Chapter 151: Getting Closer

Chen Peng smiled, his eyes crinkling, and reached out his hand early.

He was the Deputy Bureau Chief who had been egging Guan Xingmin on, wanting to bring Lin Sicheng into the Municipal Bureau.

Beside him was Director Zheng from Shijian, with whom they had dealt many times.

Bureau Chief Chen stood in the middle and introduced, "Bureau Chief He, this is Professor Wang from Xida!"

"We know each other!"

Bureau Chief He smiled and reached out his hand, "Secretary Wang even visited the bureau yesterday!"

Wang Qi Zhi shook it.

And it wasn't just the Municipal Cultural Relics Bureau.

The Municipal Cultural Bureau, the Municipal Tourism Bureau, the Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau, the Culture Department, the Tourism Bureau—he had run to almost every one of them.

In any case, they could see each other every few days.

Knowing that Wang Qi Zhi had a powerful background, the leaders were all quite polite, but compared to Wang Qi Zhi, the leaders were even more curious about Lin Sicheng.

Because Wang Qi Zhi was running around, and the main person behind the project for the World Heritage Application of the Blue and White Porcelain Restoration Technique, the inheritor, was Lin Sicheng.

They had all seen the materials; they were surprised by Lin Sicheng's age, and also surprised by the extremely superb Porcelain Restoration Technique shown in the video materials. They were even more surprised by that Inverted Pot from the City Cultural Relics Company.

It is no exaggeration to say that if it weren't for this young man before them, He Zhigang estimated he would have already been sent off to guard some mausoleum somewhere.

Therefore, whenever Wang Qi Zhi or Lin Zhangqing came to submit materials regarding Lin Sicheng's World Heritage Application, the attitude of the leaders from top to bottom was surprisingly consistent: everything within principle was approved, and things slightly exceeding principle were basically approved as well.

In any case, it was almost a green light all the way.

Even Wang Qi Zhi himself knew clearly in his heart: the reason many procedures were approved so quickly really didn't have much to do with his status as a "Red Third Generation"...

After shaking hands with Wang Qi Zhi, He Zhigang withdrew his hand and reached out again, staring at Lin Sicheng with burning eyes, a glow in the depths of his gaze: "Little Lin, Lin Sicheng!"

Lin Sicheng smiled shyly: "Hello, Bureau Chief!"

"Good... good! I've been hearing the name, heard it for so long, and only seeing the person today?"

He Zhigang nodded with a smile, "Last time I didn't have time to say thank you, this time I have to thank you again!"

Lin Sicheng was stunned: "Bureau Chief, you are too kind!"

He Zhigang did not speak.

Whether it was too kind or not, he knew, Chen Peng (Deputy Bureau Chief of the Municipal Bureau) knew, and the leaders of the Municipal Public Security Bureau and the Municipal Cultural Relics Bureau knew even better.

Not to mention the Inverted Pot, just take this time: if it weren't for the Registration Book and the Jade Wenming, the Municipal Cultural Relics and Public Security departments would have had no idea at all that the Zhang Anshi Tomb had been robbed.

If it weren't for the second batch, the Bronze Mirror and the Seven-Star Board, the Public Security Bureau, as well as the Cultural Relics Bureau, would still be following procedures step by step.

In any case, it would never be like it was now: with personal instructions from provincial leaders, supervision by the Provincial Department, and a joint investigation team established by the Municipal Public Security, Cultural Relics, Customs, and Culture departments—it was as important as it could possibly be.

It was also fortunate that they took it seriously early on; when the various departments investigated, they were all shocked: in just over a month, a large volume of Western Han Dynasty Cultural Relics had suddenly flooded into the black market. This indicated that the grave-robbers were conducting retaliatory excavations, and at an extremely fast speed.

Then, with the joint efforts of the Public Security, Customs, and Cultural Relics Inspection Department, they prevented most of the Cultural Relics from flowing out of the province, and even more so from flowing to Customs or even abroad.

As long as they were still within the province, finding them back was only a matter of time. Even if they couldn't be found, the losses were only small items that were relatively easy to move and trade.

Heavy items like Bronze, Stone Sarcophagus, and chariot and horse fittings were not easy to transport, and even harder to sell, so they could basically all be intercepted.

Therefore, even if some supervising leaders would eventually be held accountable, it was basically within an acceptable range.

In short: if not for Lin Sicheng, many more people would have been in trouble, and those in trouble would definitely not just be in Cultural Relics and Public Security. It would also have to include the Cultural Bureau, Customs, the Tourism Bureau... in any case, not one could have escaped.

Including himself and Chen Peng, they were all supervising leaders. It was like that last time, and even more so this time.

It was just quite unlucky.

So, one might ask, who wouldn't feel close to Lin Sicheng when they saw him?

He Zhigang said half-jokingly: "The disciple does the work, so don't always let Professor Lin and your teacher work so hard. Next time you submit materials, come yourself, who wouldn't handle it for you?"

Lin Sicheng revealed a reserved smile: "Okay, Bureau Chief!"

"Like this, save my phone number. If it can be solved through communication, just talk on the phone; there's no need to make an extra trip!"

"Thank you, Bureau Chief!"

He Zhigang nodded and gave a few more instructions.

Chen Peng was already so familiar that he couldn't be more familiar, and he couldn't even be bothered to be polite, patting Lin Sicheng on the shoulder: "I'll arrange a team for you, feel free to command them!"

Seeing He Zhigang look a bit curious, Chen Peng explained: "Little Lin suspects that the Zhang Anshi Tomb is not east of Duling, but west of Duling! To be safe, I think it's better to look for it..."

He Zhigang was stunned for a moment.

They had just held a meeting the day before yesterday, and the experts invited from the Provincial Archaeology Research Institute, the Cultural Relics Protection Research Institute, and the research institutes of Duling (Emperor Xuan), Yang Mausoleum (Emperor Jing), Ba Mausoleum (Emperor Wen), Chang Mausoleum (Liu Bang), and Mao Mausoleum (Emperor Wu) all unanimously believed that the Zhang Anshi Tomb was east of Duling.

Because it was recorded as such in more than one ancient document, the recent patrols by the mausoleum area and the security team were also mainly focused on the area east of Duling.

Suddenly, Lin Sicheng said that the Zhang Anshi Tomb was west of Duling?

"Little Lin, is there any basis for this?"

"It doesn't count as a basis, it's just a little speculation I made based on the Prophecy and Weft Studies of the Han Dynasty and Feng Shui materials, so it still needs on-site investigation!"

At first thought, Prophecy, Feng Shui, speculation... it was quite unreliable. If it were anyone else, Chen Peng would have denied it without a shred of hesitation.

But Lin Sicheng, he had a precedent for this: just those two times at the Municipal Bureau, the Jade Lion Paperweight once, and the Imitation Xuande Censer once—cases that were nailed down, he had managed to overturn them.

In Chen Peng's words: this kid is a bit uncanny; every time he comes, the Municipal Bureau avoids a major disaster. Including the Inverted Pot and this time, that's four times already.

Otherwise, Chen Peng wouldn't even have a place to stand, he would have gone to watch the gate at the Municipal Supervision long ago.

Oh, and there was one more time, the "Yang Zhigao case involving organized crime, extortion, and fraud": with a case value of several hundred million, Chen Peng had hit the jackpot.

So, if Lin Sicheng said "the Zhang Anshi Tomb might be under the Municipal Bureau building," Chen Peng might even let him try to find it...

He Zhigang sighed inwardly and nodded again: "Then let's look for it, what if?"

"Right!" Chen Peng nodded, "What if?"

For such a serious case, in such a public setting, the word "what if" coming from the mouths of two leaders of such rank was quite strange.

Chen Peng looked at his watch again: "Professor Wang, Bureau Chief He and I have to go report to the leaders, we'll go first. Little Lin, if you have anything, find Lao Guan, or find Lao Zheng (Director of Shijian), or just call me directly..."

After giving a few instructions, they both turned around, and Chen Peng remembered: "Oh right, the Criminal Investigation Division and the Inspection Department found another batch, it was just transported over yesterday, please trouble Professor Wang and Little Lin to help take a look..."

The two nodded in agreement, shook hands once more, and the two bureau chiefs left with their assistants.

The items were just downstairs, and Director Zheng of the Shijian accompanied Wang Qi Zhi and Lin Sicheng downstairs.

Just as they turned around, they saw the two female Doctors standing not far away. Their four eyes were burning bright, carrying a trace of astonishment, surprise, and suspicion.

Ren Qiuyu's brain was not broken, and her eyes were certainly not blind; on the contrary, she was unusually clever. She could tell at a glance the attitude the two leaders had toward Wang Qi Zhi and his student:

Although they were very polite to Wang Qi Zhi, it was more of a formulaic social courtesy. Yet toward his student, it was a genuine, heartfelt warmth?

Especially He Zhigang: the two were clearly meeting for the first time, but when he saw Lin Sicheng, his eyes suddenly lit up, and involuntarily, a look of pleasant surprise appeared on his face.

Surprised by what?

A department-level cadre, a main leader of the Municipal Cultural Relics Bureau, what was there to be so surprised about upon seeing a student?

Thinking back to those few sentences He Zhigang said at the time:

Always hearing the name, only seeing the person today?

Didn't have time to say thank you last time, and now I have to thank you again!

Save my number; if it can be solved through communication, just talk on the phone, no need to make an extra trip...

The more they thought about it, the stranger it felt, even to the point of being incomprehensible: they had clearly just met, but it felt like he was talking to his own child?

Subconsciously, the two female Doctors jumped to the wrong conclusion: could it be that his background was the same as Wang Qi Zhi's?

No wonder he was indifferent to them just now?

The two walked up, and Ren Qiuyu smiled softly: "Professor Wang, you're going to the Evidence Center, right? Perfect, let's go together..."

Wang Qi Zhi hadn't really paid much attention before, just feeling that Ren Qiuyu's personality was quite cheerful and that he could talk to her easily. But since he was a teacher and Lin Sicheng had deliberately reminded him, he certainly had to be careful.

Therefore, he just nodded.

Huh, how is this contagious?

His student was like this just now, and suddenly, Wang Qi Zhi was like this too?

Stunned for a moment, Ren Qiuyu smiled, said nothing more, and quietly followed by their side.

Lin Sicheng sighed inwardly.

He had found it strange before: generally, those who do research are relatively steady, and rarely have that kind of flighty, rash personality.

Let alone a female Researcher?

Now he knew: because Professor Wang was just a little bit flighty, that was why Doctor Ren would be flighty.

When Professor Wang wasn't being flighty, this Doctor Ren could also quietly act like a lady.

This is called a design-type personality; it means whatever you like, that is what I will be.

It's very normal, and not strange; after all, Researchers are also human, they also have seven emotions and six desires, not to mention Professor Wang was outstanding enough.

But to say she wanted to pry away Mother Shan's corner, that was truly taking the wrong medicine.

There was no need for him to even intervene: as long as old Comrade Wang turned his brain around, half-awake and half-asleep, he could still handle it with one hand tied behind his back.

With his thoughts wandering, the group arrived at the fourth floor and entered the Evidence Center.

There were many people, and it was a bit chaotic, likely due to the temporary organization.

Professors and Experts were in groups of three, five, or seven, staring at the items on the long table and pointing fingers.

All kinds of machines were already warmed up, and a crowd of staff members stood ready.

After taking a rough look around, Lin Sicheng was just about to step closer to take a look when he was thumped on the arm: "You kid, you're something? You haven't even finished stealing the craft, and now you're pretending not to know people when you see them?"

Lin Sicheng hurriedly turned back: "Oh, Director Huang, I didn't see you?"

Nonsense, being teased by those two crazy women, it would be a wonder if you could see anything.

Actually, when the meeting was held, the two didn't sit far apart, but Huang Zhifeng didn't want to deal with Ren Qiuyu, so he didn't go over.

Huang Zhifeng joked and greeted Wang Qi Zhi: "Professor Wang is here too?"

Wang Qi Zhi was stunned: how come everyone says this sentence when they see him?

Chen Peng said this, and Huang Zhifeng said this too?

Making himself feel like he was redundant?

He gave a grunt through his nose.

Huang Zhifeng didn't mind and continued talking to Lin Sicheng: "You haven't come for several days, Section Chief Yao nags every day: saying you aren't doing your proper work, leaving experiments undone and always running to the Public Security Bureau."

"It should be finished soon!" Lin Sicheng smiled, "And what about you, Director Huang?"

"Most of the Researchers from the Provincial Museum have part-time jobs at the Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau's Cultural Relics Protection Institute and the Archaeological Institute, so we definitely have to be on call. Look, Team Leader Chen is here too."

Huang Zhifeng pointed to Chen Fen by the long table, "Section Chief Yao is old and frail, so the leaders let him off the hook!"

Lin Sicheng laughed out loud and waved at Chen Fen.

Chen Fen walked over and sighed: "Is it Professor Wang bringing you to join the fun again?"

Lin Sicheng smiled: "Really not!"

Chen Fen didn't believe it and glanced at Wang Qi Zhi.

Wang Qi Zhi was more wronged than Dou E...

The two female Doctors looked at each other: this student of Wang Qi Zhi's, how come he has acquaintances everywhere he goes?

And it felt like they were even closer than the two leaders from before?