Chapter 294: Encouragement

The sky brightened, and a thin mist drifted through the garden, like torn cotton wool, lazily floating onto the treetops. The morning wind passed through the leaves, and dewdrops rolled down with a rustle, carving several crystal-clear arcs in the air.

Perhaps startled awake, birdsong rang out among the trees, and several sparrows darted out from the holly bushes, their bean-like black eyes burning with light.

Lin Sicheng stretched out his hand to beckon, but the birds rolled their eyes and flapped their wings, flying away.

"It doesn't work?"

"Huh?" Fang Jin was completely confused. "Teacher Lin, what are you saying?"

"Oh, nothing!"

Seeing the sparrows, Lin Sicheng had a sudden whim, recalling a scene from *Grandmaster of Tai Chi*: Wu Jing beckoned, and a bird landed in his palm.

He was practicing the same art, but when he beckoned, not only did the bird fly away, it even glared at him?

With his thoughts wandering, Lin Sicheng set his stance. Fang Jin stood to the side, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Lin Sicheng smiled. "Want to learn?"

Fang Jin nodded vigorously.

At the beginning, he didn't understand the reason, thinking his boss was extremely eccentric: young, barely in his twenties, yet every day he practiced the boxing style that old men and women practiced.

Later, Wang Qi Zhi followed along to practice, and Fang Jin still didn't pay much attention. He thought that in other families, students learned from teachers, but in their house, the teacher learned from the student: as long as it was something Lin Sicheng liked, Professor Wang would follow along to try it.

But gradually, he discovered something was wrong: the previous Professor Wang, not to mention how poor his health was, had a heavy smoking habit, and an even heavier drinking habit; he spent at least one week a month at the dinner table drinking, so his health condition could be imagined.

Moreover, he would get drunk as soon as he drank, and once drunk, he would be out for at least two days. Even by the third day, he would still feel somewhat muddled, not looking very clear-headed.

But after practicing boxing with Lin Sicheng for a period of time, no matter how drunk he got the night before or how late he drank, Professor Wang would still be full of vigor the next day.

It felt as if the person who had been passed out on the table the night before wasn't him at all.

Furthermore, his whole person changed at a speed visible to the naked eye: his face was no longer sallow, his eyes were no longer bloodshot, his skin was no longer dry, and his hair was no longer withered.

His spirit was even more surprisingly good: he was glowing with health, looking as if he had become several years younger.

With examples placed right here, who wouldn't want their own body to be in tip-top shape?

Fearing Lin Sicheng wouldn't teach him, Fang Jin hurriedly promised, "Teacher Lin, I will never pass this on, I will definitely learn it well!"

Lin Sicheng smiled: without understanding the accompanying breathing methods, others wouldn't be able to learn it even if they wanted to.

"It's not hard to learn, but you have to persist, otherwise it won't have any effect! Just like your teacher, you have to practice on time every day, rain or shine!"

"Teacher Lin, I can persist!"

"Good! Come, learn with me: Inhale~ Exhale~ Inhale~ Exhale……"

The two faced the sun, setting their stances. Sometimes like birds, sometimes like bows, and with their movements, gusts of mist sprayed from their mouths and noses.

Of course, it was just the mist exhaled from ordinary breathing. It was only a few degrees in the autumn morning, so exhaling mist was very normal.

Jing Zeyang swung his keys and whistled as he entered the hotel garden; seeing this scene, he couldn't help but freeze for a moment.

Immediately, a look of eccentricity appeared on his face.

What is this?

It feels a bit like Tai Chi.

But looking at the stance, Lin Sicheng definitely wasn't practicing for the first day.

Looking again at Lin Sicheng's face, which still faintly showed a bit of immaturity, he felt it was so comical.

Jing Zeyang didn't disturb them either, watching for about ten minutes until Lin Sicheng finished his practice.

With a playful expression, he teased slightly, "Cousin Lin, what kind of art is this?"

"Guiding techniques from the Western Han Dynasty; by the Eastern Han, Hua Tuo created a simplified version, which is the Five Animal Frolics!"

Seeing Lin Sicheng's serious appearance, Jing Zeyang couldn't hold back and burst out laughing with a "pfft."

During the peak of Qi Gong in the nineties, let alone the Western Han, there was Qi Gong passed down from the Zhou Dynasty.

There were those who put aluminum pots on their heads to receive signals from aliens in outer space. There were even those who could shoot down American satellites just by emitting Qi.

Whoever believed that was an idiot.

Jing Zeyang suppressed his laughter. "If you practice it well, how many can you fight?"

Lin Sicheng thought for a moment. "If they don't have guns, five!"

Jing Zeyang couldn't hold it in and started laughing again.

Lin Sicheng didn't mind.

Back then, Wang Qi Zhi had laughed even harder than Jing Zeyang, until he used a screwdriver to poke a hole in his car...

Taking the towel handed over by Fang Jin, Lin Sicheng wiped his sweat. "Brother Jing, I'm not going out today either!"

Jing Zeyang waved his hand nonchalantly. "It's fine, I'm idle anyway!"

Since Ye Anning had promised benefits, there would definitely be benefits. So, whether Lin Sicheng needed his protection was one thing, and whether he came or not was another.

Even if it was just to show his face and go back, that would work too.

Lin Sicheng checked his watch again. "Brother Jing, then it's perfect to eat together; the breakfast here is actually quite good!"

Jing Zeyang was indifferent. "Fine, I'll go back after eating breakfast!"

Letting Fang Jin sit with Jing Zeyang for a while, Lin Sicheng went upstairs to change clothes, and then the three of them left the lobby.

Having not come here much before, Jing Zeyang thought the hotel restaurant was somewhere in the garden.

But after exiting the hotel's backdoor, Lin Sicheng led him straight toward the building opposite?

Jing Zeyang froze for a moment. "Cousin Lin, this is the research building of the Cultural Relics Research Institute?"

"Right, it's the Cultural Relics Research Institute. The hotel's breakfast is okay, but it's not as delicious as the one at the Cultural Relics Research Institute!"

No... is this a question of which building has better food?

Jing Zeyang pointed at the guards at the entrance. "How are we getting in?"

These weren't security guards, but real guards. Besides, even if they were security guards, this was a state-level research unit; could you just walk in whenever you wanted?

"It's fine, I know them!"

Lin Sicheng smiled at the guard: "Hello, Squad Leader. This is my new assistant. Could you please register him?"

"Certainly, Teacher Lin!" The guard took the registration book and looked at Jing Zeyang: "Please show your Identity Card, or a driver's license will do!"

Jing Zeyang was a bit bewildered: these kinds of guards were from outsourced agencies and were only polite to high-ranking leaders; they treated everyone else the same.

He had lost count of how many units he had entered, so when had he ever seen these soldiers be so easy to talk to?

And calling Lin Sicheng "Teacher"—where did that come from?

Stunned for a moment, he took out his driver's license.

After registering in a few seconds, the guard let them into the building. Lin Sicheng whispered an explanation: "Brother Jing, if I had said you were my friend, they definitely wouldn't have let you in, so I had to say you were an assistant."

Jing Zeyang had no time to think about this and looked astonished: "How did he let me in?"

Lin Sicheng thought for a moment: "My teacher has acquaintances inside!"

He couldn't say that yesterday, Deputy Director Ma had taken him around every building and specifically spoken to the guards.

Even if he said it, Jing Zeyang wouldn't believe him, so he could only push the credit onto his teacher.

"Oh, right, right..."

He had forgotten for a moment that before Wang Sanshu went to Shaanxi, he had worked here and must have asked his good connections among the leaders to help take care of Lin Sicheng.

Jing Zeyang nodded and looked at Fang Jin: "Cousin Lin, you're even assigned an assistant?"

"A Senior Brother from the college, here to broaden his horizons together."

Understood, another person with connections.

"Then why did the guard call you Teacher?"

"People here are quite polite. You'll know once we go in: everyone calls each other either Teacher or Professor."

Jing Zeyang took it for the truth, said nothing more, and followed him into the building.

They arrived relatively early, and there weren't many people, just five or six scattered about.

The Deputy Director of the College Office was sitting near the entrance and stood up hurriedly when he saw Lin Sicheng.

"Good morning, Director Liu!"

"Morning, Teacher Lin!" After exchanging greetings, Director Liu pointed to the two young people beside him: "These are Sun and Li from the College Office. You met them yesterday. Whatever flavor you like, let them help you get it!"

Lin Sicheng hurriedly declined: "Director Liu, you are too kind. I can do it myself!"

"It's no trouble, this is their job!"

Lin Sicheng waved his hands like a windmill: "Director Liu, really, no need!"

He had met these two yesterday, one man and one woman, both around thirty. They were said to be assistants temporarily assigned to him, and he should feel free to order them if he needed anything.

But with Fang Jin there, and since he wasn't as busy as he was in Xijing, Lin Sicheng had refused.

Unexpectedly, Director Liu still brought them over.

Seeing him refuse so firmly, Director Liu did not insist further.

After exchanging a few polite words, Lin Sicheng entered the dining hall. Jing Zeyang followed behind, looking back every few steps.

"Cousin Lin, which leader was that?"

"The Deputy Director of the College Office!"

The so-called College Office must refer to the Cultural Relics Research Institute, and that Deputy Director was at least a Deputy Division Chief.

In Beijing, that was indeed unremarkable, but relative to Lin Sicheng, it was a bit strange.

He held no position or rank and was from out of town, just here to study. Even if Wang Sanshu had given instructions, it definitely shouldn't warrant such attentiveness from a Deputy Division Chief.

And specifically arranging for people to fetch his food, making it seem like they were serving an Empress Dowager?

Just as he was suspicious, a voice came from the side: "You finally arrived? Come, come, come, Little Lin, sit here..."

The old Dean waved his hand while scolding, "That blockhead Wu Hui is truly shameless. If I hadn't called and cursed him out, he would have dragged it out for another week."

Lin Sicheng just smiled.

It wasn't Wu Hui dragging it out, but Sun Jiamu, who had been dragging Wu Hui out to treat him to meals every day so he could stay a few more days.

Two bottles of Moutai a day, treating for a whole week, and getting scolded twice by the old Dean—it was worth it for Wu Hui.

Lin Sicheng greeted him again: "Old Dean!"

"Go help Little Lin get some food, get a little of everything!"

After instructing his secretary, the old Dean pointed to the opposite seat: "Sit!"

Lin Sicheng felt helpless: he still couldn't escape being served.

It was easy to decline Deputy Director Liu, but the old Dean didn't give him the chance and had his secretary do it directly.

With these thoughts, Lin Sicheng sat down.

"I called your grandfather last week and asked him to come to Beijing with you to have a couple of drinks with me. But he said: he has to watch the shop for you and has no time..."

Lin Sicheng was very humble: "The school really needs Grandfather to hold down the fort!"

"Your grandfather thinks quite highly of himself!" The old Dean gave a "snort": "Others might not know, but don't I?"

As of now, given Lin Sicheng's value and influence, if Xida didn't treat him like a Lock, then all the school leaders must have been reincarnated as pigs.

Whoever dared to scheme against Lin Sicheng's Center, the school from top to bottom would fight them to the death.

And it was 100% certain: when Lin Sicheng wasn't there, his Center operated even better than when he was.

Whether Lin Zhangqing was there or not didn't have much of an impact.

The two talked and laughed, very close.

Jing Zeyang sat to the side, half-astonished and half-suspicious.

At the very beginning, it had truly shocked him: being in the same system, no matter how ill-informed he was, he knew who the old Dean was.

So his astonishment was not ordinary: it was one thing for the College Office Director to be attentive to Lin Sicheng, but even the old Dean was this close to him?

Then, hearing their conversation, he realized that the old Dean and Lin Sicheng's grandfather were college classmates.

But good relations are one thing, yet no matter how you look at it, Lin Sicheng is only a junior; it wouldn't go so far as to have the Dean's secretary wait on him, would it?

And it certainly has nothing to do with Wang Sanshu: given the old Dean's seniority, even if he pointed at Wang Sanshu's nose and cursed, Wang Sanshu wouldn't dare lift his head.

When his temper flares, the old Dean dares to slam the table at the Bureau Chief.

Just as he was secretly suspicious, Deputy Director Ma hurried into the restaurant; passing by, he grabbed two steamed buns and took a cup of milk.

After sitting down, he greeted Lin Sicheng and the old Dean, then stuffed the food into his mouth in big bites.

Lin Sicheng looked at his watch: "Deputy Director Ma, it's still early!"

"I know!" Deputy Director Ma nodded, "We have an early meeting today, I need to go to the venue ahead of time to check things over."

Lin Sicheng just assumed it was a normal meeting: "Do I need to attend?"

"Of course, we don't usually hold early meetings!"

Stunned for a moment, Lin Sicheng suddenly realized: no wonder the old Dean also came so early?

Today's meeting was definitely called because of him; to put it simply: to show respect and gratitude, they wanted to give him a grand welcome.

Since it had been arranged, it wouldn't be right to cancel it, and Lin Sicheng didn't put on any false modesty.

After finishing breakfast, Deputy Director Ma went to the conference room, and the old Dean said he would take him to see his office.

Actually, he had already seen it yesterday, and Lin Sicheng said he wouldn't be staying many days, so there was no need to specially arrange an office.

But Deputy Director Ma wouldn't agree, and his words were very blunt: it couldn't just be a few days; before the research report was released, he would drag Lin Sicheng and keep him in Beijing even if he had to.

Roughly calculating, that would be about half a month.

After going upstairs and pointing it out to him, the old Dean returned to his own office.

It was still early before the meeting, so Lin Sicheng also entered the temporary office.

Just as he entered the door, he was stunned for a moment: one man and one woman, one on the left and one on the right, were standing respectfully on both sides of the desk.

Aren't these the two people he saw in the restaurant?

"Teacher Lin!"

"Hello to you both!"

After replying, Lin Sicheng stopped mid-sentence, but after thinking about it, he said nothing and went into the inner room.

They were also just following orders; there was no need to make things difficult for them.

After going in and hanging up his bag, he just turned around when he was stunned again: Jing Zeyang had followed him over too?

When he left the restaurant, he had said he would be at the Cultural Relics Research Institute all day today and wouldn't go anywhere else.

At the time, Jing Zeyang had grunted in acknowledgment, and Lin Sicheng thought he had gone back. Afterward, he had been talking to the old Dean the whole way and hadn't noticed that not only had he not left, but he had followed him up.

"I'm just curious, and I'm idle anyway!"

Giving a blunt reply, Jing Zeyang fluttered his eyelids and peered around everywhere.

The scale and furnishings of this office are on par with the Bureau Chief's office, aren't they?

And those two people outside—helping to fetch food during mealtime and assisting with work during office hours—they are clearly full-time assistants.

Not to mention that Lin Sicheng is only a student of Wang Sanshu, and not to mention that his grandfather and the old Dean were just classmates, even if the eldest grandson of the Wang Clan had come, he wouldn't have received this treatment.

The more Jing Zeyang thought about it, the more curious he became: "Cousin Lin, you aren't here to study, are you?"

Lin Sicheng paused: how was he supposed to answer that?

To be straightforward and tell Jing Zeyang: I am here to guide the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage in conducting experiments and research.

Get it straight, this is a state-level institution.

It would be a miracle if Jing Zeyang believed that.

"I am indeed here to study!" Lin Sicheng thought for a moment: "Besides studying, I'm also helping out with some small tasks."

Helping the Cultural Relics Research Institute?

Jing Zeyang's eyes suddenly popped: "No... didn't you just graduate from university?"

"Yes, I only got my diploma in July, and then I applied for my teacher's graduate program!"

Right?

So, what kind of help could you possibly provide?

Jing Zeyang only thought this in his heart and didn't ask it out loud, but one could tell just by looking at his expression.

Just "helping with some small tasks" was enough to shock him like this. If he told the truth, would Jing Zeyang laugh himself onto the floor on the spot?

Lin Sicheng sighed: "Brother Jing, there's nothing here but experiments, and it's boring for you to stay; why don't you go back first?"

Jing Zeyang shook his head like a rattle-drum: today, no matter what, he had to see what kind of help Lin Sicheng was providing.

"I'm not going back; it's even more boring back there!" He shook his head, "Aren't I your assistant? You shouldn't chase me away, right? Of course, if it's classified research, then never mind!"

Deputy Director Ma had already submitted the patent application, so it didn't matter whether it was classified or not.

Furthermore, Jing Zeyang was just looking for novelty, and he wouldn't understand it anyway.

"Fine, then we'll go together in a bit!"

Lin Sicheng called out to the outside again: "Assistant Sun, please take Assistant Jing to get a pass; a temporary one will do. After you're done, bring him to the conference room."

The male assistant nodded and took Jing Zeyang out of the office.

Once in the elevator, Jing Zeyang wanted to ask, but the words reached his lips and he realized: he is now Lin Sicheng's assistant; if he didn't know what Lin Sicheng was doing at the Cultural Relics Research Institute, wouldn't that be a joke?

And it would also bring unnecessary trouble to Lin Sicheng.

Secretly changing his mind, he suppressed his curiosity and arrived at the College Office.

At first, Director Liu just assumed he really was Lin Sicheng's assistant, but when the security department pulled up the files, his eyeballs nearly popped out onto the computer.

Your father is at the Energy Bureau, you are in the Song and Dance Troupe, and Lin Sicheng is from Shaanxi—what kind of assistant are you to him?

Jing Zeyang had been prepared and blurted out nonsense: "Director Liu, our troupe has a collaborative project with Xida, and the troupe sent me to make contact in advance."

That was actually possible.

The Song and Dance Troupe is managed by the Academy of Arts under the Ministry of Culture, and is on the same level as the Cultural Relics Research Institute. It is perfectly normal to cooperate with archaeological units in Xijing, draw on classical music elements from the Tang Dynasty, or even jointly research things like Tang Dynasty musical scores and dance notations.

The institute has also learned from the sidelines that Lin Sicheng is absolutely a "polymath"; there is nothing in the field of archaeology that he has not researched. It is perfectly normal to arrange for someone to make contact in advance.

But what is not normal is this person, Jing Zeyang.

Look at his resume: intern editor, started the job just this spring, having worked for only half a year. Look at his education: the major is relevant, but the level of the institution can only be described as average.

One can imagine, how high could his professional ability be?

Letting him make contact with Lin Sicheng, can he even make sense of the contact?

The Cultural Relics Research Institute is not an organization with a particularly high security clearance, and furthermore, his identity is not an issue, he is in the same system, and he is only applying for a temporary pass, so Director Liu did not make things difficult and issued it on the spot.

But the way Director Liu looked at Jing Zeyang was a bit strange, making one feel really uncomfortable.

It just feels like this old man is looking at him as if he were trash?

After handling it in a few moments, Director Liu asked another question: "Why did your troupe send you?"

Jing Zeyang had a flash of inspiration: "Professor Wang is my uncle, Wang Qi Zhi!"

Director Liu suddenly realized: "Oh, oh... so that's how it is?"

But Jing Zeyang was even more confused: No... what do you mean?

If I don't mention Wang Sanshu, am I not even qualified to have contact with Lin Sicheng?

Guessing wildly, he followed Director Liu into the conference room.

Just as he stepped through the door, Jing Zeyang was instantly stunned.

There were only four people on the podium: three Deans—one Dean and two Deputy Directors—with Lin Sicheng and the old Dean sitting in the middle, and the two Deputy Directors sitting on either side.

And he was so calm, so natural, as if he were supposed to be sitting there in the first place.

Just as he was stunned, Director Liu pointed to the front: "Little Jing, I'll take you over!"

"Oh, alright..."

He nodded blankly and followed behind; Director Liu took him to the very front.

This is impressive: even Lin Sicheng's assistant is sitting in the first row, and in the very center at that. They even specially reserved a seat for him, this temporary assistant?

With his heart itching with curiosity like a cat scratching, Jing Zeyang hurriedly sat down. He looked left and right, then poked Fang Jin.

He gestured with his chin toward the stage, his voice lowered extremely low: "How did he get up there?"

Fang Jin looked astonished: Brother Jing, how could you ask such a question?

"He walked up, didn't he?"

Otherwise, could he have flown up there himself?

Jing Zeyang rolled his eyes: I'm talking about the city gate tower, and you're talking about the wart on your face?

"I mean: a bunch of institute directors and department heads are sitting below, how is he sitting above?"

"Oh, oh, that's what Brother Jing meant..." Fang Jin smiled sheepishly: "The Deans invited him up!"

What the hell, invited?

And by several Deans at that?

Jing Zeyang's brain completely stopped working.

He understood the meaning of the words, but when connected to Lin Sicheng, he suddenly couldn't comprehend it.

"Why invite him up?"

Fang Jin was taken aback: No... you've graduated from kindergarten, where do you get so many 'whys'?

For a moment, the two of them stared at each other with wide eyes.

Just like that saying: The confused fruit on the confused tree, you and I under the confused tree...

Just as they were stunned, the voice of Deputy Director Ma rang out in the venue: "Let me solemnly introduce to everyone: Lin Sicheng, Teacher Lin..."

Before the word "Teacher" was even finished, "Clap clap clap clap clap."

Jing Zeyang turned his head woodenly: far away, nearby, on the stage, off the stage, everyone was clapping with all their might.

The applause merged together like thunder, shaking one's ears until they went numb.

It had been almost a minute, and there was no sign of it stopping at all; helpless, Deputy Director Ma raised his hand and pressed it down.

"Mentioning him every day, thinking of him every day, my ears have grown calluses. Alright, now that the person has been invited over, there's no need to keep nagging; if you don't understand something or want to ask something, just ask him face-to-face..."

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh...", it started again.

Jing Zeyang was even more confused than before.

"Cousin Lin... what did he do?"

Fang Jin paused.

It wasn't that he couldn't say, but that he didn't know how to say it.

If he told Jing Zeyang about BTA, he definitely wouldn't understand. If he told him that Lin Sicheng saved many people here, protected the rank of so-and-so, and saved the research career of so-and-so, he definitely wouldn't believe it.

So, it was better not to say anything.

With that thought, he pointed to the stage, meaning he should just listen.

On the stage, Deputy Director Ma tapped the microphone and handed it to Lin Sicheng: "Teacher Lin, come, give everyone some encouragement!"

Lin Sicheng smiled shyly...

(End of chapter)