Chapter 515: Can't Get Past It?

Once the direction was set, the next step was execution.

Lin Sicheng asked Wang Qi Zhi to first find an acquaintance in the industrial park.

It wasn't about using a backdoor, but about understanding the situation: even within the same park, office buildings had their differences.

Which building had better load-bearing capacity to house large equipment? Which building had a higher power distribution capacity so that multiple instruments could run simultaneously without the risk of tripping the breakers?

Which building had a more advanced fresh air system, allowing for the establishment of constant temperature and humidity experimental zones? Which building had higher ceilings and fewer pillars, making it suitable for comprehensive renovation?

This included the fact that the types of institutions allowed to register varied between different buildings: in the park, over eighty percent of office buildings did not allow registration for laboratories because they required the use of chemical reagents, making it necessary to confirm environmental impact assessment qualifications. Furthermore, all dating instruments were radioactive equipment. Without a radiation license, you couldn't even move the machines in.

And so on and so forth; there were too many details to consider. If you didn't plan ahead and find someone to ask clearly, it would be too late to change things once it was built. Finding an acquaintance in Beijing was effortless for Wang Qi Zhi. He made two phone calls, and it didn't even take three minutes.

Seeing Lin Sicheng holding a pen and writing non-stop, he and Zhao Xiuneng each had a cigarette, envisioning how things would be once the Center was built.

Then, they waited for half an hour.

"Rip," Lin Sicheng tore off the sticky notes filled with writing, a full four pages.

"What did you write?"

"Some precautions for during the renovation!"

Wang Qi Zhi didn't think much of it: "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on it myself when the time comes!"

"Thank you, Teacher!"

"It's no trouble!" Wang Qi Zhi joked, "You paid for it!"

Lin Sicheng certainly hadn't paid cash, but he had given shares. Although it was only ten percent and in the form of technical equity, it still made Wang Qi Zhi's eyes redden with emotion.

There was no need to look far for an example; just take the Research Center at Xida: once the BTA Slow-Release Technology was converted and implemented, the annual licensing fee would be at least in the millions. No need for more; once the Center in Beijing was built, Lin Sicheng just needed to pull off one such project within three years. With a ten percent stake, the dividends alone would be in the millions.

Putting in so much effort and investing such high costs, it was impossible for Lin Sicheng to only research this one project. What if he could pull off two, or even three or four?

In this lifetime, Wang Qi Zhi could just sit back and relax.

This was only one part; in the later stages, the Center would certainly include appraisal and Artifact Restoration services, and these two were the real big earners.

In Zhao Xiuneng's words, with Lin Sicheng's eye and craftsmanship, making ten million a year was like child's play.

This included Zhao Xiuneng as well; it was also a technical stake, also ten percent of the shares.

But unlike Wang Qi Zhi, after the Center was established, Zhao Xiuneng could set up a Restoration Center under the Center named after himself.

It is easy to enjoy the shade under a big tree; as Lin Sicheng's influence in the antique and cultural relic circles grew, the father and his two sons would naturally rise with the tide. By then, it would be hard not to have business.

Lin Sicheng checked it over, felt that this was roughly it, and handed it over.

"Teacher, see if there is anything else that needs to be added?"

Wang Qi Zhi took a glance and was a bit stunned:

He had previously been at the Cultural Relics Research Institute, then went to the Shaanxi Bronze Research Institute, and after that, he went to Xida. It could be said that he was more familiar with laboratories than he was with his own home.

But this was the first time he knew that building a research center required considering so many things?

Take vibration control, for example: laboratory floors shouldn't be too low, certainly shouldn't be street-facing, and shouldn't be too close to the road—Wang Qi Zhi knew these points. This was to prevent the impact of floor vibrations on precision instruments.

Just like at Peking University, because a subway was built underground, all precision experiments could only be done at night, after the subway stopped running. But this was the first time Wang Qi Zhi knew: the power of the air conditioning system, the types of institutions adjacent above and below, and the number of personnel could actually affect the operation of testing instruments?

Also, Wang Qi Zhi knew that the requirements for temperature, humidity, and light intensity in the testing area, restoration area, and storage area were all different. But this was the first time he knew that there were also control requirements for airborne particles and gaseous pollutants?

And then there were the various qualification filings: Industrial and Commercial Bureau, Cultural Relics Bureau, Cultural Bureau, Market Supervision Bureau (Technical Quality Supervision), Security Bureau, Environmental Protection Bureau, as well as the Fire Bureau, Public Security Bureau, and Judicial Bureau.

And so on and so forth; just for qualification approvals, one had to run to nearly ten bureaus.

This didn't even count which area used which instruments and how many power circuits were needed. Which sensors and monitors needed to be installed in special areas. And which brand of instrument or equipment should be used, and what specific power was required.

Four pages of writing left Wang Qi Zhi's scalp tingling.

"Teacher, hire a registration company; let them handle the paperwork. But for the renovation and instruments, we must keep an eye on this part ourselves!" Wang Qi Zhi nodded hurriedly: he was just not specialized, not ignorant. He wouldn't pick up the sesame seeds and lose the watermelon.

Moreover, Lin Sicheng had written it so clearly and in such detail that Wang Qi Zhi understood at a glance: many seemingly inconspicuous places were related to the subsequent quality of experiments and the progress of research.

If one didn't keep an eye on it personally, who could feel at ease?

But compared to that, he was even more surprised: where did Lin Sicheng learn all this?

Including the Research Center at Xida, although Lin Sicheng paid for it, whether it was the zoning, renovation, or the subsequent installation of equipment, the school handled everything from beginning to end.

At that time, Lin Sicheng wasn't there most of the time; he was previously helping the Public Security Bureau solve cases, looking for Zhang Anshi's tomb, and later went to Tongchuan. By the time he returned from Tongchuan, what needed to be done was already done.

And besides this one, Lin Sicheng didn't even know where the door to a laboratory opened before.

On the contrary, Wang Qi Zhi had been following the progress the whole time. What's more, he had previously stayed in several comprehensive cultural and museum-related laboratories; logically, he should know more than Lin Sicheng.

Lin Sicheng was concise: "Learned it online!"

Wang Qi Zhi: Heh heh...

Lin Sicheng, are you not even pretending anymore?

Zhao Xiuneng had a strange expression: Professor Wang, you are also idle. Knowing he would answer like this, you still had to ask out of curiosity?

Just like before, no matter who asked, Lin Sicheng would always say: Learned it from books...

Lin Sicheng took his bag, and the three of them walked out of the suite. Just as the door closed, the door next door made a sound, and Feng Sanjiang and Hu Hai also came out of their room. Seeing Lin Sicheng, Feng Sanjiang's eyes lit up: "Lin Shifu, it's perfect, I have something to tell you!"

Since the two of them had nothing to do, Lin Sicheng waved his hand: "Feng Shifu, Hu Shifu, let's go together, we can talk on the way!"

Hu Pangzi and Feng Laosan nodded hurriedly, following closely at Lin Sicheng's side.

The five of them went downstairs together.

Following at the very back, Wang Qi Zhi watched coldly, his lips curling repeatedly.

He could guess what these two swindlers wanted to say with his toes: it was nothing more than wanting to cling tightly to Lin Sicheng's thigh and get a start in life.

According to his thinking, such characters could be used when necessary. Just like this Pangzi: he really had to rely on him to find the He-Imitation Porcelain. Furthermore, this Pangzi also had overseas connections, which might come in handy at some point.

But using them is one thing; boundaries must be clear. Once done, give them some benefits or just give them some money to send them away. There was no need to get too involved, and even less need to keep them by his side.

He didn't know what Lin Sicheng was thinking; not only did he keep them all, but he even seemed to have the intention of long-term cooperation?

Wang Qi Zhi couldn't figure it out: you are cooperating with swindlers; what if they sell you out one day?

Compared to this, Zhao Xiuneng was at the other extreme: swindlers aren't scary; what's scary is if the swindler has no skills.

As long as they have the ability, let alone con artists, even Grave Robbers can be put to use when the time is right.

It just so happens that these three con artists are of the type with extremely high skills and great capabilities.

Take Ding Aqin for example; although Lin Sicheng hasn't mentioned it and Zhao Xiuneng hasn't said it either, the two of them are very clear:

Don't look at how this woman is plain-looking and usually doesn't like to talk much; if it comes to the craft of Artifact Restoration for ancient porcelain, Ding Aqin is only higher than Zhao Xiuneng, never lower. And once the Center opens, the initial focus will certainly be on porcelain. Whether it is tracing the origin of the craft or Artifact Research, this woman can be a huge help. Later, if they take on large-scale porcelain restoration business, this woman can even handle it all on her own.

Compared to her, Feng Laosan, who is the least favored by Wang Qi Zhi, is actually the strongest of the three.

Don't look at how this person keeps a low profile; his appraisal skills are super high, and it's the kind that is not limited by category or dynasty.

Otherwise, he couldn't be the leader of a con artist gang, wouldn't have made this group so submissive to him, and it would be even more impossible for him to succeed every single time. Just look at one point: he dares to scam any kind of collector, can sell any kind of object, and specifically looks for experts to scam.

Since they are experts, they certainly can't be blind; without some discernment, who would dare spend hundreds of thousands to buy an object?

But Feng Sanjiang scams them accurately every time, which shows how authentic the objects he uses for scamming are, and how high his eye for picking things is.

Including Feng Shui, geomancy, Dragon Seeking, and tomb exploration, this person is also extremely proficient.

In Zhao Xiuneng's view, he is quite a bit like a weakened version of Lin Sicheng.

Thinking from another perspective, since he has such great ability, since he is full of skills, and his leadership ability is so strong, why didn't Feng Laosan go down the wrong path?

He knows how to seek dragons and explore tombs, yet he didn't go Grave-robbing. His eye is exceptionally high, yet he didn't become a Cultural Relics dealer, but instead chose to skirt the edge, always wandering in the gray area? It shows that he can still keep a clear head.

Lin Sicheng daring to keep him is also because he saw this point.

Secondly, it is his extremely superb appraisal skill: Zhao Xiuneng asks himself, even if it's just comparing porcelain appraisal, he can't beat him. As for Professor Wang, he is even worse. It's just that he hadn't met Feng Laosan before; otherwise, he would have fallen for it in a minute.

The key is that Lin Sicheng really can't find such a good hand for the time being.

Those with the eye and appraisal ability like Feng Sanjiang are either acting as the "eye" for Grave Robber gangs or are the master experts holding down the fort at major auction houses and major antique companies.

Even with an annual salary of a million, you might not be able to poach them...

Since they still need to cooperate for now, and he really has the ability and is basically controllable, there is nothing that cannot be used.

Zhao Xiuneng feels that with Lin Sicheng's schemes and methods, when the day comes that he really can't be used, or if Feng Sanjiang gets any ideas, Lin Sicheng could deal with Feng Sanjiang without even giving him a chance to act.

It is also because of this that, no matter when, Feng Sanjiang is always in a submissive posture.

This is not obsequiousness, and even less is it flattery, but rather an expression of his heart:

Master Lin, don't worry, I will follow your lead from now on, and I will never have any crooked thoughts...

And Hu Pangzi, whom Wang Qi Zhi thinks is the most useful, is actually the most dispensable one.

It is mainly because his identity is somewhat special and uncontrollable: following that cousin-in-law of his from Shengdazhuang, Hu Pangzi will cause trouble sooner or later. If it were Zhao Xiuneng: at most, after finding the He-Imitation Porcelain, he would not cooperate with this person again.

He is prepared to wait and see; it won't be too late to remind Lin Sicheng after returning from abroad...

With these thoughts, Zhao Xiuneng gave Wang Qi Zhi a wink.

Wang Qi Zhi naturally understood: with me, Old Zhao, watching, no trouble will arise.

Moreover, Zhao Xiuneng had explained to him before: why Lin Sicheng wants to keep these three people.

Wang Qi Zhi thinks, firstly, that a leopard cannot change its spots. Secondly, these three people are all covered in filth.

In recent years, they have specifically targeted several antique markets in Beijing; there are at least eighty or a hundred collectors who have been scammed.

And among those who collect, who is poor, and who is easy to talk to?

If someone comes knocking, will Lin Sicheng protect them or not?

Wang Qi Zhi can already imagine how much trouble there will be when that time comes...

Thinking secretly, the group went downstairs.

Knowing that Lin Sicheng needed a car, Zhao Xiuneng had both cars that Zhao Da and Zhao Er left in Beijing brought over.

One BMW, one Toyota Prado, and as usual, Zhao Da and Zhao Er were the drivers.

Just as he sat in the car, Lin Sicheng suddenly said: "Teacher, after the Center is registered, let's buy two cars first."

Looking at Zhao Xiuneng, Wang Qi Zhi nodded: "Good!"

Zhao Xiuneng has been talking about buying a car for a year now. The key is, it wasn't for Lin Sicheng to buy, but to use Zhao Da and Zhao Er's names to buy one as a tribute to him, his master.

But Lin Sicheng never gave in.

Wang Qi Zhi also persuaded him, and after Zhao Xiuneng persuaded him several times, Lin Sicheng always turned a deaf ear, either driving his beat-up Santana, or occasionally hitching a ride in Wang Qi Zhi's Jeep Grand Cherokee and Zhao Xiuneng's Mercedes-Benz.

Finally, unable to stand it anymore, while he was away, Zhao Xiuneng acted first and reported later, buying that Maybach.

As a result, Lin Sicheng thought it was too flashy and still drove his beat-up Santana.

Zhao Xiuneng and Wang Qi Zhi felt that Lin Sicheng driving that piece of junk on the street was even flashier than a Maybach.

This time, the opportunity finally came; no matter what, he had to replace that beat-up car of his.

Benz or BMW would be fine, they actually fit Lin Sicheng's age, but his status doesn't quite match.

Sooner or later he will be an Expert... oh no, he already is one now; being too high-profile is indeed not appropriate.

Then getting an Audi should be no problem, right?

Wang Qi Zhi offered an idea: "A good car is like a storefront, get a higher configuration!"

Zhao Xiuneng nodded vigorously: "Right, and it can be used for tax deductions!"

Where are there taxes?

It's going to be tax-exempt for several years...

"No need for it to be too good, as long as it's sturdy!" Lin Sicheng shook his head, "Buy a Santana 2000, and then buy another basic Santana, that's enough!" Wang Qi Zhi and Zhao Xiuneng had strange expressions: No... Lin Sicheng, you have a grudge against Santana, don't you?