7. Contract Bid

There was once a contract bid on a construction project in the Nara City area.

While the others sought to make their bids lower than the rest, Izo placed his bid after considering the cost of the materials and construction and ended up with the highest bid.

But because Izo had built a reputation as a trustworthy carpenter, he won the contract despite having placed the most expensive bid. Even this one example shows how Izo was always wholeheartedly sincere in his daily life.

(From Ueda Eizo. Shinpan Izo Iburi den. p. 140)

• Next installment in this series: 8. Worship at Horyuji Temple

*Note: This post has been revised since its original publication.