Chapter 208: Where is your cousin?

The house hadn't had a fire lit in over ten days, so the family went to the canteen.

They ordered a few home-style dishes, and after eating, they packed up two more dishes to go with their drinks.

Two bottles of old Xifeng; the two men clinked glasses from time to time, chatted a bit, and laughed occasionally.

The two didn't talk much, and at first glance, they seemed to have nothing to do with each other. But Wang Qi Zhi could feel, from the somewhat eerie silence, the emotion—even shock—welling up from the bottom of Ye Xing'an's heart.

Is Lin Sicheng outstanding? Is he excellent?

To borrow a line from Lu Xun: his wisdom is near-demonic.

That's no exaggeration; having been his teacher for over half a year, Wang Qi Zhi has always thought so.

The origins of Bronze, rust prevention for ironware—each item could be selected for the National Eleventh Five-Year Plan. Out of thirty-four provinces and cities nationwide, how many could be selected in total?

Wang Qi Zhi's laboratory occupied two of them.

Gold and silver, lacquerware, and ceramic restoration—regardless of which one, any of them could eventually be listed in the National Level Intangible Cultural Heritage catalog. Just look at the reactions of those people in Tongchuan, and you'll know the gold content of this stuff.

Likewise, Lin Sicheng's studio planned three items.

As the saying goes, hearing is false, seeing is believing. To say his brother-in-law was indifferent... his heart isn't made of stone, is it?

Involuntarily, the corners of Wang Qi Zhi's mouth curled up. He picked up the wine bottle and filled Ye Xing'an's glass again.

Then, he got straight to the point: "Brother-in-law, you've seen the person, what do you think?"

Ye Xing'an took a shallow sip and swirled his glass: "So excellent it feels unreal; instead, it feels a bit fake."

Wang Qi Zhi deeply disagreed.

People who don't know him would 99% suspect: Lin Sicheng is only twenty-one, and before this, he hadn't even left Shaanxi; where did he learn this set of skills?

Including Wang Qi Zhi, he had always held a skeptical attitude toward Lin Sicheng's so-called "learned from books" or "deduced in reverse."

But with Yaozhou Porcelain, Lin Sicheng perfectly interpreted what a talent, a genius, is.

Lin Sicheng never hides his secrets, nor does he ever cover things up: if he knows, he knows; if he doesn't, he doesn't. So Wang Qi Zhi knows very well that he really doesn't know much about Yaozhou Porcelain.

At least not as proficiently as Blue and White, Famille Rose, or Enamel; at most, it counts as knowing the basics.

That's why Lin Sicheng ran off to Tongchuan in the dead of winter to observe and learn. He endured humiliation, swallowed his pride, and stubbornly learned for twenty days.

If it were Wang Qi Zhi, twenty days would probably only get him from "basics" to an introduction. Never mind deducing any craftsmanship; just understanding the evolutionary process and the technical system of Yaozhou Porcelain would be good enough.

But Lin Sicheng drew inferences about other cases from one instance; not only did he learn it, he cracked the core craftsmanship and technology completely clean.

The other side didn't even come out with a single word of complaint: Celadon and Sky Blue Glaze could still be called Lin Sicheng stealing the craft, but they hadn't even researched the tea-dust glaze or the Inverted Pot yet, so how could Lin Sicheng steal them?

Likewise, Lin Sicheng didn't hide or cover anything up regarding how he researched, how he cracked, and how he deduced it. Including Wang Qi Zhi, Shang Yan, Lin Zhangqing, Li Zhen, the studio's Researchers, and Interns... these people witnessed it with their own eyes from beginning to end.

From nothing to something, knowing one thing and understanding ten, drawing parallels, and finally achieving a thorough mastery... isn't this self-taught without a master?

Don't believe it? Come, here is an Inverted Pot, you try to imitate it for me?

Compared to that, Wang Qi Zhi felt that what must have left the deepest impression on his brother-in-law was his character and moral fiber.

That Shanhulu pot Zhao Xiuxian sent—he said he didn't want it, so he didn't want it; is this treating treasures like dirt?

Is Li Zhen's personality good? Is she pretty? Wang Qi Zhi thinks that, setting aside her family background, she is on par with Ye Anning.

Look again at Lin Sicheng's usual attitude and his eyes... is this treating beauty like a skull?

And, he is insatiable in learning and tireless in teaching.

This is probably what touched his brother-in-law the most: think about it, Lin Sicheng himself is still just a student...

After sighing for a long time, Wang Qi Zhi raised his glass: "Brother-in-law, I'll say it again: from my position, he is first and foremost my student. As for what he will be in the future, I think it's better to let nature take its course..."

Ye Xing'an was stunned, caught between laughter and tears, "No... Old Third, is that how you see me?"

"Brother-in-law, I didn't mean that! I'm afraid you'll be too eager to cherish talent and pull up the seedlings to help them grow!"

Wang Qi Zhi had a suspicious expression, "Besides, Lin Sicheng has his own plans; as they say, haste makes waste..."

Ye Xing'an was taken aback: come to think of it, he really did have a bit of that thought.

He thought for a moment, then nodded: "Fine!"

Wang Qi Zhi secretly breathed a sigh of relief: Is it easy for me to come across a good student?

If someone tries to snatch him, he'll fight anyone; even his brother-in-law won't do...

The two sipped their wine, speaking in gentle, laughing tones.

In the restaurant where Dan Wangshu and Ye Anning were sitting, they put their heads together to make a list: what to send to this family, what to send to that family.

They made a separate list for Lin Sicheng's family; the items weren't expensive, but they were exquisite enough and thoughtful enough.

After checking it once more, Dan Wangshu pushed it forward: "You drive it over tomorrow!"

"Ah?" Ye Anning was startled, "Me alone?"

"Have some backbone; his mom and dad don't eat people, what are you nervous about?"

"Anyway, I'm not going alone!" Ye Anning mumbled, "I'll call Lin Sicheng to go with me!"

"Suit yourself!"

As soon as she finished speaking, a "buzz" sounded, and the two glanced over in unison.

Huh, Lin Sicheng?

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.

Ye Anning picked it up, hummed, and then stood up with her phone.

Just as she was about to walk toward the bedroom, Dan Wangshu grabbed her: "Where are you going? Talk right here!"

She was afraid the two would start arguing again.

The latest novels are first published here!

"Talk here, talk here." Ye Anning muttered as she sat down, and said directly: "Where is your cousin?"

Dan Wangshu was stunned, covering her mouth and giggling.

Although it was very selfish, from a woman's perspective, she really should be angry: you've only known each other for one day, and you're already taking a bullet for someone?

"Where would there be a cousin? I do have a female cousin, though!"

Smooth-talker.

Ye Anning pursed her lips, "Did you just get off work?"

"Yeah, had some things to do, stayed a bit longer!"

The sound of a door locking came through the phone, "I'm off tomorrow, want me to treat you to a meal?"

"Hiss..."

Before the hiss was finished, she was glared back by Dan Wangshu, and Ye Anning pouted, "You're thinking about your Famille Rose cup and Shen Du's calligraphy, aren't you?"

"They won't go missing, what would I be thinking about?"

Lin Sicheng didn't care at all, "Tomorrow is the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, there's a folk performance parade, I'll take you to see the yangge dance."

Huh, did the sun rise in the west?

Ye Anning fluttered her eyes, peering at Dan Wangshu.

Dan Wangshu was also quite surprised: Wang Qi Zhi came back saying that in the training room on the third floor of the Center, the graduate students asking Lin Sicheng for guidance on their Thesis had piled up like a mountain.

Where would he find the time to watch the yangge dance?

Just as she was feeling suspicious, Lin Sicheng sighed, "The school really isn't human, using me like a donkey: if I didn't shoo them away, these Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters would have surrounded me until tomorrow morning... I'm hiding for a day!"

"Pfft~"

Ye Anning laughed out loud, "You deserve it!"

"Just tell me, are you going or not?"

"Going!"

Lin Sicheng was asking her out, it was like the New Year, of course she was going.

"Bring Youjian along too!"

Just as Ye Anning was about to speak, the little fatty was shrinking back at the doorway, "Senior Brother, I'm not going!"

"Right!" Dan Wangshu nodded with a smile, "He's not going!"

(End of chapter)