Chapter 118: The Mouth is Crooked from Smiling

Lin Sicheng is using this trick again?

The familiar recipe, the familiar taste.

Wang Qi Zhi pursed his lips tightly, but the corners of his mouth still curled up, revealing a few traces of uncontrollable amusement.

The so-called "beating the grass to startle the snake" or "throwing a stone to ask the way"—Wang Qi Zhi was the first to fall for it.

For example, the first time Lin Sicheng entered his laboratory, he showed off that "Iron Artifact Penetration Imaging" technology.

Or, for instance, the Six Point Six Burn used to restore the cloisonné Dog Basin.

Or, for example, the way he spoke at length about his understanding and views on "Iron Artifact Protection Technology."

So, how could Wang Qi Zhi let such talent slip right before his eyes?

He was more than willing to fall for this trick!

It is the same now: how your research direction is determined, what the key points are, how the difficulties are overcome, and the technical tracing and theoretical derivation based on which experimental methods and test data—I will explain it all to you clearly.

I will even add two more things for you: lost techniques. Look, isn't the value and intent even higher?

The reason is simple: strictly speaking, the two of them are here to steal the trade, so if they don't bring out some real skills, why should others teach you techniques and research results that took years or even over a decade of hard work?

Unless you cut the Gordian knot, making them feel that their current achievements are not actually that advanced, nor are they that secret. At the same time, make them believe that the teacher and student before them are qualified enough to cooperate with them, or even share.

For example, right now:

The old man with graying temples held Lin Sicheng's hand tightly, his eyes gleaming with astonishment, shock, deep appreciation, and a hint of suspicion.

Over nine full years, the hard work of more than a dozen Researchers—it is impossible for it to be cleanly and neatly cracked just by someone taking a couple of looks. Therefore, the two people in front of him must have put in the effort to study it; the time spent researching definitely wasn't short.

But to say that their research level surpassed theirs, no matter how Yao Hansong thought about it, he felt it was unlikely.

While suspicious, he shook Lin Sicheng's hand: "What is your surname?"

"My surname is Lin!"

Surname Lin?

Yao Hansong tried hard to think: in the field of Tang Dynasty Gold and Silver Craftsmanship research, it seems there is no one with the surname Lin?

At least not in Shaanxi, and not in Henan either.

But in his view, outside of these two provinces, everyone else is second-rate.

He shook his hand again: "And your teacher, what is his surname?"

"Surname Wang!" Lin Sicheng smiled again and pointed at Wang Qi Zhi, "He is Professor Wang!"

Impossible!

The three words surged to his lips, only to be swallowed back down by Yao Hansong.

But even if it was hard to say to his face, he firmly believed: impossible.

Although they both belong to the metal category, there is a fundamental difference between researching Bronze and researching gold and silver. The former's research focus is on Cultural Relics protection, such as the Bronze from the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, while the latter's research focus is on craft restoration.

At most, Wang Qi Zhi might have incidentally studied it while researching gold and silver inlaid Bronze. In any case, it is absolutely impossible for him to have researched Tang Dynasty gold and silver craftsmanship so thoroughly and to such a high level, even higher than the Shaanxi History Museum.

Think back to just a moment ago: the student said "record," and the teacher picked up the notebook to record?

Look at the situation now: the teacher stands to the side holding a notebook and pen, while the student takes the lead?

Just as he was stunned, Lin Sicheng smiled again:

"Professor Yao, to be honest, we are actually showing off before an expert: everything just mentioned was deduced by my teacher and me based on literature materials and published journals and Thesis.

The key sources are two: the Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau's "Shaanxi Cultural Relics Yearbook" and the museum's "Shaanxi History Museum Collection," especially the latter, which provided us with extremely solid and detailed data and theoretical foundations... so strictly speaking, we are stealing the trade..."

Yao Hansong shook his head again: still impossible.

Indeed, since starting the research in '98, following the instructions of the higher-level departments, the museum would announce progress and results at each stage, simultaneously publishing Thesis and revealing partial data.

Simultaneously reporting to higher-level departments, the higher-ups would periodically verify the results, which would then be published simultaneously.

But to be honest, if one could deduce core technology just by relying on public Thesis data, China would have long since caught up with Britain and surpassed America; what would be the need for Scientists and experimental institutions?

While he was still suspicious, Lin Sicheng opened his bag and took out something: "Of course, it also couldn't be done without repeated experiments. But because of the lack of physical objects, my teacher could only find some folk handicrafts with representative craftsmanship..."

Yao Hansong initially thought: that is also impossible.

Unless the folk handicrafts could reflect the craft details to a degree nearly identical to a national treasure.

Otherwise, the so-called data deduction based on experiments would be like a joke...

But immediately, his eyes popped out, and he was completely stunned: a Beast-Headed Agate Cup was placed before him, shining brilliantly and looking lifelike.

This was, of course, not the one from the museum; that one had long been borrowed by the National Museum of China, so this one must be a replica.

But why could it be replicated exactly the same?

The same Color-Matching Craft, the same Irregular Cavity Excavation, the same Multi-Layered Relief Carving.

And even the whiskers and spots on the beast's mouth, that is, the gold beads on the sheep-mouth plug, also used the "Beading and Welding" technique?

But that is not the point; the point is: the museum hadn't even figured out the "why" before the object was borrowed. With no samples and no technology in the private sector, how was this one replicated?

And replicated so accurately?

Yao Hansong held the Agate Cup in his hands, examining it over and over again.

Chen Fen (Group Leader) stood to the side, her eyes seemingly nailed to it.

Suddenly, Yao Hansong thought of something and blurted out: "He Jintang?"

Chen Fen suddenly realized: "It is He Jintang!"

The two looked at each other, and Yao Hansong turned his head abruptly: "Where did you buy it?"

Lin Sicheng replied unhurriedly: "From a teacher in Beijing; his spouse works at the Gongwang Mansion!"

"He Jintang went to Beijing?"

Yao Hansong muttered, and then he looked suspiciously at Wang Qi Zhi and Lin Sicheng.

Even if the craft details of the specimen were very similar to the real object, he still felt it was unlikely.

The reason is simple: he could tell that Wang Qi Zhi only knew six out of seven parts, and was completely clueless. This child's so-called "researching and deducing together with the teacher" naturally did not exist.

Only he understood.

But the problem was, Artifact Research and deduction required time.

So at what age did he start researching: eighteen, seventeen, or perhaps even fifteen or sixteen?

But there was no need to delve too deeply; Yao Hansong actually felt quite gratified: that this child could restore technology based on the academic journals in the museum, and could reverse-engineer the results they had spent eight or nine years researching based on some sparse and rough data, showed that the museum's research direction was as correct as it could possibly be.

And to be able to hit the nail on the head, point directly to the crux, and even innovate and reach a higher level—what did this indicate?

Talent!

The so-called "the student surpasses the master"... and all through self-study?

A talent among talents!

Yao Hansong put down the Agate Cup, squinted his eyes, and his face was full of a kind smile: "How old are you!"

Lin Sicheng moved his birthday up by two months: "Twenty-one!"

"Tsk, so young!" Yao Hansong sighed, "Are you a graduate student under Professor Wang?"

"Yes, Professor Yao!"

The two asked and answered, while Wang Qi Zhi smacked his lips: This tone, this smile, why was it so familiar?

Oh right, those two leaders from the Public Security Bureau...

But it didn't matter: the teacher and student were becoming more and more tightly bound now, and Wang Qi Zhi wasn't worried at all.

Perhaps realizing that it wasn't quite appropriate to act like this in front of Wang Qi Zhi, Yao Hansong only asked a few shallow questions.

Lin Sicheng asked about He Jintang again.

"He is our senior predecessor and also an old leader: before he retired, he was the deputy director of the Experimental Center, specifically responsible for the research work on Tang Dynasty Gold and Silver Craftsmanship..."

Yao Hansong looked nostalgic: "Around '97, He Jintang proposed: to carry out key research on the Beast-Headed Agate Cup and the Mandarin Duck Lotus Pattern Bowl. The main direction was the research and restoration of Tang Dynasty granulation, Gold Bead Welding, Gold-Mercury Welding, Seamless Welding, and other welding techniques.

But the leadership believed that the historical documents of past dynasties had been lost, the folk traditions passed down by word of mouth were nearly extinct, and the technical support was almost blank... The higher-level departments also instructed: do not take steps that are too large, proceed in an orderly way, and be steady and solid.

So by '98, the museum initiated a project for the Pot with Handle and the Grape Pattern Cup, and determined the research direction: namely, Tang Dynasty hammering, chasing, and the mechanical principles of the integrated handle and spout... In the same month the project was initiated, He Jintang submitted his resignation, and retired early half a year later..."

Yao Hansong narrated slowly, and the teacher and student listened quietly.

Gradually, the corners of Wang Qi Zhi's mouth curled up again: whether they could trick core technical data out of the Shaanxi History Museum today was hard to say, but Lin Sicheng had managed to clearly investigate the identity of the person who imitated the Agate Cup without any effort at all.

Unlike him, who had been making phone calls and pulling strings for two days, yet still had no leads.

And he even owed a huge favor...

Lin Sicheng, however, kept his head lowered: folk traditions passed down by word of mouth were nearly extinct... didn't that mean they weren't completely extinct yet?

He raised his head again: "Professor Yao, do you mean: there is still a lineage for Tang Dynasty granulation and Gold Welding techniques?"

"Yes, but not much!" Yao Hansong nodded, "He Jintang is one; his grandfather and father were both Craftsmen in the Imperial Household Department during the Qing Dynasty (specializing in making gold and silver wares)... In the 1950s, the province established a Cultural Relic Restoration group, and he and his father became gold and silver ware restoration masters... Later, he was transferred to the Provincial Museum..."

Lin Sicheng's eyes shone: he had been wondering how a craft lost for hundreds of years could suddenly appear; so there really were successors?

But the Imperial Household Department gold and jade workshop... Lin Sicheng didn't remember any relevant documents being unearthed when the Imperial Household Department ruins were excavated?

But there was no need to delve into that now; the focus was on core technology and data, as well as the lost craft techniques.

Lin Sicheng certainly knew how, but the problem was: how to make others believe that he had learned these techniques through study and research, rather than them suddenly appearing out of nowhere with no source?

Otherwise, no matter how much he knew or understood, he wouldn't dare to use it...

Thinking secretly, Lin Sicheng exhaled slowly: "Professor Yao, may I take the liberty of asking a few questions?"

"What is there to be taking liberties about?" Yao Hansong smiled even more kindly, "Ask away..."

"Thank you, Professor Yao..."

Afterwards, the old man and the young man asked and answered, as if no one else were around.

Gradually, Yao Hansong's eyes grew brighter and brighter, and Chen Fen's eyes grew wider and wider.

Wang Qi Zhi listened without understanding half of it, and the others were like people listening to a heavenly book.

Finally, feeling it was about enough, Lin Sicheng stopped talking. Yao Hansong and Chen Fen stared at Lin Sicheng, their expressions complex and inexplicable.

It was fortunate that the questions were varied enough, numerous enough, and hit the nail on the head. Otherwise, they would have thought Lin Sicheng was He Jintang's apprentice.

No, he understood more and broader things than He Jintang. It was a case of "cherishing one's own broom," and if it weren't for that, the higher-ups wouldn't have directly rejected He Jintang's proposal upon seeing it.

After a long while, Yao Hansong sighed: "You have dabbled in many areas and your understanding is deep enough, but I certainly can't finish explaining it all at once, and you won't be able to remember it if I say too much...

How about this, list the materials you need, and I will have little Chen find them for you... You can come to look at them anytime, and if there is anything you don't understand, you can ask anytime; you can ask me or little Chen."

After a slight pause, he emphasized: "But do not spread them outside!"

Lin Sicheng nodded heavily: "Don't worry, Professor Yao!"

To the side, Wang Qi Zhi's mouth was almost crooked from smiling...