In the Ming Dynasty 1498, my restaurant connects two worlds.

Chapter 90 I Don't Want to Go Back on My Promise

Jinling Museum issued a statement urging Dejia Auction House to face the facts.

Collector Mr. Wu issued a statement: In light of the unilateral actions of Dejia Auction House, I am severing all future cooperation with the institution. Based on the verbal agreement reached during the live broadcast of the "Genuine and Fake 'Six Dynasties Gold Powder Ode' Incident," I will formally request the transfer of the "Winter Forest with Walking Stick" painting to Mr. Xiao Rizi Kuniyamamoto. ————

A renowned collector has issued a statement: he will not participate in this year's Dejia Autumn Auction.

Statement issued: In light of the irrational behavior of Dejia Auction House, all items that have been previewed are being withdrawn.

That night, radio waves swept across the eastern sky, and the entire internet was abuzz with discussion. Seven out of the top ten news headlines were related to this incident, with public opinion overwhelmingly condemning the auction house for being solely profit-driven and criticizing Yamamoto for being shameless.

At Mr. Wu's home.

Old Wu was browsing news and comments online on his computer when Song Xiaoyi placed an antique-style wooden box on the table, then gently pushed a glass of water to Old Wu's side, a sly smile in her eyes: "Please have some water."

Old Wu's gaze swept between the cups and the box, then suddenly became alert: "Something's not right! You're plotting against this old man again, aren't you?"

"He didn't fall for it, sigh." As if the online battle had nothing to do with him, Song Xiaoyi pulled Old Wu to the table, "I'll show you something."

When the box was opened, Old Wu's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief and incredulity. Looking at Song Xiaoyi's grinning face, he felt like punching him!

"Do you think I ask questions without a reason?"

"You're really that vengeful, aren't you?"

"Of course."

"I've learned my lesson, it really doesn't feel good to offend you!" Since Wu Fei wasn't around, Old Wu took out white gloves from his pocket. Instead of taking out the cups inside, he turned the box around to check its appearance.

Why are they twelve zodiac animal-themed bronze cups?

"I'm also very curious why, of the twelve zodiac animal cups, only the chicken cup has survived to this day."

"First, make sure you didn't do this, right?"

"You flatter me."

Old Wu took a deep breath, put on white gloves, and paused for a moment with his fingertips hovering three inches from the rim of the cup before slowly lifting the mouse cup to examine it closely: "The cup has a slightly flared mouth, gradually narrows below the mouth, has a deep belly, a flat bottom, and a flat foot. The inner wall is smooth and without patterns, and it is shaped like a chicken cup, which fits perfectly."

Continuing to examine the patterns, "underglaze blue and overglaze polychrome, with lake rocks, roses, and orchids interspersed on the outer wall, divided into two groups—this also matches!"

Finally, look at the bottom mark: "Made in the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty, a fine piece."

Old Wu gently put the rat cup back, found the familiar chicken cup, and checked it again from the beginning. It matched perfectly.

Old Wu gently put the chicken cup back and took out the dragon cup.

"Dragon Cup..." Old Wu's fingertip stopped at the cloud pattern. "The three-clawed golden dragon has its eyes unpainted, and its head is hidden behind the clouds. The Ming Dynasty made this rule to avoid usurpation."

"Indeed! It matches perfectly!"

"If this were released, wouldn't it cause a huge uproar?"

"Are you planning to announce it when filming officially starts over there? It might have an effect, but the impact won't be significant, so there's no need for it."

"The key is that once you announce this, very few people can afford it. In the end, you can only donate it. Using hundreds of millions to spite someone is quite extravagant."

"Alright then, I'll trade this one for a courtyard house in Beijing. As for which one I choose, I won't consider its value; it depends on the situation in the Ming Dynasty."

"One set for another? Sure, deal!"

Just as the elderly man and the young man reached a deal worth hundreds of millions, the online battle escalated to a new level. At midnight, the official website of the National Museum of China suddenly posted the live video of the incident.

Next, Wu Fei cut out the middle part of the video and posted it on social media.

Headquarters of Dejia Auction House.

The computer in the general manager's office still displayed online comments that hadn't been closed.

Two telephones nearby rang incessantly.

The sound of the celadon shattering was deafening. The general manager stared at the water stains and fragments spreading across the carpet, his chest heaving violently.

"What did Old Liu say?"

"He said Wu Dalei brought two strangers to see the preview, and Xiao Liu just went to greet them. He was yelled at as soon as he entered, 'That idiot! Pig! Is his brain filled with shit?!' The general manager reached for a cup again, but touched a paperweight in front of him. Too expensive to smash, he gently put it down and continued to his assistant, 'You actually believe Xiao Liu! Who is Old Wu? Why did he yell at him for no reason?'"

"Who does he think he is? He doesn't even know his own limitations, yet he tries to bully Wu Dalei! Let him clean up his own mess! Go apologize to him himself!"

"No, wait! Book me the earliest flight. I'll go apologize in person. You take over this autumn auction. Once you do, immediately issue a notice that Liu He, the auction's organizer, is suspended from his duties for reflection."

On the morning of the 18th, reporters from all walks of life occupied advantageous positions at the entrance of the Beijing International Hotel, setting up their cameras and microphones; patriotic citizens living nearby blocked the first security checkpoint, demanding that the person in charge of the hotel come out and give an explanation.

At 9 o'clock, Wu Fei drove, and Old Wu arrived at the entrance of the Beijing International Hotel.

"It's Old Wu!"

"Old Wu is here!"

"Mr. Wu! We support you! We must find a way to get that painting back!"

"Mr. Wu, may I ask...?"

""

"Thank you all for your support!" Seeing that things were getting out of hand, Mr. Wu found a way out, turned around, straightened his Tang suit, and said to the cameras and reporters' microphones, "I will definitely fight the lawsuit with Yamamoto to the end, but this matter has nothing to do with the International Hotel. Please understand and cooperate, and do not interfere with the daily operations of the International Hotel."

"Please, please!" Old Wu clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, and the crowd surrounding the International Hotel retreated as instructed. The security guards of the International Hotel finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Mr. Wu, could you briefly explain why you've come today to accept Dejia's apology and mediation?"

"Why should they apologize? Auction houses have their own business rules. As long as they do things legally and compliantly, the old man believes there is no need to apologize."

"So, what brings you here today?"

"I came in person to retrieve the three pieces of Ming Dynasty yellow-glazed imperial porcelain that I had consigned for auction on behalf of a friend."

"So, can we understand that you still intend to withdraw the porcelain you submitted for auction and refuse the mediation and apology from Dejia headquarters?"

"As I just said, the family did nothing wrong, and they don't need to apologize. As for mediation, with whom? With Xiao Risheng? Can our conflict over cultural relics be resolved with Xiao Risheng? Do you accept that?"

"Well said!"

"We do not accept this!"

"Mr. Wu! We will always support you!"

Mr. Wu turned around and showed the staff at the door the auction agreement for the yellow-glazed porcelain.

"I am withdrawing the auction items from the preview in accordance with the auction preview rules and the agreement signed by both parties. According to the agreement, I will pay a total of RMB 11.3 in penalties, catalog fees, etc., which was transferred to your company's relevant account before I came here."

"Mr. Wu... what do you think of this...?"

"Please complete the withdrawal procedures as soon as possible. I will not accept any other actions or suggestions. Because I do not want to go back on my word."

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