Chapter 208 Where's your cousin?

The family hadn't cooked at home for over ten days, so they went to the cafeteria.

We ordered a few home-style dishes, and after eating, we packed two more snacks to go with our drinks.

Two bottles of aged Xifeng liquor; the two men would clink them together occasionally, chat for a few words, and laugh sometimes.

The two didn't talk much, and at first glance, they seemed completely unrelated. But Wang Qizhi could sense Ye Xing'an's heartfelt emotions, even shock, from the somewhat eerie silence.

Is Lin Sicheng outstanding or not?

To borrow a phrase from Lu Xun: His wisdom is almost demonic.

It's no exaggeration to say that Wang Qizhi has thought this way for the past six months as a teacher and student.

The origins of bronze ware and rust prevention of ironware—each of these could be included in the National Eleventh Five-Year Plan. Out of the thirty-four provinces and municipalities in China, how many could possibly be selected?

Wang Qizhi's laboratory holds two patents.

Gold and silver crafts, lacquerware, and ceramic restoration—none of these can ultimately be included in the national intangible cultural heritage list. Just look at the reactions of the people in Tongchuan, and you'll know how valuable this is.

Similarly, Lin Sicheng's studio has three plans.

The saying goes, "Seeing is believing, hearing is deceiving." To say my brother-in-law was unmoved... well, isn't his heart made of stone?

Without realizing it, Wang Qizhi's lips curled into a smile. He picked up the wine bottle and refilled Ye Xing'an's glass.

Then, he got straight to the point: "Brother-in-law, you've seen the person, what do you think?"

Ye Xing'an took a small sip, swirling the wine in his glass: "It's so outstanding that it seems unreal, almost fake."

Wang Qizhi strongly disagreed.

Nine out of ten people who don't know him would doubt: Lin Sicheng is only twenty-one years old. Before this, he had never even left Shaanxi. Where did he learn all these skills?

Wang Qizhi, among others, has always been skeptical of Lin Sicheng's claims that he "learned it from books" and "derived it from reverse."

But through a piece of Yaozhou porcelain, Lin Sicheng perfectly exemplified what talent and genius truly are.

Lin Sicheng never held back or concealed anything: if he knew something, he knew it; if he didn't, he didn't. Therefore, Wang Qizhi knew very well that Lin Sicheng was genuinely not very knowledgeable about Yaozhou porcelain.

At least not as refined as blue and white porcelain, famille rose, or enamel; at most, they only had a superficial understanding.

Therefore, Lin Sicheng went to Tongchuan to investigate and learn during the coldest days of winter. He endured humiliation and hardship, and persevered for twenty days to learn.

If Wang Qizhi were given twenty days, he would probably only go from the "basic" to the basics. Let alone deriving any techniques, he'd be lucky to even understand the evolution and technological system of Yaozhou porcelain.

But Lin Sicheng not only learned from this experience, but also completely cracked the core processes and technologies.

Even the other party didn't utter a single complaint: "You could say that Lin Sicheng stole the celadon and sky-blue glaze techniques, but they haven't even figured out the tea dust and the reverse-flow teapot yet. How could Lin Sicheng have stolen them?"

Similarly, Lin Sicheng made no attempt to conceal how he researched, cracked, and deduced the method. Wang Qizhi, Shang Yan, Lin Changqing, Li Zhen, the studio's researchers, interns... all of whom witnessed it firsthand.

From nothing to something, from one to ten, from drawing inferences to understanding others, and finally to mastering everything... isn't this what it means to be self-taught?

Don't believe me? Here, take a backflow teapot and try to imitate it for me.

In contrast, Wang Qizhi felt that what impressed his brother-in-law the most was his personality and character.

The coral that Zhao Xiuxian gave you, you just said you didn't want it anymore. Isn't that treating a precious treasure like dirt?

Is Li Zhen a good person or a pretty girl? Wang Qizhi thinks that, putting aside her background, she's about the same as Ye Anning.

Looking at Lin Sicheng's usual attitude and eyes... doesn't this make him see women as nothing more than skeletons?

And, to learn without being tired and to teach without being weary.

This is probably what touched my brother-in-law the most: just think about it, Lin Sicheng himself was still just a student...

After a long pause, Wang Qizhi raised his glass: "Brother-in-law, I still stand by what I said: from my perspective, he is first and foremost my student. As for what will happen in the future, I think it's best to let nature take its course..."

Ye Xing'an was stunned for a moment, then laughed and cried at the same time, "No... Third brother, is that how you see me?"

"Brother-in-law, that's not what I meant! I was afraid you'd be too eager to help him grow and might push him too hard!"

Wang Qizhi looked doubtful. "Besides, Lin Sicheng has his own plans. Haste makes waste..."

Ye Xing'an paused for a moment: To be honest, he did have that idea.

He thought for a moment, then nodded: "Okay!"

Wang Qiqi secretly breathed a sigh of relief: Do you know how hard it is for me to find a good student?

He'll fight anyone who tries to take it from him, not even his brother-in-law...

The two sipped their drinks lightly, laughing and chatting softly.

In the restaurant where Shan Wangshu and Ye Anning were sitting, they were making lists head to head: what to send to this family, what to send to that family.

A separate list was made for the items sent to Lin Sicheng's home. The items weren't expensive, but they were exquisite and showed great care.

After checking it again, Shan Wangshu pushed it forward: "You drive it over tomorrow!"

"Huh?" Ye Anning was startled. "I'm alone."

"You're so spineless. His parents aren't going to eat him, what are you so worried about?"

"I'm not going alone!" Ye Anning muttered, "I'm asking Lin Sicheng to come with me!"

"what ever!"

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a buzzing sound, and the two of them glanced at each other simultaneously.

Huh, Lin Sicheng?

Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao appears.

Ye Anning answered the call, snorted, and then stood up with her phone in her hand.

Just as she was about to walk towards the bedroom, Shan Wangshu grabbed her arm: "Where are you going? We're talking right here!"

She was afraid the two of them would argue again.

"Let's talk here then." Ye Anning muttered as she sat down and asked directly, "Where's your cousin?"

Dan Wangshu paused for a moment, then covered her mouth and chuckled.

Although it's selfish, from a woman's perspective, it's understandable to be angry: you're taking the fall for someone else on the very first day we met?

"I don't have a female cousin, but I do have a female cousin!"

Smooth-talking.

Ye Anning pursed her lips, "You just got off work?"

"Well, something came up, so I stayed a little longer!"

The sound of a door locking came through the phone. "Tomorrow's your day off, want me to treat you to dinner?"

"Sigh..."

Before she could finish speaking, Shan Wangshu glared at her, and Ye Anning pouted, "You're eyeing your pastel cup and Shen Du's calligraphy, aren't you?"

"It's not going to get lost, why would I care?"

Lin Sicheng didn't care at all. "Tomorrow is the fourteenth day of the first lunar month. We'll be going to the Shehuo parade. I'll take you to see the Yangko dance."

Hey, the sun is rising in the west?

Ye Anning blinked her eyes and looked at Shan Wangshu.

Shan Wangshu was also quite surprised: Wang Qizhi came back and said that the training room on the third floor of the center was surrounded by graduate students who wanted to ask Lin Sicheng for guidance on their theses.

Where would he find the time to watch the Yangko dance?

Just as he was wondering, Lin Sicheng sighed: "The school is really inhuman, treating me like a donkey: if I don't kick them out, these senior students will surround me until tomorrow morning... I'll hide for a day first!"

"Pfft~"

Ye Anning laughed out loud, "You deserve it!"

"Just tell me if you're going or not?"

"go!"

Lin Sicheng invited her, and it was like celebrating the New Year; of course she had to go.

"Bring Youjian along too!"

Just as Ye Anning was about to speak, the chubby boy shrank back at the door and said, "Senior brother, I'm not going!"

"Yes!" Shan Wangshu nodded with a smile, "He's not going!"