Chapter 43: The Things I Picked Up

Li Zhen looked curious: "What did Professor Wang want with you?"

There was nothing to hide, really.

As the saying goes, apply what you learn; it is nothing new for teachers at the Heritage College to hunt for artifacts. And there is more than one or two who are wealthier than Professor Wang.

Furthermore, Li Zhen was not the type to gossip; even if she knew, she would not spread it around.

"The weekend before last, just the day before we met, I sold Professor Wang an Iron Certificate... but it was quite heavily rusted, so I have to help him with maintenance from time to time!"

"What kind of Iron Certificate?"

"The Iron Certificate bestowed by Li Zicheng upon the King of Contending for the World, Lin Yangcheng, after he ascended the throne!"

Li Zhen was stunned, her eyes widening: Isn't that an Immortal-Exempting Pill Book?

"You hunted it at Xiaodongmen?"

"Yes!"

"How much did you sell it for?"

"Five hundred thousand!"

Another five hundred thousand?

The words surged to her throat, yet Li Zhen did not know how to spit them out.

The first time it was a Chicken Feather Duster, the second time a Buddha Statue, and this time an Iron Certificate?

Calligraphy and Painting, wood carvings, ironware—what will it be next time?

Calculating it again, he had actually earned nearly a million?

One million could buy three apartments around the school; not to mention they would be new, each one would be at least one hundred square meters.

As for weighing it... Li Zhen truly did not know what else to use to measure it.

The key was, Lin Sicheng had only spent two weeks?

Li Zhen was dazed for a long time, her lips trembling: "One million?"

"It is quite a bit, but it goes even faster: I ordered a Japanese Smart Electric Kiln, and it's the smallest model, yet it cost over fifty thousand US dollars including shipping!"

"No... why are you buying that?"

"Senior Sister, do you remember those sketches I drew? I plan to piece them together and then fire them..."

Li Zhen was stunned: It was precisely because of those three sketches that Professor Shang was so amazed, determined to have Lin Sicheng apply for her graduate program.

"So, just for those three Han Tile Pots, you bought a specialized imported Electric Kiln?"

"Of course not just for that; if the test firing is successful, I can try other styles."

Professor Shang had said that even if Lin Sicheng could just piece those three pots together according to the sketches, each one could sell for at least twenty or thirty thousand, even without firing.

And Xijing lacks everything except Qin Tiles and Han Tiles; there is no need for many, just two or three a month—how much would that be in a year?

If she were Lin Sicheng, she wouldn't choose to pursue a graduate degree either.

Immediately, Li Zhen remembered: "So, that's why you asked me to help you find a place, preferably on campus, and preferably with a garage?"

"Right, the upstairs as a studio, the garage as a small firing workshop!" Lin Sicheng nodded and smiled again, "I might ask Xiao Yuzhu to help at that time; if I invite you, Senior Sister, would you be willing to come?"

"Ah? Help with what?"

"Piecing together, shaping, throwing the clay... I can pay a salary or offer a stake; when the machine arrives, I'll find a chance to call Xiao Yuzhu over, and we can discuss it then!"

Lin Sicheng paused slightly: "Of course, it will definitely be much higher than your current salary, Senior Sister, and it won't affect your current job!"

Li Zhen's lips trembled; she did not know what to say.

Originally, she was the one persuading Lin Sicheng to take the graduate entrance exam, but as it turned out, she was the one who got flipped: since it doesn't affect her main job and is in her field, why not do it?

It was just a strange feeling: why is the gap between people so large?

His classmates in the same department and grade, the more excellent ones, are currently pondering how to take the graduate exam, and the even more excellent ones are at most researching which unit to join after graduation.

The ordinary ones are at most considering whether to stay in the provincial capital or return to their hometowns to develop after graduation. The even more ordinary ones are still drifting aimlessly, either indulging in debauchery or chasing romance.

Yet Lin Sicheng has already started a business and even earned over a million?

Just this point alone, even jumping out of the category of a student, makes Lin Sicheng dizzyingly excellent: one million—how long would it take an ordinary person to earn that?

If one says it's because of Professor Lin: he is not the only child of school leadership studying at Xida?

Li Zhen stared at Lin Sicheng, but her pupils lacked focus.

A few strange feelings welled up in Lin Sicheng's heart: "Senior Sister... Senior Sister?"

"Oh, oh..."

Li Zhen lowered her head abruptly: "Then I will find a place as soon as possible... actually, I have already asked about two, but the landlords are never there... I'll call you once I've made contact!"

Lin Sicheng smiled: "Sorry for the trouble, Senior Sister!"

"No need, just make sure the salary is high when the time comes!"

"Definitely!"

The two of them chatted and laughed as they entered the Teaching and Research Building. When they reached the door of Wang Qi Zhi's office, Li Zhen realized: what need was there for her to follow?

"After you're done talking, go find Professor Shang yourself; don't forget this time!"

"Senior Sister, don't leave yet..."

Lin Sicheng stopped her, his voice dropping slightly, "I still want to discuss with you: if I occasionally need to borrow Professor Shang's laboratory, what should I say to her later!"

Li Zhen was stunned, then started to laugh: No wonder he was staring blankly for so long in the classroom?

"Professor Shang has a good impression of you, it shouldn't be difficult... we'll discuss it when you come out!"

"Okay!"

As soon as he finished speaking, with a "Bang," the door was pulled open. Wang Qi Zhi was about to say something, but he paused: why did this kid bring a woman?

And she looked a bit familiar?

"Professor Wang, this is Teacher Li, Professor Shang's Teaching Assistant!"

"Oh, Teacher Li..."

Upon hearing she was Shang Yan's teaching assistant, Wang Qi Zhi instantly guessed most of it: Shang Yan wanted Lin Sicheng to apply for her graduate program and likely wanted to talk to him in person.

She must have looked for him before, and he likely forgot, which was why Teaching Assistant Li was keeping such a close watch, implying that no matter how busy he was today, he had to go.

Was Professor Shang's attitude of thirsting for talent a bit too exaggerated?

But considering the saying about paying a high price for a horse's bones, when comparing the two, his own plan to have Lin Sicheng apply for his graduate program was likely in jeopardy?

Wang Qi Zhi rolled his eyes: "Then, Teacher Li... would you like to come in and sit for a while?"

Lin Sicheng was stunned: No... do you actually want Li Zhen to come in, or do you want her to leave?

Was the intention to shoo her away really that obvious?

Li Zhen was taken aback: What was so shameful about performing maintenance on an Iron Certificate?

Subconsciously, she recalled: Professor Wang wanted to start a new project, and the college giving him the largest and most advanced laboratory was hardly news.

And after Professor Wang joined the faculty, it was even less of a secret that he was focusing on teaching practical courses to juniors and seniors, looking to recruit laborers and graduate students.

Combining that with him seeking out Lin Sicheng time and again, and now seeing this expression on his face: Haha, he was probably thinking the same thing as Professor Shang, which was why he was guarding against her as if she were a thief?

So, whether Lin Sicheng agreed was one thing, but if he were snatched up by another professor first, how would she explain it to Professor Shang?

Li Zhen's heart stirred, and she smiled again: "Thank you, Professor Wang!"

Wang Qi Zhi froze for a moment, thinking to himself: This is going to be bad?

He had been too clever for his own good and ended up shooting himself in the foot.

This young woman looked quite young, so why was her brain so quick to react?

Forget it, the words were already out, could he really take them back?

With a secret sigh, he stepped aside from the door: "Teacher Li, please sit down first. Xiaofeng, make some tea!"

Then he beckoned to Lin Sicheng: "Come over here, I'll show you something good!"

What kind of treasure had he found to be acting so mysterious?

Following behind him, Wang Qi Zhi opened a box on the coffee table. His face wore an expression that was both wistful and amazed:

"Let me broaden your horizons today: have you heard of someone picking up a dog basin as a bargain, only for it to sell for over a million?"

What the hell?

Lin Sicheng was suddenly stunned: "A dog basin?"

"And it was a dog basin covered in dog feces, thrown into a trash can, that even the scrap collectors were too lazy to pick up!"

Wang Qi Zhi looked emotional as he opened the box, "If you don't believe me, smell it!"

Glancing at it, Lin Sicheng's eyes nearly went blind: Wasn't this the very one he had picked up yesterday?

He had only just sent the golden retriever to Gu Ming's house when he came to school this morning...

Thinking he had been shocked, Wang Qi Zhi laughed triumphantly: "How about it, learned something new, right?"

He certainly had learned something: how could it be such a coincidence?

Thinking back to that person yesterday: the more he thought about it, the more he felt they looked a bit like Wang Qi Zhi...

With a face twisted as if he had a toothache, Lin Sicheng pointed at the basin: "I picked that up!"

"What?"

"I picked it up, just yesterday, at the Xicang Bird and Flower Market!" Lin Sicheng sighed, "The buyer was driving a Mercedes-Benz with Beijing plates, two men and three women, saying they were in Xijing to visit relatives!"

Now it was Wang Qi Zhi's turn to be completely bewildered: That was right, a Mercedes-Benz with Beijing plates, here to visit him, their relative.

Older brother and sister-in-law, niece and nephew, plus Ye Anning as the tagalong—wasn't that exactly two men and three women?