Chapter 144: An Outline

If he were his own student, he would have already been scolded by Yao Hansong three times.

Unfortunately, he is not, at least not yet.

Furthermore, the impression Lin Sicheng left on him last time was too deep: being able to deduce technical difficulties and even near-lost arts solely based on literature and thesis data had greatly shocked Yao Hansong.

Another half a month has passed, and two more authentic pieces have been found, which are highly relevant. Perhaps, some clues have been researched.

Pondering this, Yao Hansong nodded: "Good, then let's give it a try... Zhang Ping, notify the laboratory."

Zhang Ping walked away quickly, and Lin Sicheng packed the Lacquer Box and the gold crown back up.

The teacher and student each carried one item and followed Yao Hansong to the fourth floor.

"Little Lin, how do you plan to test this?"

Lin Sicheng smiled modestly: "I have only researched it theoretically and have little practical experience, so it is better to start from the beginning."

"Correct!" Yao Hansong nodded, "Keep your feet on the ground and proceed steadily!"

Lin Sicheng said respectfully: "Professor Yao is right!"

Wang Qi Zhi secretly curled his lip: Is Lin Sicheng starting to play the humble novice again?

Just like at school, when Shang Yan asked: Lin Sicheng, I have never seen you repair Overglaze, and now you are starting with Multicolor Porcelain, are you capable of this?

Lin Sicheng: I have only researched it theoretically, but it does not matter, can we try it first?

As a result, after one try, a Blue and White Dragon Pattern Large Jar was repaired?

Thinking back now, the moment the large jar was repaired, Shang Yan's dumbfounded, petrified expression still seems vivid in his mind.

Thinking secretly, the group arrived at the Golden Craftsmanship Research Laboratory on the fourth floor.

The place was large, and there were many instruments. Smelting, forging, chiseling, traditional crafts, precision machining, and even research testing—none of the necessary tools and instruments were missing.

The staffing was also complete, with carving, rubbing, casting, chiseling, lacquer, and auxiliary personnel, totaling about a dozen people.

Wang Qi Zhi was very self-aware; after giving a rough introduction, he retreated to the side to become a transparent person.

Lin Sicheng shook hands with everyone one by one, bowing slightly at the waist with a faint smile on his face. He called everyone "Teacher" and addressed them as "you" (polite form).

"Professor Huang (Person in Charge of the laboratory), Professor Yao and Professor Chen (Group Leader of the Gold and Silver Group) specifically mentioned you last time and told me to learn more from you..."

"Hello, Teacher Liu, please give me your guidance!"

"Teacher Bai, sorry to trouble you today!"

"Teacher Jiang, thank you for your hard work later!"

After thanking them one by one, Lin Sicheng finally smiled and explained: "Teachers, if I am offensive in my speech later, please bear with me. After it is finished, I will apologize to everyone!"

Huang Zhifeng was still thinking: I don't know if this kid is as capable as Section Chief Yao (Yao Hansong) and Group Leader Chen said, but he is very polite and has a sweet tongue.

Furthermore, it is all for the sake of research; since Section Chief Yao asked them to assist, it does not matter if there is any offense.

Of course, if there are problems with the experimental process or if the operations do not comply with regulations, they will certainly remind him. It is not impossible that they might even stop the experiment.

With these thoughts, Huang Zhifeng smiled and encouraged him: "Little Lin, don't be nervous!"

"Okay, Professor Huang!"

Lin Sicheng smiled, took out the Lacquer Box and the Flat Sharp Bronze Mirror he had bought earlier, and then looked around: "Teachers, let us start with the Lacquer Box!"

Everyone nodded in unison.

"Then, each group get ready."

"We have been ready for a long time! Young man, don't be nervous, just tell us if we are starting work?"

Someone responded, and a burst of good-natured laughter erupted in the laboratory.

"Start, let's start now!"

Lin Sicheng also smiled and distributed the experimental plan; Yao Hansong and Huang Zhifeng also took a copy.

Looking down again:

1. Pottery mold, wooden mold... 2. Mounting the Frame... 3. Lacquer Paste... 4. Coarse Ash, Medium Ash, Fine Ash...

5. Base Lacquer, Frame Lacquer, Colored Lacquer... 6. Gold Filling... 7. Carved Lacquer... 8. Mother-of-Pearl Inlay...

Holding the thin sheet of paper, the further Huang Zhifeng read, the more suspicious he became: Is this an experimental plan?

The material processing part was fine, and the requirements were written in detail. The data requirements for the molds were also quite clear, such as material and degreasing, which were all noted.

But further down, involving the craftsmanship part, starting from Mounting the Frame, there was less and less information.

Especially the last three points: This is the core of the Inlaid Gold Technique and also the most difficult part. But on this paper, there was absolutely nothing regarding specific procedures, specific processes, or specific data.

It couldn't be that he was afraid of the craftsmanship leaking, could it?

Certainly not, because there was no need: this is not a lost art; it had long been thoroughly researched by the Provincial Museum. Whether it was ancient literature or research data, the Provincial Museum had it all.

Therefore, it seemed more like... this kid hadn't learned it yet?

Since he hadn't even learned it yet, what kind of craftsmanship was he deducing?

Huang Zhifeng looked at it again and then glanced at Yao Hansong.

Yao Hansong pondered for a moment.

If he were to speak his true thoughts, it would be normal for Lin Sicheng not to have learned the core craftsmanship.

Just take one point: the Inlaid Gold part, which is the patterns on the Lacquer Box, uses Iron Line Drawing and Floating Silk Drawing from traditional Chinese painting: human clothing lines use continuous 3mm wide straight lines, floral veins use 1mm curves, carved into the lacquer layer by about 150μm.

It is all micron-level operation; without ten or eight years of foundation in traditional Chinese painting and carving, let alone carving, he wouldn't even be able to draw the lines...

With these thoughts, Yao Hansong looked at the platform and explained: "Little Lin is self-taught!"

"What?"

Huang Zhifeng was stunned and turned his head abruptly, as if saying: Aren't you his teacher?

The flesh on Wang Qi Zhi's face twitched: Are you two ever going to finish? Is this point never going to be moved past?

Sensing that Wang Qi Zhi's expression was unpleasant, Huang Zhifeng quickly turned his head back and stared at the paper again: Does that mean he hasn't learned the core craftsmanship yet?

"Then what about these previous parts? Just Mounting the Frame, Washing Lacquer, and Lacquer Coating?"

Yao Hansong thought for a moment: "He should be able to do these!"

"Self-taught?"

Yao Hansong nodded: "Self-taught!"

They had chatted about it last time; Lin Sicheng's upbringing was no secret: his grandfather was a professor of ceramic Cultural Relics Protection, and having been influenced by what he saw and heard since childhood, he had learned a bit of Appraisal and ceramic Artifact Restoration techniques.

Then, upon entering university, he systematically encountered other restoration crafts. But based on the courses at the university level, it could at most be considered understanding some theoretical knowledge; it didn't even count as scratching the surface.

Even now, Lin Sicheng hadn't graduated yet, and the teacher he apprenticed under was completely mismatched. If he didn't rely on self-study, what could he rely on?

With the tacit understanding built over decades of working together, Yao Hansong only needed a look for Huang Zhifeng to guess the gist of it.

Precisely because he could guess it, he couldn't understand it.

If it were about theoretical study, he would believe it. He hadn't failed to mentor students with aptitude and good memory before.

But this was what they called "armchair strategy": there is a world of difference between teaching theory and practical operation.

At Lin Sicheng's age, starting to learn from fifteen or sixteen, being able to master Mounting the Frame (the skeleton of a Lacquer Box, made by mounting ramie cloth), Mixing Lacquer, and Reinforcing with Ramie Shell (strengthening with ramie husks) would be enough to call him a genius. Let alone the subsequent Lacquer Coating and Engraved Gold?

Subconsciously, Huang Zhifeng looked at Lin Sicheng on the stage again: perhaps he hadn't even learned these very well?

Thinking secretly, he let out a breath: "Then let's just watch first?"

Yao Hansong nodded: "Of course!"

It was just a trial, as long as they watched to ensure no accidents happened...

The two asked and answered, and Wang Qi Zhi knew it clearly, but he didn't explain.

According to the original plan: he and Lin Sicheng were to be busy at the Shijian for at least two to three days, and would only have time to come to the Provincial Museum by next Monday or Tuesday at the earliest.

But plans couldn't keep up with changes: Lin Sicheng had found a piece of Jade Wenming, which made the Municipal Bureau treat it as a major crisis; how could they still care about the appraisal of Jade and Jadeite?

Since the items were right at hand, the teacher and student discussed it and decided to simply come to the Provincial Museum first to bring up the World Heritage Application for Gold Craftsmanship.

If they could also borrow the Provincial Museum's most advanced and best-equipped laboratory to run through the craft, that would be even better.

Therefore, that so-called experimental plan was just a "take a shot and see if anything falls" mentality; it was an outline Lin Sicheng had drafted temporarily just as they were leaving.

He hadn't expected that he would only mention it and Professor Yao would agree?

But he couldn't say that, otherwise it would be somewhat disrespectful, or even imply looking down on the Provincial Museum.

Thinking secretly, Wang Qi Zhi sat quietly in the corner, his eyes fixed on Lin Sicheng on the stage without blinking.

Mounting Cloth, Base Molding, Applying Ash, Mixing Lacquer, Polishing...

Lin Sicheng was methodical, yet more and more people were gathering around him.