Chapter 207: Writing Books and Establishing Words

The spring sun was warm, and the glass curtain wall was stained with a layer of pale gold.

The floating snow gradually melted, and the shuttle bus dragged long water marks across the runway. The airplane soared into the sky, and a crisp, booming sound reached the ears.

When they left, they had big bags and small bags; when they returned, not only had the amount not decreased, but there was even more. It filled the trunks of two SUVs, and two more layers were stacked in the back seat of the Mercedes-Benz.

Zhao Da drove the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Zhao Er drove the Mercedes-Benz, and the family of four got into the first vehicle.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Wang Qi Zhi looked left and right: "I don't see where it was punctured?"

Dan Wangshu glared at him.

Given Lin Sicheng's personality, how could he have left it until they returned? He probably finished repairing the car before the New Year was even over.

But that wasn't what Wang Qi Zhi was asking about; he meant the time Lin Sicheng used a screwdriver to poke a hole in the car window.

It wasn't made of paper, was it?

Not wanting to brag indiscriminately in front of the younger generation, Wang Qi Zhi changed the subject: "Boheng, what has your teacher been busy with these past few days?"

"Just training and summarizing: there were two days of public training, one day of internal training, then two days of writing a Thesis, and after that, he and Professor Shang and the Teaching Assistant summarized the data on Yaozhou Porcelain..."

Wang Qi Zhi looked suspicious: "Nothing else?"

"It seems... no?" Zhao Da recalled, "Oh, right, my second uncle came, and my teacher went out for a drink with him!"

Hiss, that's not right, is it?

He had deliberately returned a week late; hadn't his brother-in-law and Lin Sicheng met, or sparked any friction?

Subconsciously, he turned his head and exchanged a look with Dan Wangshu.

The couple was exactly the same: surprise mixed with suspicion, astonishment mixed with confusion.

Ye Anning pretended not to hear and kept her head down, saying nothing.

The two definitely hadn't met, otherwise Zhao Da would have known, and Wang Qi Zhi didn't ask further.

Chatting along the way, about an hour later, the car drove into the school.

Most of the things they brought were for gifts, and being too lazy to carry them upstairs, Wang Qi Zhi had Zhao Da drive the car to the Backdoor of the Center, preparing to put them in the Treasury.

Just as he got out of the car, he paused: students were coming and going from time to time, and they looked vaguely familiar; they seemed to be graduate students from the department.

Seeing Wang Qi Zhi, they stopped instinctively, then bowed to say hello.

Huh, suddenly so polite?

Wang Qi Zhi stopped two boys: "I remember you are third-year students in the Archaeology Department, what are you doing running around here?"

The two students bowed slightly: "Professor Wang, Teacher Lin is holding a training course here, and our advisor recommended we come and give it a try!"

Wang Qi Zhi was stunned again: he knew about the Center expanding the training; he and Shang Yan had even decided on it. The goal was to absorb a few students from the graduating class, cultivate them in advance, and provide targeted training.

It was just training, not a job, so there was no salary, let alone subsidies; it was a case of "willing fish taking the bait." So Wang Qi Zhi had assumed not many would sign up.

But looking at the situation, in just two or three minutes, seven or eight people had gone in and out.

The key was, their advisor recommended they come?

No... Lin Sicheng holds a training session, and he even needs advisors to help them use the Backdoor?

Feeling like something was wrong, he let Zhao Da call people to move the items, and Wang Qi Zhi walked into the exhibition hall in two or three strides.

The people were still the same: two Interns were temporarily acting as receptionists, but they hadn't noticed anyone entering at all; they were huddled head-to-head behind the small bar, whispering something.

Walking closer, he saw the two of them holding pens, one biting the pen barrel, the other gritting their teeth. Their expressions were identical: frowning and twisting their faces, looking as miserable as could be.

Having taught for nearly ten years, he knew at a glance that they had encountered a difficult problem they couldn't solve.

Looking closer, there were two neatly written lines of titles:

Artifact Research on the Craft Restoration of Carved Flower Craft of Yaozhou Porcelain in Ancient Ceramic Non-Destructive Restoration.

Living Inheritance Path of Yaozhou Porcelain Restoration Technique from the Perspective of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Huh, not bad, after the New Year, they suddenly knew how to be ambitious?

It seems this training Lin Sicheng organized was quite successful.

Wang Qi Zhi didn't make a sound and even deliberately lightened his footsteps. The two girls didn't notice him until he had walked quite a distance past them.

Just as they were about to greet him, Wang Qi Zhi waved his hand: "Keep writing!"

As he spoke, he entered the office.

Zhao Xiuneng was sitting on the sofa with paper in one hand and a pen in the other, not knowing what he was writing. Seeing Wang Qi Zhi, he stood up quickly.

Just as he was about to exchange pleasantries, he saw the printed papers on the coffee table, and Wang Qi Zhi was stunned on the spot: Research on the Porcelain Making Craft of Yaozhou Kiln and Its Development Context.

No... General Manager Zhao, what are you trying to do?

The Interns outside are writing a Thesis, and you are writing a Thesis too?

No, this is more than a Thesis... this is trying to publish a book!

Just looking at this title, it's clear he intends to start from the origin of Yaozhou Porcelain and, following the chronological context of the Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, to the end of the Qing and Republic of China, sort out the evolution of the kiln industry technology of the Yaozhou Kiln.

It would have to cover at least six dynasties and over a thousand years, and it would need to include analysis of museum collections, firing techniques, coverage and refractive influences, the relevance of related domestic and foreign porcelain kilns, as well as decorative techniques, cultural dissemination, and academic history.

This is not just a review, but a scholarly work; to explain it clearly, the number of theses would have to be counted in the "hundreds."

It's no exaggeration; let alone General Manager Zhao, even with this title, if you called Lin Zhangqing and Shang Yan over to ask them, they wouldn't dare entertain the thought.

Let's guess again, what is General Manager Zhao's education level? He didn't even finish elementary school.

The so-called landlords, rich peasants, counter-revolutionaries, and bad elements—that's what they called his father and grandfather; how could he go to school?

Just as he was stunned, Zhao Xiuneng looked bitter, his brows furrowed even deeper than the two Interns in the exhibition hall: "Professor Wang, you know, I haven't been to school for many days, and Junior Brother Lin insists I memorize this?"

What, memorize?

Lin Sicheng wrote it?

Looking closer again: except for the title, the rest was all an outline, not a Thesis, and there was no substantive content.

That's more like it.

He breathed a sigh of relief, but was still a bit suspicious: "Why did Lin Sicheng ask you to memorize this?"

"Junior Brother Lin said, when the book is printed, he'll put my name on the back!"

What?

Does that mean Lin Sicheng is going to publish a book?

Lin Sicheng, you're something else; I've only been away for half a month, and you're already launching a satellite?

"General Manager Zhao, where is he?"

"On the third floor!"

"Alright, General Manager Zhao, you go back first!"

Wang Qi Zhi didn't have time to care about the pitiful-looking Zhao Xiuneng, and he went upstairs with a "thump, thump, thump."

Just as he stepped out of the third-floor stairwell, he was stunned again.

The spacious conference room was nearly half full. Eight or nine students were surrounding the podium, their expressions respectful.

Wang Qi Zhi couldn't see Lin Sicheng, but he could hear his voice.

"Senior Brother, this piece of yours won't work: 'The Chai Kiln Characteristics Possessed by Five Dynasties Yaozhou Celadon'... I did indeed mention that day that Yaozhou Celadon and Chai Kiln Celadon have similarities, but that is only because part of the porcelain-making craft originated from the Yue Kiln... You cannot just rely on 'possibility' to conflate the two...

Believe me, the moment they see the title, the journal will PASS you... Of course, as a Master Thesis, it should be no problem..."

"Senior Sister, this one of yours won't work either: 'A Comparative Study on the Dating Characteristics of Song Dynasty Yaozhou Kiln Celadon'. You are studying conservation and Artifact Restoration, yet you are arguing for authentication and dating; you won't even pass the advisor's hurdle. However, you could try submitting it to a relevant journal..."

"Oh, this one is good: 'A Study on the Song Dynasty Yaozhou Kiln Five-Foot Incense Burner'... Senior Brother, you can appropriately expand the scope of the lid: for example, Tripod-Style Burner, Flower-Style Incense Burner, Openwork Multi-Layer Incense Burner... These are all classic vessel types among Song Dynasty Yaozhou Incense Burners...

How about this, make the research scope a little larger: 'A Study on Song Dynasty Yaozhou Kiln Incense Burners'... If the data and index are a bit more detailed, as a Master Thesis, there will basically be no problem..."

Lin Sicheng was basically reading ten lines at a glance, but every point was hit with a Needle; he could point out the problems in the Thesis with a quick scan.

Whether the graduate students were listening or convinced, it was hard to say, but Li Zhen and Shang Yan, sitting to the side, were already completely convinced.

And there was Lin Zhangqing; whenever Lin Sicheng explained something a bit more or something special, he would call the students over and look at it again with Shang Yan.

After reading each one, the two would look at each other, strange expressions appearing in their pupils: judging by this level of Thesis guidance, it didn't seem any worse than theirs?

The key was that it was damn fast; he guided a Thesis in three to five minutes and even provided revision suggestions—have you ever seen that?

Just as they were feeling shocked and suspicious, the light in front of them dimmed, and the two looked up subconsciously.

"Oh, Professor Wang..."

Wang Qi Zhi nodded hurriedly, pressed the two down, and took a glance in passing: wasn't this the very piece about the Song Dynasty Yaozhou Kiln Incense Burner that Lin Sicheng had just mentioned?

After a rough scan, Wang Qi Zhi nodded secretly: it was indeed good; the coverage was a bit broader, more than enough for a Master Thesis.

Turning to the second page, in the blank space at the end of the Thesis, Lin Sicheng had written a few lines:

Vessel types: Five-Foot Incense Burner, Tripod-Style Burner, Flower-Style Incense Burner, Openwork Multi-Layer Incense Burner, Bean-Style Burner...

Thesis direction: decoration, patterns, glaze color...

Key points and features: Song Dynasty aesthetics, artistic connotation...

Wang Qi Zhi was taken aback: no wonder there were so many students in the conference room?

Just these three lines, from the argument to the direction, and then to the key points, were both straight to the point and comprehensive.

To use an analogy: it's like a chef teaching an Apprentice to cook; not only is everything chopped, but the seasonings are also prepared. He even clearly marks which step to add what, how high to set the heat, and how many times to stir.

If you still can't cook after that, then you're a pig!

Wang Qi Zhi turned his head back, staring straight ahead.

But it was useless; Lin Sicheng was surrounded tightly by students, how could he be seen?

After finishing the guidance for one, the student bowed deeply and left with a look of gratitude. Suddenly, another one stood up and gathered by the podium.

As one left, another came; Li Zhen was just writing numbers with a fountain pen, and there wasn't even a moment to catch a breath?

Wang Qi Zhi stared for a long while: "Professor Lin, Professor Shang, it can't be that all the graduate students in the school have come, right?"

The latest novels are first released here!

How many graduate students are there?

Shang Yan sighed: "There are also the graduating undergraduates!"

Wang Qi Zhi looked stunned: "How did this happen?"

"Just on Monday and Tuesday, Lin Sicheng held two days of open training. Maybe he talked about too much, so Dean Geng and Dean Jing said to let Lin Sicheng organize it and see if he could produce a review related to the Yaozhou Kiln."

"Lin Sicheng said he didn't have time, so Dean Geng and Dean Jing said: 'It doesn't matter, he provides the direction and arguments, and the students write the Thesis. What can be used will be used, and what can't be used can still provide him with some supplementary data...' And then, starting the day before yesterday, it became like this here..."

No... what is the concept of a review... letting students act as guns for Lin Sicheng?

If it were just ordinary training, the school leaders would definitely not make such a rash decision. So, nine times out of ten, it must be because of what Lin Sicheng said at the training session.

Wang Qi Zhi pondered secretly, and just as he was about to ask, Lin Sicheng's voice came again: "Who wrote this? 'A Brief Discussion on the Sky Blue Glaze Formulation of the Song Dynasty Yaozhou Kiln'... This is a lost and restored technology; there are no ancient documents, and no data to index. The Tongchuan formula has never been made public, so how can you discuss it?"

"What, I know, you want to ask for my advice? This classmate, do you want me to see what a courtroom looks like, or do you want me to taste what boiled Chinese cabbage looks like? Come, the door is over there..."

"And this piece: 'Solutions to the Expansion Differences of the Five Dynasties Yaozhou Kiln Inverted Pot'... Really, what you wrote under the title is redundant even if called bullshit; you might as well just write one line: 'Lin Sicheng, write a Thesis for me, I want to publish in Sci'..."

"What, your advisor assigned it? Bullshit, if your advisor told you to write this, I'll cut my head off... Li Zhen, remember the names of these two; if they dare to enter the Center in the future, kick them out..."

At first, Wang Qi Zhi was still wondering: with Lin Sicheng's personality, he would actually get angry?

But listening carefully, his own Fire Qi rose too: what kind of bullshit are these two? Lin Sicheng isn't your father, is he?

Expansion differences of the Inverted Pot... if he knew how, he would have published it himself; would it be your turn?

Immediately, he froze again: wait, something's not right?

If Lin Sicheng hadn't talked about it at the training session, how would these two graduate students know about Sky Blue Glaze formulation or Inverted Pot expansion?

Stunned in his heart, he stared tightly at Shang Yan and Lin Zhangqing.

The two were calm and composed, and then, Shang Yan pointed to the side.

Turning his head abruptly, Wang Qi Zhi's pupils shrank:

In the display cabinet next to them, seven or eight pieces of porcelain were placed, delicate and moist, shining brilliantly.

They were definitely imitations, but the problem was, weren't the plate and the pot in the middle the Sky Blue Glaze and the Inverted Pot?

Wang Qi Zhi knows about the Sky Blue Glaze, as do Shang Yan and Lin Zhangqing, plus Zhao Xiuneng.

But the Inverted Pot—he hadn't even heard Lin Sicheng mention it...

Wang Qi Zhi's eyes widened: "Where did it come from? Did Lin Sicheng replicate it?"

"Yes, he and Li Zhen, along with Xiao Yuzhu—the three of them used just one day!" Shang Yan sighed wistfully. "At first, he only said he wanted to try it out, so Professor Lin and I didn't pay much attention... As it turned out, the next day, he brought the pot out..."

"According to him, he used the 'Inverted Triple-Firing Method,' which is slightly more complex than the 'Multiple Re-Firing' used in Blue and White Porcelain Restoration or the 'Multi-Point Multi-Firing' used in Copper-bodied Enamel Restoration..."

Isn't that obvious?

Those two tubes inside an Inverted Pot have a specific term in ceramics studies: anomalous vessel.

Not to mention the thinness, it must also be hollow; whether during the initial firing or the re-firing, the fire can only reach the exterior, so the inside and outside will inevitably heat unevenly, subsequently leading to deformation and cracking.

Therefore, one must not only solve the expansion difference between the tubes and the pot body, but also the expansion difference between the exterior and interior of the tubes.

If it were that easy to solve, why would it have troubled several institutions for over twenty years?

Honestly, if not for the surrounding students, Wang Qi Zhi would have already grabbed Lin Sicheng: he just "tried it out," and he succeeded?

Just on the sixth day of the lunar new year, Lin Sicheng had called him to ask when he would be back, and Wang Qi Zhi had said the tenth.

Lin Sicheng mentioned the training, and also said he wanted to try replicating a few pieces of Yaozhou Porcelain to use as specimens during the training.

At the time, Wang Qi Zhi's mind was entirely on whether anything might happen with his brother-in-law having gone to Xijing, so he hadn't thought much of it. Thus, he assumed Lin Sicheng was only replicating ordinary vessel shapes, at most replicating the Sky Blue Glaze, or perhaps tea-dust glaze.

Who would have known he would produce an Inverted Pot?

No, why didn't you just say so?

If I had known he was replicating an Inverted Pot, would I have cared about any brother-in-law?

The more Wang Qi Zhi thought about it, the more he regretted it; he stared at the Inverted Pot in the cabinet, baring his teeth and twisting his face, just as if he had a toothache.

"Then, Lin Sicheng just nonchalantly took that pot to the training session? And then, just started lecturing?"

Shang Yan nodded and sighed again: "It wasn't exactly nonchalant: just as he started lecturing, the people from Tongchuan chased after him?"

What the hell?

Wang Qi Zhi was suddenly stunned: "They didn't fight?"

"How could they? The team was led by Mayor Wang, not to mention there were so many leaders, professors, and students present?"

"And then?"

"There is no 'and then'? Lin Sicheng just lectured normally; he only touched on the surface of the Sky Blue Glaze and the Inverted Pot, then talked about the evolution of Yaozhou Porcelain craftsmanship across dynasties, with the focus still on the technical characteristics and restoration points of the mainstream vessel shapes of each dynasty..."

"Dean felt his lecture was very comprehensive, and after discussing it with Director Geng, the two of them unanimously suggested he compile it to see if he could produce a review..."

No, that's not what I'm asking!

No, this actually does need to be asked... The so-called establishing a reputation through writing—no matter how many theses one writes, at most one is just a professor. Only by forming a systematic body of knowledge can one be called a scholar.

Wang Qi Zhi just felt that for Lin Sicheng, it was a bit too early, and there was absolutely no need to rush.

What surprised him was the Sky Blue Glaze and the Inverted Pot.

If the former was the livelihood of the Tongchuan Porcelain Research Institute and several large ceramic factories, then the latter was the very foundation of their existence.

One was their means of living, the other their spiritual sustenance. Lin Sicheng, however, lectured about it in front of so many people, which was equivalent to a "Crack!"—he snapped it all in two.

Believe it or not, in a few days, once the word gets out, Lin Sicheng's phone will be blown up?

Because it wasn't just the Yaozhou kiln of the Five Dynasties that fired Inverted Pots, right?

There was also the Jin Dynasty's Cizhou Kiln, and even more so, the Yuan Dynasty's Ding Kiln and Jingdezhen. Likewise, the techniques were lost...

What's even stranger is that the people from Tongchuan chased him all the way to Xijing, and even saw it with their own eyes, yet Lin Sicheng is still able to sit here calmly supervising a Thesis?

The more Wang Qi Zhi thought about it, the more suspicious it felt: "No... Wang Zeyu and the others, didn't they give Lin Sicheng any trouble?"

"Trouble isn't the word, though they did say they wanted to have a talk at the time. But I don't know what happened; they went back that very night, and no one has asked or called since!"

Lin Zhangqing looked suspicious, "Lin Sicheng also said these people are quite strange!"

Strange, what's strange about it?

If his brother-in-law hadn't helped him block them, would Wang Qi Zhi change his surname to Lin?

Impressive, Lin Sicheng?

Quietly and without a sound, his brother-in-law had already handled the matter, to the point that Lin Sicheng didn't even know about it.

What does this mean?

It means that even if his brother-in-law wasn't one hundred percent satisfied, he was at least ninety percent or more.

Suddenly, Wang Qi Zhi couldn't sit still.

Saying only that he had just returned, without even entering his home, he went downstairs calmly.

Just after leaving the Center, Wang Qi Zhi dialed Ye Xing'an's number.

After a long talk and beating around the bush, Wang Qi Zhi probed: "Brother-in-law, let's have a drink tonight!"

There was a slight pause on the phone: "Fine, let's have a drink!"

Hanging up the phone, Wang Qi Zhi chuckled: Just as expected...

(End of this chapter)