My autobiography is definitely not a tragedy!
Chapter 623 - 399: When the Upper Beam is Not Straight, the Lower Beam Will Be Crooked

Chapter 623: Chapter 399: When the Upper Beam is Not Straight, the Lower Beam Will Be Crooked

"I’m not aware of this matter, Mr. Iwazaki; could it be a groundless accusation?"

Li Haitao tried to appear unconcerned, evidently still wanting to struggle.

Without using my own account for the transaction, and no photography allowed at the private auction, I could sue you for defamation since there’s no evidence!

However, Iwazaki was unhurried as he took out his cell phone and pushed it forward with a smile.

Li Haitao took a firm look and his heart skipped a beat, for it displayed a high-definition image of a blue and white porcelain vase he recognized all too well...

"Hehe! What a coincidence, the one who bought that blue and white porcelain vase happens to be a friend of mine.

Director Li, don’t you think this piece of porcelain resembles the exhibit on the second floor of your museum?" he said with a suggestive smile.

As Li Haitao stared at the photo, his face turned pale, and he finally gave up hope.

This blue and white porcelain vase was originally a Qing dynasty cultural relic acquired by the museum from a rural household. While not top-tier, it was certainly valuable.

He had been tempted by greed and had secretly switched out the relic with a fake.

And the real one... naturally, he had found a way to dispose of it secretly.

He had done this sort of thing more than once before, but he never expected to slip up in the end...

His tone of voice immediately softened, and he said with a wry smile.

"Mr. Iwazaki, this Buddha head is not just any cultural artifact; the police are still watching it closely. Even if I agree to an international exhibition, the authorities surely won’t approve it."

This wasn’t him making excuses to get out of the situation; it was the reality.

Knowing that the Fusang people wanted to steal the treasure, and you still naively send it to their turf for an exhibition? Isn’t that akin to throwing oneself into the lion’s den?

Seeing Li Haitao relent, Iwazaki immediately smiled.

"Director Li, I never make things difficult for friends. All you need to do is continue to cooperate with us, and leave the rest to us!"

"This... what kind of cooperation do you need from me?"

"Hehe! Don’t worry. It’s something Director Li is quite familiar with..."

Familiar with...

Li Haitao immediately thought of something, and his complexion turned a shade paler.

These Fusang people really had some nerve. If this got out, it could mean a long stint behind bars...

Seeing Li Haitao struggle with his emotions, Iwazaki continued.

"Director Li, rest assured, once the deal is done, a sum of 100 million will be transferred to your son-in-law’s overseas account. Even if Director Li and his family wish to emigrate, the Iwazaki family can arrange everything perfectly for you!"

million... although he knew it wasn’t quite appropriate...

"Are you talking about yen?"

"Of course, US dollars!"

"Gulp~" Li Haitao swallowed hard.

He could almost be sure that the group previously trying to snatch the cultural artifact was definitely related to this Iwazaki!

Facing the temptation of a vast fortune, Li Haitao was naturally enticed.

But he wasn’t a fool, and he certainly knew the more the reward, the greater the risk involved.

This mysterious Iwazaki family, it was clear at a glance they were a family with extraordinary influence within Fusang Country.

Given the current situation, how much profit could they make by flipping it, if they’re offering him 100 million US dollars?

Compared to the risk, this amount of money seemed almost trivial to the wealthy party.

Was the other party really risking angering Country Hua for the sake of smuggling a single artifact to make a little money?

Such an action was utterly baffling...

"Mr. Iwazaki, even if this Buddha head is priceless, your side surely doesn’t need to take such a big risk for just one cultural artifact, right?"

Iwazaki saw that Li Haitao was still suspicious and sighed heavily, his expression suddenly becoming incredibly sincere.

"Ah! This is to fulfill my grandfather’s wish, something I have to do despite being reluctant.

Frankly speaking, my ancestors had quite a connection with the High Monk Si Tuo at Tang Zhao Ti Temple, and our Iwazaki family actually carries the bloodline of Great Tang’s people..."

Ah, this...

Faced with such a juicy story, Li Haitao was obviously taken aback.

How had it come to the point where they were suddenly fellow countrymen?

"High Monk Si Tuo? Could it be the disciple of Master Jianzhen, who traveled to Fusang during the Tang Dynasty?"

As someone able to reach the position of museum director, Li Haitao naturally had quite a substantial cultural foundation, and he quickly realized who Iwazaki was referring to.

"Exactly!" Iwazaki nodded.

"Because of this connection, the descendants of the Iwazaki family have been immersed in Huaxia culture since childhood, learning Chinese.

My grandfather is especially obsessed with Buddhism culture from the Great Tang, and when he was young, he visited Country Hua several times to pay homage to the forebears, and he is extremely fond of Buddhist cultural relics from the era of Master Jianzhen and the Tang Dynasty.

In a short while, it will be my grandfather’s eightieth birthday, and I, his grandson, naturally want to give him a gift that he would cherish.

I had heard that the Mingtang Buddha head had resurfaced, and intended to have my people buy it. However, some unexpected complications arose.

My foolish subordinates even took matters into their own hands, nearly causing a huge disaster. This left me no choice but to come to Country Hua in person, truly a joke in the eyes of Director Li!"

Li Haitao was naturally skeptical of Iwazaki’s claims, but with his own vulnerability in the other’s hands, he had to maintain a façade of cordiality.

"So that’s how it is, Mr. Iwazaki’s filial piety is indeed admirable!"

"Director Li flatters me, this matter is a secret of the Iwazaki family, and now that I have laid it all out for you, you should be able to sense my sincerity.

My grandfather taught me from a young age that in matters, one should try conciliation before resorting to force..."

Li Haitao’s heart chilled.

The subtext was clear, I’ve said everything I needed to say, I’ve been polite and sincere, but if you still don’t know what’s good for you, then don’t blame me for getting tough.

Li Haitao struggled for a moment.

Since he wasn’t exactly "without flaws," he finally caved to the pressure and coercion and, gritting his teeth, he nodded his head...

...

"Jianzhen, Si Tuo..."

Meanwhile, Meng Lang, who was also ’eating the popcorn’ from hundreds of kilometers away, followed the story.

He casually looked up this Monk Si Tuo, not expecting that such a person really existed in history.

The story of Jianzhen’s eastward crossing was printed in history textbooks, familiar to anyone who had gone through nine years of compulsory education.

Si Tuo was one of the few disciples who survived the eastward travel with Jianzhen.

It is said that Master Jianzhen attempted to travel to Fusang six times, with Si Tuo being the only monk from Country Hua who "persistently followed him over six attempts, spanning more than twelve years."

"Four times constructing boats, five returns to the sea," despite the hardships and the pain of drifting, he never wavered in his determination. Ultimately, like Jianzhen, he ended up burying his bones in the foreign land of Fusang.

Legend has it that he assisted Jianzhen in building Tang Zhao Ti Temple in Fusang, not only teaching monastic precepts but also disseminating the teachings of the Tiantai Sect and compiling ’Yanli Monks Record,’ Fusang’s earliest Buddhist history, as well as writing a biography of Jianzhen, ’Record of the Great Tang Master who Passed the Precepts, High Monk Jianzhen.’

This Monk Si Tuo was not only one of Jianzhen’s closest confidants, but he was also highly revered in Buddhist Law. After Jianzhen passed away, he was deeply venerated by the Imperial Family of Fusang and had many disciples...

Now this Iwazaki family, appearing out of nowhere, claims to be a descendant of Monk Si Tuo?

Meng Lang touched his chin, his expression somewhat strange.

It turned out that even the respected High Monks from Eastern Earth Great Tang couldn’t avoid breaking their vows of chastity in Fusang?

Tang Seng, are you ashamed?

No wonder the monks in Fusang could marry and have children; the issue started back when the teachings were first transmitted.

A crooked beam leads to a crooked house, indeed...