My autobiography is definitely not a tragedy!
Chapter 383 - 256 National Prestige

Chapter 383: Chapter 256 National Prestige

"Handsome! Do you want your tofu pudding sweet or salty?"

"Sweet, thank you!"

"Okay!"

The landlady, still charming in her forties, opened the lid of the wooden barrel next to her, took a long metal spoon, and gently scooped it into the barrel, twisting the handle before turning it into the bowl, the silky tofu pudding slid into the small bowl.

Then she sprinkled some honeyed red beans and brown sugar from the small jars next to her...

"Sssluuurp~" With a spoonful to his mouth, the sweet aroma slipped all the way down his throat.

Meng Lang licked the corner of his mouth, showing a satisfied expression.

This stall outside the residential area was a little treasure he had discovered.

The landlady’s tofu pudding was delicious, and the stall was also clean and tidy, usually bustling with people coming for breakfast.

"Brother Meng?"

While eating, Meng Lang was startled, and looking up, he saw Wang Zhao Ping standing in front of him, holding a briefcase.

"Eh? Captain Wang, what brings you here?"

Wang Zhao Ping, unceremoniously, sat down across Meng Lang, eyeing him up and down.

"I came especially to find you. I didn’t expect to bump into you here before I even entered the residential area. Are you out for your morning exercise?"

"Yes, after a workout and sweating a lot, having a bowl of tofu pudding from here is just amazing.

It’s only because it’s Sunday today. There are fewer early risers heading to work, otherwise, it might be hard to find a spot.

Hey! Captain, have you had breakfast? Do you want a bowl too?"

"Sure, I haven’t eaten yet. Boss, a bowl of tofu pudding, make it salty and add extra cilantro!"

"Okay! One moment, please!"

As the landlady was bustling about, Wang Zhao Ping’s gaze returned to Meng Lang.

Seeing him still leisurely enjoying his tofu pudding, Wang Zhao Ping couldn’t help but smile wryly.

"Brother Meng, you really know how to enjoy your leisure time, eating tofu pudding so contentedly. Aren’t you curious at all?"

"Curious about what?"

"Brother Meng, you gave me the tip, aren’t you curious if those guys were caught yesterday?" Wang Zhao Ping said with a wry smile.

An artifact smuggling case had suddenly erupted, keeping Wang Zhao Ping busy until late last night.

Once it was over, not wanting to disrupt Meng Lang’s rest, he hadn’t contacted him immediately.

However, Meng Lang had not even asked about it yesterday. Looking at his utterly calm face, it seemed he hadn’t taken the matter seriously at all.

Meng Lang looked at Wang Zhao Ping and laughed.

"What is there to be curious about? I don’t care whether those people were caught or not."

What I care about is whether the Buddha head was stolen or not...

Knowing Wang Zhao Ping’s efficiency, once he knew someone was targeting the Buddha head, even if he couldn’t capture the culprits, he certainly wouldn’t let the Buddha head be taken away.

Knowing that was enough for me.

Catching people is the police’s job, my task is to protect the Buddha head...

Unexpectedly, Wang Zhao Ping was looking at Meng Lang with a face full of admiration.

"Brother Meng, you really have a knack for predicting things. It seems you already knew we wouldn’t get anything out of those robbers, huh?"

"Uh..."

No, I really just don’t care.

The Night Demon Clan has already given me enough headaches. Earth people’s affairs... they just aren’t a high priority...

But Wang Zhao Ping was talking to himself.

"The identity of the mastermind behind the robbers has been confirmed, two tourists from Fusang Country on the ’Dream’ cruise.

Those involved in the robbery might be Fusang Country agents hidden within our borders.

Last night, national security came to take them for questioning, but in the end, they couldn’t get a word out of them.

The suspects insisted they were just avid collectors of Hua country’s artifacts, lured into plotting the heist after seeing so many priceless artifacts secured by the police on the cruise.

The expert who leaked the information about the transport was eager to confess.

But those pulling the strings remained tight-lipped.

The people have been taken away by the authorities, confirming that the person behind this, being able to mobilize Fusang Country’s undercover agents, must be someone significant in Fusang Country.

But it looks like, from here on out, there’s not much for us to handle in this case," Wang Zhao Ping said helplessly, spreading his hands.

Meng Lang was somewhat surprised by the developments.

Fusang Country?

How did it get tied to foreign powers?

"Sir, your tofu pudding."

At that moment, the landlady brought over a bowl of tofu pudding for Wang Zhao Ping.

Wang Zhao Ping, apparently really hungry, rolled up his sleeves and devoured the pudding hungrily, pausing only after finishing half the bowl to compliment its great taste.

After that, he lowered his voice.

"But Brother Meng, this news of yours is absolutely divine; the first box they opened was indeed that Buddha head!

You knew that someone was going to rob the artifacts, but how did you know that their target was that Buddha head?"

"Oh?" Meng Lang raised an eyebrow.

The real target being the Buddha head had been merely a vague guess in his mind.

He had mentioned it just to ensure that Wang Zhao Ping would prioritize the Buddha head’s security during the operation.

Now that his guess was confirmed, it actually surprised him.

Did they really know the secrets within the Buddha head?

But how could people from Fusang Country know what even we, the descendants, are unaware of in a Buddha head over a thousand years old?

Could it be...

Thinking about that tumultuous and humiliating era, Meng Lang had some speculations.

During those years, the Fusang Country had looted countless artifacts from Country Hua, perhaps including information about this Buddha head, which revealed its secrets?

That seemed to be the only explanation now.

However, since the other side had even employed special agents, the secret held within the Buddha head were probably astonishingly valuable.

Meng Lang’s curiosity was thoroughly piqued.

I might not care about the affairs of Earth people, but I do need to take an interest in the treasures I have my eye on.

"I was just guessing wildly; by the way, where’s the Buddha head now?" Meng Lang changed the subject and asked.

"Oh! It has already been delivered to the Shanghai Museum, absolutely top-level security. Whoever that person is, they might as well give up now," Wang Zhao Ping said nonchalantly.

Being robbed mid-way was due to our own lack of emphasis and weak security consciousness. It was somewhat understandable to be caught off guard.

But once something enters the museum, it’s entirely different.

Why did we still hear about large-scale artifact thieves and even the endless legends of mystical thieves in the 80s and 90s, but in recent years, such news has all but disappeared?

Because, with the continuously improving modern security measures, the exploitable loopholes are becoming less and less.

Under the impenetrable surveillance, stealing a top-level artifact is almost an impossible task.

Hearing this, Meng Lang also felt relieved.

This is after all Country Hua, it’s in the museum now, so unless Shanghai falls, it seems unlikely that any force could threaten this top national treasure.

This time... no one should be able to stop me from unboxing, right?

"By the way, Brother Meng, this is for you!" Wang Zhao Ping took out a document from his briefcase and handed it to Meng Lang.

"What is this?" Meng Lang took it puzzledly and glanced at it, suddenly startled.

"Uh... Captain Wang, are you sure this isn’t against the rules?"

"How could it be against the rules, remember, you’re still our bureau’s special consultant, and it’s perfectly reasonable to share some progress on the case beforehand!"

"Is... is that so?"

"Of course it is!"

Meng Lang scratched his head and eventually put away the document.

Although I dislike privileges... but since they said it’s not a privilege, it’s my job...

The document didn’t contain any particularly secret information, but rather it was about Hu Dazhi dealing in contraband.

It seems that the "Rat" must have confessed by now...

"And here’s something else!" Wang Zhao Ping pushed over a bulging leather file bag.

"What’s this now?"

Meng Lang opened the file bag and immediately froze.

A stack of brand-new RMB lay quietly inside, exuding a unique scent of ink.

"This is the intelligence funds I managed to secure for you, just 50,000, since the bureau couldn’t approve more. I know Brother Meng you’re not short on money, but please don’t look down on it."

"Uh..."

Having been a consultant for so long, this was the first time he actually received a proper income...

Does this count as being on the state’s payroll?

"Ahem! Besides these few things, there’s actually... a somewhat awkward request I have."

"What awkward request?"

Wang Zhao Ping showed a somewhat embarrassed look.

"It’s about the temporary decryption device for Apple X..."

After listening to Wang Zhao Ping’s narration, Meng Lang wasn’t very surprised.

After thinking about it, he finally spoke with a smile.

"What’s this talk of money, since it’s needed by the nation, it should naturally be a gratuitous contribution!"

Compared to goodwill, what’s 500 million?

National prestige is something to accumulate now and then...