Chapter 258: If Lin Sicheng Says It Exists, Then It Exists

The matter has been stated to this point; it could not be more blunt.

But Zheng Ming felt that he still had to offer some advice.

He tapped the table and pondered for a moment: "Professor Wang, you know: the experimental samples are too few, and the difficulty of restoring the Egg-white Jade Craft is extremely high..."

"Director Zheng, I know, and Lin Sicheng knows too!" Wang Qi Zhi nodded forcefully, "But the question is, must the procedure be followed, and must the decision be adjusted?"

A single sentence left Zheng Ming speechless.

What is meant by collective deliberation and approval by vote?

Want to change it? Fine, gather all the meeting participants, resubmit, and discuss it again.

The problem is, this sort of thing carries administrative responsibility: at this point, you only just realized you want to change it—doesn't that suggest the direction was wrong from the very beginning?

So many people have wasted so much time; does this count as a loss?

Since the previous resolution was problematic and caused irreparable losses, should the decision-makers not be held accountable?

To give a not-so-great example: why do the persons in charge of every link know that some cases are unjust, yet insist on turning them into ironclad cases?

Adjustment implies negation; the key is that this resolution was made by departments in other provinces, and not just one department.

It would mean holding many leaders accountable, so what kind of pipe dream are you having?

Wang Qi Zhi put down his pen and leaned back: "The original plan must certainly be executed. Furthermore, so many people have been out for nearly four months, and much of the work at their home units has been affected. So, not only must it be executed, it must be executed as soon as possible."

"If everyone gives up on the Egg-white Jade Craft restoration, then the Sub-center can only conduct independent research. Of course, it will not occupy the material quotas of your respective units; we will just finish with what we have already collected and what is in the excavation plan, and that will be that!"

Yao Jianxin raised his hand slightly: "Professor Wang, what about the follow-up research plan?"

Follow-up?

Wang Qi Zhi narrowed his eyes: "Director Yao, you might as well speak more clearly!"

"I mean, for the follow-up research, will the Sub-center conduct it independently, or will we conduct it together?"

Yao Jianxin gave a dry laugh, "After all, resources are limited; it is best to concentrate our strength and conduct collaborative research!"

Is this what you are saying? This was the policy set by Deputy Bureau Chief Zheng at the very beginning of the meeting...

Heh... strengthen collaboration and conduct joint research? Understood, this is because you are afraid that Lin Sicheng will research too quickly and leave all the local research institutions behind?

"Of course it will be independent research by the Sub-center, but Director Yao, rest assured, our research direction will not conflict with yours! Because when the Sub-center was established, it was written clearly in the Technology Authorization Agreement: after the site excavation is completed, the Sub-center is only responsible for the Egg-white Jade Craft restoration!"

If you didn't hear that clearly, then I will be more blunt: whether it is the Sub-center or Lin Sicheng, we only study Egg-white Jade and will not participate in the remaining research after the excavation..."

Wang Qi Zhi looked around with an expressionless face, "If you are still worried, do you want me to write you a letter of guarantee?"

Yao Jianxin was overjoyed: "Professor Wang, you misunderstood, that is not what I meant!"

Wang Qi Zhi snorted: Bullshit, you have it written all over your face, you bastard...

Everyone was stunned for a moment, their faces full of disbelief: that's right, it was indeed written that way in the agreement, but they didn't expect that Lin Sicheng would actually do it?

In archaeological excavation, the difficult part is not the follow-up research, but whether one can discover key remains and find representative sites.

For example, it's like looking for treasure; the hard part is how to find it. As for how to dig it up, even a fool could do it.

The impression Wang Qi Zhi gives now is: they worked hard to find the treasure and even opened the treasury, and now they are just moving it out.

But when it comes time to split the loot, this group that found the treasure and opened the treasury suddenly says they aren't participating anymore?

This abnormal behavior is truly baffling.

"Actually, it's not hard to understand!"

Seeing a group of people looking at him like he was a monster, Wang Qi Zhi tapped the table, "For the Restoration Center, our goal is to learn the craft, ensure the diversity of restoration techniques, and increase the success rate of the World Heritage Application."

According to the agreement, the Yuncheng Department and General Engineer Shui have already handed over the technical data for the Chengni Inkstone, Pingding Black Flower, and sandware to us, which means we have perfectly achieved our goal and exceeded expectations."

"For the Field Research Institute, the Archaeology Team, and Professor Huang Zhifeng, their task is only one: to assist Lin Sicheng in finding the Song Dynasty site, collecting enough experimental samples, and restoring the Egg-white Jade firing craft."

By now, the site has been found, the Egg-white Jade has been found, and the necessary experiments have been done. As for the samples being too few, that is an external and irresistible factor; no one can blame anyone for that. Even if the leaders are unreasonable, they can't expect us to conjure tons of Egg-white Jade out of thin air, right?"

A burst of laughter erupted in the meeting room.

When the sound quieted down a bit, Wang Qi Zhi continued: "In this way, it means every group has completed its task; the only one who hasn't completed his task is Lin Sicheng. If he can't restore the craft, that is his business; so many people cannot be expected to waste time with him."

Even if the leaders were willing to let everyone waste time with him, we would only see it through to the end: with the sole purpose of restoring the craft, it is impossible to do any follow-up archaeological research, otherwise, it would be like riding a donkey to look for a horse—going in the opposite direction... Can everyone understand me when I put it this way?"

It is indeed understandable. But understanding is one thing, and being able to accept it is another.

No matter how shameless the leaders present were, they could not erase Lin Sicheng's contribution and merit. Among the five sites and five major directions, Wang Qi Zhi would certainly be allowed to pick first.

With Lin Sicheng's guidance and research ability, as well as the tacit cooperation with Huang Zhifeng's team, plus the fact that they got a head start, the Sub-center's research progress has already left the other ten units in the dust.

Not to mention anything else, just the journal Thesis—wouldn't they be getting them until their hands went soft?

Does this mean that for the results and honors that are about to be within reach, Lin Sicheng says he will give them up and says he doesn't want them?

Shui Jisheng thought for a moment and sighed: "Professor Wang, should we shelve this for now and seek Xiao Lin's opinion?"

"No need!" Wang Qi Zhi shook his head decisively, "I am his teacher, and even more so the outreach person in charge of the Restoration Center; my meaning is his meaning!"

Everyone was stunned: he really doesn't want them?

No, how much of a waste is this?

Not to mention anything else, wouldn't the experimental data and phased results in Huang Zhifeng's hands all be useless?

Oh no... they are only useless to Lin Sicheng. To the other centers, those materials couldn't be more useful: at the very least, they could save them several months of time.

Suddenly, the eyes of several people lit up.

Subconsciously, Yao Jianxin's heart could not stop pounding; he endured and endured, thought and thought.

He also knew that if he brought it up, it would look quite ugly, and he would definitely be criticized behind his back later. But if he didn't bring it up now, there would definitely be no chance later.

Even if he brought it up, Wang Qi Zhi might very well refuse, or even scold him, but what if?

It's a waste just sitting there; who cares who gets it?

In a flash, he gritted his teeth, his face full of smiles: "Professor Wang, I have a proposal: since the Sub-center is not participating in the follow-up research, could the research data from Professor Huang's laboratory be shared?"

No, what the hell are you saying?

Shared?

Wang Qi Zhi was stunned.

He had guessed these people might be shameless, but he hadn't expected them to be *this* shameless?

Subconsciously, he recalled the words Lin Sicheng said before leaving: "This meeting will probably test one's patience. Teacher, if you can't stand it, just have a row. It doesn't matter..."

It seems he had already anticipated what these people wanted to do back then.

To be honest, it wasn't just a matter of not being able to stand it; Wang Qi Zhi felt his heart was about to explode... He really wanted to point at Yao Jianxin's nose and greet his ancestors for eighteen generations.

But the moment he thought of Lin Sicheng's subsequent plan, he forcibly held his breath.

*I'll endure it. But there will be a time when you'll be crying... *

Wang Qi Zhi let out a sharp breath, then let out a "Heh": "Director Yao, how about this: I'll notify Professor Huang to withdraw his people immediately and clear out the laboratory for you. Including the experimental data, chemical analysis materials, and all the samples and Cultural Relics that Lin Sicheng spent millions collecting in the early stages—I'll leave them all to you?"

"And don't bother executing any plans, and Lin Sicheng doesn't need to restore any Egg-white Jade Craft either. He can just roll back to Xijing as soon as possible, take responsibility where he should, and write his self-criticism where he should!"

Yao Jianxin's face turned red with a "thump": "Professor Wang, that's not what I meant..."

Wang Qi Zhi sneered: "Then what did you mean? I've said so much, and it all went into a donkey's ears, right? Fine, I'll say it again: Lin Sicheng has only one task: to restore the Egg-white Jade Craft!"

"If the materials and samples are insufficient and the restoration cannot be completed, that is caused by objective factors. Even if the leadership is dissatisfied, at most they can only say his ability is lacking. But he hasn't even had a chance to work yet, and you're asking him to share his data? If he shares it, will he still be able to finish the remaining work?"

"If he doesn't do it, that becomes a matter of his attitude. Director Yao, you've been a Researcher for at least ten or twenty years, and you've spent half your life in the bureaucracy; do I need to teach you what is light and what is heavy?"

Wang Qi Zhi paused and looked around: "Even if you want to kill the donkey after it has finished grinding the grain, don't you have to wait for the donkey to finish grinding? Wait, hold on... for you people, has Lin Sicheng's grinding already finished?"

Before he even finished speaking, Yao Jianbo's face looked like a paint shop had opened: a flash of green, a flash of black, a flash of red, and then a flash of white.

It wasn't just him; everyone's face changed: *Professor Wang, oh Professor Wang, this is a meeting; are these words meant to be said here? *

The Clerk held a pen, eyes bulging out: *How the hell am I supposed to record this? *

The faces of Zheng Ming and Jiang Chengying turned as black as the bottom of a pot: Why did they choose to hold the meeting when Lin Sicheng wasn't there?

It was precisely because they were afraid that Lin Sicheng, being young and hot-blooded, wouldn't be able to control his emotions and would cause a scene on the spot. But they hadn't expected it to turn into this anyway?

It's all that idiot Yao Jianxin's fault: pushing your luck is one thing, but you did it in front of so many people?

Well, you've really stirred up a hornet's nest now, haven't you?

Zheng Ming hurriedly tried to smooth things over: "Professor Wang, you've misunderstood; please calm your anger first..."

"Director Zheng, I'm not angry. If I were angry, I would have flipped the table!" Wang Qi Zhi said slowly, tapping the conference table, "The kind that actually flips!"

The group of people was collectively stunned for a moment.

Sun Jiamu sighed: *Do you really think he wouldn't dare to flip it? *

It wasn't as if he hadn't flipped one before, and that was in front of a vice-ministerial level leader.

These people were indeed going too far: the focus of this survey and excavation was the Egg-white Jade, which was agreed upon by both sides and written into the Agreement at the beginning of the establishment of the Sub-center. That much is correct, right?

It's just that the local side didn't expect Lin Sicheng to find so many sites, nor did they expect them all to be major, subversive historical discoveries. Putting oneself in their shoes, from the perspective of the local department, it is understandable to respond to the situation and adjust the focus of work.

But you can't have your cake and eat it too, right?

Letting the Sub-center of the prefecture-level city lead the subsequent excavation and research, especially when this center carried an out-of-province prefix, was indeed a bit of a slap in the face. So, when you naturally snatched away the subsequent leadership, Wang Qi Zhi didn't make a peep.

Afterward, you pushed your luck and divided up the few Egg-white Jade samples that remained. To put it bluntly, this is killing the donkey after it has finished grinding: because this was Lin Sicheng's main task, if you divide up all the samples, what the hell is he supposed to research with later?

Of course, it might have been out of the realization that even without dividing them, even if all the samples were given to Lin Sicheng, it wouldn't be enough to support the research into restoring the craft, so Wang Qi Zhi still didn't object.

Then, this "Joint Research Group" was established in a grand manner. It sounded quite nice, letting Lin Sicheng be in charge. But even a fool knew why he was asked to be in charge: he had the most samples in his hands, he started the earliest, and his research progress was the fastest.

The scheming was quite good, but they hadn't considered Lin Sicheng at all: he had a large group of people under him; if he joined this group and became the Group Leader, what would happen to the people under him?

Therefore, Wang Qi Zhi refused without hesitation.

Then, when one plan failed, another was hatched: *The people under you are hard to arrange, right? Then why don't they all come over, and we can all research together? *

They kept talking about concentrating resources and concentrating strength, yet they never mentioned the materials Lin Sicheng spent millions to collect, nor did they mention that his progress was several months ahead of theirs—it was a classic case of moral kidnapping.

Unsurprisingly, Wang Qi Zhi refused again. Fearing that these people would continue to pester him, Wang Qi Zhi even stated directly: Lin Sicheng would withdraw from all subsequent research.

What did this amount to?

It was like a general who had first scaled the walls and broken the city, winning a great victory, only to corner the dying enemy general and, with a mere flick of his blade, achieve complete Merit.

But for the sake of internal stability, he handed the credit over to others. That's magnanimous enough, selfless enough, and self-sacrificing enough, right?

Yet, no one expected that even after conceding to this point, these people would still not be satisfied and would once again push their luck?

Asking Lin Sicheng to share his data?

If he shared his phased data, what the hell would Lin Sicheng have left to research regarding the Egg-white Jade? Wouldn't that be equivalent to cutting off his path and smashing his rice bowl?

According to Wang Qi Zhi's usual temperament, he would have flipped the table long ago. The fact that he didn't stand up and point at their noses to curse them was already a sign of how much he had endured and conceded...

Zheng Ming and Jiang Chengying realized belatedly that things had gone beyond their control and they had gone a bit too far.

The two couldn't help but feel some regret: actually, the first time Yao Jianxin raised his hand to ask if the Sub-center would participate in subsequent research, they had already guessed what Yao Jianxin wanted to do.

The two did indeed want to test where Lin Sicheng's bottom line was. They just hadn't expected Yao Jianbo's ambition to be so great—great to the point of being completely shameless?

And they hadn't expected Wang Qi Zhi's reaction to be so intense, directly poking the matter open and bringing it to the table?

If it were just an internal meeting, the problem wouldn't be that big; it would be nothing more than pacifying him first and then discussing it. But as luck would have it, there was also Sun Jiamu from the Ministry present at the meeting.

Killing the donkey after it has finished grinding, returning evil for good... was this going to throw people's reputations all the way to Beijing?

The more they thought about it, the more embarrassing it became, and Zheng Ming and Jiang Chengying wished they could slap Yao Jianbo twice. But the deed was done; what was the point of killing him now?

The two exchanged a look, and just as they were pondering how to ease the atmosphere, Wang Qi Zhi straightened his back: "Since this is a discussion and exploration, I'll say a few words too: Lin Sicheng and I both agree that the difficulty of restoring the Egg-white Jade Craft is high."

"If it is finally decided to stop the research on the restoration of the Egg-white Jade Craft and turn to researching subsidiary crafts, we have no objections. But this will mean that the Agreement we signed with the City Government and the Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau will cease to be performed."

"However, I must make it clear: it is not a withdrawal, but the end of the cooperative task with Yuncheng and the Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau. Moving forward, the Xida Cultural Relics Center will certainly continue the research, and it will be independent research. Everyone should be able to understand this, right?"

Of course they understood; it was written in black and white in the terms: after the excavation of the site was completed, the Sub-center would be responsible for the restoration of the Egg-white Jade Craft; if the Cultural Relics Bureau decided to abandon the research, the Agreement would naturally terminate.

If Lin Sicheng insisted, then neither the process nor the result would have anything to do with this side.

But no one spoke.

Wang Qi Zhi tapped the table again: "Parting ways early is parting ways, and parting ways late is still parting ways. Since that's the case, it's better to part ways early, which can also save the government some wages. Oh, right..."

As if he had just remembered, Wang Qi Zhi smiled again, "It seems we won't be able to wait for the complete excavation of the Beijian Geda Site, but at least we can save you all some more specimens. That's a good thing!"

What a load of crap.

Before the words were even finished, the faces of Zheng Ming and Jiang Chengying turned green. The persons in charge of the dozen or so centers were all equally embarrassed.

Let me translate Wang Qi Zhi's words for you: You want to discard the millstone once the donkey is done grinding, right? Fine, I'll do it myself; you don't even need to lift a finger. See, isn't that considerate?

The problem is, Sun Jiamu was also sitting there as an observer.

Zheng Ming let out a breath and squeezed out a smile: "Professor Wang, don't be impulsive. Why don't you wait for Lin Sicheng to return and discuss it further?

Besides, Jiang Chengying and I will look into it. If it doesn't work out, we can just dissolve the Joint Research Group. After the Beijian Geda excavation, we will distribute all the Luanbai Jade samples to the Sub-center. How does that sound?"

Do I look like a beggar to you?

"Thank you, Director Zheng, but no need. A broken mirror is hard to mend, and spilled water is hard to retrieve. Since things have reached this point, it's as if the little bit of face we had left has been torn to shreds. If we continue to cooperate, how are we supposed to get along in the future?"

"I'm going back now to write my report and will try to submit it by this afternoon. By tomorrow at the latest, Professor Huang will be able to clear out the laboratory..."

Wang Qi Zhi stood up directly, "Apologies, I'll be taking my leave!"

He left just like that, without the slightest hesitation.

Watching Wang Qi Zhi pack up his materials and leave his seat, Zheng Ming and Jiang Chengying looked at each other.

Is this really the end of the partnership?

How did things develop to this point?

Blame Yao Jianxin?

But if Zheng Ming hadn't set the tone, how would Yao Jianxin have dared to be so presumptuous? It was just that he was quick-witted and immediately grasped the subtext of those eight words: strengthen collaboration, conduct joint research.

The problem is, should they stop him now or not? Should they persuade him or not?

If you persuade him, what are you using to persuade him?

Is it the leading authority over subsequent excavation research, or the autonomy for independent research?

When all is said and done, the prefix of Lin Sicheng's Sub-center is "Xida," not Shanxi...

Thinking this over in secret, the group watched helplessly as Wang Qi Zhi left the conference room.

The conference room was extremely quiet, quiet to an eerie degree.

After a long silence, Zheng Ming sighed: "Division Chief Sun, I've let you see a joke!"

Sun Jiamu was dead serious: "In work, how can there not be disagreements? It's very normal!"

Let's just assume that's how you interpret it.

Zheng Ming nodded: "For the subsequent excavation guidance, I will still need to ask for Division Chief Sun's help!"

A strange look flashed in the depths of Sun Jiamu's eyes: "It is my duty!"

"Thank you, Division Chief Sun!"

At this point, today's meeting naturally could not continue. After chatting for a few more sentences, Zheng Ming announced the end of the meeting.

Sun Jiamu stood up first, and the persons in charge of each department left the conference room one after another. Just as before the meeting, Zheng Ming, Jiang Chengying, and Shui Jisheng remained until the end.

After having the secretary change the tea and closing the door, Zheng Ming gave a long sigh: "I didn't expect Wang Qi Zhi to be so rigid?"

Jiang Chengying didn't speak; he was even thinking: If it were Lin Sicheng, would it have been slightly better?

It might have been slightly better, but at most it wouldn't have been this awkward; the result would definitely be the same: since it was unanimously determined that the possibility of restoring the Luanbai Jade craft was zero, what was the point of wasting time and energy?

Once the project was terminated, it meant the cooperation with Lin Sicheng had come to an end.

Moving forward, if Lin Sicheng joined as an individual to participate in subsequent research, whether it was Yuncheng or the Cultural Relics Bureau, everyone from top to bottom would absolutely welcome him with open arms.

It would even be fine to let Lin Sicheng take overall responsibility and continue to serve as General Commander.

If the entire team were still to participate, still under the name of the Xida Restoration Center, there would only be one result: strengthen collaboration, conduct joint research.

To put it bluntly: you must obey, you must listen to command.

But the result has already been seen: Lin Sicheng has no obligation, nor the time, to make contributions for them.

Therefore, parting ways was inevitable. Just as Wang Qi Zhi said: better to part ways sooner than later.

There is only one point: they didn't anticipate the variable of Yao Jianxin, and even less did they expect to make the scene look so ugly?

To say there was no embarrassment or lack of guilt in their hearts would be impossible.

Because when all is said and done, no one can erase Lin Sicheng's efforts and merits: five kiln sites, five first-time discoveries in Shanxi.

Five firsts represent five unique achievements, and they were so concentrated: the time of discovery was concentrated, and the geographical location of the ruins was concentrated; this in itself broke the history within the province.

Just as Division Chief Sun said, applying for the archaeological new discoveries of this year or next year is basically no problem.

Therefore, whether in terms of significance or representativeness, no one can compare. But in the end, Lin Sicheng, the hero, was treated by having the millstone discarded once the donkey was done grinding?

But conversely, one's position determines one's perspective; standing in the shoes of Zheng Ming and Jiang Chengying, they must first be responsible for the locality and the collective.

As for personal feelings, what are those?

Thinking this over in secret, Jiang Chengying had a sudden thought: "Once the agreement is terminated, it means Lin Sicheng and his center are no longer bound. Is there a possibility: that he suddenly restores the firing craft of Luanbai Jade?"

"The possibility is not high!"

Zheng Ming shook his head decisively, "I consulted Sun Jiamu, and he said it was unlikely. But I wasn't entirely at ease, so I entrusted others to inquire, including the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics (Chinese Academy of Sciences Ceramics Research Center), the Forbidden City Ancient Ceramics Research Center, and the Tsinghua University and Peking University key laboratories for ceramics...

The opinions of these institutions were surprisingly consistent: without any documentary records, without any historical materials on the craft and formulas remaining, relying only on limited excavation of ruins and a hundred-plus kilograms of experimental samples to restore a porcelain firing craft lost for a thousand years is no different in difficulty from hand-crafting an Atomic Bomb..."

So, that is why you, Director Zheng, were so confident and wouldn't listen to any persuasion. And then, it turned into this state?

Shui Jisheng sighed secretly.

He also felt it was unlikely, but he always felt something was not quite right: before finding Beijian Geda, Lin Sicheng definitely didn't know how large the next ruin would be, nor did he know how many Cultural Relics could be unearthed, whether there would be Fine White Glazed Porcelain among them, and even if there were, how much.

Then why did he dare to distribute the few pieces of Fine White Glazed Porcelain from the Shangxia Bamu ruins equally at that time?

Based on Lin Sicheng's prestige at the time, even if he had let Huang Zhifeng take everything, absolutely no one would have dared to say anything.

So, it gives the impression that: at that time, Lin Sicheng had already concluded that restoring the Luanbai Jade craft was impossible?

Since there was no hope, naturally he didn't care.

Combined with Wang Qi Zhi today: it seems a bit like he intentionally caused this scene to reduce the responsibility on Lin Sicheng?

The leader looked at them: it is not that Lin Sicheng is not doing Artifact Research, and even less that he lacks the ability, but that Shanxi is killing the donkey the moment it leaves the mill. With only that tiny bit of experimental sample, it was actually divided into six parts; how could the Egg-white Jade Craft be restored this way?

The more Shui Jisheng thought about it, the more he felt it was possible.

He was not the only one who thought this way; Sun Jiamu thought so too.

But as soon as he asked, Wang Qi Zhi sneered: shirking responsibility and blaming others—he, Wang Qi Zhi, could not afford to lose face like that, and Lin Sicheng could afford it even less.

If there were any responsibility to be had, he, as the teacher, would shoulder it alone; how could it ever be Lin Sicheng's turn?

However, he did indeed go with the flow today, because Lin Sicheng had long anticipated that the local side would pull such a stunt: knowing it was impossible, why keep beating one's head against a wall, wasting manpower, material resources, and wealth for nothing?

The project to restore the Egg-white Jade Craft naturally came to an end.

Since they were going to part ways sooner or later, it was better to be decisive and make a clean break. It would also save these people from going back on their word and pestering them endlessly if Lin Sicheng were to make some progress in his research later.

Today was just right: they held the meeting, stated their positions, and formed a resolution. Tomorrow, they would submit another application, and as soon as the relevant leaders signed it, they would each go their own separate ways...

Sun Jiamu thought for a moment: it seemed to make sense?

But regarding what Wang Qi Zhi had just said—in the event that Lin Sicheng discovered something in his research later—Sun Jiamu expressed great doubt.

"A clever housewife cannot cook without rice; if Lin Sicheng wants to do research, he must have something to research!"

"Correct!" Wang Qi Zhi nodded vigorously, "Therefore, Lin Sicheng has gone to find research samples."

Sun Jiamu was stunned for a moment: "Besides Hejin, where else is there Egg-white Jade?"

Wang Qi Zhi shook his head: "I don't know."

He truly did not know, but if Lin Sicheng said there was, then there definitely was!