Chapter 605

Professor Zhou's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he clapped his hands on the lecture notes. "Well said! Archaeology is precisely about revealing the threads of this kind of cultural integration."

Jiang Xu took the opportunity to say:

"Professor Zhou, these two are good friends I met while collecting folk songs. They are very interested in traditional culture and have unique insights.

I once heard from my uncle that your office is right next to the former residence of Master J. I wonder if I could go with you to visit it."

Hearing him mention the former residence of the Grand Tutor, Professor Zhou sighed softly and then said:

"I also need to go back to the office to put some materials away. You two can come with me."

Su Yuan came by car, and there was just enough space for two people, saving Professor Zhou and his assistant the trouble of waiting for the bus.

Professor Zhou's office is not big, with the door facing the alley. The room, about 30 square meters, is filled with a lot of materials.

In addition to a large desk, several office chairs, there is also a set of wooden sofas, but now there are many books piled on the sofa.

"Xiao Lin, clean up the sofa and turn up the stove. It's freezing cold."

After Professor Zhou entered, he instructed his assistant to prepare seats for the guests, then turned to Su Miao and the others and said:

"I'm sorry, we don't usually have many customers, so it's a mess."

The assistant brought over the brazier and everyone sat around it to keep warm.

Jiang Xu rubbed his hands and looked around curiously at this old-fashioned office: the mottled green painted walls, the old wooden filing cabinets, and the dial phone on the desk that looked like it had been used for a long time.

"Professor Zhou, how long have you been working here?" Su Miao asked softly, his eyes sweeping over the yellowed group photo and hand-drawn map of Changsha's old city on the wall.

Professor Zhou adjusted his black-framed glasses and poured them tea from the thermos:

"Not that long, actually. Only about 10 years. I graduated from University A in 1961 and was assigned to Star City. I retired in 1980 due to health reasons and have been here ever since."

Su Miao took out her student ID from her bag and said to Professor Zhou, "Professor Zhou, I'm also a student at University A. You're my senior!"

Professor Zhou took her student ID card with surprise and said:

"What a coincidence, we're actually from the same school! Hahahaha! Junior sister, who is your current homeroom teacher? You guys should still have a homeroom teacher, right?"

"Yes, our homeroom teacher is Professor Wenyu. Wen means culture, and Yu means Dayu."

Professor Zhou muttered as he recalled, "Wen Yu... Wen Yu... Ah! It's him! Doesn't he like singing English songs and eating chocolate?"

"Yes, yes! Professor Zhou, you know our head teacher."

"Hahahaha!! We used to be in the same club. He was only a freshman when I was a senior. I never thought that the guy who looked so unreliable back then would be able to be a class teacher now!"

Xiao Lin laughed and said, "Teacher, please don't expose other teachers' shortcomings in front of the younger comrades. Teacher Wen should also maintain her proper dignity!"

After being reminded by his students, Professor Zhou's expression became serious and he said seriously:

"Yes, yes. When we were young, we were all lively. Now that he's retired, he must be reliable."

Because of this relationship, Professor Zhou became more friendly to Su Miao and the others. After chatting for a while, he took them to see the former residence of Master Jia.

After walking ten meters to the side from the office door, everyone stopped in front of a pitch-black door.

"This... is the former residence of Grand Tutor Jia? It's under provincial-level protection?"

The scene before them shocked everyone.

The magnificent gatehouse they had imagined is now just a mottled wooden door.

The carvings on the gatehouse had long been burned beyond recognition by the fire, leaving only a charred mark, like a silent lament of history.

Professor Zhou nodded and said regretfully, "During the Anti-Japanese War, the Wenxixi Fire burned for five days and nights, reducing Xingcheng to a bare shell. The cultural relics on the ground were almost completely destroyed, and much of the cultural heritage was cut short."

Walking into the former residence, the courtyard was overgrown with weeds. The knee-high weeds swayed wildly in the cold wind, as if telling the story of past prosperity and present desolation.

Most of the stone slabs on the ground have been broken, and the gaps are filled with thick dust and fallen leaves.

The main hall opposite the gatehouse was in ruins, with burnt beams and pillars. A large part of the roof had collapsed, and sunlight poured into the house unobstructed, illuminating the broken tiles and rotten wooden beams on the ground.

"The Taifu's former residence originally covered an area of more than ten acres and had been protected and repaired throughout the dynasties. After the fire, only the Taifu Hall, the shrine, the ancient well, and the stone bed remained.

But because there was no one to look after it, the stone bed was later stolen. As Star City was rebuilt, the surrounding buildings gradually encroached on it, and now only two acres of area remain." Professor Zhou's voice was filled with sorrow.

Su Yuanzheng, who was following behind, heard the words "during the Anti-Japanese War" and suppressed the anger in his eyes. He lowered his voice and said to his daughter:

"It's just a small life! How hateful."

But Su Miao's face was full of complicated expressions, and he whispered to his father:

"Dad...it was burned by one of our own people."

"Ah???" Su Yuanzheng's face was full of disbelief.

Jiang Xu asked in confusion:

"Professor Zhou, hasn't this been designated a cultural relic protection site? Why hasn't it been restored? The former residence of such an important historical figure..."

Professor Zhou gave a wry smile and replied, "How can it be that simple? It's burned so thoroughly. Repairing it is even harder than rebuilding it. It requires a huge investment of manpower and resources. We have only just escaped starvation, so how can we afford to do that?"

Over the years, my predecessors, colleagues and I have never given up applying.

A restoration plan was submitted in 1957, but the province cited financial difficulties. It was submitted again in 1962, citing the need to 'build the country through diligence and thrift.' In 1979, with the start of reform and opening up, the result... remains undecided."

While recording the dilapidated scene with his camera, Jiang Xu asked, "Professor Zhou, is it possible to restore this former residence to its former glory?"

Professor Zhou sighed. "It's difficult! Given the current situation, the restoration project requires a huge amount of money and manpower. Moreover, cultural relic restoration emphasizes 'restoring the old as it was before.' Every detail must be strictly based on the historical original appearance. No room for carelessness."

Just then, a noisy sound of footsteps came from outside the yard.

Xiaolin, who had just gone out to pee, came running in with his pee streaming down his face as if he was being chased by a tiger, and said anxiously to Professor Zhou:

"Teacher! They're here again! Manager Zhang! And they've brought a large group of people with them!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a group of people appeared in front of the gate.

The middle-aged man in the lead was wearing a neat suit. He looked to be about forty years old. I don’t know if he was cold in that weather. He had a slicked-back hair and was holding a bulging briefcase in his hand.

The man walked in with a fake smile, his eyes cold as ice. "Professor Zhou, we meet again. Oh! Are you taking us on a tour of the ancient buildings? Look, look, they'll all be demolished soon."