Chapter 180: If others respect me by a foot, I will respect them by ten feet

The raw clay was half-dry, and a faint, earthy scent lingered in the nostrils. His wrist was slightly tensed, like a bowstring coiled with potential.

"Swish... swish..."

Following the soft sound, the Copper-headed Knife glinted with a dim light, tracing gossamer-like arcs onto the clay body.

Lin Sicheng was very casual; he had no base sketch, let alone any preconceived design, just picking up the knife and carving. It was like a child doodling, done with a wave of his hand.

Yet the lines he hooked out were incomparably neat.

The half-dry clay shavings fell with a "rustle," and the pattern on the porcelain embryo gradually took shape: one petal, two petals, three petals... flowers blooming with prosperity, a magnificent peony!

An expert shows their worth the moment they make a move.

Just looking at this Engraving, how does it compare to Wang Hong, who graduated from the Central Academy of Fine Arts and is a professional artist by trade?

The key was that it was precise to the smallest fraction: just like it had been measured with a ruler: the four sets of patterns, front and back, each petal and leaf was the same size, and each flower stem was the same thickness and depth.

And, why was it so familiar?

Several masters of Carving the Embryo froze, slowly turning their heads to stare at the trial-firing workshop separated by a wall: wasn't this the Twining Peony Pattern Plum Vase they had been carving for nearly three days and had just sent into the Electric Kiln?

Even if you used a computer to copy it or a laser to scan it, this would be the level, right?

And how long had they spent hooking it out?

A day and a half.

How long did Lin Sicheng take?

Looking at this speed, it probably wouldn't even take half an hour...

Liu Dong set down his Tea Cup, his complexion darkening bit by bit. Wang Hong looked curious, her eyes blinking rapidly.

She looked at Lin Sicheng's face, then at the carving knife in his hand, then at the porcelain body: was he hiding his true strength, playing the pig to eat the tiger?

She had misjudged him...

Amidst the astonishment, the four Twining Peony patterns had already taken shape; the banana leaf patterns on the shoulder and bottom of the vase were even faster, taking less than five minutes.

Lin Sicheng held the knife between his fingers and turned the base again: "The Double-hook Technique of traditional Chinese painting involves two steps: first hooking, then filling, which is filling ink between the lines... but when applied to carving, one must do the opposite, which is to excise: excise the background and leave only the outline of the pattern..."

"This technique originated from the Yue Kiln (Zhejiang), which began Carving the Embryo during the Eastern Han Dynasty. Later, Yue Kiln technology flowed north, leading to the Xing Kiln in Hebei, the Yaozhou Kiln in Shaanxi, and the Ding Kiln, which inherited from the Xing Kiln... therefore, the Line Carving Technique of the Ding Kiln, the deep excision of the Yue Kiln, and the Double Knife Method of the Yaozhou Kiln are actually of the same lineage..."

"Let's first use the Line Carving Technique of the Ding Kiln... the process of this knife technique is relatively complex, and its limitations are also great: the initial embryo is extremely thick, and the knife is used very deeply... first carving it into High Relief, then shaving the embryo, and then refining it to form the effect of Shallow Relief."

"This is because the Mantou Kiln of the Ding Kiln had a small capacity; to increase firing efficiency and quantity, they invented the Covered Firing Technique: the high temperature caused the internal gases to be unable to escape, which would produce an Expansion Cavity phenomenon, so it had extremely high requirements for the depth of the knife, otherwise it would cause the embryo to crack..."

"But our Yaozhou Porcelain uses a Horseshoe Kiln, and the internal space is large enough that we don't need the Covered Firing Technique, so we don't need such a troublesome method of Carving the Embryo. If you insist on using it, that is just an unnecessary move..."

"Haha..."

Someone laughed, and Liu Dong glared fiercely in that direction.

Did he not know it was an unnecessary move?

Of course he knew, and he also knew that Lin Sicheng knew. So, since he had done it, was he afraid of what others might say?

Liu Dong snorted.

"Of course, existence is reasonable: the overall carving method of the Ding Kiln workers is not suitable for the Yaozhou Kiln, but the details can be referenced: for example, using carving and incising together, combining main and auxiliary lines..."

"Secondly, the depth gradient of the Ding Kiln's Carving the Embryo, which causes the accumulation of glaze at the knife marks to form light and shadow contrasts, as well as the pattern filling that combines stamping and carving, are all very worthy of reference..."

Lin Sicheng was methodical, carving while he spoke.

At first, many people still held a playful attitude, thinking this kid was quite bold and his posturing even bolder: he had only watched for three days, and he dared to show off to them?

If you only talked about the Ding Kiln, that would be fine; although they had a systematic understanding, it was relatively limited. But if you wanted to talk about Yaozhou craftsmanship, wasn't that just showing off before an expert?

But gradually, they couldn't laugh anymore: they didn't know how deep Lin Sicheng's understanding of Yaozhou craftsmanship was. But at this moment, the Ding Kiln knife technique he was using was truly good.

First, it was fast, and not just ordinarily fast; it was even faster than when he was sketching the flowers: one stroke down was one stroke of clay, and there was never a wasted movement.

It remained extremely accurate; he just casually cut down, controlling the depth to the millimeter level, with no more than 0.1 difference front to back.

The key was that it remained so casual; he didn't appear very serious or focused. He was even carving while talking, still doing it with ease and mastery.

Was he still showing off before an expert?

Come on, if you have the ability, you show off...

Including Liu Dong, although his face didn't look good at the beginning, his attitude basically shifted to "I want to see what kind of tricks you can pull."

But as Lin Sicheng's knife grew faster and more accurate with every stroke, his dark face gradually froze: the Line Carving Technique of the Ding Kiln.

He only saw him carving... where were the lines?

From beginning to end, Lin Sicheng only used one knife: he used this knife to carve the background, this knife to cut the flower edges, and he still used this knife to trace the leaf veins and petal patterns?

And what did they use the day before yesterday?

Besides the knife, there were also needles, and even more so, awls and Bamboo Brushes.

So, this was a knife, not a pen... not to mention that he didn't know this kind of carving method, even Director Meng had never used it.

If one were to make a metaphor, it felt like: Lin Sicheng was holding a tree stump to write Thin Gold Script, making it as thick or thin as he wanted...

While they were astonished, Lin Sicheng stopped his knife and turned the base again.

At first glance, the decoration was angular, rugged, vigorous, heavy, and firm. But in the details, the flower branches were intertwined, with space between the density, and the patterns were dense yet orderly, full but not chaotic.

Especially those leaf veins and petal patterns traced with the tip of the knife were as fine as hair, with distinct depth and clear layers.

Was it already carved?

A group of masters of Carving the Embryo looked at the wall clock, speechless in their astonishment: including the sketching and carving, one hour?

The day before yesterday, they had spent an entire day carving it.

If you set aside the speed and compare the style of the finished product and the artistic effect... how the hell could they compare?

Wang Hong felt it the most, feeling as if her face had been burned by fire.

For three days, Lin Sicheng had been standing in front of her workstation. He just seemed like a loafer, carefree and leisurely, and would often lose focus, his soul wandering outside the heavens.

Occasionally, he would even curl his lips.

At the time, she had thought: with this attitude, how can you learn the technique? Let alone that this is fake, even if the real Yaozhou craftsmanship were displayed, how much could you learn?

But looking at it now, he is more skilled than he himself is.

Asking himself honestly, even if she put in her best effort, she could at most carve one-third of what Lin Sicheng could carve on a plain body. And speed was only secondary: if the Plum Vase she had just sent into the kiln were taken out, anyone with a slight understanding of the trade could tell the difference in quality.

Thinking carefully again, those few times he curled his lip were clearly when she had been distracted for a moment and had unconsciously used the Yaozhou Porcelain Double Knife Method.

Using Yaozhou craftsmanship to carve Ding Kiln porcelain—isn't that incongruous and absurd?

Wang Hong could see it clearly, and Liu Dong could see it even more clearly. So, Lin Sicheng wasn't here to give a summary; he was giving them a lesson.

If Lin Sicheng didn't understand, or didn't understand much, it wouldn't matter. But what if he understood more than just the basics?

Liu Dong felt that his behavior over the past twenty days had been like a clown.

But it didn't matter; as long as the technique didn't leak, a clown is a clown.

He let out a breath and watched with cold eyes.

But suddenly, Lin Sicheng cut downward.

The blade entered the clay, "Swish," like a painting torn down the middle; the exquisite intertwined peonies were sliced away in a long strip.

Then, one cut after another, one cut after another.

The group looked at each other in dismay: it was carved so well, why cut it away?

As if knowing what they were thinking, Lin Sicheng specifically explained: "Regardless of whether the carving is good or not, a body a full centimeter thick will definitely not be a vase when fired, but a jar."

"So by the second day, you teachers started trimming the body again, which is equivalent to carving it all over again... Actually, it doesn't have to be that troublesome. If you shave three millimeters off one centimeter, there is still seven millimeters left, at least enough to be re-carved twice more..."

Suddenly, it wasn't just Wang Hong who felt her face burning; everyone except Liu Dong felt embarrassed.

The words weren't harsh, the tone was gentle, the expression was calm, and Lin Sicheng even had a smile on his face. But every word was like a knife stabbing into the chests of the group of embryo carvers.

Did they not know that shaving it down and re-carving was easier than trimming a body that had already been carved?

Of course they knew, but who could be like Lin Sicheng, saying the knife is three millimeters deep and the pattern is definitely three millimeters deep? Saying that one cut would remove exactly those three millimeters, and then accurately shaving off three millimeters?

So, this wasn't a summary; this was showing off right in their faces.

Yet they couldn't even get angry: if your skills aren't as good as someone else's, it doesn't matter; you can only blame your own lack of insight and poor mastery of the craft.

But if your skills are inferior, and you try to act like a big shot in front of an expert with a few half-baked tricks, then don't blame others for insulting you without using dirty words: "Teachers, actually it doesn't have to be that troublesome; seven millimeters, at least enough to be re-carved twice more..."

But what the hell am I supposed to carve? If I had this skill, would I be sitting here?

They could even guess what Lin Sicheng was going to do next: let them see how Yue Kiln deep-relief carving should actually be done.

Sure enough, Lin Sicheng steadied the base and lowered his knife again.

Still hooking first and then carving, explaining as he carved:

"Carving Yue Kiln deep-relief on a Dingzhou-style base is actually quite difficult. So I sincerely admire you teachers... but it has no practical use, so I will skip it and we will only look at deep-relief..."

The faces of the group of embryo carvers burned even more, but in just a moment, Lin Sicheng had already finished the outline.

Still peonies, still intertwined patterns, still banana leaf borders.

But faster, faster than before. It was as if there were countless patterns on the empty vase body that they couldn't see with their eyes, and Lin Sicheng was just tracing them.

The pattern gradually took shape, and comparing it carefully, it felt no different from the layer that had just been shaved off.

Whether it was Wang Hong, whose skills were a level higher, or the others whose skills were just average, they didn't know how to complain: anyway, even adding them all together, they weren't as good as Lin Sicheng.

Finishing the outline in a few strokes, Lin Sicheng began to carve, still with a rustling sound, and the clay shavings on the turntable grew thicker and thicker:

"The Yue Kiln deep-relief technique originates from the gold and silver inlay of the pre-Qin Warring States period: that is, using a vertical deep knife to remove the fetal clay outside the pattern to form a slope... Its characteristics are deep and sharp knife work with a strong three-dimensional effect."

"Later, it was passed down to the Ding Kiln, deriving the line-carving technique, characterized by a combination of carving and incising with gradual changes in depth. At the same time, it was passed down to the Yaozhou Kiln, deriving the Double Knife Method... The characteristics are even more obvious: shallow relief with gradual layers forming deep relief, with lines that are firm and sharp..."

"So, in terms of the lineage of inheritance, Yaozhou craftsmanship is closer to the Yue Kiln: both have thin bodies, both use deep relief, both use straight-knife deep digging, and both carve the ground into a slope..."

"But the differences are also great: Yue Kiln is high relief, where edges are edges and corners are corners; although the three-dimensional effect is stronger, it loses roundness. Yaozhou craftsmanship is deep relief, which is to first use single knife side entry (45-degree oblique cut), then double entry straight knife (vertical cut)..."

"To put it plainly: on the basis of Dingzhou shallow relief, use the Yue Kiln's high-relief technique of carving the ground into a slope to form gradual layers: this is New Yaozhou Porcelain Deep Relief..."

"Because the carvings have varying depths: where it is deep, more glaze accumulates, so the color is dark; where it is shallow, less glaze accumulates, so the color is light... It is precisely this color-changing effect that forms the unique light and dark effect of Yaozhou Kiln Celadon..."

Lin Sicheng was unhurried and spoke eloquently, but the brows of the group grew tighter and tighter.

The previous shock, astonishment, and shame all turned into suspicion: they understood the principles, of course, and they understood them all too well, because that was exactly what they were researching.

Even Wang Hong, who had studied for the shortest time, had been at it for seven years.

But the problem was, why did Lin Sicheng understand it so well too?

Single knife side entry, double entry straight knife, carving the ground into a slope, shallow relief with gradual layers forming deep relief... these twenty or so characters were the essence and core of Yaozhou Kiln engraving.

Including the fact that the light and dark effects are presented based on the thickness of the glaze accumulation, these were not secrets; they were in ancient documents.

But knowing is one thing; even if you told him the core technology of Yaozhou porcelain to his face, he would at most know that it is so, but not why it is so. If you asked him to carve it, he wouldn't be able to carve a damn thing.

But they felt that Lin Sicheng should be able to.

Because the core technology of the New Yaozhou Porcelain newly created by Director Meng, which is the embryo carving method, is based on the Yue Kiln's carving the ground into a slope, fused with the Ding Kiln's gradual depth changes.

Just the eight characters he just said: single knife side entry, double entry straight knife.

But few words don't mean the craftsmanship is not complex: you either learn Yaozhou craftsmanship directly from Director Meng, or you learn Ding Kiln craftsmanship and Yue Kiln craftsmanship and then integrate them.

The problem is, how could it be so easy to learn?

Ding Kiln is fine; the technology has been restored, the kiln has been re-established, there is data to check, and materials to use. If you spend some effort, someone should be able to teach you.

But for Yue Kiln, there is only the technology; if you want to learn, you have to explore it yourself. But this isn't a cultural course that you can memorize by rote; having a good memory is enough. This is a craft; you have to practice it over and over again and try and fail time after time.

And there are no modern imitations; you can only find real Yue Kiln Secret Color Porcelain as samples and materials, and explore it slowly by comparing them.

But that stuff costs hundreds of thousands for a single piece; even broken porcelain shards cost tens of thousands per catty. So, this is not just a matter of needing extremely high insight and spending a long time, but also requiring massive amounts of money.

Then how did Lin Sicheng learn it?

They didn't know. But they at least knew that if one could learn Ding Kiln craftsmanship, and even Yue Kiln craftsmanship, then learning Yaozhou craftsmanship would be like water flowing to form a channel.

At least, there are plenty of sample materials, and they are dirt cheap: a poor one costs a hundred or so, and a good one only costs a thousand or so...

For a moment, the group looked at each other, even feeling a bit at a loss.

Liu Dong's face looked like it had been painted, turning red, then green, then white.

But come to think of it, since he already knows how, why bother spending the time and money to come all the way here to learn it?

And even endure twenty days of humiliation?

Therefore, he surely doesn't know it yet...

Guessing wildly, without realizing it, another hour passed.

It was still that same plain-bodied vessel, still the peony scroll pattern, still the same position, and the same shape.

But the visual sensation was completely different: the ornamentation had edges and corners, appearing more three-dimensional... like the deep carving of Yue Kiln, a high relief.

Comparing it carefully, what was the difference from the batch just sent into the kiln?

Aside from being carved better, the lines were more fluid...

Just as they were silent, Lin Sicheng stepped back, examined it for a moment, and nodded: "It'll do!"

Afterward, he moved forward again, and with a "swish," he made a cut... just like before, as if a piece of exquisite drawing paper had been torn away.

But the eyelids of the group of engravers all twitched in unison: why did he shave it off?

Naturally, it was to re-carve it.

But if he were to re-carve it, besides Yaozhou Porcelain Technology, what else could he carve?

Amidst their shock and suspicion, Lin Sicheng made dozens of cuts in the blink of an eye, then trimmed it slightly, scraping the bottle body smooth.

Afterward, he sprayed a little water to soften the slightly dry body, and then, he picked up the double knives.

The tip of the left knife pierced into the clay body, and with a "zi" sound, an arc was cut into the bottle. With another "zi" sound, the arc became a crescent-shaped groove.

On the other side, two more cuts were made, followed by two more in the middle, and a lifelike peony leaf appeared before their eyes.

Liu Dong's complexion no longer shifted back and forth, but turned deathly pale. His mind felt as if it had been licked by a dog, completely blank.

There was only one thought in his heart: How does he know this, who did he learn it from... who did he learn it from?

Then, damn it, since you know how, what are you here to learn?

At first, Shang Yan was also confused: because Lin Sicheng had clearly stated that because there were too few documents, the Yaozhou Porcelain Technology restored by Director Meng could not be considered fully restored, at least not the engraving part.

It was only half-restored, with innovative techniques integrated into it. However, the effect was excellent, perfectly restoring the visual effect of ancient Yaozhou Celadon, which "forms color differences through the depth of accumulated glaze, presenting a contrast between light and dark."

But exactly which method was restored, which part was innovative, and what the technical key points were, Lin Sicheng did not know either.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have made a special trip here and stayed for twenty days.

Since he didn't know, then of course he couldn't do it. But you shaved it back to a plain body, what do you want to carve now?

But seeing Lin Sicheng holding the double knives, naturally carving out the first flower leaf, and then stepping back to examine it while resting his chin on his hand, Shang Yan was both shocked and suspicious, yet also full of admiration.

Do you think he is admiring it?

It was only the first cut; what could he possibly admire? He was comparing: whether the depth of the cut was appropriate, whether the angle had shifted, and whether the layers revealed by the varying depth of the knife technique could cause the accumulated glaze to produce color differences.

In plain language: he is learning it on the spot and carving it on the spot.

Therefore, Lin Sicheng was truly summarizing on-site: because the laboratory had already been handed over, if he didn't summarize it here, he would have to go back to Xijing to summarize it.

But going back and forth takes a day; how much could he remember after returning?

Including the fact that he was speaking while carving, it was also to deepen his impression. The reason he asked for it to be recorded, and had Li Zhen and Sun Le record it simultaneously, was also for fear that too much time would cause his memory to blur.

So, it was absolutely not what Liu Dong and the others thought: "Lin Sicheng is giving them a lecture," "letting them broaden their horizons," "teaching them a lesson," "showing off in front of them"... and so on and so forth.

Of course, it did produce such an effect, but this was just a side effect, and certainly not something Lin Sicheng intended.

Looking again at Liu Dong's face, which looked as if he were mourning the dead, Shang Yan was ninety-nine percent sure that what Lin Sicheng was using now was the very technique that Director Meng had half-restored and half-innovated, and later used for the World Heritage Application.

Otherwise, his complexion wouldn't be so ugly, as if he had eaten shit.

But why is she so happy?

Shang Yan grinned and laughed silently. After laughing for a while, she suddenly realized: last night, when Lin Sicheng was reviewing, he was still carving using Yue Kiln techniques.

He even muttered while carving: Why would a Yaozhou Porcelain embryo carver learn the carving techniques of Ding Kiln and Yue Kiln, and carve them so well?

Only one night later, he suddenly pierced through that layer of window paper: was Director Meng's innovative technique just a fusion of the two?

How did he pierce through it?

It was ten to one that when these technicians were repairing the bodies again this morning, Lin Sicheng had a flash of inspiration, and the clouds parted to reveal the sky.

It could also be something else, but it doesn't matter.

What matters is that this trip was not in vain, these twenty days of humiliation were not suffered in vain, and that is enough...

Shang Yan bared her teeth again.

Just as she was uncontrollably happy, Lin Sicheng accelerated his speed.

It was slower than the previous two times, and he would stop from time to time, either to examine it or to recall something.

But compared to the embryo carvers present, it was still fast, fast, fast.

The knife work was still very steady and accurate, still in the previous position, and still the peony scroll pattern.

And slowly, the "rustling" sound gradually became denser, and the bottle body gradually took shape.

The clay shavings on the turntable accumulated thicker and thicker. As the moisture evaporated, they also became whiter. Just like the complexions of those few people present.

Their moods were like riding a roller coaster; in just half a day, they went from initial disdain, to subsequent astonishment, then to extreme shock, and extreme suspicion, and finally to despair.

Having researched for so many years, they wouldn't dare to lie with their eyes open: this is authentic Yaozhou Porcelain Technology.

If one had to make a comparison: even Wang Hong, who had the highest technical level among them, was still far behind. At the very least, Wang Hong could not shave a one-centimeter plain body three times and carve it three times in a row.

If compared to Director Meng, even if there was a difference, it didn't seem to be much.

So, was Liu Dong's painstaking, almost disgusting, and almost base maneuvering just like performing a monkey show?

But it doesn't make sense: since you know how, what are you here to learn?

The more critical point is: how does he know it?

He hasn't even met Director Meng...

They couldn't figure it out, and Liu Dong couldn't figure it out even more. His brain seemed to have turned into a repeater: who did he learn it from, how did he learn it... thinking over and over again, one time after another...

He even felt a bit dazed: this was the thing he was most proud of, the very thing he regarded as the pride of his life.

He treated it like a precious treasure, guarding it bitterly, defending it with his life... but suddenly, one day, someone came along and accomplished it with ease, in a single stroke, with a level of skill that could almost rival the teacher he viewed as his idol? And, they were only in their early twenties...

What's more, they had revealed the core technology of Yaozhou Porcelain in front of a crowd. How was he supposed to understand this, accept this, or continue to guard it in the future?

What did these twenty years of hard work even count for?

His mindset had collapsed...

For a time, the research room was deathly quiet. Aside from the crisp sound of the knife blade cutting through the clay, there was no other noise.

It was unknown how much time had passed when Lin Sicheng turned the base and took a step back.

Everyone was shocked in unison: was it finished?

It was indeed finished: a Plum Vase with intertwined branch patterns, crafted using the Yaozhou Porcelain Double Knife Method.

It only needed to be glazed and then placed in the kiln, and a masterpiece would be born...

Liu Dong woke as if from a dream, suddenly jolted: "Where did you steal this technique from?"

Lin Sicheng paused for a moment, and just as he was about to say something, Shang Yan let out an angry shout: "Bullshit!"

Liu Dong's originally pale face suddenly turned red, his lips trembling; just as he was about to curse back, Shang Yan's mouth went off like a machine gun:

"I have taught for half a lifetime and studied porcelain for half a lifetime; what kind of people have I not seen? But I have never seen anyone as disgusting as you! You have to copy even when looking up basic data, and you still have to check it after you've finished copying?"

"You call it observation and study, but we are only allowed to look, and we aren't even allowed to ask questions... Department Head Liu, can you be any more disgusting? With your attitude, how could anyone steal your techniques... Come on, show me how it's done?"

"And another thing, is your vision stuck in your backside? What did Lin Sicheng carve first? Ding Kiln technique? And what did he carve after? Yue Kiln technique... is this also something you 'innovated,' where as long as someone knows how to carve, it means they stole it from you?"

"Lin Sicheng even explained it to you clearly: on the basis of Ding Kiln Shallow Relief, he used the Yue Kiln technique of Carving the Ground into a Slope for High Relief to form gradient layers: that is, New Yaozhou Porcelain Deep Relief..."

"So, are your ears stuffed with maggots, or are you deliberately pretending not to understand? Your so-called innovative technology is nothing more than fusion technology. Are you the only ones allowed to fuse techniques, and others aren't?"

Like a fierce wind and sudden rain, the words lashed out at him; Liu Dong couldn't even find a chance to interrupt, let alone curse back.

Everyone, including Lin Sicheng, Li Zhen, and Zhang Feng—who was huddled in the corner, acting like an invisible person—was dumbfounded.

This mouth... is this the mouth of a teacher?

With his face flushed the color of a pig's liver, it took a long time for Liu Dong to come to his senses. Just as he was about to speak, Lin Sicheng tapped the table: "Department Head Liu, the Northern Song Dynasty *De Ying Hou Stele* records:

'(Yaozhou Porcelain) uses straight knives for deep carving, slanted knives for shaving the ground, as clever as casting gold, as refined as carving jade... the engraved patterns are like shavings, which is called Two-Knife Mud, also called Half-Knife Mud... What is meant by two knives? One straight and one slanted. What is meant by half a knife? The knife tip enters halfway, and every stroke reveals the mud...'"

"The Southern Song Dynasty's *Lao Xue An Notes* by Lu You says: Yaozhou produces celadon, known as Yue ware, likely because it is similar to the Secret Color glaze of Imperial Kiln..."

"Department Head Liu, you should try to remember more carefully... So, it really can't be called stealing!"

Liu Dong's heart was shaken, and he leaned back violently.

Remember what?

Naturally, the knife technique Lin Sicheng used when carving the final pass: straight knives for deep carving, slanted knives for shaving the ground, the knife tip entering halfway, every stroke revealing the mud.

More importantly, the Porcelain Research Institute was still in the research and restoration phase, having only researched it halfway...

His eyes suddenly turned red, and Liu Dong's voice was hoarse: "Where did you learn this?"

No... hadn't he explained it clearly enough?

Lin Sicheng sighed: "The *De Ying Hou Stele*, the *Lao Xue An Notes*..."

In fact, Lu You also said: "However, it looks very coarse and plain, not good; only food stalls use it often because it is durable."

This meant it wasn't beautiful, so only the lower classes used it. But this was because, after years of war, the old kiln workers had died or fled, causing the Yaozhou porcelain technology of the Jin Dynasty to be lost and the lineage to be broken.

Later, when the kilns were reopened for firing, they could only start from the beginning to trace the source: using Yue Kiln technology as a foundation, substituting research with imitation.

But technology isn't something you can just trace back to the source, which is why the things they fired were inferior.

It just so happened that this morning, the glaze Department Head Liu had mixed was exactly this type.

Lin Sicheng had thought: it's one thing to know Yue Kiln engraving, but why did they study the Jin and Yuan Dynasty Yaozhou imitation of Yue porcelain—which was a botched, four-unlike-anything celadon glaze—so thoroughly?

Then, a flash of inspiration...

Sighing inwardly, Lin Sicheng took off his gloves, took the towel handed to him by Li Zhen, and carefully wiped his hands.

"Department Head Liu, do you remember the first day we met, when I handed over the observation and study plan, which included a section on follow-up technical exchanges?"

Liu Dong didn't speak, his expression shifting.

"You certainly remember; I wrote it very clearly: as an exchange, after this study session ends, Xida... never mind, let me be precise: after this study session ends, our studio can conduct joint research with the Porcelain Research Institute on Yaozhou Porcelain Secret Color Glaze: Tea Dust Glaze..."

"But your confidentiality work was so good that I had no idea you had only just begun to try, and hadn't even made any progress... So, you thought I was just spouting nonsense, bragging without consequence... and because of that, you treated me as someone who came to steal technology..."

Lin Sicheng paused, then laughed at himself: "My fault, I didn't do enough background research, it is my mistake... but Department Head Liu, even if it were core technology, it wouldn't be low enough to steal..."

Liu Dong couldn't hold back in the end: "How did you know we had only just begun to try?"

"Black medicinal soil, Kaolin Clay, Potassium Feldspar, Quartz, Red Soil, Agate powder, Wood Ash... and even, tea water..."

Lin Sicheng pointed to the glazing materials on the long table; when he mentioned tea water, he suddenly smiled: "It is better to have no books than to believe everything in books... never mind, let's give it a try!"

As he spoke, he walked over.

Liu Dong was stunned, his expression uncertain.

Could he mix Tea Dust Glaze?

The other Carving the Embryo masters' eyes lit up, and they all crowded around.

Shang Yan's face changed, and just as she was about to say something, she subconsciously stopped. Involuntarily, she remembered Wang Qizhi's words:

"Professor Shang, keep your cool... Lin Sicheng is my student, don't I know his personality?"

"If people respect me an inch, I will respect them a foot... In Lin Sicheng's dictionary, there is absolutely no logic in suffering a loss and swallowing one's pride."

Thinking this secretly, Shang Yan let out a breath: Fine, I will keep my cool...

(End of chapter)