Chapter 169 Lying again?

The lights are dazzling, the seaweed sways gently, and colorful tropical fish swim to and fro.

A king crab the size of a washbasin waved its claws, while a lobster bared its teeth and claws, banging against the fish tank with a loud "thump, thump."

The seafood restaurant has an aquarium theme and is decorated quite elegantly.

Ye Anning was in high spirits and found a table nearby, ordering three glasses of juice.

After ordering, she smiled and asked, "Are you hungry? Would you like some snacks?"

Jing Suxin and Qin Ruozhi shook their heads in unison: Before coming to the hotel, the three of them had just strolled around the Muslim Quarter and filled their stomachs with all sorts of snacks.

What they were curious about was, it was almost seven o'clock, how important must Ye Anning's uncle's student be?

And the changes in Ye Anning's demeanor.

Although it was extremely subtle, women could still detect it.

So I'm quite curious: how did Princess Ye, with her heart of stone, get warmed?

The two of them would glance at the elevator entrance every now and then, wishing Lin Sicheng would appear immediately so they could have a proper look at him.

Until the "ding" sound.

The two girls perked up: They've finally arrived?

Immediately afterwards, five or six people came out of the elevator, both men and women, the one in the middle with slightly graying hair.

Someone led the way and addressed the old man as "Director Li".

The rest were all middle-aged people, all quite imposing, looking like they belonged to some government agency.

It's not surprising, as provincial and municipal governments, as well as many other organizations, primarily host their receptions at the Xi'an Restaurant.

What's strange is that there was someone I knew there?

The one in the middle, on the left, Qin Ruozhi had seen before at his father's workplace.

But that was in Beijing, at the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission...

Seeing that she was staring intently, Jing Suxin moved closer and asked, "Who is that?"

"It seems to be the vice president of China State Construction Engineering Corporation."

"Why are you in Xi'an?" Jing Suxin raised her chin. "Where's that old man, the one in the middle?"

Qin Ruozhi shook her head: "I don't know!"

But it's quite impressive.

China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) is a centrally administered state-owned enterprise, and its deputy general manager is a department-level official with the待遇 (treatment/benefits) of a vice-ministerial level. I felt I had great respect for that person.

They were just curious for a moment, and then the three of them sat down to drink juice.

After drinking about half a glass, there was another "ding".

Lin Sicheng hurried inside, and Ye Anning waved: "This way!"

Lin Sicheng stopped, then smiled again: "Sister Anning!"

Ye Anning explained that he was a classmate who came to Xi'an to visit her.

Lin Sicheng greeted them with a smile, then looked around and asked, "Where are the teacher and his wife?"

"In the private room!"

"You Jian didn't come?"

Ye Anning pouted: "I don't want to come. I'd rather stay home and mess with his pile of junk (toys)."

Lin Sicheng smiled again: "I'll go in first and say hello..."

"Let's go in too!"

Ye Anning called the waiter and notified the kitchen to serve the dishes. Then the four of them went into the private room together.

Jing Suxin and Qin Ruozhi followed behind: Finally, we saw the person.

He's quite good-looking, tall and handsome, with fair skin.

But his way of addressing them, and the look in his eyes... it makes it seem like their relationship is pretty normal.

Looking at Ye Anning again, something seemed very wrong... So what was this all about?

Amidst their suspicions, the four entered the private room. Lin Sicheng hurriedly apologized, while Wang Qizhi waved his hand dismissively.

Using phrases like "exhausted like a dog" to describe Lin Sicheng during this period would probably be an understatement. Therefore, when Shan Wangshu asked him to invite Lin Sicheng out for dinner, Wang Qizhi declined, saying Lin Sicheng was too busy and asked him to postpone it for a couple more days.

But after lying for over a month, he had lost all credibility. Shan Wangshu and Ye Anning didn't believe him at all.

That's how this meal came about.

Therefore, no one cared whether Lin Sicheng would be late; what mattered to Shan Wangshu and Ye Anning was whether Lin Sicheng was still alive.

Now that I've seen a living person, I can finally relax, right?

Wang Qizhi pursed his lips and waved his hand again: "Come on, come and take a look!"

As he spoke, he picked up the seal and handed it forward.

Lin Sicheng took it and squinted.

The material is very ordinary, just ordinary Shoushan stone. It hasn't been used for seal making yet, so it's a new seal (it hasn't been used with ink or stamped).

His seal engraving style is unique: carved with a single, bold stroke, characterized by dramatic rises and falls in intensity. The strokes are forceful and vigorous, often executed with a swift and forceful motion.

The calligraphy is even more unique: "Knowing People and Knowing Tools"... Have you ever seen a seal with Mao Zedong's calligraphy style?

The origin of this story is also quite unusual: In 1949, the great leader wrote a letter inviting Qi Baishi to attend the CPPCC meeting. To express his gratitude, Qi Baishi carved two Shoushan stone name seals.

One side features the great man's name, and the other side features his courtesy name, all wrapped in a discarded draft of a painting titled "Old Ox".

The following year, in 1950, the great leader hosted a banquet for Qi Baishi and presented him with a framed copy of "Old Ox," asking Qi Baishi to affix his seal and inscribe it. At the same time, he invited Qi Baishi to serve as a member of the CPPCC Cultural and Historical Research Institute and as the honorary chairman of the National Artists Association.

As a return gift and also as encouragement, the great man inscribed a calligraphy: "Know people, know their talents."

Back home, Qi Baishi carved a seal based on the characters.

But now, this chapter has ended up in Professor Wang's hands?

He looked up: "Bought it?"

"It was changed!"

Wang Qizhi spoke slowly and deliberately, “In the 1990s, my maternal grandfather, Jian, worked at the Beijing Cultural Relics Bureau, and Mr. Chi Liang (Qi Baishi's fourth son) was the deputy director of the Municipal Museum of Literature and History. The two were colleagues… Later, my father-in-law exchanged a fan painting by Zhang Daqian for this seal…”

Lin Sicheng pondered for a moment: It is quite equal, but it must have been Professor Wang who took it.

If this thing gets into his hands, how can he possibly give money to his father-in-law?

Of course, it must be true.

In a flash, Lin Sicheng offered it forward, but Wang Qizhi waved his hand and said, "Keep it, it's a gift from your teacher's wife!"

Lin Sicheng was stunned: What the heck?

Leaving aside the origin of the phrase "knowing people and knowing tools," Qi Baishi's seal carvings alone are ridiculously valuable.

Why would Master Shan's wife just give away something like this for no reason?

Dan Wangshu knew that if he didn't make it clear, Lin Sicheng definitely wouldn't accept it. After thinking for a moment, he said casually:

“When I went home for the National Day holiday, my maternal grandfather was moving his study and said it was useless to leave it there, so I just brought it back with me. Your teacher doesn’t like this either, and this seal has a lot of meaning, so I thought it would suit you well…”

Lin Sicheng didn't speak, but looked at Wang Qizhi: "Professor Wang doesn't like this?"

Wang Qizhi was about to speak when Shan Wangshu glared at him. Wang Qizhi quickly nodded, "Yes, yes, yes!"

Shan Wangshu smiled again: "Sicheng, you keep it!"

His tone was gentle, yet undeniably firm.

It was by no means a whim, and it had nothing to do with Ye Anning.

It wasn't just a casual act of theft; it was a gift specially given by Wang Youjian's maternal grandfather: "When I went home for the National Day holiday, Shan Wangshu mentioned Lin Sicheng, saying that your beloved son-in-law had taken on an extraordinary student."

It was also said that Wang Qizhi and his students had been working on applying for World Heritage status and were planning some ironware project.

After asking a few questions, the father-in-law gave the seal to Shan Wangshu.

Wang Qizhi was carefree and nonchalant, or perhaps just not very perceptive, and seemed not to care at all. But his father-in-law couldn't afford to be indifferent, and he knew the significance of these two matters to Wang Qizhi...

Lin Sicheng basically understood, and after thinking for a moment, he put it in the box: "Thank you, Master's wife!"

Shan Wangshu smiled, pursing her lips.

While we were talking, the dishes were served.

As they ate and chatted, Ye Anning asked Lin Sicheng what he had been busy with lately.

Then, Lin Sicheng described the vivid and immersive experience.

Wang Qizhi couldn't reveal that he had already confessed halfway, so he simply covered his head and ate his food.

But the more Shan Wangshu and Ye Anning listened, the stranger it seemed: they felt that Lin Sicheng had really gone to the Forbidden City and studied there for nearly two months.

Is it possible that Wang Qizhi (the uncle) lied again?

The two turned their heads instinctively. Wang Qizhi paused for a moment, unsure of what to say.