Chapter 92: The Female Assistant Doing Private Work

Another new week.

The incandescent lamp emitted a soft light; Wang Qi Zhi leaned against the long desk, holding his Tea Cup to warm his hands.

Lin Sicheng stood opposite him, his hands tucked into the pockets of his white lab coat. The morning light filtered through the blinds, casting fine golden lines across his face.

"So, it was that Supervisor Yang who was causing trouble? The one who opened the box without asking for my consent after Senior Brother Hao arrived?"

"Yes, that's her!" Wang Qi Zhi nodded. "She's getting on in years, her professional competence has severely regressed, and her ability to learn is practically zero, which in turn created a sense of crisis. It just so happens that Ye Anning is too capable and has a background, which forced her to take a desperate risk..."

"Was she fired by Poly?"

"Of course. And Poly has already reported it to the Police; they will be pressing charges next. I heard she pulled quite a few tricks... Oh, right, there's also that Teacher Ma."

Wang Qi Zhi remembered something else: "After causing a scene for two days, the moment she stepped into Poly on the third day, she was taken away by the Police who had been waiting for her: detained for half a month!"

Lin Sicheng sighed with emotion: This is the real Poly.

What he saw after entering that day felt just like a fake.

Wang Qi Zhi uncovered his Tea Cup and took a sip: "I'm just curious, why didn't that Teacher Ma come to find you and cause a scene?"

Lin Sicheng smiled: "I guess she hasn't had the chance yet!"

First, it was the people at Poly who incited Teacher Ma to send that calligraphy piece to auction, and it was also because of that Supervisor Yang's meticulous design that she forced it upon him, making him buy that calligraphy and the seal; therefore, the primary conflict still lies with Poly.

Second, Teacher Ma knows full well: because of those two third-party resale Contract documents, she wouldn't win even if she took the lawsuit to the United Nations. The only strategy now is to find a way to see if she can join forces with Poly to find some evidence of Ye Anning "eating from inside and out, and operating behind the scenes."

But unfortunately, if it could be found, Poly would have found it long ago; it wouldn't be her turn. And it is quite the opposite: Ye Anning was a victim from beginning to end.

Third, it should be the mentality of seeking advantages and avoiding harm at work. The old man has painstakingly managed things for most of his life; the three characters "Lin Zhangqing" still hold some credibility and deterrent power.

As far as the antique trade is concerned: making a mistake and losing a treasure is as common as a daily meal; which expert dares to say they have never stumbled? And even if the pit they stepped into is huge, it doesn't necessarily mean there is no chance for a comeback.

But if one's reputation is ruined, then there is truly no hope at all.

Combining these factors, if Teacher Ma were a bit more clear-headed, not only would she not cause a scene, she would bring out that sticky, persistent attitude of hers and run over to Lin Sicheng to play the victim: Little brother, look, your sister lost over ten million because of you; shouldn't you show some pity and compensate me?

But honestly, if Lin Sicheng could be entangled by her, he would have lived his two lifetimes in vain, so he wasn't worried at all.

Compared to that, he admired Ye Anning more: she doesn't move unless necessary, but once she does, she strikes at the vital point—steady, accurate, and ruthless.

Having been teacher and student for many days, Wang Qi Zhi knew what Lin Sicheng was thinking at a glance and sighed: "Don't overthink it: no one intervened in this matter from start to finish, including me, your teacher's wife, and especially not your aunt (Ye Anning's mother)!"

"That's why I admire her!" Lin Sicheng nodded vigorously. "Cousin Ye is quite impressive!"

Wang Qi Zhi smacked his lips: he always felt that using a word like "impressive" to describe a girl was somewhat inappropriate.

"Change the word!"

Lin Sicheng thought for a moment: "Calm, rational, decisive!"

Wang Qi Zhi opened his mouth: why did it feel even more off?

Forget it, the more you describe it, the worse it gets.

He changed the subject: "The seal, where did you store it? Is it safe?"

"I used Grandpa's account to open a VIP safe at the bank, and that calligraphy piece is also stored inside."

"Haha, Professor Lin wasn't startled, was he?"

Lin Sicheng shook his head: "I haven't told him yet; I also instructed Senior Brother Hao and Section Chief Guan to keep it quiet for now!"

Wang Qi Zhi was stunned and gave a thumbs up: "Lin Sicheng, you are truly filial!"

Lin Sicheng laughed: "It's alright!"

After a few jokes, the atmosphere gradually lightened, and Wang Qi Zhi checked his watch again: "Just to bring someone over, why did Feng Lin take so long?"

"Didn't you instruct her to interview them one by one? It should be soon!"

Just as Lin Sicheng finished speaking, the door was pushed open.

Feng Lin was in the lead, and five others followed in succession. Three men and two women, all very young.

These few were all carefully selected members of the project team by Wang Qi Zhi, and they were officially joining the team today.

The five greeted them one after another, and Wang Qi Zhi nodded slightly. He reached out and took the resumes from Feng Lin's hand.

Then he handed them over: "Basically, they were all selected according to your requirements!"

Lin Sicheng nodded and took the Folder.

One Doctor, two Masters, and two undergraduates. Their majors were all very relevant, and the first three had very rich experience.

Especially one of the female Masters, who majored in metal Cultural Relics Protection at this school; after graduation, she interned for two years in the laboratory of a retired professor of metal Cultural Relics Protection at the school. She had both sufficient knowledge reserves and rich experimental experience.

The key was her research direction: collaborative research on high-temperature kiln furniture and metal molds.

This was one of the few research topics that intersected Ceramics and metal Cultural Relics; she spent a full two years there, which meant she could handle ceramic experiments, and even more so, metal relic experiments.

She also knew a bit about lacquer carving; putting her here was practically being a jack-of-all-trades.

After matching the people with their photos, Lin Sicheng continued flipping through.

He looked very carefully; after about five or six minutes, he had basically memorized the resumes and specialties of the five people.

Once Lin Sicheng finished reading and returned the Folder to Feng Lin, Wang Qi Zhi picked up his thermos: "You handle the arrangements; I'm going to a meeting!"

Lin Sicheng was stunned: No... you're just leaving like this?

You are the mentor, the Person in Charge of the laboratory, and even the project initiator and General Manager; you recruit people, and you don't even give a word of instruction?

At least say a couple of words to encourage them, right?

"What's the use of always doing those superficial things?" Wang Qi Zhi didn't get away and had to turn back: "Besides, Lin Sicheng, what did we say before?"

Lin Sicheng widened his eyes.

Yes, he had said: Teacher, you just need to oversee the overall situation, like the planning, application, project initiation, funding, acceptance, and evaluation... and keep an eye on things occasionally; Senior Sister Feng and I can basically handle the small details.

But he didn't say you could just act as a hands-off Manager?

Lin Sicheng paused: "Aren't you afraid I'll mess it up?"

Wang Qi Zhi laughed: Which instrument in this laboratory can you not use more smoothly than Feng Lin?

And those research plans, even the directions for the sub-projects were proposed by you; you're saying you can't do it?

Besides, how badly could it go?

Wang Qi Zhi had a very serious expression as he nodded again: "The teacher believes in you!"

Just this one sentence made the words Lin Sicheng had prepared a bellyful of unable to be uttered.

Lin Sicheng naturally knew that Professor Wang intended to establish his own authority in the laboratory. Just as he had once patted his chest and said those two sentences to Professor Shang: Lin Sicheng has arrived, he is the founding eldest disciple, the sect's senior brother.

Anyone who comes after, regardless of what degree you hold, since you are willing to come, you must listen to orders.

Lin Sicheng just felt that Professor Wang was a bit too reassured about him.

He let out a breath: "Teacher, I will do my best!"

Wang Qi Zhi revealed a mysterious smile: Why would Lin Sicheng need to use his full strength?

At most, using fifty percent of his power would be enough to make these few people obedient.

He lowered his voice again: "The teacher isn't going for a stroll either; I have to go and sound out the Dean."

Lin Sicheng nodded vigorously: "Right, official business is priority!"

Whether the teacher and student can take off depends on whether the iron project can be approved. But if this thing doesn't have the school's background support, they really can't pull it off on their own.

Because to truly compete for food from others' bowls, just look at those opponents: the National Cultural Heritage Administration, Peking University, Beijing University of Technology, the National Museum of China... Most people would have their scalps go numb just seeing the names.

Lin Sicheng gave an encouraging look, Wang Qi Zhi nodded in understanding, and strolled out of the laboratory.

With the sound of the door closing, the atmosphere suddenly went quiet.

Lin Sicheng got straight to the point: "Senior Sister Feng, please take the senior brothers and sisters to familiarize yourselves with the machines and understand the experimental plan!"

The few were all stunned for a moment, and only when Lin Sicheng's gaze swept over did they nod in response one after another.

These few were all carefully selected by Wang Qi Zhi, and he had let Feng Lin talk to them one by one, with very straightforward words: Professor Wang's laboratory is somewhat special; the daily management is basically the responsibility of Junior Brother Lin.

Although she is a Research Assistant and Administrative Assistant, her main work is still primarily to assist Junior Brother Lin. She even specifically reminded them: Junior Brother Lin is a senior this year and hasn't graduated yet; you all need to be mentally prepared.

At the time, all five expressed understanding. But expressing it is one thing, and seeing it with their own eyes after arriving is another: In this laboratory, does the Administrative Assistant really have to stand aside?

Junior Brother Lin's age goes without saying; they all understood this, but what they found a bit hard to accept was the mentor's attitude:

A resume being handed over, the movement was so smooth. The key was that sentence from Wang Qi Zhi at the time: Basically, everything was selected according to your requirements.

What does that mean?

The five of them, in the future, might not be used by Professor Wang, but by this Junior Brother Lin.

The problem is, they were able to stand here because they came for Professor Wang's qualifications and ability; what is it supposed to mean to throw them to a kid?

For a time, their thoughts were varied, with thousands of ideas.

Immediately, Feng Lin handed over several documents: "You have all roughly used the machines; look at the manuals later and familiarize yourselves. This is the research plan; you must focus on understanding this. If you have questions, ask in time; if you have suggestions, bring them up as early as possible..."

The few nodded, took the materials, and flipped them open:

Material and Craft Analysis: Evolution of Early Bronze Metallurgy Technology—Research on Alloy Composition of Bronze Excavated from the Banpo Site.

Protection and Artifact Restoration Technology: Corrosion Mechanism and Intervention Measures for Bronze Excavated from the Loess Plateau—Desalination and Slow-Release Protection Technology.

The former belongs to Craft Restoration, the latter belongs to Artifact Restoration; it is very comprehensive and also very targeted.

Just looking at these two research plans, one knows that the project team put in a lot of effort before the project was approved: it avoids the possibility of duplicate applications with the same school, same province, and even other research institutions, and it also possesses a certain degree of foresight.

Especially the latter, although it is a vertical niche project, it is currently still a blank slate, and the prospects are quite broad. To put it simply: as long as one can research some results, that is several patents.

The number of Thesis publications will fly through the roof.

Suddenly, the hearts of the few settled down quite a bit: although the one on stage looks unreliable no matter how you look at him, the mentor is still very reliable.

But when they skipped the title and looked at the specific content, it was as if they had agreed upon it; the five people's necks all stretched forward in unison:

PI (Project Person in Charge): Wang Qi Zhi.

Co-PI (Project Co-lead, Sub-project Lead): Lin Sicheng.

As if they couldn't believe it, they looked again: That's right, not only is he a Sub-project Lead, but also a Project Co-lead.

What does this mean?

It means that besides the main research direction, the clear technical route, key technical modules, experimental stages, and progress estimates are all designed by him.

Besides this, future daily experimental division of labor, data analysis, experimental progress supervision and inspection, as well as coordinating interdisciplinary guidance and collaboration, are all his responsibility.

It is equivalent to him having to do at least half of the work the mentor should do. As long as the mentor doesn't speak up, he is the one who calls the shots in the laboratory and the project team.

The problem is, let alone whether he has this ability, whether this report was really planned by him. According to regulations, a sub-project lead must be at least a Doctor, and a Project Co-lead must be an Associate Professor or higher.

But this one is only a senior, hasn't even graduated with an undergraduate degree... Then when the project was approved, how did the bid pass?

The strange thing is, the school actually approved it?

Just as they were suspicious and uncertain, one of the undergraduates muttered: "I heard he is the grandson of Deputy Director Lin?"

The other four didn't make a sound, but intuitively it seemed unlikely: the signs of black-box operations and the transfer of scientific research resources were too obvious, a bit too blatant.

The few guessed wildly, while Feng Lin watched coldly from the sidelines.

Because Professor Wang had said: According to Lin Sicheng's plan, once the project starts, the intensity will be very high. This intensity does not refer to time or physical strength, but to the hard requirements for professional ability and knowledge reserves.

To what extent? Those with ability will obediently shut up, and those without ability will voluntarily withdraw.

And before this, no matter how much you explain, there will still be people who doubt; it is better to see the real thing on stage. To put it bluntly, it is one sentence: whether it is a mule or a horse, take it out for a walk.

But fortunately, these few are not greenhorns fresh out of school; suspicion is suspicion, but their mindset is still relatively stable.

The speed of entering the state was also very fast; after roughly flipping through it, the few sat together and discussed. The topic was surprisingly consistent: the design logic was slightly vague, and the verification procedures were not detailed enough.

In plain language: they couldn't quite understand this report.

That Doctor was fine and could basically understand it. The two Masters were much worse, feeling confused and muddled, as if separated by a layer of paper, unable to sort out the logic no matter what.

As for the two undergraduates, it was like reading a heavenly book.

Feng Lin sighed inwardly.

Professor Lin was indeed right: the gap between these few and Lin Sicheng is at least separated by a laboratory.

Just as she was feeling emotional, with a "clatter," the few turned their heads in unison.

On the operating table, Lin Sicheng brought out a box and poured out a pile of porcelain shards.

After sorting them roughly, he began to piece them together.

The few people present were confused.

After watching for a while, the Doctor turned his head: "Feng Assistant, what is Junior Brother Lin doing?"

"Piecing together porcelain shards!"

The Doctor choked for a moment: As if I didn't know he was piecing together porcelain shards?

But the problem is, this is a metal Cultural Relics laboratory.

Likely seeing what he was thinking, Feng Lin explained: "This is Lin Sicheng's own project; he will complete it independently with Chen Huaizhi (the all-purpose female Master), and it has nothing to do with you all!"

The Doctor did not know what to say.

What is "his own project"?

Private work.

Doing it openly in the laboratory was one thing, but to think the project team even specially assigned him an assistant for his private work?

The few people glanced at the laboratory's door sign, then glanced at Lin Sicheng piecing together the porcelain shards, and then glanced at Chen Huaizhi, who was exceptionally calm and had long known what she was there to do.

In an instant, a strange sense of absurdity welled up...