Chapter 206: Who Was Talking About That?

The two of them asked and answered.

One did so without a second thought, the other was stunned and turned pale.

At first, they thought Division Chief Lao Liu was just curious, so those below didn't take it to heart; some borrowed paper and pens, others organized their notes.

But after hearing a few sentences, several professors and Researchers realized something was wrong: the plate Division Chief Lao Liu was holding should be Sky Blue Glaze from the Five Dynasties to the Northern Song Dynasty of the Yaozhou Kiln.

It is rumored to share the same origin as the Chai Kiln of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, the Ru Kiln of the Northern Song Dynasty, and the Ge Kiln, with the craftsmanship all inherited from the Secret Color Glaze of the Yue Kiln, though the techniques were later lost.

By the early days of the founding of the nation, under the guidance of Professor Li Guozhen's team from the National Porcelain Group, and through the unremitting efforts of the Provincial Light Industry Institute and the Tongchuan Ceramics Factory, it took seven years—until the eighties—to preliminarily restore the Yaozhou Kiln Celadon technology.

After that, the Tongchuan Light Industry Institute, the Ceramics Institute, and the Porcelain Research Institute continuously experimented and perfected it, perfectly replicating the Five Dynasties Sky Blue Glaze and Carved Flower Craft that had been lost for nearly eight hundred years.

To tell the truth: the reason Yaozhou Porcelain could apply for the World Heritage Application was precisely because of its Celadon technology. Sky Blue Glaze is the core craft and representative technique of Celadon craftsmanship, and also the biggest bonus point during the World Heritage Application.

The rest, like Carving the Embryo and Engraving, are just icing on the cake; it's good if you have them, but it doesn't matter if you don't.

One could even say this: Celadon and Sky Blue Glaze are the mainstream technologies of the Yaozhou Kiln. Setting aside political influence, even if Lin Sicheng restored the Tea Dust glaze, it wouldn't have much of an impact on the Yaozhou Kiln.

It's even harder to say; by loving the house and its crow, the social influence could go even higher.

But suddenly, the World Heritage Application Center replicated a Flower-shaped Cup with Sky Blue Glaze; what does this amount to?

It amounts to the technology not only being cracked by someone else, but also being openly taught in a grand manner?

In an instant, the conference room became eerily quiet. A group of professors and Researchers looked at each other, then all turned to look at the television station's camera.

If you dare to broadcast it, there will be people who dare to learn it.

Given the civil property rights environment of 2008, the state turns a blind eye to purely innovative scientific research technology, let alone micro-innovations derived from the restoration of lost ancient skills?

It would be one thing if you didn't sell well, but if the sales were even slightly good, would you believe that overnight, hundreds of imitation porcelain factories could spring up all over the country?

By doing this, isn't Lin Sicheng effectively cutting off people's livelihoods?

Just as they were stunned, Division Chief Lao Liu picked up that Inverted Pot again, and then asked those two questions again: how is the internal structure stabilized, and how is the expansion difference resolved?

It is no exaggeration at all; when Lin Sicheng answered, several people felt their brains go blank, as if bees had crawled into their ears, "buzzing, buzzing, buzzing"...

Does this mean that the one in Division Chief Lao Liu's hand is an imitation of a Yaozhou Inverted Flow Pot from the Five Dynasties period?

In a flash, more than half of the ten leaders in the front row leaned forward in unison. Their eyes were wide open, staring at the pot in Division Chief Lao Liu's hand.

It wasn't that the leaders weren't composed; to give an analogy: it's like someone solving the Goldbach Conjecture in front of mathematicians.

It's not entirely appropriate, and a bit exaggerated, but that is absolutely the meaning.

Immediately, the leader from the Industrial Bureau stood up: "Lao Liu... Division Chief Liu, bring it over, let us take a look too..."

Division Chief Lao Liu looked at Lin Sicheng and carried the pot down.

Just as he received it, the Bureau Chief's hand sank: is there water inside?

He shook it, and it made a splashing sound inside; he then subconsciously held it high: there was a plum-blossom-shaped hole on the bottom of the pot, and when he touched it with his hand, there were still damp traces around it.

What does this indicate?

It indicates that the water in the pot was filled in from the bottom.

Shaking it again, there was no water to be seen at the hole on the bottom, yet a few drops actually shook out of the spout?

As if unable to believe it, the Bureau Chief turned it over and over, knocking and shaking it, then covered the spout: upright, upside down, flat... but no matter how he placed it, not a single drop of water flowed out from the hole on the bottom.

Subsequently, the few leaders remained motionless, staring straight at Lin Sicheng.

One could say this: if Sky Blue Glaze and Tea Dust represent the glazing technology and firing level of Yaozhou Celadon, then the Inverted Flow Pot represents the scientific and technological innovation level and application level of the Yaozhou Kiln from the Five Dynasties to the Northern Song Dynasty.

And it was the highest level of that era.

The former only represents one region, while the latter represents the whole country, and even led the world by several centuries: it wasn't until the early Ming Dynasty that communicating vessels based on the principle of equal water levels appeared in Europe, and those were made of metal.

What kind of concept is this?

But unsurprisingly, not only was the technology lost, but the physical objects had also vanished. It wasn't until the eighties that one was discovered in Binzhou.

Then, following the pattern, the Tongchuan Light Industry Institute, the Ceramics Institute, and the Porcelain Research Institute studied it one after another for more than twenty years.

Everything else was easy to solve, but only two points—the two points Division Chief Lao Liu asked about—had plagued dozens of Researchers at several units for decades.

The principle is actually very simple: liquid levels are equal. But knowing it is one thing, and achieving it is another: after all, it's not metal or plastic that you can bend however you want or weld however you want.

This is porcelain; it must be fired in sections to take shape. Naturally, this leads to a difference in the expansion coefficient between the pot body and the conduit; either the conduit explodes upon firing, or the pot body cracks.

Secondly, the plum-blossom hole for water injection at the bottom and the interface of the conduit need to be seamlessly combined at high temperatures, but no matter how they fired it, it would eventually leak water.

The main reason lies in the fact that there are too few samples; there is only that one in the whole world. Would the Provincial Museum even let you smash it to study it?

There wasn't even any literature to refer to, so they could only try again and again, firing it again and again. But just trying was useless; what should explode still exploded, and what should leak still leaked.

It is no exaggeration; to solve these two problems, the leaders in charge of industry in Tongchuan, as well as the Industrial Bureau and the Porcelain Research Institute, almost wore out the thresholds of several units in the province.

Unfortunately, it was all in vain.

But suddenly, Lin Sicheng had replicated one?

If it were in private, Tongchuan would probably be grinning from ear to ear once they found out. But the problem is, this is an open training session?

There are at least fifty or sixty people in the conference room, and in the two front corners, there are two such large cameras...

Director Lin, oh Director Lin, you are not just cutting off people's livelihoods; you are digging up their roots?

The few leaders looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

The professors and Researchers were stunned and speechless, not knowing whether they should take notes.

Only Lin Sicheng and the institute leaders were calm and composed, unruffled.

Porcelain Restoration Center, Protection Center, if you don't let me research technology, then what should I research?

Lin Sicheng, in a leisurely manner, picked up the pot and returned to the podium. He clicked the mouse, and the screen displayed the footage from when the embryo was first molded.

Is he about to start the lecture?

The professors and Researchers looked at each other, not knowing whether they should continue listening.

The cameraman held the machine, not knowing whether he should record.

Ye Xing'an sat at the very back, first sighing, then praising.

The so-called imparting of knowledge and solving of puzzles—even if what was taught today was only the surface, the fact that Lin Sicheng could withstand such immense pressure and share it for training without hesitation deserves praise for being selfless.

While silently feeling moved, Lin Sicheng just put down his mouse, and with a "swish," the conference room door was pushed open.

In a dense crowd, a large group entered: Wang Zeyu, Tian Chengming, Song Jingxian, Meng Shufeng...

The movement was not loud, and they even deliberately lightened their footsteps. But Lin Sicheng on the stage suddenly paused, quietly looking toward the back of the conference room, and the others also subconsciously turned their heads.

No... how could it be such a coincidence?

That's not right; looking at Lin Sicheng's expression, it was clearly he who had called them.

For a moment, expressions varied: astonishment, surprise, suspicion, confusion...

At first, Wang Zeyu smiled at Lin Sicheng, then saw several familiar faces standing up in the first row, and immediately quickened his pace.

A warm smile hung on his face, and words of apology surged to his lips, but just as he walked halfway, he suddenly froze:

On the screen, Lin Sicheng was holding a chopstick, wrapping porcelain clay around it. Beneath it was the base of a pot, and on both sides lay two halves of a molded pot body.

What kind of porcelain would be molded in sections, and require such a thin tube?

An Inverted Pot.

Looking again in front of Lin Sicheng, wasn't there one sitting right there?

And beside it, there was also a Sky Blue Glaze Flower-shaped Cup.

After peering again and again, looking and looking, the moment he confirmed he hadn't misidentified it, Wang Zeyu's face turned green.

Everyone behind him, one by one, felt their eyelids twitch and their scalps tingle, and it was a "thump-thump-thump" twitching.

They had assumed that the training Lin Sicheng was holding today would just cover the Double Knife Method, or at most, some basic knowledge of Tea Dust Glaze.

They never expected that Lin Sicheng would go for the jugular right from the start.

Despite Wang Zeyu's years of ups and downs, remaining calm even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, this time he could not control the expression on his face.

He managed to squeeze out a bit of a smile, but as soon as he met Lin Sicheng's calm demeanor, he immediately collapsed.

No, is he really leaving no way for others to survive?

Gritting his teeth and struggling to regain his composure, he shook hands with the leaders, and Wang Zeyu said with a bitter look: "Teacher Lin, can we talk?"

"Certainly!" Lin Sicheng nodded, "But I must ask Mayor Wang to wait a moment, until I finish today's training!"

No... you're not only going to continue, you're going to talk for an entire day?

But could anyone stop him from speaking?

This kid is impervious to both soft and hard tactics. If you dare to block him, he dares to make you lose face...

Huh, impervious to soft and hard tactics?

In an instant, Wang Zeyu had a sudden realization: he's just been hounding them relentlessly, acting like a piece of chewing gum, right?

Entangling them without end, never stopping, right?

Fine, let's see how long you can keep this up...

Lin Sicheng definitely thought exactly that, otherwise he wouldn't have specifically notified Lao Song and Lao Tian: Two leaders, I am training on Yaozhou Porcelain today...

Involuntarily, a trace of regret sprouted in his heart, and the flesh at the corner of Wang Zeyu's mouth twitched uncontrollably.

After a long while, he squeezed out a bitter smile: "Fine, Teacher Lin, you speak first!"

Lin Sicheng nodded and returned to the podium.

The two deputies from the Tourism Bureau stepped back, and Wang Qi Zhi and Tian Chengming sat in the first row; they didn't even dare to engage in too much small talk, just shook hands and exchanged greetings.

Wang Yingtai sat in the back row, watching in a daze, clicking his tongue in wonder: These are city leaders, even if placed in Beijing, they would be at the department or bureau level.

He could guarantee that if it were anyone else, even Professor Wang Qi Zhi, they would never be like Lin Sicheng: refusing to their faces, without giving an ounce of face.

So, is this the power of knowledge?

If Wang Yingtai felt this way, what about the others?

Including Shang Yan and Lin Zhangqing, everyone was sweating. They hadn't even expected Lin Sicheng to be this tough.

But then they thought: he even replicated an Inverted Pot, what else could he not be tough about?

While they were feeling moved, Lin Sicheng clicked the mouse again and fast-forwarded.

Then he smiled: "Everyone must be thinking, Lin Sicheng, you are truly petty: just because the Tongchuan Porcelain Research Institute didn't let you learn the technique, you've been hounding them, bullying them non-stop..."

Before he finished speaking, the venue went quiet for a moment, and then with a "roar," everyone burst into laughter.

Wang Zeyu looked sheepish and gave a bitter smile. Dean Bi pretended to be angry and pointed a finger at him.

Even Ye Xing'an, sitting in the back, was caught between laughter and tears.

Lin Sicheng was not in a hurry; he just waited quietly for the laughter to subside a little.

"There must also be people thinking, Lin Sicheng, you really aren't attending to your proper duties: you are in the Cultural Relics Restoration and Protection Center, and the Intangible Cultural Heritage Center, yet you leave the porcelain unrepaired and the restoration techniques unresearched, and instead, you are researching porcelain-making and firing techniques?"

"While cursing me, everyone must also be curious: after all, these are lost unique skills. Director Tian, Director Song, as well as Director Meng and countless predecessors have racked their brains and exhausted their efforts for over twenty years without solving these problems, yet I suddenly solved them, and even created finished products?"

"If I said the Sky Blue Glaze and the Inverted Pot were just incidental, you certainly wouldn't believe me. Then I will explain it from the perspective of restoring Cultural Relics..."

He clicked the mouse again, the progress bar jumped forward, and two internal structure diagrams of the Inverted Pot appeared on the screen.

Lin Sicheng pointed at the screen: "At first glance, isn't it very simple: insert a tube into the heart of the pot to pour in water, and connect another tube to the spout to pour out water. It looks very simple now, but in the Five Dynasties, and in the Northern Song Dynasty, it was not simple:

It wasn't until the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty that Europe created metal inverted devices based on the principle of communicating vessels, nearly five hundred years later than China... What's even harder is that our ancestors made them out of porcelain, fired from mud..."

"And the reason why it is difficult to restore now, the core problem, and the hardest problem to solve, is actually just one: because the firing process of the Inverted Pot is roughly: first mold the lower half and the bottom of the pot, fire it into shape, then connect the two water-inlet and water-outlet tubes and fire it again, and finally attach the pot lid, apply glaze to the whole thing, and fire it once more..."

"So naturally, during the second and third re-firings, expansion differences occur between the unfired mud tubes and the already fired porcelain pot: either the tubes explode, or the pot body cracks. The problem of the water-inlet tube being unable to tightly bond with the base also lies in expansion differences... So how to solve it?"

Lin Sicheng clicked the mouse again, and the image flashed:

Still in the second-floor restoration room, still at that long table, but what was in front of Lin Sicheng was no longer a mud mold, but the already fired pot body, pot lid, and two tubes.

Someone had a sudden realization and blurted out: "Fire them in sections, then piece them together?"

The latest novel is first released here!

Lin Sicheng gave a thumbs up to the graduate student who had shouted the answer and smiled again: "So, does this count as Artifact Restoration? Now no one should say I am not attending to my proper duties, right?"

Laughter erupted in the conference room again, but it was mostly the graduate students laughing. Soon after, it gradually thinned out until there was dead silence.

Then, the laughing graduate students also caught on: such a simple principle—fire everything first and then piece it together—could Tongchuan not think of it?

Stealing a glance, it was indeed so: those few people still had the same expressions as before, their shock laced with astonishment, their pain carrying bewilderment.

If the problem of expansion were so easy to solve, they would have used it long ago; why would they have been troubled for over twenty years?

The professors and Researchers were the same, even including several of the institute's leaders: this was, after all, porcelain refiring, the most difficult challenge in ceramic Artifact Restoration, bar none.

If it were that easy to learn, that easy to fire, the millions of porcelain shards and nearly one hundred thousand precious broken pieces unearthed at the Old Summer Palace wouldn't have been piled up for over a decade, ignored and unattended.

Could it be that Blue and White, Famille Rose, and Enamel porcelain have no historical value, or are not worth anything?

Or perhaps the Experts at the Forbidden City don't like to repair them?

Neither; it is because those who know how to repair, dare to repair, and have the ability to repair are just those few counted on one's fingers. Even if they worked twenty-four hours a day, driven like donkeys, they still couldn't finish the repairs.

Conversely, if one were to ask if Lin Sicheng knows how?

Throwing aside the pot in front of them and setting aside the discussion, the five institute leaders, plus Shang Yan and Lin Zhangqing, as well as the Center's Researchers and Interns, would surely all nod in unison: He does!

The Yellow Glazed Dragon Pattern Jar, the Chenghua Blue and White Jar—which one of them wasn't a refiring restoration?

If he couldn't even solve the problem of refiring, where would Lin Sicheng get the guts to repair the Chicken Cup?

The several bureau leaders were instantly relieved.

Standing in Lin Sicheng's position: Since I have researched it, I must research it thoroughly. Since I want to research how to repair Yaozhou Porcelain, I must certainly understand the production principles of Yaozhou Porcelain in their entirety.

And who cares what kind of glaze or what kind of pot it is?

Therefore, whether it was cracking the Sky Blue Glaze or solving the problem of expansion differences in the Inverted Pot, it was all incidental.

He was aiming for one goal: the World Heritage Application. The so-called pettiness and lack of focus on his proper work were all bullshit.

The few from Tongchuan felt slightly relieved: does that mean the difficulty still lies in the refiring?

If this problem were so easy to solve, the streets would be full of Yuan and Ming Blue and White, and Qing Dynasty Enamel and Famille Rose; when would it ever be Yaozhou Porcelain's turn?

Of course, it is not that easy to learn, and it is definitely not something one can learn in a few classes.

But the problem is, Lin Sicheng truly knows how, and he is certainly willing to teach; otherwise, he wouldn't be holding this training today.

Therefore, sooner or later, someone will be able to learn it.

What is even more critical is the World Heritage Application and the patents.

Just a Tea Dust Glaze alone had already stirred up such anxiety and chaos; let alone the Inverted Pot?

Next, the few from Tongchuan were dazed and absent-minded. Although they kept reminding themselves to listen carefully and take good notes, their brains were a mess, and it was basically going in one ear and out the other.

In the end, they didn't remember a single word of what Lin Sicheng said.

Yet they didn't dare not listen, fearing that Lin Sicheng might mention some key point. Some even planned to speak up and interrupt if he really started talking about craftsmanship techniques that couldn't be leaked or core content.

For an entire day, the nine of them, big and small, were like sitting on pins and needles, feeling like they had thorns in their backs, their spirits wandering, their minds unsettled...

Everyone else, however, was focused intently, fearing they might miss a single word.

Who had ever thought before: a lost unique skill, just restored, fresh out of the kiln, before even a Thesis had been published, and someone would actually take it out to lecture on it?

Good heavens, they really ran into it today.

In Lin Sicheng's view, what was taught today was at most just the surface, but to the graduate students, these were all key points. Yet it was easy to understand, so much so that even the two cameramen could understand it...

It is no exaggeration: a group of graduate students, the Teaching Assistant, and even several young Lecturers and professors were looking at Lin Sicheng, their eyes reflecting light.

If you ask why?

Just what Lin Sicheng taught, if summarized slightly, would be several SCI Theses...

They didn't dare to let their minds wander for even a second, their pens moving so fast they were almost smoking. During the lunch break, they spent less than half an hour total eating and going to the restroom.

Then they sat back in the training room, surrounding Lin Sicheng to ask questions.

Except for one trip to the restroom in the middle, Lin Sicheng never left the conference room; Li Zhen brought his meals in to him.

He didn't even stop while eating, lecturing as he ate...

The afternoon continued, and time passed second by second without them noticing, until Lin Sicheng said: "That's all for today!"

The crowd woke as if from a dream: one day, it passed so quickly?

Checking their watches, it was already past six; turning their heads to look out the window, the sun had long since set behind the mountains.

Some were still unsatisfied, and others were even more reluctant to leave.

Almost instinctively, several graduate students looked at the notes in their hands, realizing belatedly: the Thesis they had delayed for two or three years seemed to suddenly have a path forward?

A female student gathered her courage and raised her hand, looking at Lin Sicheng with eyes full of hope: "Teacher Lin, for the internal training at the Center, can we... can we come to listen?"

"Of course you can come, and you can ask questions at any time. This includes if you encounter problems with your Thesis; you can come and ask as well. Ask me, ask Teaching Assistant Li, or even ask Professor Shang, Professor Wang, or even Professor Lin (Lin Zhangqing)..."

Lin Sicheng smiled, "Of course, you can't learn for free. You must sign up, follow the unified arrangements, and take an exam. After passing the exam, you must sign a Contract with the studio... Of course, there is definitely no tuition fee..."

Listening to this, the female graduate student's nose soured: does that mean as long as one learns well, even a job is secured?

Thinking back to the plaques hanging at the entrance of the Center...

From undergraduate to graduate school, a full ten years, she had never realized that hope could be so close to her?

She held back her tears and bowed; suddenly, the conference room, where the noise had been gradually growing, went silent.

Many people only then realized what Lin Sicheng had taught today. Why did their advisors pick and choose so carefully, and why were those with slightly lesser abilities not allowed to come today?

This was more than just a Thesis; this was pointing them toward a bright path...

In an instant, a chaotic sound came from the quiet conference room again.

Those who hadn't stood up pushed back their chairs, those who had already stood up stopped in their tracks, and those who had walked halfway to the door turned around.

Then, they all bowed in unison.

Looking at those slightly young faces, the dozen or so leaders were stunned.

The professors in the middle row all felt a bit strange: having taught for half a lifetime, when had they ever been respected like this by students?

But they could understand: which advisor would take their own newly researched, or even unpublished, results and share them with students?

The answer is zero.

They cannot do it, but that does not mean they do not admire it...

Ye Xing'an was stunned for a moment, then smiled, and then clapped his hands twice.

For a moment, the applause was like thunder.

The nine from Tongchuan also followed suit and applauded, but they looked at one another, their nine hearts sinking in unison.

What was said just now?

Lin Sicheng would definitely teach, and there would definitely be people willing to learn...

The students gradually dispersed, then the professors, and then the researchers from various units.

The leaders deliberately waited, waiting for most of the people to leave, before gathering together.

Lin Sicheng also walked over, which counted as greeting the various leaders.

After a few pleasantries, he looked at Wang Zeyu, Tian Chengming, and Song Jingxian: "Leaders, shall we eat first, or go to the office first?"

How could they still have the heart to eat?

Just as Wang Zeyu was about to speak, Dean Jing took a step forward, half-serious and half-joking: "Lin Sicheng, don't mess around. How can we discuss matters on an empty stomach? Even if there's no fire, it will stir up some Fire Qi... Of course, we eat first!"

Mayor Wang was left speechless.

Dean Jing smiled again: "Of course, it's just a simple meal, no alcohol. Once things are settled, I will properly host Mayor Wang..."

That is also right; relax a little to avoid keeping the nerves too tense.

Wang Zeyu nodded, and the group went to the dining hall.

It was indeed a simple meal; after about half an hour, Lin Sicheng returned to the Center.

But he waited and waited, and there was still no one; he waited for another half an hour, and did not even see a shadow of a person.

He stood by the window and peered for a long while, then dialed Dean Jing's phone: "Dean, where are the people?"

"What people?"

"The people for the negotiation?"

"Why would you need to go negotiate?" Dean Jing said unhurriedly, "Lin Sicheng, from now on you just focus on the technology and worry less about these matters..."

Huh, this tone is not right?

Does it mean that I didn't go, and you didn't go either, Dean, right?

He pressed for an answer, was rebuffed by the Dean, and then the call was hung up.

Lin Sicheng was completely confused: Then who is doing the negotiating?

(End of this chapter)