hmph! How meaningless!” He He put down her phone, losing her temper. She pulled on Gao Ke and said, ”Elder Brother Gao, let's go look at other shops.”
Gao Ke and the rest were also not interested in the shop because they didn't know any of them. Ancient people's aesthetic outlook had been quite different from that of modern people. These plaster statues had neither handsome men nor beautiful women. They felt uneasy when they looked at them. They did not feel as happy looking at them as the plastic figurines in the houses. At least they would show off their fatness and bestow fortune on them.
But it was not good for them to leave Zhang Zian like that. It would seem that the team was too disunited and would be seen as a joke to outsiders. So Gao Ke coaxed them with a few sentences in a low voice and finally managed to pacify He He so she would stop making noise about leaving.