Chapter 71: I Want It

Once the floral patterns were engraved, the next step was the main event: gluing and joining.

This involved two processes: first, applying glue to the porcelain vase, spreading it evenly along the cracks, and when it was neither fully wet nor fully dry, sticking on the gold strips, which were about the thickness of a match head.

But only half was stuck on, with the joints left open, then left to air dry naturally. Once the bond was firm, the joints were welded, and the stems, leaves, and buds were welded simultaneously.

This was delicate work, even more delicate than stapling porcelain. Because the temperature of the solder reached four hundred degrees, if even a single drop fell onto the porcelain vase, "Crack!", it would all shatter.

Fearing Li Zhen's hands were inexperienced, Wang Qi Zhi changed into a Protective Suit and swapped her out.

Then Wang Qi Zhi took the blowtorch, Lin Sicheng applied the solder, and Feng Lin held the protective board in place.

Heating, applying the solder, cooling... as soon as it solidified, Lin Sicheng made two quick cuts with a "Zeng-Zeng" sound, trimming away the excess solder.

Feng Lin pulled the board away, Li Zhen followed closely behind, applying glue and sticking it firm.

At first, it was a bit slow, mainly because it was the first time Feng Lin and Li Zhen were working together, and they couldn't keep up with the speed of Lin Sicheng and Wang Qi Zhi. But after welding a dozen spots, the two became increasingly proficient.

Just like that, like an assembly line, the four of them worked in an orderly manner.

When Lin Sicheng finished repairing the first, and also the longest, crack, Shang Yan's pupils couldn't help but constrict.

At the same time, a series of gasps sounded from behind.

In the shimmering light reflecting off the glaze, golden willow branches stretched out along the bottom of the vase. The branches were slender and soft, the newly sprouted leaves glistening with moisture, the buds on the verge of blooming, looking tender enough to drip.

It was clearly a gold design on a porcelain base, but in a flash, it looked like a cluster of willow buds sprouting in the early spring, growing out from the soil at the base of the jar, climbing and spreading up the Plum Vase, crossing the belly, brushing past the mouth, and then slowly drooping down.

Vivid, lifelike, natural, and full of vitality.

Just as Wang Qi Zhi had imagined before, if the willow branches were dyed green, who would dare say these weren't cut from a tree?

No, there was no need to even dye them; it gave one the immediate impression that "this willow branch was meant to look like this."

Subconsciously, the several graduate students thought in unison of the two Bowls and that Waist Drum Vase placed in the Ceramics Laboratory.

The former was the graduation project of a Senior Brother who studied under Professor Lin three years ago. The latter was restored by Professor Shang herself.

Likewise, both of these Bowls were restored using the "stapling first, gold repair later" technique. And likewise, both of these Bowls had won awards.

The difference was that the Senior Brother's won an association-level award, while Professor Shang's won the highest award in the provincial-level intangible cultural heritage art category: the Silver Award of the Shaanxi Folk Literature and Art Shanhua Award.

With just one glance, the difference in quality was clear.

But now, if compared with the Plum Vase on the table... well, it felt like neither of those Bowls was quite as beautiful?

Of course, it could also be that the shape of the Bowls was too small, or a matter of the lighting!

That final Waist Drum Vase was restored by Professor Lin himself.

It was also a coincidence; both were Folk Kiln pieces from the mid-Qing period, both were Sticky Rice Body White Glazed Porcelain, and both were vase shapes. Even the restoration technique was the same: stapling first, then engraving flowers and Gold Pasting.

There was only one difference: the mouth of the Waist Drum Vase was very large, and Professor Lin used the "Internal Stapling" technique. As the name suggests: the staples were inside the belly of the vase, invisible from the outside.

It had also won an award: the Gold Award of the Shaanxi Folk Literature and Art Shanhua Award.

If compared with the Plum Vase on the table, it felt... hmm~~ like it lacked a little bit of that vividness and natural feeling, and it had much less vitality.

It was as if Professor Lin's Waist Drum Vase was in winter, and Lin Sicheng's Plum Vase was in summer...

Of course, it was very likely that the Waist Drum Vase had too little damage, leaving no room for Professor Lin to compose or unfold an exquisite layout...

The dozen or so graduate students were all thinking something similar, but as they thought about it, they couldn't continue: it felt a bit against their conscience?

Good is good, bad is bad; they still had that much Appraisal ability: so no matter how they looked at it, the grandfather's work seemed inferior to the grandson's?

Then, they looked at each other, staring blankly: what was going on?

It couldn't be that Professor Lin held back when teaching his students, could it?

Otherwise, that Bowl of the Senior Brother's—yes, the first one—how could it have been repaired so poorly?

The more they compared, the stronger this feeling became...

With a soft "thud," the Plum Vase was stood upright, and the group of graduate students finally came to their senses: it was finished?

Wang Qi Zhi shooed Feng Lin and Li Zhen away, then he used an Agate Knife for rough grinding, while also pressing the edges and smoothing the marks, while Lin Sicheng used Deer Skin to polish it.

With a soft, rustling sound, the golden willow branches became brighter, more vivid, and more natural.

Looking closely again, where were the staples? Where were the cracks?

The porcelain body exuded a faint coolness, the gold branches glowed with a warm, soft light, like milk and water blending together, harmonious and seamless.

It was as if this porcelain vase had looked exactly like this when it first came out of the kiln.

The group of graduate students was dumbfounded, and a look of amazement appeared on Shang Yan's face.

Li Zhen and Feng Lin were even more mesmerized, unable to look away. It was as if they couldn't believe that such a work of art had come from their own hands?

Hao Jun's eyes lit up; he picked up his phone, circled around the Plum Vase, and filmed as he moved.

After filming, he looked at Lin Sicheng: "Are you selling it?"

Wang Qi Zhi nodded heavily: "Selling!"

Shang Yan opened her mouth to speak but hesitated, not knowing what she wanted to say. But before she could even open her mouth, Wang Qi Zhi retorted: "Professor Shang doesn't agree?"

Shang Yan thought for a moment and shook her head: this wasn't the Ceramics Laboratory, and Lin Sicheng wasn't her student, so what right did she have to disagree?

Seeing her remain silent, Wang Qi Zhi smiled: he hated these people who used moral kidnapping, always talking about "honor" and "the collective."

Honestly, if Shang Yan dared to say a single word of dissent, he could scold her until she cried.

Lin Sicheng bought the porcelain shards, right?

The gold strips, lacquer, and glue were also bought by Lin Sicheng, right?

Including the engraving knives, trimming knives, and polishing tools, all of them were brought by Lin Sicheng himself.

He just borrowed his teacher's laboratory... no, how could this be called borrowing?

With this level of craftsmanship, even if Lin Sicheng wasn't a student of this school, since Shang Yan brought so many students to attend an observation class, shouldn't the school give Lin Sicheng some travel expenses or a big Red Envelope?

It was already generous of him not to ask the school for money...

Fearing that delays would lead to complications, Wang Qi Zhi waved his hand: "Trouble Secretary-General Hao to contact them as soon as possible!"

"Alright!"

This was exactly the line he was waiting for; Hao Jun edited the photos into a multimedia message, opened his contact list, and sent them out one by one:

Kangxi Folk Kiln Apricot Forest Spring Hall White Porcelain Matte Glaze Plum Vase, restored with Gold Stapling and Engraving Flowers; see the restoration results for yourselves.

Don't ask who repaired it; if you ask, it's Old Hao... First come, first served, mind you!

After sending the mass message, he finally reacted and looked at Lin Sicheng: "How much are we selling it for?"

Lin Sicheng thought for a moment: "One hundred thousand will do!"

The damaged piece cost sixty-four thousand, the gold used was nearly one hundred grams, totaling fifteen thousand, and other materials were negligible.

Feng Lin and Li Zhen were helping out, but they couldn't be expected to help for free.

Professor Wang wouldn't take money even if offered, so there would be over ten thousand left, enough to treat Professor Wang and Hao Jun to several rounds of drinks.

Hao Jun, however, sneered: "One hundred thousand, I can't afford to lose face like that... I'm bidding one hundred and fifty thousand, I want this vase!"

Wang Qi Zhi was somewhat tempted: "I want it too!"

No sooner had the words fallen than his phone went ding-dong; he glanced at it, and Hao Jun let out a "pfft" and laughed.

Secretary-General Hao, where is this vase? If this isn't a photoshopped image, I'll take it for two hundred thousand...

The person who sent the text message was Lin Zhangqing!

Yesterday, just trying to find these four pictures held me up for the better part of the day... I'm crying!