Chapter 124 What are your skills?

As dusk settled, a rusty hue appeared on the horizon.

The setting sun shone through the gap in the curtains, dancing on his handsome features. His eyelashes trembled slightly, and Lin Sicheng, half asleep, pulled a pillow over his face.

In a half-dream, half-awake state, it felt as if I had returned to the Forbidden City.

The curly-haired old lady said with a kind face, "Young man, you're so handsome. You're only twenty-five, right? Committee Member Huang (Huang Baosheng, a member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences) is right: What are you doing digging up graves at such a young age, especially Indian graves? Follow me from now on, your teacher will know a lot more..."

"Look at this photo: in the middle is Mr. Feng Xianming (the first head of the ceramics group at the Palace Museum), my teacher... on the right is Mr. Sun Yingzhou (ancient ceramics expert), also my teacher. On the left is Mr. Chen Wanli (ancient ceramics expert), also my teacher..."

Besides porcelain, Mr. Feng was skilled in cloisonné enamel, and Mr. Sun was skilled in bamboo, wood, ivory, and horn carving. Mr. Chen was even more remarkable; he understood opera and had even higher medical skills. Before the founding of the People's Republic of China, he served as the director of the ZJ Provincial Hospital…

"You'll learn from me from now on, and you can learn whatever you want... Although I'm not very good at practical things, I'm of a higher generation. If I take you there, would they dare to stop you from seeing it?"

"Look at this picture, taken last year. Look at the man in the middle, isn't his hair and beard all white? This is your Uncle-Master Geng (Geng Baochang, a student of Sun Yingzhou), he's turning ninety this year... Next month, he's coming to the palace to repair the Three Autumns Cup (a Chenghua Doucai porcelain, donated by Sun Yingzhou). I'll have him teach you then..."

"This is your senior apprentice, Li Jiufang, who studied under Mr. Feng and specializes in Ming and Qing dynasty enamelware and jade... Don't be fooled by his youthful appearance in the photo; he's actually eighty-two and still applies enamel every day... You'll be practicing under his tutelage from now on..."

"And this gentleman, Mr. Xu Bangda, a leading authority on contemporary calligraphy and painting appraisal, and an expert in epigraphy, you should call him your grandmaster... but he's already a hundred years old this year, so he definitely can't teach you anymore, but you can learn from his disciples..."

As if she had stumbled upon a treasure, the old lady was overjoyed and recounted its contents with great delight.

Lin Sicheng kept laughing, his teeth gleaming.

Eight years have passed in the blink of an eye...

A breeze blew in, gently stirring the curtains. It brushed against my cheek, playing with the stray hairs on my forehead.

Lin Sicheng slowly opened his eyes, trying hard to distinguish between reality and dream.

In a daze, the old lady's kind smiling face reappeared before my eyes.

The old lady must be seventy years old this year, right?

He's definitely still in good health, but you should still go see a doctor as soon as possible.

He slowly exhaled and sat up.

I glanced at my phone and saw a lot of missed calls.

I got back around 2 a.m. and was about to take a shower, but I just leaned against the bed for a bit and then fell asleep.

He quickly changed his mind and went into the bathroom. Just as he turned on the tap, he heard voices coming from the other room.

Hmm, doesn't that look like Gu Ming?

...

Like an iron tower, Gu Ming leaned against the car door. One hand was in his pocket, and the other held the car keys.

His eyes darted around: So many beautiful women, more than in a hospital... and they're all so young.

That dance was so beautiful... wait, why did you stop dancing?

Oh right, Lin Chengwa.

After staring at the performance for almost ten minutes, the troupe dispersed, and Gu Ming finally remembered what he had come there for.

He put away his car keys and, with a sheepish grin, stopped a female student from a dance troupe: "Excuse me, do you know of a porcelain workshop nearby?"

The girl gave him a strange look, then glanced at the worn-out Volkswagen Santana behind him, a hint of disdain on her face.

Then point backward.

Right behind her, directly opposite Gu Ming, was a huge sign: Lin Sicheng Ancient Ceramics Restoration Studio.

Gu Ming blushed: I was so busy looking at those long legs that I didn't even notice.

After thanking her, Gu Ming pushed open the glass door amidst the girl's strange gaze.

Ye An sat quietly on the sofa, holding a book titled "Three Thousand Years of Chinese Painting." Hearing the noise, she subconsciously looked up.

"Who should I look for?"

Gu Ming was taken aback: What kind of look is that... like he's looking at a thief?

With a slightly scrutinizing air, and a hint of sharpness.

Instinctively, Gu Ming recalled the look in Old Gu's eyes when he did something bad as a child but dared not admit it.

He was completely bewildered: "I'm looking for Lin Sicheng!"

Ye Anning glanced at him a few more times, then lowered her head: "Wait a moment!"

Gu Ming didn't pay attention to what Ye Anning said, and felt confused: Am I that much like a bad person?

Subconsciously turning his head, Gu Ming suddenly realized: through the glass door, the Santana parked by the roadside was particularly eye-catching. Then, thinking back to his pig-like appearance just now…

I saw it, but who is this woman?

Just as he was pondering this, he heard the sound of rushing water coming from the inner room. Gu Ming was taken aback: Lin Chengwa was taking a bath?

Outside, there was a very beautiful woman... no, a girl?

It's impossible for him not to get the wrong idea...

His expression gradually became strange, but as soon as he raised his eyelids, two sharp gazes pierced straight at him like arrows.

Just one glance sent a shiver down Gu Ming's spine: it was as if this woman... knew what he was thinking.

There was even a hint of "Do you want to take Lin Sicheng out to fool around?"

No... Sister, are you a fortune teller?

Ye Anning put down her book: "Are you his classmate?"

With a faint smile on his face and a calm tone, Gu Ming had an indescribable feeling of discomfort.

"I'm his brother!"

Ye Anning paused for a moment, then thought about it again.

Then, he smiled again and said, "Excuse me, let me get you some water!"

Gu Ming felt even more uncomfortable: he felt that those eyes could see right through him.

"Thank you, no need to pour it."

Ye Anning didn't say anything, but poured a glass of water and placed it on the armrest of the sofa opposite her.

"Please have a seat, he'll be ready soon!"

"Oh... okay!"

Gu Ming felt awkward, unsure whether to sit or stand. His discomfort was only part of it; the main problem was his insatiable curiosity.

Who is this woman? Is she Lin Sicheng's girlfriend?

But I've never heard him mention it?

The key thing is that aura—it's so damn strong! Even when the dean stood in front of him and scolded him, Gu Ming had never felt this uncomfortable...

Just as I was making wild guesses, the sound of water stopped, and a short while later, Lin Sicheng came out drying his hair.

"Gu Ming... Oh, Sister Anning, when did you arrive?"

"I just arrived!" Ye Anning smiled. "My uncle asked me to take you back!"

Lin Sicheng paused, glanced at the car keys beside Ye Anning, and then recalled the scene of Wang Qizhi putting the red envelope in his hand: "Go back and wash up first, I'll send a car to take you..."

So, Ye Anning has probably been waiting since around 2 PM?

He quickly smiled and said, "Sister Anning, this is my childhood friend Gu Ming... Gu Ming, this is Cousin Ye... Perfect timing, let's go have dinner together!"

Gu Ming hurriedly shook his head: "I have something to do, but you haven't been answering your phone, so my godfather asked me to come and check on you..."

Actually, he came to see Lin Sicheng: Li Xinfang had booked a place and brought along a very beautiful best friend, whom she planned to introduce to Lin Sicheng.

To say we're fooling around isn't entirely wrong: we plan for four people to have dinner and then go clubbing.

But given the current situation, how could he dare to speak?

It was obvious that Gu Ming was lying, but Lin Sicheng didn't call him out: "Oh, the phone is on silent!"

"Okay, remember to call your godfather back, my friend is waiting!"

As he spoke, Gu Ming gave him a wink.

Lin Sicheng suddenly realized: Gu Ming coming to see him was definitely not about anything important.

Given his inability to keep secrets, Cousin Ye could guess eight or nine out of ten things with just one glance...

After seeing Gu Ming off and watching him get into his car, Lin Sicheng scratched his forehead and said, "Sister Anning, Gu Ming isn't a bad person!"

"Right!" Ye Anning smiled and picked up her car keys. "I'll take you home!"

"Let's go eat first, thank you for waiting so long!"

"good!"

Actually, it wasn't that long.

Seeing that Lin Sicheng was sleeping soundly, Ye Anning left a note, locked the door from the outside, and didn't come over until almost six o'clock.

But she didn't expose her...

They ate at a restaurant outside the school, and by the time they finished, it was already dark.

It was only three bus stops away, but Ye Anning still drove him downstairs.

The storefront lights were bright. Lin Sicheng stood by the car, and Ye Anning rolled down the window. The two spoke quietly.

On the third-floor balcony, three heads are perched on the four windows of the living room.

"My uncle is going to Beijing tomorrow to handle the World Heritage application, so he'll be very busy these next few days. That's why he specifically asked me to keep an eye on you... Don't laugh, this was something your principal specifically told him to do."

So if you need to go anywhere or need a car, just call me... My aunt also said that by the 3rd or 4th, she and my uncle should be almost done with their work, and then they can have dinner together..."

Seeing what Lin Sicheng was about to say, Ye Anning interrupted with a smile: "I'm bored too. I don't have many friends. When I'm at home, I either sleep, read, or fight with Wang Youjian for the TV..."

Lin Sicheng thought for a moment and said, "Okay!"

Ye Anning smiled and said, "Then you can go up now!"

Lin Sicheng nodded and waved.

The Grand Cherokee drove out of the tree-lined road and he entered the building.

The three figures turned around simultaneously and sat down on the sofa.

With a "click," the door lock popped open, and Lin Sicheng, who had just changed his shoes, was stunned.

Gu Ming's mouth is really something else; he'll be shut up sooner or later!

No need to guess, he probably just left the school gate, parked his car on the side of the road, and called home: "Godfather, Godmother..." When I arrived, Lin Chengwa was taking a shower, and a girl was waiting for him... She was very pretty...

Jiang Yanwan smiled and said, "That's your classmate, right? She's quite pretty."

Lin Mingzhi nodded vigorously: "Local license plate, your family is from the city, right?"

The old man didn't say anything, but seemed to be deep in thought, with a half-smile.

Having taught students for most of his life and judged talent for half his life, he considered himself to have a discerning eye: when that girl looked at Lin Sicheng, there was a glint in her eyes...

Lin Sicheng looked helpless: "Grandpa, Dad, Mom, I'm only twenty-one!"

"So what if I'm twenty-one?" Jiang Yanwan pointed at Lin Mingzhi. "I married your father when I was twenty!"

"This is not a concept at all. Besides, you don't even know anything about it, yet you dare to imagine it?"

Lin Sicheng chuckled and said, "Five years ago, her mother was forty-two, which was five grades higher than my father!"

Jiang Yanwan and Lin Mingzhi were suddenly shocked.

Level 5?

Section chief, deputy division chief, division chief, deputy director-general, director-general... and forty-two?

The couple looked at each other in bewilderment.

Grandpa leaned back slowly: "So what if you're only at level five? You're hopeless!"

Lin Sicheng was stunned by the scolding: Old man, you have quite a high opinion of yourself.

Alright, let's get down to business!

Lin Sicheng sat down on the sofa: "Dad, did you go with Grandpa to his follow-up appointment? What did the hospital say?"

"Everything is fine!"

Everything is fine as long as it's all good.

Lin Sicheng picked up the teapot and filled the old man's cup: "Grandpa, I have something to tell you: My teacher helped me get a studio, you know?"

Lin Changqing took the teacup: "I know."

Lin Sicheng told Lin Changqing about it when he got home, and Lin Changqing specifically asked about it afterward. He learned that Lin Sicheng was a newly hired bronze expert at the school, and that Lin Changqing was quite capable. Moreover, Lin Sicheng had been appointed as a leader in the college from the start, and that Lin Changqing had a very powerful background.

As for why the researchers of bronze artifacts accepted Lin Sicheng as a graduate student, yet also provided him with an ancient porcelain restoration room, even his former colleagues at the university couldn't figure it out.

Lin Changqing nodded: "And then?"

"Then, he got some materials from Beijing and had me study them for two days. He's preparing to apply for an intangible cultural heritage designation under the name of 'ancient porcelain restoration.' But he's worried I'm too young and won't be able to grasp the direction, so he wants to ask you to use your remaining expertise to help me with the process..."

Lin Changqing was taken aback.

The application for World Heritage status only started in 2005, just as he was retiring, so he didn't know much about it, but he had a gut feeling that something was wrong.

Having raised him for twenty years, it's fair to say that Lin Changqing poured all his energy into Lin Sicheng for the rest of his life. Didn't he know Lin Sicheng's personality perfectly well?

Avoiding the important issues and being ambiguous... this kid is playing tricks on him again.

Putting everything else aside, just consider this: Secretary Wang studies bronzes, but he applied for a project on porcelain. How many twists and turns are hidden in this?

Lin Changqing remained calm and put down his teacup: "What kind of porcelain?"

Lin Sicheng paused for a moment: "Blue and white porcelain!"

Lin Changqing's eyelids twitched: Blue and white porcelain restoration, even Xida University doesn't teach it... no, to be precise, no university teaches it.

The reason is simple: firstly, it's too difficult. Just the glaze repair and the blue-and-white coloring alone would take a department-level team at a major university decades to research.

Secondly, there are too few specimens and the material costs are too high. Even a small bowl from a pile of broken porcelain shards from the late Qing Dynasty can cost several thousand yuan, while those from earlier periods and with larger shapes can cost at least tens or hundreds of thousands of yuan.

Where did the materials come from?

Lin Sicheng told the truth: "My teacher found it!"

Lin Changqing was stunned: Isn't that... paying out of his own pocket?

"The technical information, I mean, where did you find it?"

"The Institute of Cultural Heritage!" Lin Sicheng blurted out without blinking, "The core technology of the Palace Museum's porcelain group!"

In reality, there was no information at all. It was just a rehearsed statement between him and Wang Qizhi, prepared to avoid being too sensational.

But Lin Changqing believed it, and his eyelids twitched, causing him to involuntarily sit up straight.

He's worked for most of his life, how could he not know what's going on?

Lin Sicheng's teacher used personal connections to get the information from the Palace Museum's superiors... Just how powerful must those connections be?

He frowned: "What level is the project?"

Lin Sicheng paused for a moment, then sighed: I knew I couldn't hide it from them.

"National-level... but I think it's a bit risky, at least for this batch, because there's not enough time!"

Lin Changqing's eyelids weren't the only thing twitching; even his eyes were twitching: Was this the latest batch of problems?

He didn't know much about applying for World Heritage status, but he at least knew what a national-level project, hosted by the State Council and strongly supported by local governments, meant... Just one of these projects would be a huge political achievement.

Moreover, he could skip several levels in one go; Lin Sicheng's teacher said he could apply just like that.

And then there's the Palace Museum's core technology, as well as specimens and materials worth hundreds of thousands of yuan... Why?

Lin Sicheng's surname is Lin, not Wang.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind, and the old man pondered, "Who is that girl to your teacher?"

Lin Sicheng secretly praised: Old ginger is spicier!

"He's my teacher's nephew!"

"Your biological father?"

"Of course... Cousin Ye's parents are quite busy with work and travel all over the country all year round, so she basically grew up in the homes of her teachers!"

Wouldn't that be the same as treating her like a biological daughter?

For some reason, the old man's eyes lit up, and he leaned back again after sitting up straight.

Then, a strange look flashed in his eyes as he scrutinized Lin Sicheng's face.

Yeah, it really does look pretty good, and her skin is quite fair...

At first, Lin Sicheng was completely baffled. Then it suddenly dawned on him: Did his grandfather think he was living off a woman?

Wait... what is all this about?

Lin Sicheng sighed: "Grandpa, I relied on my own abilities!"

"oh?"

The more anxious his grandson became, the more suspicious the old man grew. He picked up his teacup, leaned back lazily, and said, "What skills do you have!"

Lin Sicheng moved his lips, speechless.

Are you suggesting we tell the old man: Your eldest grandson can repair blue and white porcelain, and he's incredibly good at it!

Moreover, I got all the technology and materials myself.

Believe it or not, he dares to say that the old man's blood pressure could spike to 180.

Oh well, let it be. He'll find out sooner or later anyway.

Are you going or not?

The old man smiled and said, "Go!"