Chapter 90: The Chunhua Pavilion Letter must be brought back to Shanghai safely
On the second workday after the long holiday, Song Suiyang arrived at the museum on time. Since Tong Zhongyuan had returned, he either didn't come to work or arrived at 8 a.m. She had started working on the Qing Dynasty bamboo bowl again yesterday, and she didn't dare be so presumptuous as to make Tong Zhongyuan wait for her to get to work.
Tong Zhongyuan had indeed arrived. Unlike usual, he wasn't at the restoration table, repairing a Song Dynasty black-glazed rabbit-hair teacup. Instead, he was sitting at his desk, looking up information on his computer. When the door rang, he glanced up at her.
"Morning," he said. "Do me a favor."
She didn't even put down her bag, and leaned over to ask, "What can I do for you?"
"Can you help me borrow the internal journals of the Shanghai Museum for the past two months?"
"No problem! I'll go to the library now." She put down her bag and said excitedly, "Last month, when you were away, Qin Tian's paper was published in the journal at the end of the month. Maybe she doesn't know about it yet. I'll send her a copy later."
Tong Zhongyuan stopped holding the mouse, turned his head and looked at her.
"She's very busy. Don't bother her."
Song Suiyang was stunned. Since when did she need Qin Tian's permission to be with her? She asked cautiously, "Even sending the journal is not allowed?"
"Um."
Chen Yun had just sat down when Song Suiyang stormed into the library. Chen Yun thought she was here to gossip with her again early in the morning. Unexpectedly, Song Suiyang said, "I'm here to pick up a journal."
"Ah, the sun is rising from the west. How come you're interested in journals too?"
"It wasn't me," she said, picking up the orange on Chen Yun's desk, peeling it, and eating a slice. "It was my teacher Tong who wanted to see it."
"Why, why? Why did he think of reading a journal?" Chen Yun asked excitedly.
"How should I know? You sent me here so early in the morning to look for the journal."
"Tell him later that Director Ming has given him all the authority. He can look up any information he wants."
Song Suiyang glanced at her sideways: "What are you doing? Are you trying to take advantage of this opportunity to hook up with him?"
Chen Yun took out the list of recipients for her to sign. She flipped through it briefly. It turned out that so many people at the Shanghai Museum were passionate about learning. It seemed she would want to see more of them in the future.
After Song Suiyang left, Chen Yun went to the cafe and bought a cup of coffee. She sipped her coffee and slowly returned to the library. Tong Zhongyuan was standing at the door, looking at his phone. When he saw her, he put down his phone and smiled at her.
Chen Yun's heart skipped a beat, and she was speechless. "Teacher Tong, why are you here? Are you looking for information?"
Tong Zhongyuan said, "I have something to trouble you with."
"you say."
"I heard I need to sign to receive the journal? Can I see the list?"
"sure."
She fumbled around and found the directory, handed it to him, and he pulled out his phone and asked, "Can I take a picture?"
"Please."
After taking the photo, he handed the directory back to her and asked, "Do you have the directories from previous issues? I'd like to see them too."
"have."
She took out the entire year's list from a folder and gave it to him. He took photos of each, thanked her, and left.
Chen Yun sighed as she gazed at his elegant figure. He had indeed arrived, and they had spoken. But she was so nervous she could only utter two words at a time, not as good as an AI at chatting. Forget it, she wasn't destined for this.
Qin Tian had spent the past few days in the thermoluminescence chamber, apart from eating and sleeping. Yuan Junruo did the same. She noticed that he'd even grown a beard and hadn't had time to shave, leaving his hair a mess. He looked like a homeless person. She secretly resolved that once this hurdle was over, she would give him a long vacation.
On the morning of the third day, the printer creaked out the final report. She looked at the twelve new reports. "Firing Date: Uncertain" was written on each one.
She picked up the pen and signed her name on the report - Qin Tian.
Wang Qiqing sat behind a large desk, his face as cold as frost. A stack of reports lay on his desk. Qin Tian stood across from him in the office, looking at him calmly.
He picked up a report and held it in his hand. "Is this your explanation? Write a new report and change the firing date to uncertain."
"I re-ran the tests. Using our department's latest research, we separated alpha and beta radiation. This means we no longer use a single radiation dose as a constant indicator of an artifact's age. Instead, we use the specific doses of alpha and beta radiation to determine its age. The total radiation dose of these 12 bronze artifacts does meet the standard of 2,700 years ago, but the specific radiation doses don't match any particular era. We can only be uncertain."
Wang Qiqing stared at her gloomily. She was being too technical; this wasn't his field. But he knew she was being deliberate. She knew he didn't understand thermoluminescence, so she wanted to bluff him. He controlled his emotions and said coldly, "Has this so-called new research direction been published? Has it been approved? Has it been recognized by any institution?"
Here he comes. He truly deserves to be the curator, she thought. While separating alpha and beta rays was indeed a more precise measurement method, it was only a work-in-progress project, unpublished and unrecognized. This was one of the biggest flaws in her plan, and he had grasped its core. Therefore, she hadn't considered using this method to win; it was merely a temporary measure, a means to buy time until Ming Yuanxing returned.
"I've already written a paper on subdivided radiation. Although I haven't had time to publish it yet, I've sent it to Director Ming. He knows about this research and is very supportive."
Wang Qiqing's eyes grew colder, almost disgusted. She deliberately brought up Ming Yuanxing, mocking him for not understanding the work of the appraisal team and making him cautious.
"Are you planning to use this research, known only to you and Director Ming, to tell the National Museum of China that these artifacts are of unknown origin? Even if they don't conform to your 'new research,' they still meet the standards currently recognized by all museums for identifying artifacts. Are you saying that you're the only one who's right, and that your research is the only gold standard for identifying artifacts?"
"I called the National Museum of China. The seller hasn't canceled the deal and is still waiting for their decision. They had previously urged them to sign the contract on the 9th, but now it's the 11th and they're still waiting. This means they can still do the deal as long as the National Museum of China is willing. I didn't delay or interfere with their decision. My research isn't the only criterion for identifying artifacts. If the National Museum of China doesn't believe my report, they can ask another museum to issue a new one. What I have to do is acknowledge that these 12 bronze artifacts are 2,700-year-old artifacts. This conclusion must never come from the Shanghai Museum!"
Qin Tian walked out of Wang Qiqing's office, her legs weak. She knew she had offended Wang Qiqing badly this time. She could only hope for the best in the future. If Wang Qiqing ever gained power, he would definitely not let her go. She leaned against the wall, trying to find Tong Zhongyuan. Regardless, this hurdle was over for now. When Ming Yuanxing returned, his wisdom would surely provide the best solution.
At New York's Kennedy Airport, Ming Yuanxing and his group had just passed security and still had an hour before boarding.
None of the three had any luggage with them, except Ming Yuanxing, who was carrying a suitcase. He had originally asked Tang Zhixu to carry it, but the boy refused to touch it, saying it wasn't heavy anyway, so he could carry it himself.
Ms. Wang had been quite close to Tang Zhixu these days, chatting with him about calligraphy and Chinese painting. He thought, judging by the signs, Director Wang was going to introduce him to a girlfriend. He might not be at the museum often, but the rumors circulating there didn't mean he wasn't unaware. Tang Zhixu had someone in his heart, but that person might not be in his.
That day, at An Siyuan's house, he painted a painting of a secluded orchid in a hollow valley. An Siyuan, whether out of courtesy or sincerity, said he wanted to hang it up. Tang Zhixu pointed to the corner of the wall and said with a smile, "There's still space here. I was thinking of hanging the painting here."
An Siyuan clapped his hands and laughed, saying, "Next time you come, you'll see it right there."
Ms. Wang discussed with him the matter of paying for the goods and releasing them, and he said, "Take it home today. The payment can be made later."
Ms. Wang walked out of An Siyuan's house carrying the Chunhua Ge Tie. She clutched her chest for a long time before getting in the car. She finally revealed that An Siyuan had received a call saying a Japanese man was willing to pay $11 million for the Chunhua Ge Tie. She thought it was hopeless.
That night they booked their flights and packed their luggage. The Chunhua Ge Tie's whereabouts remained a top secret until it arrived on Chinese soil. They were forbidden from mentioning their itinerary through any communication methods, including phone and internet.
Tang Zhixu sat idly by the French window, watching the planes take off and land. He had a feeling that Qin Tian's last phone call must have been about something, otherwise she wouldn't have called him. Fortunately, he would arrive in Shanghai tonight.
With half an hour left before boarding, Ming Yuanxing went to answer the phone. A few minutes later, he returned with a serious expression and handed the suitcase to him again.
"Zhi Xu, I won't go with you. I have an urgent matter to fly to Hong Kong. You."
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