Chapter 504: No More

Not done completely?

But what else can be done?

The porcelain body composition and Glaze Material composition have been analyzed.

The blue-and-white pigment and trace elements have also been analyzed.

Including the crystal phase, age, craftsmanship, and the origin of raw materials—all the data is already as specific as it can possibly be.

Song Jingqiu did not feel that there were any more tests that could be done. Even if they were done, what would be the use?

It wasn't just him who felt this way; the Experts present all thought the same.

Of course, there are more instruments that can test and identify ancient ceramics; if broken down vertically, at least a dozen more could be done.

However, the types of tests and the final data would not differ much from what is in these few pages.

It is nothing more than composition, structure, crystal phase, craftsmanship, origin, and age.

But no one spoke.

After a long silence, Deputy Director Ma stood up.

The types of test items were decided by him, and he watched them being done; his signature is on all the reports.

Furthermore, he is the Group Leader of the Expert group. Since the appellant raised a question, he certainly had to explain it clearly.

"Director Lv, how do you think we should supplement this, and what other tests should be done?"

"No need to do others; just do these again," Director Lv said, flipping through the report. "X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, Micro-confocal Raman Spectroscopy..."

Deputy Director Ma was stunned for a moment: "You mean, repeat all of these?"

Director Lv nodded solemnly: "Yes, take samples from the bottom again and do it all over!"

Everyone was stunned because they could not understand Director Lv's intention.

You agree with all the testing procedures.

You also agree with all the report results.

You have no objections to any of the data or any of the conclusions. So, what is the purpose and meaning of repeating the tests? Even according to what you said: this Plum Vase was fired by foreigners, and it only used Jingdezhen porcelain clay, Jingdezhen Glaze Material, and Wanli Period craftsmanship, which is why it looks so similar.

But how can you prove it with these test data?

To tell the truth, not only can it not be proven, but it also contradicts the analysis results provided by Director Lv.

Since the machine is correct and the data is correct, doing it ten thousand times will still yield the same data.

If you couldn't prove it the first time, could a miracle happen the second time?

They would have to cooperate in the future, so it wouldn't be good to truly fall out. Deputy Director Ding of the Jiangxi Institute of Archaeology raised a hand, trying to soften his tone as much as possible:

"Director Lv, these are all Cultural Relics; taking too many samples isn't good. Especially those two Douli Cups—they are worth tens of millions; wouldn't it be a pity if they were ruined?" A burst of good-natured laughter erupted in the meeting room. The leaders and Experts all knew that Deputy Director Ding was reminding Director Lv: even if you do it ten thousand times, the result will still be the same as before.

But Director Lv did not understand the subtext and thought Deputy Director Ding was genuinely considering his position: "It doesn't matter, Deputy Director Ding. They are all sample porcelains used for testing anyway. I would have to break them when I take them back, so breaking them sooner is better than later."

"As for those two Douli Bowls, they are just imitations, only better made. They might be worth a hundred thousand or so, but they certainly aren't worth tens of millions. Don't worry about drilling..." No... what is wrong with you? Why are you talking to yourself?

Is this a question of whether or not to drill?

Your appeal failed; these Cultural Relics belong to the state, not to you to decide.

But from the way you talk, it sounds as if you have already succeeded in your appeal?

A group of people looked at each other in dismay.

Some were even thinking: Has Director Lv been angered into confusion, starting to talk nonsense?

But they couldn't just let Director Lv keep going in circles like this, could they?

This is a cross-examination meeting, after all, and with so many leaders present, are we going to treat it like child's play?

Song Jingqiu said bluntly: "Director Lv, repeat testing does not conform to the review process!"

Director Lv was stunned, appearing somewhat incredulous: "Why?"

Good heavens, you can actually ask why?

Song Jingqiu delivered the final verdict: "Director Lv, your supplement is invalid; I have the right to reject it!"

Reject?

Director Lv immediately got anxious: "Department Head Song, since this is a cross-examination meeting, you cannot stop people from speaking, can you?"

"I am not stopping you from speaking, but you cannot just spout meaningless nonsense. We are here to solve problems..."

Does that mean you aren't here to listen to me talk nonsense?

But why am I talking nonsense?

His eyes reddened, and Director Lv stood up:

"Department Head Song, you asked me if I had any additions, and I said yes: your tests were not done completely. You asked what else could be done, and I said take samples from the bottom again and re-test... That is the correct procedure, isn't it?"

Song Jingqiu nodded: "Correct!"

"Then solve it! I gave you the method, and you come back with one sentence: 'Rejected'? So, what have you solved?"

Director Lv became more agitated as he spoke: "You never intended to solve the problem at all, but rather to solve the person who raised the problem!"

Even as composed and shrewd as Song Jingqiu was, he was still stunned by this remark.

No... Old Lv, what kind of occasion is this? How dare you say such things?

You are treating all the leaders sitting above as if they were air, aren't you?

If you can't solve the problem, you solve the person who raised it... Mr. Lv, do you believe I can have you thrown out?

Song Jingqiu kept a straight face: "Lv Chenglong, please mind your words!"

Several Experts also felt a headache: Director Lv, are you not concerned about anything at all anymore?

You are a renowned scholar, after all; how can you learn the ways of a shrew cursing in the street, rolling on the ground and making a scene?

If this continues, there will be no need to tear anything; the mask will be ripped off directly...

Deputy Director Ding sighed: "Director Lv, don't be like this. Let's talk calmly! At the very least, we must be reasonable, and our words must have a basis..."

The several people beside them chimed in one by one:

"In an occasion like this, with so many leaders sitting here, how could it be about solving the person rather than solving the problem? Director Lu, your words are going too far..."

"Director Lu, the Customs leaders invited us here to solve problems. You cannot just be unreasonable and make a scene because you are in the wrong."

"Director Lu, this isn't the old days, where you can just start throwing labels around..."

Director Lu was trembling with anger and said "good" three times: "Good... good, good..."

Song Jingqiu, calling him by his full name—does that mean there is no room left for negotiation at all?

And these four: I had previously thought we were all brother units, and all acquaintances who would need to cooperate in the future, so I wanted to leave you some face. But look how that turned out?

Saying I am unreasonable, saying I am speaking too harshly, saying I am making a scene, saying I am throwing labels around?

I just don't understand: are those two pieces of meat on your cheeks only there to vent your anger?

Director Lu laughed out of extreme anger: "Can't even understand human speech? Have you lived all your years in vain?"

The four people opposite were suddenly stunned, their faces turning dark.

You surnamed Lu, do you have no shame left? Are you really going to resort to that shrew-cursing-in-the-street routine?

The others were all dumbfounded: Has Director Lu gone crazy?

If this were truly in a courtroom, he would have been dragged out on the spot...

Wang Qi Zhi looked bewildered: Everything was fine, why did they suddenly start fighting?

But how did this scene come to pass?

Recalling it, it started from the moment Department Head Song said, "Repeat testing does not conform to the procedure," and Director Lu suddenly lost control?

And it was extremely fast; just two or three sentences, not even a minute from start to finish.

Director Lu's emotional escalation was too rapid; everyone was caught off guard, and no one had time to react.

Including Lin Sicheng, Wang Qi Zhi, and also the several leaders.

Lin Sicheng had a pained expression, as if he had a toothache: But who can he blame?

Blame Department Head Song for being prejudiced?

Blame the several Experts for listening without hearing clearly?

Or blame Director Lu for not explaining it all at once?

Director Lu did want to explain it clearly, but they didn't give him the chance at all...

Lin Sicheng sighed and stood up.

Wang Qi Zhi was startled: "Lin Sicheng, what are you doing?"

"I'm going to remind Director Lu to take out that piece of paper."

Which paper? The one you wrote on the fly while eating?

Even if you remind him, in his current state, will he be able to explain it clearly?

Wang Qi Zhi's heart skipped a beat: Could it be that you want to go up and explain it yourself?

He rolled his eyes: "You don't need to go; can't I just shout it out?"

"Teacher, I'm worried that Director Lu won't cover everything..."

See? I knew it would be like this.

That paper was just an outline; in normal times, Director Lu would have no problem.

But now, with tensions high and him in a fit of rage, Director Lu probably doesn't even have thirty percent of his usual memory left. If he misses even a little bit, he will be seized upon by the four Experts opposite.

If someone interrupts him or provokes him again... well, he'll forget everything.

But even if he forgets, it would still be better than Lin Sicheng going up to speak himself...

Wang Qi Zhi pondered for a moment: "Lin Sicheng, how about... let's just forget it?"

Lin Sicheng was stunned.

In all the time he had known him, this was the first time he saw a sense of hesitation on his teacher's face.

"Teacher, why?"

Wang Qi Zhi weighed his words, thinking about how to be more tactful. But as soon as the thought emerged, he sighed dejectedly:

With Lin Sicheng's brain and reaction speed, even if you took one hundred and eighty detours, he could pull you back with a single sentence.

Forget it, let's speak plainly...

"Director Lu had his fill of scolding, but he also offended them to death. If you go up, it's equivalent to offending them all over again..."

Wang Qi Zhi looked pained, "Director Lu doesn't care; his seniority is established, so he can scold if he wants. But you are different: you still have to make a living in Beijing in the future..."

"So, let's not pursue these few pieces of porcelain; we'll think of another way."

Lin Sicheng didn't speak: What other way could there be?

If the appeal is unsuccessful, it's not just a matter of these few pieces of porcelain being confiscated, but Hu Hai.

Hu Pangzi will be sentenced to at least two or three years.

Without Hu Hai, once they get to Malaysia or Indonesia, they won't even know who to look for or where to go.

That is equivalent to giving this project a death sentence. Even if he agreed, Director Lu and the Forbidden City would not.

Besides, he couldn't bring himself to watch his comrade charge into battle while he hid in the trench playing dead.

Lin Sicheng smiled: "Let's try it, what if it works?"

What if, what if?

Lin Sicheng, do you know who those few Experts represent, and which units are behind them?

It's the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the University of Science and Technology of China, plus Fudan, the Shanghai Museum, and the Jiangxi Institute of Archaeology.

That is equivalent to half the landscape of the ancient ceramics world... oh no, more than half.

I'll just ask you one thing: do you still want to proceed with the World Heritage Application or not?

The words reached Wang Qi Zhi's lips, but he could not spit them out.

If Lin Sicheng could listen to such words, he would not have disregarded his own life to go undercover and square off against those desperadoes under Yu Dahai. If he could listen, he would not have risked having his neck slashed through to take those two blades for the head of the Tang family.

If he could listen, he would not have held an electronic bomb in the desperadoes' den to threaten them in return.

One must ask, on what grounds?

On what grounds could Lin Sicheng make his teacher follow his every word, make Ye Anning devoted to him, and even make the second sister, brother-in-law, and even his father and grandfather praise him endlessly and speak of him with pride?

Was it not based on this spirit within his chest?

Wang Qi Zhi felt as if a bone were stuck in his throat, yet he did not know how to spit it out.

Subconsciously, he recalled a sentence Lin Sicheng had once said: Teacher, if the spine is broken, it can never be straightened again...

Forget it, aren't they just a few experts and a few Department Heads?

He stood up: "I will accompany you!"

If he did not go, let alone take the stand, Lin Sicheng would not even be able to reach the conference table.

Lin Sicheng nodded: "Thank you, Teacher!"

"No need for thanks!"

Wang Qi Zhi smoothed his suit collar, "Lin Sicheng, taking you as a student is the most correct thing I have done in my life!"

Lin Sicheng paused: "Teacher, that is too sentimental!"

"No, this is a fact!"

The two left the gallery and headed straight up.

The conference hall was silent for a moment, then a stir broke out.

Song Jingqiu thought to himself: As expected!

Chen Feng and Li Shichen remained expressionless.

The others did not understand the situation and looked curious: Why is Wang Qi Zhi coming to join the fun?

Huh, is Lin Sicheng here too?

Understood, this is the reinforcement invited by old Lu...

The "He-Imitation Porcelain" project had no leads yet, let alone being officially established; it hadn't even taken shape. Therefore, few people knew about it.

But "Yuan Dynasty Imperial Porcelain," "Song Dynasty Shadow Blue Porcelain," "Yuan Dynasty Egg White Glaze," and so on, were not secrets.

Many people knew that Xida and the Forbidden City were cooperating... to be precise, Lin Sicheng and Director Lu were cooperating on a Palace Porcelain project. This included Department Head Xiao: even now, the project application was still sitting on his desk.

Department Head Wu knew even more: the Hejin Kiln and Huo Prefecture Kiln were both excavated under his direction, with Sun Jiamu in charge on-site, and Lin Sicheng leading the team. Only then, based on the archaeological data from these two kilns, did Lin Sicheng find the lineage of these two types of porcelain and the North Song Dynasty Yingqing Porcelain.

Only then did he restore Shadow Blue Porcelain, Sweet White Glaze, and Doucai Glaze.

Deputy Director Ma knew even more: it was only by inviting Lin Sicheng to Beijing to assist with the "BTA Sustained-release Project" that he met Director Lu. Therefore, these people were very clear that although Lin Sicheng was young, his ability in ancient ceramic research was very, very strong.

Including the experts drawn from the Cultural Relics Research Institute and the National Museum of China, all knew how the "BTA Slow-Release Technology" of the Cultural Relics Research Institute came about. Moreover, most of them had heard Lin Sicheng's lectures at the Wenbo Building.

In the conference hall, at least half the people recognized him.

Therefore, as they walked along, people greeted him from time to time.

But since it was a cross-examination meeting, it was not appropriate to make small talk, so they could only nod and smile.

Including Department Head Wu and Department Head Xiao, they also nodded toward him.

Lin Sicheng did not nod; he smiled all the way up.

But those who did not know the inside story all thought these people were greeting Wang Qi Zhi.

Including Chen Feng, Li Shichen, and Song Jingqiu.

Department Head Song's eyelids could not stop twitching: No... are you all being so blatant with your winks and nods?

Does this Wang Qi Zhi really have such great influence?

In his astonishment, they had already reached the conference table, and Wang Qi Zhi bowed first: "Greetings, leaders!"

Huh?

Subconsciously, Xiao Heng and Wu Hui exchanged a look: Why is Wang Qi Zhi so well-behaved today?

In the past, he would have at most offered a greeting.

It couldn't be that he was about to unleash a big move?

In a flash, Wang Qi Zhi turned around again: "Department Head Song, do not misunderstand, we are only here to provide evidence!"

You are providing evidence?

In what capacity are you providing evidence?

Song Jingqiu did not speak and looked at Chen Feng.

Just as Chen Feng was about to say something, Xiao Heng leaned into his ear and said something. Then, Wu Hui beside him also said something.

After a brief pause, Chen Feng nodded.

Song Jingqiu understood in a second and said: "Fine, Professor Wang, please sit."

On this half of the row, there was only Director Lu, and Wang Qi Zhi and Lin Sicheng sat on his left and right.

Seeing the two come up, Director Lu's anger dissipated by more than half, and his mood was relatively stable now.

He was just a bit suspicious: "Wasn't it agreed that I would come alone?"

Actually, downstairs, when Lin Sicheng took out that paper, Director Lu understood: today, he would likely offend people.

It was hard to say about those four experts, but as for Customs, he would definitely offend them thoroughly.

At the very least, the Customs leaders would not be able to sleep for several months, and whenever they thought of the one surnamed Lu, they would curse...

Therefore, he had said at the time: he would handle the cross-examination, and Lin Sicheng should just sit and listen.

If he offended them, so be it; he only knew how to do research, and he had no interest in or knowledge of anything else.

But Lin Sicheng was different; his path had only just begun, and there was still a long way to go...

As for Wang Qi Zhi, even if you dared to let him go up, would he be able to explain it clearly?

But in the end, both of them went up?

"You still have the nerve to say that?" Wang Qi Zhi sighed, "Where is that piece of paper?"

Department Head Lv opened the Folder: "It's right here, isn't it?"

It was indeed there, neatly tucked between several sheets of data.

Wang Qi Zhi gritted his teeth: "Then why didn't you explain it clearly?"

"How did I not explain it clearly? I wanted to explain it more clearly, but I have to be given the chance..."

"Did you hear me say: re-sample from the bottom, re-test. But Department Head Song didn't even ask for the reason, he just said: rejected... I thought he didn't understand, so I said it again. As a result, he said everything I said was nonsense? Wang Qi Zhi, if it were you, wouldn't you be angry?"

"Then why didn't you say that the previous tests weren't complete?"

The Fire Qi that had just subsided flared up again, and Department Head Lv glared:

"Wang Qi Zhi, are your ears growing on the soles of your feet? When Department Head Song asked me to supplement, did I or did I not say: the tests weren't complete?" Wang Qi Zhi opened his mouth, speechless.

It seemed, he really did say it?

But everyone took him for being difficult and unreasonable, so no one paid attention.

More importantly, due to preconceptions, everyone felt that doing the test again would still yield the same result...

Wang Qi Zhi grimaced, looking like he was constipated: "Then what should we do now?"

Department Head Lv looked matter-of-fact: "Cross-examine, of course?"

"Then can you explain it clearly?"

Department Head Lv was about to say "yes," but the words reached his lips, and he hesitated.

During this period, because of these few pieces of porcelain, he hadn't eaten well or slept well. It felt like a ball of fire was lodged in his chest, unable to be spat out or swallowed.

Finally, it was detonated by Department Head Song and the four Experts opposite.

He also knew that what he had just said was wrong, but when the Fire Qi flared up, he simply couldn't control it.

He was also very clear that, going forward, he still wouldn't be able to control it.

So, how could he continue to explain?

He could only let Lin Sicheng do it.

But, what about the future?

He looked at Lin Sicheng, then looked at the four Experts opposite, and then turned his head to look at the several Department Heads above...

Lv Chenglong, one cannot be too selfish in life.

He gritted his teeth: "Lin Sicheng, let's not do it anymore!"