Chapter 50: Jianghu Emergency Help

Wang Qi Zhi opened the bottle cap again, this time pouring a full glass.

"The accumulation of wealth must be matched by corresponding strength."

"And what is strength? Social status, identity, influence, or perhaps, background."

"It could have been complementary and naturally successful, but you are too young!"

"Seeing you is like seeing myself when I was young... I have experienced all these things you are confused about, and as it happens, I have everything you lack!"

Lin Sicheng remained silent.

When a person is too outstanding, every tiny flaw on them will be infinitely magnified under the spotlight. Therefore, when you need to hit the brakes, countless hands will silently reach out from behind to give you a push.

It is not exactly dangerous, at most a bit of a hidden trouble, but it is very troublesome. The key is that the effort and the harvest are not proportional.

Therefore, Lin Sicheng had a very clear plan for himself: accumulate capital, attempt entrepreneurship, and simultaneously keep stacking up.

To be more concrete: appraisal, Artifact Restoration, and Artifact Research.

The first two are easy to handle; they rely on a sharp eye, experience, and craftsmanship. What is mine is mine, and no one can take it away.

At the same time, they are also effective means to enhance one's strength, so Lin Sicheng never hides them.

But doing research, this is indeed the fastest way; if done well, it can gild one's reputation. But there is a prerequisite: channels, qualifications, and background.

A college student in their early twenties who sends a Thesis to a journal might end up in the trash before even meeting the editor who reviews the manuscript.

Of course, the greater possibility is: after a period of time, it appears in another journal under a different name.

Not convinced? Come and bite me then...

So, it was quite a coincidence: he was just pondering how to drag Wang Qi Zhi onto his pirate ship, yet he had already extended an olive branch first?

And it couldn't be more appropriate; just as Wang Qi Zhi said: Lin Sicheng, what you lack, I happen to have!

In 2007, what kind of family could take out over a million to buy antiques without blinking? And even wear an A623 watch from the 1960s, which was only issued to high-ranking military officers?

Without sufficient ability, it is impossible to be a senior professional in one's thirties. Without enough influence, it is impossible to snatch projects from senior predecessors just after arriving at the school.

Without some background, it is impossible to be arranged as a Deputy Division Chief level Secretary of the Youth League just after starting the job, as if the school were digging a hole for a radish.

More importantly: he has integrity, and his character is also sufficient.

But this can only be understood intuitively, not explained in words...

Seeing him not making a sound, thinking Lin Sicheng was suspicious, Wang Qi Zhi thought for a moment: "I'll reveal a little to you, don't spread it around!"

Lin Sicheng's spirits lifted: "Mm, go ahead!"

Wang Qi Zhi pondered for a moment: "My wife's surname is Shan!"

I know that, you mentioned it last time, she works at the Tourism Bureau?

Just as he was suspicious, Wang Qi Zhi tapped the table: "Let me say something else everyone knows: before coming to Shaanxi, I was doing research at the National Cultural Heritage Administration... with a rank, Deputy Division Chief!"

Wang Qi Zhi calculated, "I was thirty-one at that time!"

Lin Sicheng was stunned and gasped: "Then why did you come to Shaanxi?"

"My hometown is here, isn't it?"

Is this reason so legitimate?

Lin Sicheng nodded, just about to say something, when his eyelid twitched again: what does this have to do with his wife's surname?

"Wait... which 'Shan' are you talking about?"

"The one you're thinking of!"

National Cultural Heritage Administration... doing research, and with a rank?

Wife's surname is Shan?

Lin Sicheng's brain felt itchy, and he sorted it out for a long time: "No... with this kind of strength, why are you messing with Bronze, isn't being an official better?"

Wang Qi Zhi sighed wistfully: "There are already enough of them in the family!"

Damn it... why are my teeth so itchy?

Lin Sicheng's teeth felt itchy for a long time, then he squinted his eyes and looked at Wang Qi Zhi's wrist: "Forgive me for asking, where did you get this watch?"

Wang Qi Zhi was stunned, his wrist subconsciously retracting: "My brother-in-law gave it to me!"

Impossible.

Such a thing, unless it is passed down from a father to his own son... it would be more likely if you said your father-in-law gave it to you.

Forget it, I won't ask!

Lin Sicheng lowered his head and organized his words: "I do have some ability, but what can I do if I go?"

Wang Qi Zhi was concise and to the point: "Iron Artifacts!"

Lin Sicheng's eyes lit up: he was right to say he was shrewd and also daring.

The Eleventh Five-Year Plan project for Iron Artifacts research was led and designed by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, with the Cultural Relics Bureau executing the specific research plan, and other units assisting simultaneously.

So, is he preparing to go against the heavens?

Seeing Lin Sicheng's eyes shining, Wang Qi Zhi knew he had guessed right.

If the maintenance procedures for Iron Artifacts last time were a probe, then this Sunflower-mouth Plate sample was Lin Sicheng's stepping stone: the talent is standing right here, and he knows so much, are you going to take him or not?

Nonsense, of course I am.

So, what can Shang Yan use to snatch him?

Secretly happy, Wang Qi Zhi raised his glass: "Are you in?"

"I'm in!"

Lin Sicheng nodded solemnly and switched to half a glass of white liquor.

"Clang," the two glass cups bumped together.

Not good at holding liquor, yet drinking so fiercely.

Wang Qi Zhi was carried back on Lin Sicheng's back.

Lin Sicheng had also drunk quite a bit, at least half a jin. He wasn't drunk, just a little dizzy in the head.

He pressed the doorbell and said that Professor Wang was drunk; in no time at all, a group of people came down.

The older brother and nephew hoisted Wang Qi Zhi up, while Dan Wangshu and the sister-in-law guarded him from the left and right behind.

They didn't forget to leave Ye Anning and Wang Huaizhi behind to express their special thanks.

The girl stood under the tree, her skirt hem lifting with the Wind, her slender calves glowing with an Ivory luster.

Along with the Wind, a faint, delicate fragrance came Floating over.

It smelled very good, and the person was good-looking too.

Ye Anning handed over a wet wipe: "Sorry for the trouble, wipe your sweat!"

"Thank you!"

"Do you need me to call a taxi for you?"

"No need, it's only three stops away!" Lin Sicheng smiled, "Goodbye!"

Ye Anning nodded and watched him leave.

Wang Huaizhi stood on tiptoe and gestured: "Quite tall, and he looks pretty good too?"

Ye Anning didn't speak, just pursed her lips.

……

The evening Wind was slightly cool, and Lin Sicheng wrapped his coat tighter.

Wang Qi Zhi was very talkative and quite funny. This was the benefit of being close in age; at least there was no generational gap.

He also provided a lot of convenience.

Lin Sicheng, do you know what the Youth League Committee does?

Do you know the school has a university student entrepreneurship incubation project?

You want to rent a place... and you're planning to sponge off the laboratory? Lin Sicheng, I as a teacher cannot afford to lose that kind of face!

Don't delay, submit your report tomorrow...

Lin Sicheng slowly exhaled a breath of alcohol: It feels like things have suddenly become smooth?

He was just thinking about whether to call Li Zhen and tell her to stop looking for a house for now, when his phone rang: Lin Sicheng, teacher is in trouble...

It was a text message sent by Wang Qi Zhi, but it had no head or tail.

Did he drink too much and get into an argument with his wife?

It didn't feel like it: when they helped him up, his wife was still smiling.

Besides, there were so many relatives there?

He waited for a while longer, but the phone remained silent, so Lin Sicheng didn't pay it any mind.

He slept until the next day, and just as he opened his eyes, his phone went "ding-dong."

It was still Wang Qi Zhi, and still a text message: Lin Sicheng, emergency help needed... come to my office as soon as you get to school and help me straighten things out.

Lin Sicheng was completely confused: Straighten what out?