Chapter 11: How Is That Possible

It was only the end of August, the autumn heat had not yet departed, the sunlight was so intense one could not open their eyes, and it felt as if one's neck were being roasted by fire.

Lin Sicheng scurried to the base of a wall and beckoned behind him: "Aren't you hot?"

Hot.

But compared to the shock in their hearts, the sweltering heat was so insignificant.

In this society, in this era, judging whether a man has ability—whether he can make money—is always the most important standard of measurement, bar none.

If one must make a comparison: Li Zhen is a teaching assistant, earning sixteen hundred a month, not even twenty thousand a year.

Yet in the cultural relics and museology major, her job is enough to make ninety-nine percent of the senior brothers and senior sisters green with envy.

And what about Lin Sicheng?

One Chicken Feather Duster is eighty thousand; how much are four?

This is simply incomparable.

And what Li Zhen finds most difficult to accept is the contrast between the rumors and reality.

In the rumors: Lin Sicheng asks for leave at the drop of a hat, skips class from time to time, fails several subjects a semester, and seems more like a slacker than a slacker.

Yet in reality: this slacker Lin Sicheng, with a slight movement of his hands, achieves what a top student like her would need ten or twenty years of hard work to accomplish.

The impact is quite great, the impressions quite deep, and her mind is quite chaotic.

She cannot think about it anymore; if she keeps thinking, she will likely start doubting life itself.

She let out a forceful breath and patted Xiao Yuzhu.

"Ah, Senior Sister?"

"What are you thinking about?"

"I'm thinking about that Expert: no wonder he was so kind, reminding Lin Sicheng that the item wasn't right—was it because he wanted to swindle Lin Sicheng out of the Buddha statue?"

Li Zhen was stunned: how is this different from what she was thinking?

"Yuzhu, he earned three hundred thousand!"

"I know, but the shock is so deep, and I can't figure it out, so I don't find it strange anymore. Just like that Expert:

Even if he is a swindler, his status as an Expert isn't fake, right? Why did he look at it for so long and fail to see the value of that Buddha statue, while Lin Sicheng didn't even need three minutes?"

Li Zhen did not know how to answer.

Whenever she thought of Lin Sicheng's age, she felt it was so unreal.

"Perhaps he is a natural-born talent."

"Then what about his studies? His grandfather is a professor, after all."

"Didn't he say it himself? He studied the wrong things: he put too much effort into auxiliary courses related to Appraisal, and his main courses fell behind!"

Xiao Yuzhu thought for a moment: it seems that is the only reason left?

The two walked and stopped, whispering to each other, and when they reached the shade, a layer of fine sweat had seeped onto their foreheads.

"I'm starving to death, what shall we eat?" Lin Sicheng fanned himself with his hand, "Let's get this straight, I'm not eating at Little Shell!"

One, it doesn't taste good.

Two, if they really went to Little Shell, this girl would likely have to eat dirt for the next month.

Xiao Yuzhu looked bewildered: "You can still eat?"

"Why wouldn't I be able to eat?"

"That's three hundred thousand, you know. I'm worried for you—how are you going to spend it?"

"How to spend it?" Lin Sicheng let out a 'heh', "Buy an apartment and it's gone!"

Oh right, the price of housing in a decent area of Xijing is almost four thousand!

Thinking about it this way, although Lin Sicheng earned three hundred thousand, it seems that's just how it is?

Xiao Yuzhu immediately stopped struggling: "I want to eat mutton pita bread soup, but you have to treat me, otherwise I won't be able to sleep tonight."

"If I treat, I treat, but can we eat something good?"

"Add a serving of cold meat too!"

"Tsk, quite ambitious!"

Xiao Yuzhu gritted her teeth and clenched her fists.

"Are you coming tomorrow?"

"No time tomorrow!"

He has to find an apartment.

The previous rental was too small and uncomfortable to live in.

Furthermore, the items he unearths in the future will only increase; it's impossible to sell them on the spot every time. And it's not good to take them home, so he definitely needs to find a secure place.

It can't be too far from the school; preferably inside the school.

But that will likely be hard to rent.

Calculating secretly, Lin Sicheng stretched out his hand, and a taxi pulled over to the side of the road.

"Driver, Tongshengxiang!"

……

The pita bread soup was quite delicious, it was just that the portion was too small.

For a large Bowl the size of a human head, Lin Sicheng went for three helpings, nearly causing Li Zhen and Xiao Yuzhu's jaws to drop.

Does he not remember having such a large appetite in his previous life?

No, it's not that he doesn't remember; it's that it was definitely not this large.

It seems his memory has also become stronger?

Even the scene of playing with a lighter with Gu Ming when he was a child and being hung up and beaten by his mother is vivid before his eyes.

I wonder if this is a benefit brought by rebirth?

Thinking secretly to himself, Lin Sicheng stepped through the school gate.

……

Heritage College, Administration Building.

Wang Qi Zhi looked over his new office.

It was large, fully equipped with a computer and furniture, and even came with a brand-new treadmill.

Standing behind him were two teachers, one man and one woman, both around thirty years old.

After a moment of thought, he felt it was better to get straight to the point:

"Teacher Ding, I am new here and lack experience, so please put more effort into the work here at the Youth League Committee. Furthermore, this is only a concurrent post; my main focus will still be on teaching, so whenever Teacher Ding feels it is necessary, you can report directly to Secretary Zhang."

The male teacher couldn't help but be stunned: even if it is a concurrent post, the rank is solid.

Having worked in the Youth League Committee for so many years, this was the first time he had seen a new leader plan to shirk his duties as soon as he took office?

But only thinking it in his heart, Teacher Ding hurriedly responded: "Understood, Secretary Wang!"

Wang Qi Zhi smiled gently: "Good, then you go ahead and get busy!"

Teacher Ding took his leave and helped him close the door.

Listening to the footsteps go up the stairs, getting further and further away, and lighter and lighter, Wang Qi Zhi waved his hand: "Let's go!"

"Secretary Wang, where to?"

"Don't call me Secretary in the future, it sounds awkward. Call me Professor, or Teacher is fine too!"

Wang Qi Zhi walked straight out, "To the teaching building, to ask Secretary Chen how this week's classes are arranged."

"Ah!" The newly assigned female teaching assistant was a bit confused, "Prof... Professor Wang, do you really want to teach?"

Wang Qi Zhi looked as if it were a matter of course: "I am someone who does research, if I don't teach students, what would I do?"

He also blamed himself for not asking clearly beforehand: he transferred from Baoji precisely because he had no patience for administration. If he had known there was this business of a concurrent post, he definitely would have considered it.

But his organizational ties had already been transferred, and it was too late for him to regret it.

He could only think of another way.

Pondering secretly, he went down the Administration Building, with the confused female teaching assistant following behind.

The weather was very good, the sun was bright.

The locust leaves were covered in dew, and the air was slightly damp, carrying the coolness unique to early autumn. A few sparrows hopped back and forth, pecking at the cypress seeds blown down by the wind.

Students were in twos and threes, full of vigor and sunshine, overflowing with youth.

Wang Qi Zhi took a deep breath: school is better after all.

If one only does research and teaches on the side.

After indulging in a bit of aimless moaning, Wang Qi Zhi calculated how to present the facts and reason when he arrived at the Academic Affairs Center later.

His requirements were not high: first arrange a few public lectures to practice, and simultaneously apply for research projects.

Of course, he would have to go to the school leadership for this. However, there was no need to trouble the school; he had ready-made project topics, a clear research direction, and ample research funding. The school only needed to sign off and arrange a laboratory.

Huh, why didn't he mention it to the school leadership on Saturday?

Oh right, he had been plied with too much alcohol...

Just as he was feeling annoyed, a somewhat familiar figure came into view, walking unhurriedly toward the teaching building.

Wang Qizhi was stunned for a moment: it looked like the kid who sold him the "*Annals of the Yellow Emperor*" last Friday.

Did he recognize the wrong person, or were his eyes playing tricks on him?

In the moment he was distracted, Lin Sicheng had already entered the building, and he hurriedly pointed: "Teacher Feng, do you recognize that student... Yes, quite tall, the male student who just went in!"

Teacher Feng squinted his eyes and looked: "It seems to be Lin Sicheng from the senior year Cultural Relics Protection Class!"

That was it, it was Lin Sicheng.

He had verified the name when transferring money at the bank, and they had even exchanged phone numbers afterward.

What had he said to himself at the time: he must be studying something related to Cultural Relics.

And look, he ran into him just after arriving at school?

"How are his studies?"

"Not very good!" Teacher Feng said bluntly, "He fails several subjects every semester."

"What?"

Thinking he was surprised that such a student hadn't been expelled, Teacher Feng hesitated for a moment and lowered his voice: "He is the grandson of Deputy Director Lin!"

Wang Qi Zhi was stunned: Lin Zhangqing, the former academic leader of the porcelain protection and Artifact Restoration direction at Heritage College?

No wonder he knew so much; it turned out to be a family tradition.

Subconsciously, Wang Qi Zhi recalled that scene in the bank: You are researching Bronze, working in Baoji, right...

Heh heh... fails several subjects every semester?

How is that possible!

"Let's go, let's go to the Academic Affairs Office first!"

Since they were in the same school, there would be plenty of opportunities in the future.