Chapter 176: Not Hard Work

Xiao Yuzhu once asked: Lin Sicheng, why must you apply for World Heritage status?

With that time and energy, isn't it better to hunt for treasures, or isn't it profitable to restore Cultural Relics?

Lin Sicheng just smiled.

It wasn't that he didn't know how to answer, but that the perspective was different: in this society, money cannot solve everything.

Treasure hunting is indeed great, but that sort of thing relies entirely on luck; no matter how awesome an Appraiser or Expert is, it is impossible to hunt for treasures every day.

Restoring Cultural Relics is indeed profitable, but as his grandfather and Professor Wang have mentioned repeatedly, one must have the strength to match one's accumulated wealth.

Take Zhao Laotai, for instance; her craftsmanship is high enough, and her fame is also quite high, right?

But in Lin Sicheng's view, while high, it is also skewed. The old lady is indeed very influential in the trades of Cultural Relics, collecting, restoration, and Grave-robbing, but at most, she is just a "Craftsman."

If you become a Cultural Heritage Inheritor and Cultural Guardian recognized by the state and the authoritative industry, then you are a "Master"!

Inheriting techniques, protecting techniques, popularizing traditional culture, promoting development and innovation, enhancing social influence, and even creating a cultural calling card...

Take Zhao Xiuneng, for example; with a net worth of several hundred million and a mountain of collections at home, he is rich enough, right?

But to say something heart-wrenching: let alone Chen Peng, even Guan Xingmin doesn't look at him straight. Whenever he finds something rare, not only does he not dare let people know, but he also has to hide it away.

As for Lin Sicheng, even Li Chunnan treats him with courtesy when they meet. A huge number of people know he found the Chixia Cup and the Xu Weili Documents, and even the origins of those two items are unclear.

But who has asked?

It is certainly because Lin Sicheng has foresight; he reports what needs to be reported and cooperates where cooperation is needed. There is also Wang Qi Zhi's protection and the added weight of his status. But more than that, it is the recognition of Lin Sicheng's character and ability by these people and these institutions.

Therefore, status and position are things that cannot be seen or touched. But if you don't have them, then sorry, go stay wherever it's cool...

As these thoughts ran wild, a car horn pulled Lin Sicheng back to his senses.

Before he knew it, he had already entered the urban area of TC City.

Huge chimneys stood like a forest of swords, thick smoke rising up, only to be torn into shreds by the whistling cold Wind.

Streetlights were immersed in the thick fog like diluted watercolors, blurry and indistinct, and the faded billboards were illuminated to a pale white.

The cypress trees were covered in dust, and as cars drove by, the accumulated snow was churned into black mud. Pedestrians wrapped in thick cotton coats hurried along, their faces full of the weariness of the journey.

The entire city was like a faded old photograph, murky and gray.

Tongchuan was established because of Coal, with mines coming before the city; it is only normal to have such a scene.

Arriving at the hotel, they put away their luggage and then ate.

At first glance, there were quite a few people, eight or nine in total: the Deputy Director from the school who came specifically to coordinate, the instructor Shang Yan, the Assistant Li Zhen, as well as Lin Sicheng and his newly hired Assistant.

The remaining few, he actually didn't recognize?

Shang Yan looked at the list again: "These three are assisting personnel from the District Cultural Bureau... Why do they not look like it to me?"

Lin Sicheng smiled: "Professor Shang, it's a good thing that the superiors attach importance to this; why do you care whether they look like it or not?"

Shang Yan gave an 'en' and said nothing more. She just felt that the status positioning of these three was a bit strange: a driver, a Data Clerk, and a technical Assistant... all revolving around Lin Sicheng.

Do the superiors attach so much importance to Lin Sicheng?

But Wang Qi Zhi, he even specifically assigned a Master Assistant to Lin Sicheng?

It was strange regardless, but just out of curiosity, Shang Yan didn't think too much about it.

After eating and resting for a while, the group headed straight to the Tongchuan Ceramic Research Institute.

The building was not tall, five stories, and the decoration was also very simple.

But it had everything it should: research rooms, laboratories, data rooms, a Technology Research and Development Center...

The necessary equipment was all there, many of them the latest generation of imported goods, and they were very new, gleaming and dazzling.

A man in his early forties came up to greet them, a reserved smile on his face, while also revealing a bit of confidence: "Is this Dean Su from Xida?"

The two shook hands, and Dean Su nodded: "Yes, I am!"

"I am the Person in Charge of the Yaozhou Celadon Technique Development Department of the institute, my surname is Liu... The teacher has gone to Beijing, and Director Du (the deputy) has gone to the city for a meeting, so I will be receiving you..."

Dean Su didn't mind, and pondered for a moment: this person should be a student of Director Meng Shufeng, who is the director of the Tongchuan Ceramic Research Institute, the Person in Charge of the Yaozhou Kiln Ceramic Firing Technique Research Center, and also a National Level Cultural Heritage Inheritor.

As for this development department, it is probably similar to a project team in charge of Craft Restoration and research and design, and this person should be the Person in Charge.

Since they were here to learn techniques, there was no need to dwell on the level of the reception, so Dean Su shook hands politely and introduced Lin Sicheng:

"Department Head Liu, this is Lin Sicheng, the Inheritor of the 'Porcelain Restoration Technique' project already approved by our school, and he is also a top student at our school...

He is the one coming to your institute for observation and study this time; the specific arrangements for observation and study will also be handled by him personally with your institute... Please take care of him!"

At first, Department Head Liu still had a smile on his face. As Lin Sicheng was introduced, the smile gradually faded.

A student, inheriting techniques, World Heritage Application... how did these get lumped together?

Lin Sicheng noticed something was wrong, so he didn't reach out to shake hands, because this person had no intention of shaking hands with him at all.

He didn't even exchange pleasantries, just said hello, and directly took out the Project Plan Report:

"Hello Department Head Liu, you can just call me Xiao Lin... We are here this time, first for observation and study: namely the raw materials and craft techniques of Yaozhou Kiln porcelain. Second for technical exchange, namely the restoration of ancient Celadon restoration techniques... I will definitely have to trouble you next..."

Department Head Liu had received the plan and scanned it a few times.

There was quite a lot of content; they wanted to check data, study samples, observe and learn, and also perform practical operations.

Looking at the time again: it would take more than a month to study...

After reading it back and forth twice, Department Head Liu smiled: "Xiao Lin, I am only responsible for reception; I have to ask the institute leaders before I can give you an answer!"

Lin Sicheng let out a breath, expressionless: "Alright, then I'll trouble you!"

Department Head Liu said alright, and after the people left, Dean Su was confused: "What's going on?"

Before coming, they had at least sent a letter in the name of Xida; even if they weren't welcomed, this person shouldn't have been so cold, right?

Lin Sicheng thought for a moment: "I guess they think we are here to steal techniques?"

"How is that possible?"

Dean Su couldn't figure it out: "The letter clearly states: we are applying for 'Porcelain Restoration Technique', theirs is 'Ceramic Firing Technique'... one restores, one creates, what use is it if we steal it?"

Lin Sicheng sighed: "Dean Su, look at me, do I look like someone with very high restoration skills?"

Dean Su was stunned: he was between laughter and tears, feeling both angry and amused.

Indeed, Lin Sicheng was a bit too young.

This was not a song or a play that could be mastered by rote memorization. It was a manual craft that required the accumulation of experience over many long years.

In any case, no matter how they looked at it, it didn't seem right, so naturally, Department Head Liu began to suspect the purpose of their visit.

It was not strange: it wasn't as if other units hadn't stolen technology from those that had already completed their World Heritage Application, and it hadn't happened just once or twice.

Moreover, the levels were not low: some were City Level units, and there were even provincial-level units... Compared to that, it was not at all strange that they treated Xida like thieves...

Just as he was thinking this, Department Head Liu returned. He appeared very polite, yet was clearly carrying a few traces of distance: "Dean Su, I just consulted with Director Du, and the leadership told us to cooperate as much as possible..."

"Later, the Person in Charge from the Training Department will come to deliver the materials... Additionally, I will have the Person in Charge of the Restoration Group come over once; if you wish to visit and inspect, you can contact him in the future..."

As he spoke, he smiled again and extended his hand, "Dean Su, the laboratory is still running experiments, so I dare not leave for too long. My apologies!"

Having said that, Department Head Liu glanced at Lin Sicheng, turned around with an unhurried air, and exited the reception room.

The group looked at each other in dismay: did they really take them for technology thieves?

Otherwise, they wouldn't be so perfunctory...

Dean Su frowned: "Little Lin, why do I feel that the materials to be delivered later are nine times out of ten of no value?"

Lin Sicheng nodded: "Dean Su, you can remove the 'feel' from that!"

A burst of laughter erupted, and the newly recruited Assistant looked curious: "Yaozhou Porcelain only completed its World Heritage Application last year, and what they declared was only the Celadon firing technique. It's quite impressive that they have a specialized Ceramic Artifact Research department, right?"

Just as Lin Sicheng was about to say something, Shang Yan let out a "psh": "Sun, didn't you notice when you walked through the door?"

Assistant Sun was confused: "Professor Shang, what are you talking about?"

"There's such a large sign at the building entrance, can't you see it?"

Suddenly, Sun Le turned a Bright Red: it was a Porcelain Research Institute, so wouldn't it naturally be for researching Ceramic Artifact Restoration?

But his mind was full of "National Level World Heritage Application Research Center," and he had forgotten about that part...

Lin Sicheng sighed and looked at Shang Yan again.

Shang Yan huffed: When your teacher abused his power for personal gain and replaced Li Zhen, why didn't you protect her?

It's already generous of me to just prick him with a few words and not make things difficult for him.

Lin Sicheng looked helpless...

It hadn't gone very smoothly, but everyone's state of mind was quite stable; mainly because Lin Sicheng wasn't too anxious.

After about ten minutes, a few more people entered, introducing themselves as the Person in Charge of the Data Section and the Restoration Group; the people behind them were carrying over a dozen file bags.

Lin Sicheng opened them one by one, and Dean Su and Shang Yan asked a few more questions.

The former was fine, saying they should look through them first, and if they were missing any materials, he would find them at any time.

Upon chatting with the latter, the two felt full of disappointment: at the current stage, the Porcelain Research Institute's main Artifact Restoration research was still focused on Gold Stapling and lacquer.

The Seamless Restoration that Dean Su and Shang Yan had hoped for was not involved at all.

But when it came to Gold Stapling and lacquer, who could repair things better than Lin Sicheng?

Putting down the materials, once the people had left, Shang Yan couldn't wait: "Lin Sicheng, how is it?"

"The materials are incomplete!" Lin Sicheng sighed, "The core technology is missing!"

"Then what should we do?" Shang Yan looked at Dean Su, "Should we contact the school, or find the Municipal Cultural Bureau, or the Provincial Culture Department to explain?"

"I estimate it won't be of much use!" Lin Sicheng shook his head, "It might even be counterproductive!"

It is not easy for a locality to achieve political merit, so they will certainly protect it well and, even more so, utilize it well.

You might feel like you are explaining, but to the other party, it feels like you are applying pressure...

"Although the core technology is missing, this set of materials is not without value. I will look through it first... Of course, it would be best to find a few works with representative craftsmanship to compare."

Lin Sicheng thought for a moment: "If we could enter the Technology Research and Development Center to take a look, that would be even better!"

"The Deputy Museum Curator of the TC City Museum is a graduate of our school." Dean Su pondered, "If we ask him to help mediate, it shouldn't be a big problem to enter the Technology Research and Development Center for a look!"

Shang Yan also stood up: "I'll go find samples!"

Master Sun's eyes lit up: "Professor Shang, doesn't our school have Yaozhou Porcelain?"

Shang Yan froze, staring at Lin Sicheng with a sidelong glance: Your teacher replaced her with an assistant of this level?

Lin Sicheng didn't speak; he sighed.

The level was indeed a bit lacking, and the key was that he had been thrown into the task in a rush and hadn't studied the materials properly at all: the Yaozhou Porcelain firing technique had long been lost, and the one Tongchuan used for their World Heritage Application was a semi-innovative substitute technique.

If you take pure ancient porcelain to research someone else's innovative technique, how are you supposed to research it?

The key was that the assistant's professional ability and proficiency would affect his own learning progress. Not to mention anything else, just the task of searching and organizing materials would likely be too much for this Senior Brother Sun...

After thinking about it, Lin Sicheng tapped the table: "Senior Brother Sun, you should hurry up and study the materials. Senior Sister Li, I'll have to trouble you these next few days..."

"Ah?" Li Zhen was startled: "It's no trouble!"

Shang Yan pursed her lips: I, the mentor, haven't even spoken yet, and you're already saying it's no trouble?

But she didn't say a word...

(End of this chapter)