Chapter 503: Incomplete Work

Five minutes before the meeting, Department Head Lu finally entered the conference room.

His gait was light, his expression calm, neither hurried nor slow.

Compared to his previous fluster, he was like a different person.

For some reason, Song Jingqiu felt that a powerful sense of confidence seemed to radiate from Department Head Lu.

It was as if victory were already in his grasp, and everything was foolproof.

Who had given him such confidence?

As if sensing something, Song Jingqiu turned his head and saw Wang Qi Zhi and Lin Sicheng.

The two of them entered the conference room on tiptoe and sat in the back row of the gallery.

Catching Song Jingqiu's gaze, Wang Qi Zhi smiled politely.

Not knowing if it was an illusion, Song Jingqiu felt that a very deep emotion was hidden within Wang Qi Zhi's smile.

It was not provocation, nor was it mockery, but the kind of smile only a victor possesses.

The problem is, how could you win?

In the fields of history, archaeology, and Cultural Relics, the Forbidden City is an insurmountable mountain. The Forbidden City has the Cultural Relics that other places have. The Forbidden City also has the Cultural Relics that other places do not.

Situations like today, where the Forbidden City makes such a scene to compete with another department over just a few antiques, have almost never happened.

And within the industry, Department Head Lu's reputation is equally significant; one cannot say he is the first or second, but he is definitely among the top.

Therefore, the moment he stepped into the conference room, everyone's attention was focused on him. Except for Song Jingqiu, no one noticed that two more people had entered the conference room through the backdoor.

He knew basically everyone, and Department Head Lu greeted them one by one. But when he saw the few Experts specially invited by Customs sitting in the seats of honor, he merely nodded.

Of course he knew these people, but in Department Head Lu's view, once they entered this conference room, both sides were opponents. There was no need to be hypocritical or engage in the ways of human relationships.

Yet the four Experts were exceptionally surprised: they had all prepared to stand up and shake hands with Department Head Lu. And Department Head Lu just nodded at them? The circle of ancient ceramics is not small, and almost every province has specialized research institutions. But those that can be called top-tier are only a few. At the very least, these few people all knew Department Head Lu.

They thought that when Department Head Lu saw them, he would definitely be surprised. Even to the point of widening his eyes and dropping his jaw.

They had even discussed how they should explain it.

But Department Head Lu acted as if he had known all along, calm and unruffled?

When Department Head Lu sat opposite them, the few Experts looked at each other and sighed in unison.

Today, they would likely offend someone.

But the arrow was on the string and had to be fired: colleagues are colleagues, but since they had come, they had no intention of going easy.

Once the time arrived, the cross-examination began.

To show respect, Song Jingqiu presided over it himself.

First was that pair of tiger teeth; the staff moved the items up and played the slideshow in sync.

Song Jingqiu opened the documents and was just about to ask the routine questions when Department Head Lu raised his hand.

Not knowing what he meant, Song Jingqiu gestured: "Department Head Lu, please speak!"

"Thank you, Department Head Song!" Department Head Lu smiled, "For this item, the defense has no objections!"

As his voice fell, the conference room was quiet for a few seconds, and then, a burst of laughter broke out.

Department Head Lu was treating this place like a courtroom.

He was treating himself like a Lawyer.

But if one changed the perspective, there was actually little difference. It was only because Department Head Lu's status was different that the atmosphere was so relaxed.

If the appellant were an ordinary person, it would definitely be more serious than a courtroom.

Song Jingqiu laughed along, and once the noise subsided, he picked up the microphone:

"Thank you, Department Head Lu. Then, shall I skip reading the content in the middle?"

"Yes, Department Head Song, that is what I mean! It is already very late, and to trouble all the leaders to work overtime is truly regrettable!" "Especially the few Experts who have come from afar, traveling by starlight and moonbeams, coming from thousands of miles away—it is truly hard work. If we can save some time, let us save some time."

This time, no one laughed.

Song Jingqiu felt a bit of a toothache: since when did Department Head Lu's eloquence become so good that he could insult people without using dirty words?

Those who travel by starlight and moonbeams are thieves.

The few Experts sighed inwardly: Department Head Lu's tone clearly indicated that he had already taken note of them.

It was indeed somewhat unjustifiable; they were all renowned Experts and scholars in the industry, yet they were engaging in this kind of sneaky, surprise-attack behavior?

But since the leaders arranged it, what choice did they have?

Seeing the sheepish expressions of these few, Wang Qi Zhi looked strange: "Old Lu has had an epiphany?"

Lin Sicheng was noncommittal: "Even a clay figurine has three parts of Fire Qi, let alone a person?"

"I didn't say he didn't have a temper; if provoked, Old Lu will also hit people." Wang Qi Zhi cupped his chin, "This is the first time I've known he could be so sarcastic?"

Lin Sicheng suppressed a laugh: "Teacher, Department Head Lu is not as rigid and pedantic as you think."

There are some things he just doesn't bother to do, rather than not knowing how.

"That's true!" Wang Qi Zhi nodded, "It's a pity we can't applaud."

The atmosphere was a bit awkward, and Song Jingqiu smoothed things over at the right time: "Then let us be as brief as possible; of course, the necessary procedures cannot be omitted." Then, the staff moved the tiger teeth down and brought up the helmeted hornbill bracelet.

Just as Song Jingqiu took it into his hands, Department Head Lu opened the review report, scanned it roughly, and then raised his hand: "Department Head Song, no objections to this item either!" "Good, the third item: Marble Inkstone..."

"No objections!"

"The fourth item, Yanjia..."

"No objections!"

"The fifth item: Bamboo Carved Brush Holder..."

"No objections!"

"The sixth item, Lacquer Inlaid Mother-of-Pearl Incense Box..."

"No objections!"

Just like that, the speed was extremely fast. It was as if they were taking inventory; Song Jingqiu read out the names, Director Lu reported the numbers, and the verification process for each item took less than half a minute. The two staff members could barely keep up with the moving, so Wei Ziyu hurriedly transferred over another group.

After about half an hour, only seven pieces of porcelain remained on the table in the center.

Including those Ming Dynasty Cultural Relics, among which several had obvious dating discrepancies and were not on the embargo list, Director Lu likewise had no objections. It was very clear that everyone could see: both sides were here for these seven pieces of porcelain.

To Director Lu, whether he had the ones before or not did not matter.

To Customs, whether these forty-two pieces were detained or not likewise did not matter.

Secretly changing their thoughts, everyone braced themselves: the main event was coming!

Song Jingqiu looked at Department Head Chen, then looked at the few people beside him.

It felt, all very normal?

Whether it was Department Head Wu of the Archaeology Department, or Department Head Xiao of the Cultural Heritage Department.

At the very least, their expressions were all very calm.

This also included Director Lu.

He opened the review report, read it through carefully, confirmed there were no discrepancies, and then picked up his Tea Cup to take a sip of tea.

A very normal action, but in the eyes of some: this sip of tea was equivalent to the bugle call for a charge.

Was it not as expected?

Setting down the Tea Cup, Director Lu looked at the opposite side: "It is an honor today, I wonder which professor is here to offer guidance?"

Song Jingqiu's eyelids could not stop twitching, and the several department heads were all stunned in unison.

Wang Qi Zhi sat at the very back, grinning silently.

Truly, it was only because the situation did not allow it, otherwise he really would have cheered aloud.

The four people exchanged glances, and the older one smiled: "Director Lu, I wouldn't dare call it guidance; let us exchange and learn from each other!" This person was the Deputy Director of the Jiangxi Institute of Archaeology, a famous Expert in the field of Yuan, Ming, and Qing Official Kiln porcelain.

He not only knew Director Lu, but they had also collaborated before.

Thinking about it, the four Experts must have discussed a strategy: the work had to be done, but they could not truly offend the person to death.

"Deputy Director Ding is too polite!!" Director Lu nodded, "Trouble for Department Head Song, then please begin!"

"Alright!"

This time, it was impossible to just go through the motions in a sloppy manner like before. Song Jingqiu followed the procedure strictly, not missing a single word. "Blue and white Plum Vase with lotus scroll pattern, X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy... Porcelain Stone composition: K: 0; Alz0s; 6Si02. Kaolin Clay composition, A1z0s-2Si0:; 2H: 0. Purple-gold clay composition, SiO. (40%-60%), Alz0. (15%-25%), Fez0. (6%-20%), K20 (2-5..."

"Porcelain body ratio: Porcelain Stone 65%, Kaolin Clay 30%, purple-gold clay 5%... conforms to the Ming Dynasty Wanli Period Folk Kiln porcelain body formula..." "No objection!"

"Glaze Material... one, Glaze Fruit, weathered from raw Porcelain Stone, crushed fine by Water Pestle, washed and precipitated..."

"Glaze Ash: Limestone + Wolf Fern calcined, aged for three years to remove fire properties, calcium content (Ca0 12-15%..."

"Wood Ash, Ks0+MgO+PO4-, sieved to remove impurities..."

"Glaze Material ratio: Glaze Fruit 75% + Glaze Ash 25%... firing temperature 1280±20... microstructure: Ca0 and SiO; form anorthite crystals... conforms to the Ming Dynasty Wanli Period Folk Kiln glaze formula..."

"No objection!"

"Cobalt Material composition: Fez0s/Co0, 1.2-1.8. MnO/Co0, 0.6-0.9. Asz0s,"