Chapter 123: Must Protect It Well (Monthly Ticket Bonus Chapter 99)

Shang Yan stepped back two paces, her pupils slightly constricted, her eyes dazed.

A rounded mouth and full shoulders, a rounded belly, fluid patterns, the glaze color elegant and refined...

With the naked eye alone, one could not find a single trace of restoration. It truly looked exactly as it had before.

But if one leaned in close and used a high-magnification lens, one could clearly see the marks left after the restoration.

It was not that Lin Sicheng's craftsmanship was not high, but rather that based on the "Principle of Recognizability" in Cultural Relic Restoration, it had to be mended this way.

Namely, visual recognizability, compatibility with detection technology, and the reversibility of restoration materials.

To put it simply: the eye might not be able to tell, but it must be detectable with a magnifying glass, and even more so with machines.

This is a core guideline for cultural relic restoration in international conventions, and authoritative domestic documents like the "Principles for the Conservation of Heritage Sites in China" have even more detailed and explicit regulations.

But precisely because of this, the difficulty of the restoration is high: Shang Yan is absolutely an expert among experts; to the eye, it looks real no matter how you look at it. But take a peek with a magnifying glass, and even a layman among laymen can tell that this is a mended, damaged vessel...

And what amazed Shang Yan even more was Lin Sicheng's exacting demands regarding the principles of "tradition" and "retro."

All techniques used ancient methods: the joining used ancient methods, Carving the Embryo used ancient methods, the touch-up painting used ancient methods, and the firing of the glaze used even more ancient methods. This included all kinds of raw materials: clay for the body, Glaze Material, Cobalt Material, glue... as long as it touched upon modern science, he would not use it if he could avoid it.

When it came down to it, only the detection, observation, and the final firing in the kiln used modern means.

Therefore, to ensure it could pass inspection, for this single Chenghua Large Jar, Lin Sicheng spent nearly five days mending it.

Not to mention how high the level of skill was, just this dedication, focus, and spirit of striving for perfection were things her students could not compare to, even when added together.

But Shang Yan was no longer jealous of Wang Qi Zhi, because starting today, she too could say to others: "This is my student."

Although not as a mentor, just as an advising teacher...

The proper mentor was beaming, clutching a thick stack of Red Envelopes in his hand. Wang Qi Zhi handed them out one by one, saying thanks repeatedly: "Hard work... thank you for the hard work these past few days... thank you, thank you..."

Shang Yan had one too, and Wang Qi Zhi had one for himself as well. It wasn't a lot, but it certainly wasn't little: two thousand per person, equivalent to a month and a half of salary for Li Zhen and Feng Lin.

When it was Lin Sicheng's turn, Wang Qi Zhi placed the Red Envelope into his hand and patted his shoulder heavily: "Rest well, clear your head. Don't do anything, don't think about anything this week, just eat, drink, and play... leave the rest to your teacher!"

Lin Sicheng nodded.

Having worked continuously for five days, while not quite to the point of forgetting to eat and sleep, his brain had basically been at full capacity, and even in his dreams, he was repairing the large jar.

Maintaining such a high-intensity state of excitement, his mind had been tightly wound, and occasionally he would even experience hallucinations where he couldn't distinguish reality from imagination.

It was normal, but he did indeed need to rest, though at most for a day or two.

Seeing what he was thinking, Wang Qi Zhi sighed: "It's the eleventh, my silly apprentice!"

Lin Sicheng was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized: Today is the thirtieth?

"Go back to the studio and wash up first, I'll send a car to take you, go home and get a good sleep..." Wang Qi Zhi pushed him, "Go!"

Lin Sicheng nodded and greeted everyone one by one, just as usual: polite, humble, and gentle, like a spring breeze.

Compared to when he was on the platform, there seemed to be no difference. But once he entered a working state, the professional, solemn, meticulous, and perfectionist aura that Lin Sicheng radiated was as tangible as substance.

The few people responded hurriedly, their faces full of smiles, their waists involuntarily hunching over.

Only Li Zhen was absent-minded, as if she had lost something.

Watching Lin Sicheng leave the laboratory, she instinctively turned her head back, staring at the case containing the large jar.

Thinking back on these past few days, she felt that between the two of them... there was a galaxy?

Shang Yan saw it all, sighed inwardly, and recalled the words Wang Qi Zhi had used to coax her before: "Once Lin Sicheng gets to your place, he will be like a crane among chickens; don't expect your students to have it easy..."

Was it not so?

She clapped her hands: "Alright, everyone go back. It's been quite hard these past few days, get a good rest for a few days!"

The students said their goodbyes one by one, including Feng Lin. But just as she reached the door, Wang Qi Zhi called out: "Feng Lin, come back!"

Feng Lin blushed: after several days of high intensity, her brain was a bit muddled. She had forgotten that she was no longer a student, but Professor Wang's Research Assistant.

Thinking there was something to be instructed, Wang Qi Zhi instead tossed her a key: "Help me deliver this home on your way!"

"Alright, Professor Wang, anything else?"

"What else could there be? Get some good rest..."

"Oh, oh~"

After shooing Feng Lin away, Wang Qi Zhi picked up the videotape and lifted the case: "I have notified all the leaders—the Principal, the Secretary, the Deputy Principal, the Dean—they are all waiting in the conference room... do you dare to go?"

Pausing slightly, he slanted his eyes: "Shang Yan, don't blame me for not warning you: this is the only chance, it won't wait!"

Shang Yan gave a "pfft": Did he really need to use reverse psychology on her? Anyone who didn't go would be a fool.

Never mind daring or not, now if anyone tried to snatch this from her, she would fight them.

She nodded heavily and followed Wang Qi Zhi out of the laboratory. Just as they went down the stairs, she frowned slightly: "What if the leaders don't agree?"

"Impossible!" Wang Qi Zhi shook his head decisively, "The leaders aren't fools, are they?"

"I'm not talking about the project, I'm talking about the people..." Shang Yan was a bit worried, "Like me, like Professor Lin!"

There were at most three spots for advising teachers, and they were all designated by Wang Qi Zhi; would the school have objections?

Furthermore, in terms of ability, she was indeed quite strong, but in terms of seniority, she really didn't rank high in the department.

Most importantly, Professor Lin was already retired...

"Worrying about nothing!" Wang Qi Zhi gave a "heh": "Do you think I'm a pushover, or that Lin Sicheng is made of mud? Do you believe I'd take Lin Sicheng and resign?"

Shang Yan was suddenly stunned: That's right?

Before, when Lin Sicheng was restoring the cloisonné, she herself had thought: With Lin Sicheng's craftsmanship, where couldn't he go?

And now, add the Blue and White Porcelain to that?

Peking University's gates are always open, you would like it here... If the leaders dared to pull any tricks, Wang Qi Zhi would truly dare to leave!

Shang Yan's heart suddenly relaxed.

It was in the Teaching and Research Building in the next block, a three-minute walk.

Pushing open the door to the conference room, it was packed full: the Principal, the Secretary, the Deputy Principal, the Dean, the Deputy Director, the Youth League Secretary... more than ten people in total; the school and department-level leaders were almost all present.

After greeting everyone as per custom, Wang Qi Zhi first took out the large jar, then turned on the projector and the video.

Shang Yan took the stage and provided synchronized commentary.

For two full hours, the conference room was deathly silent.

But the expressions on the leaders' faces were exceptionally vivid: shock, astonishment, disbelief, and incredulity.

This is... that good-for-nothing grandson of Lin Zhangqing?

This is the "Non-trace Layered Restoration" that even Peking University and Fudan University dare not touch?

And there is Carving the Embryo, and even Mortise and Tenon Structure Restoration... besides the Forbidden City and the Cultural Relics Research Institute, no third party understands this technology.

As for who can use it and who can teach it, only the Forbidden City can.

Don't even talk about whether the school has taught it; just ask Shang Yan, just ask those porcelain professors at the school—have they ever learned it?

Not until Shang Yan finished speaking and the projector was turned off did the leaders regain their senses.

Their eyes were fixed on the large jar, their minds echoing with Shang Yan's final sentence:

Through Professor Wang's unremitting efforts, with the successive generations of Blue and White Porcelain Restoration techniques of the Cultural Relics Research Institute (National Cultural Heritage Administration's Cultural Heritage Research Institute) as the core, and with the strong assistance of the team, Lin Sicheng perfectly restored the Ming Xuande Imperial Kiln Blue and White Dragon Pattern Tian-character Jar...

They certainly believed that Wang Qi Zhi could obtain the core technical data from the Cultural Relics Research Institute. But as for the rest, they didn't believe a single word.

The reason was simple: how many days had Wang Qi Zhi been at the school?

Never mind a month, and never mind Lin Sicheng. If you gave the data to Shang Yan and gave her ten years, could she figure it out?

But the problem was, the video recording was clear and explicit: it was always Lin Sicheng leading... oh no, almost ninety percent or more of the technical processes were completed entirely by him.

Even Shang Yan only began to provide some auxiliary assistance starting from the fourth day. The other Doctors and Masters were essentially just providing basic assistance throughout.

The leaders didn't really understand Carving the Embryo, as they hadn't been exposed to it much, but they could at least recognize the rest:

The Double Outline Color Filling during touch-up painting, the "One-stroke Dragon" technique when outlining patterns, and the "Blue and White Five Waters" when shading the blue and white—these were all unique skills that only existed in ancient texts.

Oh no, the Forbidden City also has them, but only the Forbidden City...

But all of this was completed independently by Lin Sicheng, and the full-process recording is right here; could this be faked?

Wang Qi Zhi also made it clearer: the whole process was 101 hours, one continuous shot, not a single frame cut; if the leaders wanted to see it, he could play it right now.

What's more, the restoration took five full days, and Lin Sicheng provided five days of practical teaching, lecturing as soon as he took the stage, basically without stopping. Setting aside the technical aspect, just this clarity, this logic, and this level of lecturing were higher than many professors at the school.

Because several leaders from the Metallurgy Department and even the Archaeology Department were actually able to understand a lot, and even grasp it.

This was truly outrageous: just how high could this teaching level be?

It is no exaggeration to say that if they closed their eyes, they would have thought they had invited a big shot from the Provincial Museum or an even more authoritative research institution to come to the school to give a lecture.

Just as they were feeling it was unbelievable, the Principal picked up his Tea Cup and took a slow, deliberate sip: "Secretary Wang, that report your laboratory submitted last time, the one about the origin of copper, who did you design it with?"

Wang Qi Zhi was stunned for a moment: "Principal, it was Lin Sicheng and me!"

"That's what I thought, I also remember it seemed to be Lin Sicheng!" The Principal put down the Tea Cup and muttered, "But one is copper, one is porcelain; his discipline spans quite a bit, doesn't it?"

The leaders were stunned again: what origin of copper, why didn't we know about it?

The Deputy Principal and the Dean of the Cultural Heritage Conservation Department remained silent: this project was intended to compete with Professor Wang Changsui's team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, so of course, it had to be kept confidential.

Just as they were secretly turning these thoughts over, the Principal's tone suddenly shifted: "I approve!"

Huh?

The others looked at each other in dismay.

The previous sentence was still "spans quite a bit," and they all thought the Principal would definitely ask for verification, but suddenly he came out with "I approve?"

Approve what?

Afterward, they knew.

"Since the items have all been restored, you must have a general plan. You must have a clear idea of the funding, equipment, venue, materials, specimens, and personnel allocation... How about this, you speak now, since everyone is here, let's study it..."

The others immediately knew: as long as it wasn't too outrageous, the Principal could approve it on the spot.

Wang Qi Zhi had anticipated this and took out a Folder, handing it forward: "Thank you, Principal!"

Yo, quite well-prepared, aren't you?

The Principal thought happily and flipped it open. But just after a glance, his eyelids jumped "thump, thump, thump."

Just that title: "Application Report for Intangible Cultural Heritage Project"

And the first line: This report aims to apply for the inclusion of "Yuan, Ming, and Qing Blue and White Porcelain Restoration Technique" into the "National Level Representative Project Directory of Intangible Cultural Heritage"...

After looking back and forth twice, the Principal looked up in astonishment, as if asking: World Heritage Application?

Wang Qi Zhi was exceptionally serious and nodded heavily: "Yes, Principal!"

At this "Yes," the Principal was suddenly amused: Wang Qi Zhi, oh Wang Qi Zhi, I just set up a pole as high as the roof for you, and you actually dare to climb it all the way to the sky?

After laughing twice, he adjusted his reading glasses and began to read carefully.

The more he read, the brighter his eyes became:

From the project introduction to the historical evolution, then to the cultural value and significance, as well as the content and process of the technique. And the current status, protection plan, supporting materials, and even videos and pictures.

Including the lineage of inheritance, the previous generation of inheritors, recommendation letters from ceramic historians, written evaluations from intangible heritage experts, and even the declaring unit—everything was listed clearly on it.

Since Wang Qi Zhi dared to write it down and show it to him, it certainly wouldn't just stay on paper; it meant that after today's meeting, as long as the main leaders signed it, this plan could be implemented.

The Principal's heart stirred: in this way, it meant that most of the work had been done by Wang Qi Zhi and Lin Sicheng, and as long as the World Heritage Application was successful, the school would be a National Level heritage project protection unit.

Then what would the school do, just wait to take the credit?

Of course, the World Heritage Application is a major project, and this is far from enough, but what is in the report is the most important and most difficult part. The rest is nothing more than manpower, material resources, and financial resources; as long as they are willing to invest, it will be fine.

However, believe it or not, if this report were taken out, there would be plenty of units fighting to invest?

His brow suddenly furrowed, and the Principal flipped further back. When he saw that the guidance team and the assistance team were all people from the school, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, the school was still of some use.

Including Lin Zhangqing: even though he had retired, he retired from the school, which meant he was still a person from the school...

The Principal read it again to confirm there were no errors before closing the report: "I approve, we will hold the meeting after this one!"

Subtext: Even if we hold a meeting, it's just a formality!

As long as it is within a reasonable range, there is nothing I dare not agree to.

But there are a few too many people present today, so it can only be held another day.

Wang Qi Zhi was secretly pondering when the Principal raised his head again: "But I have one requirement: for the core support team, try to use people from the school as much as possible!"

"Rest assured, Principal!"

"Mm!" The Principal nodded, then thought for a moment, "Where is he?"

"He has been working around the clock for five days and five nights, so I let him go back to rest first!"

"Right, he must rest well," the Principal nodded, then tapped the Folder, "and it must be protected well too!"

It was a double entendre, but Wang Qi Zhi understood in a second.

The plan must be protected well, the data must be protected well, and the person must be protected even better.

"Principal, I understand!"