Chapter 118 His mouth was crooked from smiling.

Is Lin Sicheng using this trick again?

The familiar recipe, the familiar taste.

Wang Qizhi pursed his lips tightly, but the corners of his mouth still curled up, revealing a few uncontrollable smiles.

The saying goes, "Knock on the mountain to scare the tiger" and "Throw a stone to test the waters," and Wang Qizhi was the first to fall for it.

For example, when Lin Sicheng first entered his laboratory, he showed off his "iron artifact penetration imaging" technology.

Another example is the repair of the cloisonné dog bowl, which involved burning 6.6 points.

For example, he spoke eloquently about his understanding and views on "iron cultural relic preservation technology".

So how could Wang Qizhi let such a talented person slip away right before his eyes?

He fell for this move willingly!

The same applies now: I will explain to you clearly how your research direction was determined, what the key points were, how the difficulties were overcome, and what experimental methods and detection data were used to conduct technical tracing and theoretical derivation.

Let me add two more points: lost technology. See, isn't the value and message even greater?

The reason is simple: strictly speaking, they came to learn from others. Why should they let others teach them the technology and research results that they have worked hard for for several years or even more than ten years without showing some real skills?

Unless they can act decisively and make them realize that their current achievements are neither particularly advanced nor secretive, and at the same time convince them that the teacher and student pair before them are qualified to cooperate with them, or even share their expertise, then they need to work together effectively.

For example, right now:

The elderly man with graying temples held Lin Sicheng's hand tightly, his eyes shining with surprise, astonishment, deep admiration, and a hint of doubt.

Nine years of hard work by more than a dozen researchers—it's impossible for someone to simply glance at it and decipher it so easily. Therefore, these two must have put in a lot of effort, and the research time must have been considerable.

But as for the claim that their research level surpasses theirs, Yao Hansong thinks it's highly unlikely.

Suspicious, he grasped Lin Sicheng's hand and shook it: "What's your surname?"

"My surname is Lin."

Surname Lin?

Yao Hansong thought hard: In the field of Tang Dynasty gold and silver craftsmanship research, there doesn't seem to be anyone with the surname Lin.

At least not in Shaanxi, and not in Henan either.

But in his view, once you leave those two provinces, all the others are second-rate.

He shook his head again: "Where's your teacher? What's their surname?"

"His surname is Wang!" Lin Sicheng smiled again, pointing to Wang Qizhi, "That's Professor Wang!"

impossible!

The three words welled up in his mouth, but Yao Hansong swallowed them back down.

Even though it was inconvenient to say it to his face, he firmly believed that it was impossible.

Although both belong to the metals family, there is a fundamental difference between the study of copper and the study of gold and silver. The former focuses on the preservation of cultural relics, such as bronzes from the Shang and Zhou dynasties, while the latter focuses on the restoration of craftsmanship.

Wang Qizhi's research was at most incidental, occurring alongside his studies of gold, silver, and bronze inlay. It's impossible for him to have such a thorough and advanced understanding of Tang Dynasty gold and silver craftsmanship, let alone surpass that of the Shaanxi History Museum.

Think back to what just happened: the student said "write it down," so the teacher picked up a notebook and started writing?

Now look at the present: the teacher stands by with a notebook and pen, while the students take the lead?

Just as he was stunned, Lin Sicheng smiled again:

"Professor Yao, to be honest, we were just showing off our limited skills before an expert: what we just said was all derived by the teacher and me based on literature and published papers in journals."

The main sources we relied on were two: the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau's "Shaanxi Cultural Relics Yearbook" and the museum's "Collected Essays on Shaanxi History Museum," especially the latter, which provided us with extremely solid and detailed data and theoretical foundations... So, strictly speaking, we were learning from them..."

Yao Hansong shook his head again: It's still impossible.

Indeed, since the research began in 1998, as instructed by higher authorities, the museum has publicized the progress and results at each stage, published papers, and revealed some data simultaneously.

Reports are simultaneously submitted to higher-level departments, and the results are regularly reviewed and published.

But to be honest, if core technologies could be derived solely from publicly available research papers, China would have already surpassed the UK and the US long ago. What would be the point of having scientists and research institutions then?

Just as he was wondering, Lin Sicheng opened his bag and took out something: "Of course, repeated experiments are also indispensable. But because of the lack of actual objects, the teacher can only find some folk handicrafts with representative techniques..."

Yao Hansong initially thought: That's impossible.

Unless folk handicrafts can reflect the same level of craftsmanship as national treasures.

Otherwise, the so-called data derived from experiments would be nothing short of a joke...

But then, his eyes widened and he froze completely: a bronze agate cup with an animal head was placed in front of him, shining brightly and looking lifelike.

This is definitely not the one in the museum; that one was borrowed by the National Museum of China long ago. This one is definitely a replica.

But how can they imitate it exactly?

The same skillful use of color, the same irregular hollowing, and the same multi-layered relief carving technique.

Even the whiskers and spots on the animal's mouth, that is, the gold beads on the sheep's snout, were made using the same "bead welding" technique.

But that's not the point. The point is: the museum hadn't even figured out how it was made when it was borrowed. The public had neither a sample nor the technology, so how was this vessel replicated?

And the copy is so similar?

Yao Hansong held the agate cup in his hands, looking at it over and over again.

Chen Fen (the group leader) stood to the side, her eyes seemingly fixed on it.

Suddenly, Yao Hansong thought of something and blurted out, "He Jintang?"

Chen Fen suddenly realized: "It's He Jintang!"

The two men exchanged a glance, and Yao Hansong suddenly turned around: "Where did you buy it?"

Lin Sicheng said calmly, "A teacher in Beijing, whose wife works at the Prince Gong's Mansion!"

"He Jintang went to the capital?"

Yao Hansong muttered something to himself, then looked at Wang Qizhi and Lin Sicheng with suspicion.

Even though the craftsmanship details of the specimen are very similar to the real thing, he still felt it was unlikely.

The reason is simple: he could see that Wang Qizhi was only partially informed, not truly knowledgeable at all. Therefore, the child's claim of "studying the derivation with the teacher" was obviously false.

Only he understands.

The problem is that research and derivation take time.

At what age did he begin his research: eighteen, seventeen, or perhaps fifteen or sixteen?

But there's no need to delve into it. Yao Hansong actually felt quite gratified: the fact that this kid could reconstruct the technology using the library's academic journals and deduce the results they had painstakingly researched over eight or nine years using some superficial and crude data showed that the library's research direction was absolutely correct.

Moreover, it can hit the nail on the head, directly addressing the vital points, and even innovate and reach a higher level. What does this mean?

Talented!

The saying goes, "The student surpasses the teacher"... and this is achieved through self-study?

The best of the best!

Yao Hansong put down the agate cup, squinted his eyes, and smiled kindly: "How old are you!"

Lin Sicheng moved his birthday forward by two months: "Twenty-one!"

"Tsk, so young!" Yao Hansong exclaimed. "Is he a graduate student under Professor Wang?"

"Yes, Professor Yao!"

The two exchanged questions and answers, and Wang Qizhi smacked his lips: This tone, this smile, why does it seem so familiar?

Oh right, those two leaders from the Public Security Bureau...

But it doesn't matter: the bond between teacher and student is getting tighter and tighter, and Wang Qizhi isn't worried at all.

Perhaps realizing that it was inappropriate to act this way in front of Wang Qizhi, Yao Hanyang only asked a few questions lightly.

Lin Sicheng then asked He Jintang.

"He was our senior colleague and former leader: before retiring, he was the deputy director of the experimental center, specifically responsible for the research on Tang Dynasty gold and silver craftsmanship..."

Yao Hansong sighed, "Around 1997, He Jintang proposed to conduct key research on the animal-head agate cup and the mandarin duck and lotus pattern bowl. The main focus was on the research and restoration of welding techniques such as Tang Dynasty granulation, gold bead welding, amalgam welding, and seamless welding."

However, the leadership believes that historical documents have been almost completely lost, oral traditions passed down through generations are nearly extinct, and technical support is almost nonexistent... Even higher authorities have instructed: do not take too big a step, proceed step by step, and be steady and pragmatic.

So in 1998, the museum initiated a project on the gold-handled ewer and the grape-patterned cup, and determined the research direction: the mechanical principles of Tang Dynasty hammering, engraving, and the integration of spout and handle... In the same month that the project was initiated, He Jintang resigned and retired early six months later..."

Yao Hansong spoke eloquently, and the teacher and student listened quietly.

Gradually, Wang Qizhi's lips curled up again: it was hard to say whether he could get the core technical information from the Shaanxi History Museum today, but Lin Sicheng had found out the identity of the person who made the imitation agate cup without lifting a finger.

He tried making phone calls and pulling strings, but two days passed and there was still no progress.

I still owe a huge favor...

Lin Sicheng lowered his head: "The oral and hands-on folk traditions are almost lost... Doesn't that mean they haven't been completely lost yet?"

He looked up again: "Professor Yao, do you mean that the Tang Dynasty's techniques of granulation and gold soldering still have a legacy?"

“Yes, but not many!” Yao Hansong nodded. “He Jintang is one of them. His grandfather and father were both craftsmen in the Qing Dynasty’s Imperial Household Department’s Gold and Jade Workshop (specializing in the production of gold and silver wares)... In the 1950s, the province established a cultural relics restoration team, and he and his father became the silver ware restoration masters... Later, they were transferred to the Provincial Museum…”

Lin Sicheng's eyes lit up: "How could a craft that has been lost for hundreds of years suddenly reappear? It turns out there really is a successor."

But the Imperial Household Department's gold and jade workshop... Lin Si did not recall any related documents being unearthed during the excavation of the Imperial Household Department's site.

However, there's no need to delve into that now. The focus should be on core technologies and data, as well as lost craft techniques.

Lin Sicheng certainly could, but the problem was: how could he make others believe that he had learned these skills through study and research, rather than that they came suddenly without any source?

Otherwise, no matter how much he knows or understands, he wouldn't dare to use it...

After a moment's thought, Lin Sicheng slowly exhaled and asked, "Professor Yao, may I ask you a few questions?"

"What's so presumptuous about that?" Yao Hansong smiled even more kindly. "Please ask..."

"Thank you, Professor Yao..."

Then, the old man and the young man, one asking and one answering, acted as if nothing else was around.

Gradually, Yao Hansong's eyes grew brighter and brighter, while Chen Fen's eyes widened more and more.

Wang Qicheng only half understood what he was hearing, and the others listened as if they were hearing gibberish.

Finally, feeling that it was enough, Lin Sicheng stopped talking. Yao Hansong and Chen Fen stared at Lin Sicheng with complex and unreadable expressions.

They asked a wide variety of questions, and they were all very insightful and to the point. Otherwise, they would have thought that Lin Sicheng was He Jintang's apprentice.

No, they know more and more extensively than He Jintang. It's a matter of cherishing one's own possessions; otherwise, the superiors wouldn't have rejected He Jintang's proposal outright.

After a long pause, Yao Hansong sighed: "You have a wide range of knowledge and a deep understanding of it, but I certainly can't explain it all in one go, and you won't remember it all even if I explain too much..."

"So, if you need any materials, just make a list, and I'll have Xiao Chen find them for you... You can come back anytime, and if you don't understand anything, feel free to ask me or Xiao Chen."

He paused briefly, then emphasized again: "But don't tell anyone!"

Lin Sicheng nodded emphatically: "Professor Yao, don't worry!"

Wang Qizhi, standing to the side, was grinning from ear to ear...