Chapter 186: When the Water Rises, the Boat Floats Higher

Six or seven dishes, plus a pot of soup.

The dishes were just ordinary home-cooked meals, and the banquet was a proper, formal family dinner.

Lin Sicheng didn't know the meaning of being polite at all, bowl after bowl of rice.

Dan Wangshu beamed with joy, continuously placing food into his bowl.

"Thank you, Senior Sister!"

"What are you thanking me for? If you like it, eat more!"

Ye Anning sat to the side, picking at her food now and then. Her two eyes were fixed on Lin Sicheng, blinking away.

Wang Qi Zhi drank a cup, smacked his lips, drank another, and smacked them again.

He didn't even pick up a single leaf of vegetable, just staring at Lin Sicheng while drinking his liquor.

Lin Sicheng felt his scalp tingle from being stared at: "Teacher, you should eat too!"

"It's fine, I'm just watching!"

No... even if you're watching, shouldn't you look at the food?

Lin Sicheng paused his chopsticks, just about to say something, when Wang Qi Zhi smiled: "Not bad... the scolding... oh no, what you said was not bad!"

It was very high-level, very insightful, direct enough, and also impolite enough.

The key was, it was also satisfying enough.

Perhaps Lin Sicheng really was praising them for wanting to benefit the region, but in Wang Qi Zhi's mind, what difference did that have from scolding them for being shameless for the sake of political achievements?

He could even imagine the expressions on those people's faces at the time: angry to the point of bulging veins, their faces probably turned green, right?

Thinking back to a few days ago, he discovered those people wanted to engage in crooked ways, and at the time he even thought: they dare to play dirty?

Without even needing him, the teacher, to take action, Lin Sicheng could handle them.

In the end, wasn't that exactly what happened?

The more he thought about it, the more comfortable he felt; Wang Qi Zhi poured a cup of liquor and held it forward: "Come, let's clink!"

Lin Sicheng hurriedly took it: "Thank you, Teacher!"

After drinking it in one gulp, he paused again: "Actually, it's only because I have Teacher backing me up!"

Wang Qi Zhi was stunned for a moment, then curled his lip.

That reason accounted for a little bit, but only a limited amount.

Without him as a teacher, Lin Sicheng would at most not have been so sharp, not so impolite. It was also possible he wouldn't have said those words that directly tore off their faces and threw them on the ground.

It was even more likely he would have been soft-spoken, smiling while playing tai chi back and forth with the other party.

But as for the actions, Lin Sicheng absolutely would not have done any less: patents would be registered as they should, technology would be licensed as it should, and products would be produced as they should.

He might even have done it more ruthlessly: he wouldn't have mentioned the Green Glaze Ink Color or the Carved Flower Relief at all. Only next time, if the other party pushed their luck again and really treated him like a soft persimmon to be squeezed, would he strike back.

It wouldn't even need to be that complicated; as long as he preemptively registered core patents like the Handle pot, that group would be in a bind. Even when others had already started production, they wouldn't even know who did it.

What is this called?

Subconsciously, a pile of derogatory terms surged into Wang Qi Zhi's mind.

But don't be surprised; anyone capable of accomplishing something has this trait. This is also the personality Lin Sicheng has carved into his bones since birth.

Of course, there must be a preceding phrase: "Return a jade for a wooden gift, return a plum for a peach." The so-called "if others respect me an inch, I respect them a foot"... it's not sarcasm.

Therefore, the appearance of him as a teacher, at most, let Lin Sicheng have a little less calculation and a little more grandeur.

Hmm, thinking about it carefully, it seems his own influence on Lin Sicheng's changes has been quite large?

Wang Qi Zhi felt deeply gratified and raised his wine glass again.

Lin Sicheng's eyelids twitched: in just ten or twenty minutes, he had only eaten three bowls of rice, and Wang Qi Zhi had already drunk over half a jin?

"Teacher, why don't you eat first, and I'll drink a bit with you later!"

"That's good!" Wang Qi Zhi immediately covered the liquor bottle and picked up his rice bowl.

The teacher and student ate and chatted, and as they chatted, they brought up Sun Le (the new Assistant).

"I saw him the day before yesterday, and he said you suggested he stay in the Training Group for two days. Why, can't he keep up?"

Lin Sicheng nodded and spoke frankly: "The foundation is a bit weak, I suggest Senior Brother Sun supplement it... If I'm busy here, I'll let Senior Sister Li fill in for a bit!"

Upon hearing "Senior Sister Li," Dan Wangshu paused her chopsticks. Ye Anning, who had been eating quietly, also raised her head.

The two exchanged a secret glance and then aimed a look at Wang Qi Zhi.

Wang Qi Zhi was unmoved: "Right, supplement it."

Dan Wangshu and Ye Anning both curled their lips in unison.

After briefly mentioning it, Wang Qi Zhi didn't ask further and started talking about the district-level World Heritage Application passing, and the studio officially hanging its sign in a few days.

"At that time, school leaders will definitely come, and one or two Director-General level leaders from the district should also come, such as from the Cultural Bureau, the Tourism Bureau... I'll have Feng Lin draft a schedule for you, just get familiar with it..."

Lin Sicheng nodded: "Thank you, Teacher!"

"What's there to thank for? I am your teacher and the studio's Academic Advisor. If I don't take charge of the academics, I can't let you be distracted by messy, trivial matters, right? Oh, right..."

Halfway through, Wang Qi Zhi remembered: "The Dean nominated you to concurrently serve as the Deputy Secretary of the Youth League Committee, responsible for Academic Innovation, and it has already been passed in the meeting..."

Lin Sicheng's chopsticks paused, his eyes widening: What the hell?

He was to be some Deputy Secretary, how did he not know?

"Making a fuss?" Wang Qi Zhi curled his lip, "The school has always had this position, but there just hasn't been a suitable candidate. Besides, it's just a volunteer service position aimed at excellent student social practice; there's no salary, let alone a formal establishment, what are you panicking about?"

"Teacher, I'm not panicking!" Lin Sicheng let out a breath, "But what about this Academic Innovation Department?"

"Oh, this one has..." Wang Qi Zhi said nonchalantly, "Of course, for now there is only a salary; the rank and position will have to wait until you graduate to be studied..."

After a slight pause, he squinted his eyes: "Or are you saying you aren't capable of it?"

Lin Sicheng paused, silent.

Of course he was capable of it, and even the school leaders knew he was capable of it.

Putting other things aside, take the Ancient porcelain restoration for example; if the school pushes a bit harder and urges him a bit more, in two or three years at most, the Cultural Heritage Conservation Department could add one or two more majors.

Take Professor Wang's laboratory for another example; those two projects he specifically oversees and guides could, with just another year or so of quiet research, be submitted to national departments for a World Heritage Application.

How many National Level projects can Xida report in a year?

Based on these two points alone, arranging a part-time position for him in the Academic Innovation Department is more than enough. Not to mention it's only at the department level below the school, or even just a youth organization?

To tell the truth, the school has already been cautious and reserved enough.

It was just too sudden, and Lin Sicheng had no mental preparation.

"Actually, it's not sudden at all. After the district came to the school for the preliminary review of the World Heritage Application project, the Dean brought it up proactively. I was thinking of discussing it with you after you returned from Tongchuan..."

"As it turned out, you hadn't even arrived yet, but the people from Tongchuan chased after you to the school first. Once the Dean saw that, what was there left to discuss? He reported it to the President immediately..."

The President's intention at the time was to arrange it directly to the school's Youth League Committee, but I thought that since you'll be graduating in half a year, even if you were arranged as a Deputy Secretary, you'd be removed in half a year—what kind of influence could you build?

It would be better to stay in the department, doing some academic work, some innovation, and some training... In half a year, if you create some momentum, cementing the position would be a logical conclusion."

Cementing what? Naturally, the rank and the position.

But to tell the truth, he has been an Expert; he's been one for half his life. But an official? He really has never been one...

"A tiny, insignificant thing like that, what kind of official is it?" Wang Qi Zhi gave a scoff, "To you, it's like child's play!"

It certainly isn't as exaggerated as Professor Wang says, but to tell the truth, it shouldn't be too difficult either.

"Thank you, Teacher!"

"What are you thanking me for? Lin Sicheng, you are good at everything, except you're too polite..."

Wang Qi Zhi rambled on and opened the wine bottle again: "Come, have a couple of drinks with me!"

The teacher and student drank together, but didn't drink much, just the small half-bottle Wang Qi Zhi had left.

They chatted until four o'clock, and the family saw him to the door.

He only brought a few bags of medicinal paste when he came, but when he left, Dan Wangshu insisted on stuffing two big bags into his hands.

Donkey-hide gelatin, Cordyceps... none of it was cheap, making Lin Sicheng feel terribly embarrassed: "Thank you, Teacher's wife!"

Dan Wangshu pursed her lips and smiled: "Lin Sicheng, instead of thanking me, you'd be better off finding some time to let me get to know Teacher Jiang!"

"My fault, I'll do it as soon as possible!" Lin Sicheng smiled again, "Actually, my mom nags me whenever she sees me!"

Of course she nags, and Lin Zhangqing nags too: the gifts Lin Sicheng brought back from his teacher's house have almost filled the cabinets at home.

The father-in-law and daughter-in-law have been teaching for half their lives, and this is the first time they've seen a student like this...

After saying a few words, she watched him go downstairs, and then heard a "bang" at the building door; Dan Wangshu closed the door.

Then, she glared at Wang Qi Zhi: "What is going on with you?"

Wang Qi Zhi was confused: "What do you mean what is going on?"

"I'm talking about Lin Sicheng's Assistant; didn't you change her? Why did you change her to Li Zhen again?"

"I didn't want to change her, but could Sun Le even handle it?"

Wang Qi Zhi didn't care, "Taking notes, and she still has to ask Lin Sicheng first what kind of porcelain this is, what clay is used, what kind of embryo is molded, and what glaze is applied? Is she an assistant, or a baby who hasn't been weaned yet?"

Dan Wangshu glared at him again: "Of course I know that, my point is, couldn't you find someone better?"

"To tell you the truth, Sun Le is already quite good; the key is that Lin Sicheng's level is too high. If we look for another, we can only look for a Doctor? But would a Doctor be willing to be someone's assistant, especially for an undergraduate?

Don't look down on Li Zhen either; Shang Yan has spent so much energy on her, she's more than enough to be a Doctor. Although her research ability can't compare to Lin Sicheng's, being his research assistant is no problem at all..."

Wang Qi Zhi looked baffled: "Besides, with Lin Sicheng's personality, what are you two worried about? He doesn't even have time to deal with Ye Anning, let alone Li Zhen? Believe it or not, if there's even a hint of anything, Lin Sicheng could nip it in the bud?"

Dan Wangshu patted him: "What do you mean by 'deal with'?"

As she spoke, she turned her head back and glared at Ye Anning, who was tidying up the table: "What is going on with you today? When it was your turn to shine, you played invisible?"

Ye Anning opened her mouth, not knowing how to explain. Immediately, her face turned red bit by bit.

Huh, how strange?

The couple was stunned for a moment, then looked at each other.

Dan Wangshu thought for a moment: "Lin Sicheng, what did he do to you?"

"Aunt, how could that be?"

Ye Anning's face turned even redder, "When I picked him up, he called my name... Aunt, you don't know, the tone he used at the time, that expression, and the emotion transmitted invisibly...

It was as if... as if we had been dating for a long time, were deeply in love, and it was etched into our bones... He even said, as long as I like to hear it, he will always call me that in the future?"

Dan Wangshu's eyes widened: Ye Anning, what nonsense are you spouting?

He just called your name once, and you're this shy? Could what he called be some kind of magic spell?

Also, Lin Sicheng is busy as a ghost; you can't even see his shadow for ten days or half a month. You two haven't even started, so where does this "deeply in love" come from?

Suddenly, she paused: "You didn't agree?"

Ye Anning lowered her head: "I was scared at the time, so I told him not to call me that in the future..."

Dan Wangshu was stunned for a moment, then gritted her teeth: "Ye Anning, when did you become so useless? You were just called by your name, what were you afraid to agree to? And now that he's gone, you're still this shy? Where is your cleverness, your IQ? Did a dog eat it?"

Ye Anning opened her mouth, not knowing how to defend herself.

She just felt that she was quite clear-headed at the time, and her IQ was online, but for some reason, she just couldn't hold her own...

After a long while, she said righteously: "I've never dated anyone before?"

"Nonsense, do you think Lin Sicheng has?"

Ye Anning was speechless.

Wang Qi Zhi watched coldly and sighed again.

Dan Wangshu gave him a swat: "What are you sighing for?"

Wang Qi Zhi didn't make a sound: from now, he could see that if they really end up together, Ye Anning will be the one who obediently listens.

That's right, his niece is indeed quite smart, but Wang Qi Zhi is discovering more and more that her bit of cleverness is still a bit lacking in front of Lin Sicheng.

Besides, Lin Sicheng hasn't even used his full strength. But that's for the best: there must be one who makes the decisions, and one who listens...

Dan Wangshu, however, grew angrier the more she thought about it: "Ye Anning, I gave you a chance and you didn't make use of it!"

While cursing, she gave Wang Qi Zhi another hammer blow.

Wang Qi Zhi bared his teeth and grimaced, looking completely wronged.

Watching Dan Wangshu lecture Ye Anning for a while, he suddenly remembered something; his face darkened, and he picked up his phone and went into the bedroom.

Sensing that Wang Qi Zhi's mood had suddenly shifted, Dan Wangshu shouted, "What are you going to do!"

"Nothing!"

Saying this, he closed the bedroom door.

I already said it, this matter definitely won't work. But you insist on forcing a negotiation? It's not that it can't be negotiated, but it must be done properly, not through crooked paths.

As it turns out, they went ahead and did it anyway.

So, do you think I, Lin Sicheng's teacher, got here by just slacking off?

……

The setting sun spilled over the gray bricks, and the residual snow at the base of the wall turned into black mud. The ice shards on the curb scraped against the soles of his shoes, shattering into puddles with a "crunching" sound.

Lin Sicheng placed one foot after the other, stepping with extreme care, yet his mind wandered, soaring like a wild horse.

It seemed like just a casual arrangement, small to the point of being unnoticeable, but Lin Sicheng understood Professor Wang's intention: Lin Sicheng, you should walk this path in the future: use academics to speak for politics.

It wasn't about preference, nor was it about fearing difficulty; it was just a different perspective, and a different starting point.

So-called success and fame, gaining both status and wealth, is nothing more than which comes first and which comes second.

And there would be no obstacles either.

Take, for example, the current Deputy Director Fan of the Xida Chemical Engineering College; besides his school position, he has his own key laboratory, his own R&D center, and even his own company.

The year he traveled back, Deputy Director Fan was already Deputy Principal Fan, and at the same time, the richest man in Shaanxi Province. He could be said to have balanced academics, politics, and business perfectly.

Whether he himself could reach that step, or even higher, he didn't know yet, but at least he had a direction...

Thinking secretly, he arrived at the studio without realizing it.

Twilight spread, and the three-story white building was bathed in the rosy glow. The north wind brushed past, and the locust branches in front of the building made a soft, wailing sound.

The iron wind chimes struck the eaves, clinking and clanging.

The plaques with black characters on a white background hung quietly on both sides; the lights were on in the first-floor exhibition hall, the windows were bright and clean, and not a speck of dust was to be found.

Next to it was the office area, where Zhao Xiuneng sat with his legs crossed, looking as if he were lecturing his son.

The second floor was the laboratory; through the window, Xiao Yuzhu was leading several students in wiping down the newly arrived machines.

The third floor was the Training Center, also with the lights on, and Li Zhen's figure could be vaguely seen.

Without realizing it, such huge changes had occurred; compared to having only one office and one operation room before, it was now a world of difference. If one were to call this a medium-sized scientific innovation and R&D center, someone would definitely believe it.

And Lin Sicheng had basically never worried about any of this. Even before he went to Tongchuan, the first-floor exhibition hall had just been renovated, and the second floor had only just started receiving materials.

Looking carefully, as if he had seen him, Zhao Xiuneng pushed open the door.

"Teacher Lin!"

General Manager Zhao had long stopped calling him "Boss," changing it to "Teacher."

Lin Sicheng smiled and walked over: "You've worked hard during this time, General Manager Zhao!"

"I just sit in the office every day, how hard could it be? You are the one who is truly working hard."

Zhao Xiuneng helped him push open the door, his face full of indignation: "And you're taking shit from people, damn it!"

Actually, it wasn't that hard, it just took a bit of brainpower.

And he had indeed taken some shit, but hadn't he just paid it back?

He could even imagine how miserable those four leaders must be feeling right now...

With a laugh, the two walked inside, where the two brothers had been waiting for a long time; they bowed in unison at the waist: "Teacher!"

There was no "Lin," just "Teacher," just as he addressed Wang Qi Zhi.

But they were much, much more respectful than when he met Wang Qi Zhi.

At first, Lin Sicheng felt it was a bit unusual and had mentioned it twice. But Zhao Xiuneng not only didn't listen, he even said that when they officially performed the apprenticeship ceremony, his two sons would have to kowtow to him, so Lin Sicheng never tried to persuade them again.

"A teacher for a day is a father for life" might be a bit of an exaggeration, but to say that he and these two brothers were tied together from now on was not an exaggeration in the slightest.

Because the kowtow wasn't for nothing; once they kowtowed, you had to teach them real things.

Of course, he wasn't being a teacher for nothing either; for the equipment in the second-floor laboratory, Zhao Xiuneng covered half the cost.

That was only because the school had to be involved, otherwise he would have covered the whole thing...

Zhao Da wanted to make tea, but Lin Sicheng waved his hand and went upstairs with Zhao Xiuneng.

Xiao Yuzhu was as lively and unreserved as ever, but the classmates behind her were exceptionally restrained.

Think about it: half a year ago, they were still in the same classroom. Lin Sicheng was still a poor student, relying entirely on connections to pass exams.

But in just half a year, he had suddenly reached a height they might never reach in their entire lives?

Restraint was inevitable...

After exchanging greetings and cracking a couple of jokes, the two went up to the third floor.

In the large training room, there were only three people: Li Zhen didn't know what she was writing, not even raising her head, her pen moving rapidly.

Shang Yan was expressionless, staring at Sun Le. Sun Le wore a sheepish look, both fawning and flustered.

In front of the two lay two sheets of paper; looking closer: a thesis on Ancient Yaozhou porcelain.

Lin Sicheng was stunned for a moment, secretly praising her: Professor Shang's magnanimity is truly impressive.

Because she always felt that Professor Wang's arrangement of Sun Le as his Assistant had ulterior motives. Plus, Sun Le's foundation was indeed a bit thin, and his personality wasn't very steady, so Professor Shang had always looked down on him.

She had never said it to his face, but occasionally, one could still sense it in her mood.

But the fact that she could tutor Sun Le really made one admire her.

Seeing Lin Sicheng, Shang Yan was startled: "Why are you here?"

As she spoke, she sniffed again: "Did you drink with your teacher?"

Lin Sicheng does not smoke, and he basically does not drink, unless he is with Wang Qi Zhi...

Then a thought crossed her mind: Huh, it seems that group of people from Tongchuan has left; did Wang Qi Zhi chase them away?

Feeling secretly relieved, she gave Wang Qi Zhi a mental thumbs-up: Don't look at how Wang Qi Zhi usually seems harmless to humans and animals, and occasionally acts a bit roguish, but when it matters, he is still reliable.

Not knowing whether Lin Sicheng had solved it himself, Shang Yan guessed wildly, then pointed to the opposite side, asking Lin Sicheng to sit down and talk.

"Yesterday, I was discussing with your teacher that your harvest from this trip to Tongchuan was quite significant. Should we organize it, and should we create a file for it?"

"Of course we should create one, it would be best to hold a training session before the New Year!" Lin Sicheng looked at Li Zhen, "And we will have to trouble Senior Sister Li!"

"She is a Research Assistant, if she doesn't work hard, who will? Besides, it can't really be called hard work..."

Shang Yan did not care at all, then paused slightly, "But speaking of training, what are you planning to train them on?"

"Of course it is Yaozhou Porcelain... but it is Ancient Yaozhou porcelain, not the Yaozhou new antique porcelain innovated by Director Meng..."

Lin Sicheng thought for a moment, "Actually, the focus of the training I designed is still on the Tea Dust Glaze, but the difficulty is relatively high, and it might be a bit strenuous to grasp..."

Shang Yan was stunned, her expression becoming strange.

The World Heritage Application project indeed has rigid requirements for inheritance and training, but it didn't say that you aren't allowed to keep anything back at all...

"Professor Shang, you don't need to worry: by the time the basics are finished and they can understand Yaozhou Porcelain, the patent will definitely have been registered, there is nothing that cannot be taught!"

Lin Sicheng understood at a glance and smiled again: "Professor Shang, the trainees have all signed the Technology Authorization Agreement!"

Shang Yan did not speak, she just curled her lips: she is temporarily responsible for personnel and training, how could she not know that the trainees had all signed the Technology Authorization Agreement?

For example, the Zhao Family brothers, for example, Li Zhen, Sun Le, Xiao Yuzhu, and the several newly recruited Researchers. Among them, the most important clause is the duration of cooperation.

Including her and Wang Qi Zhi, they also signed confidentiality and non-compete agreements.

But Lin Sicheng teaches as soon as he says he will, and when he teaches, he teaches the real stuff, without hiding anything at all... How much good luck must one have to encounter such a boss?

Lin Sicheng did not speak: hiding things, that doesn't exist.

Rather than clutching it in his hands, it is better to bring it out and create the value that the technology itself should possess.

The same goes for the trainees: if you want the horse to run, you have to give the horse grass; if you don't teach them the real stuff, how can they improve, and how can they exert the ability they ought to have?

Only when the water rises can the boat go higher...

After discussing with Shang Yan for a while, and setting a time with Li Zhen, it had grown dark.

The old man was probably burning with anxiety, so he had to go back to coax him, and Lin Sicheng did not stay for dinner.

After saying goodbye and preparing to leave, Shang Yan remembered something: "If you can spare some time, there is a batch of items for you to take a look at!"

A batch?

It is "to take a look at," rather than helping someone take a look at...

Lin Sicheng suddenly understood: this is someone wanting to sell goods, and there should be quite a few items. Shang Yan should be unsure, or perhaps she has no interest, so she is asking if he is interested.

Of course he is interested.

It has been a long time since he had any income, and the two million he earned from Fang Jingxian earlier had long since bottomed out.

But the studio is either being renovated or purchasing equipment, and he cannot keep letting General Manager Zhao silently foot the bill...

Lin Sicheng nodded: "Professor Shang, whose items are they?"

"It seems to be a quite famous old collector in the city. Fang Jingxian has looked at them a few times and is a bit unsure. She wanted to ask you for help... I said you didn't have time... She then asked if it could be a joint venture: not much, just helping her look at two or three pieces would be enough!"

A joint venture, he is more than capable...

"Professor Shang, when should I go?"

"Of course it depends on your time!"

Lin Sicheng did not hesitate: "Then tomorrow!"

Shang Yan was stunned, her face looking strange.

Lin Sicheng did not speak, he flipped through his empty pockets.

Shang Yan paused, pursing her lips and smiling: Indeed, the current Lin Sicheng is not just ordinarily short of money.

If it weren't for General Manager Zhao's sponsorship, he wouldn't even be able to hand out the Red Envelopes before the New Year...

"Alright, then tomorrow..."