Loser
The busy week passed quickly, and Li Weilin, after carefully inspecting the 12 pieces of porcelain, declared them satisfactory. With that, Zhou Jingxing's mission was successfully completed.
On the last day of the porcelain restoration team's stay in the studio, Shen Zhou found a photographer. He smiled easily and said, "Let's all take a group photo to commemorate this pleasant time."
These people had been working together for a week, and although the work was tough, they got along very well. Hearing Shen Zhou say this, they all put down what they were doing and went to the camera.
"Let's use your biggest workbench as the backdrop. Everyone, don't take off your work clothes. This way, the record will be more authentic." The photographer then pointed out their positions. Before pressing the shutter, Zhou Jingxing looked at Shen Zhou next to the photographer and suddenly said, "Wait! Teacher Shen, come and take a group photo too. You're also a member of the porcelain restoration team."
"Yes, yes, Teacher Shen, come quick!"
Everyone enthusiastically invited Shen Zhou to join the photo, and he was thus included. Zhou Jingxing's assistant, a quick-witted young woman, promptly made way for Shen Zhou, and Zhou Jingxing glanced at Shen Zhou beside him and secretly curled the corners of his lips into a smile.
The shutter clicked, capturing everyone's bright smiles.
After the photos were taken, everyone dispersed, and Zhou Jingxing looked at Chenzhou with anticipation in his eyes.
Now it's time to take a group photo with me!
Shen Zhou turned to the photographer and said something. The photographer nodded and left first.
Zhou Jingxing immediately put on a wronged face and looked over expectantly, "Didn't we agree to take a photo together? Why did he leave?"
Chen Zhou coughed lightly and turned his face away apologetically, "I told him to wait for us in the small park outside, there are too many people here."
Zhou Jingxing's eyes lit up. "Oh, let's go quickly! Don't keep the photographer waiting."
When they arrived at the small square, Zhou Jingxing acted like a proud rooster spreading its wings, constantly adjusting his collar and complaining that his hair was sticking up and needed to be combed again, much to the annoyance of the photographer.
When he asked the photographer if they had any whitening products for women, Chen Zhou finally couldn't help but say, "Why don't you go to the studio and get some plaster powder? It's whiter."
Zhou Jingxing immediately looked at Chen Zhou with a wronged and slightly accusatory gaze. Chen Zhou smiled at him, his words full of threat, "Can we film now? If we can't, I'm going back to my office. I have a lot of work waiting for me."
Zhou Jingxing straightened his collar and hair, and obediently told him, "Okay, I'm ready."
The photographer directed them to stand on the lawn of the small square. Both of them wore white shirts and black suit pants. Tall camphor trees shaded them, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, illuminating them. The scene was indescribably harmonious and beautiful.
Looking back at the photos on his camera, the photographer couldn't help but mutter, "Why does it look a bit like a marriage certificate photo? It's just missing one..."
"Red background! Teacher, could you please change the background to red?" Zhou Jingxing walked over and said loudly.
Chen Zhou nearly fainted. "What... no red background! Teacher, don't listen to his nonsense, this is fine!"
The plate was repaired, the group photo was taken, and everything was packed away. Zhou Jingxing reluctantly left the studio.
On Monday, Zhou Jingxing returned to work at the Provincial Museum as usual. With no sign of Shen Zhou by 8 a.m., he lacked motivation. At 10 a.m., after pouring the mold for his blue-and-white lotus pot, he opened his chat window with Shen Zhou and started slacking off.
Zhou Jingxing: Monday, Monday, on the verge of death.
It took Chen Zhou quite a while to reply to him.
Chen Zhou: Monday, Monday, dumbfounded.
Zhou Jingxing smiled and continued to exert his strength.
Zhou Jingxing: Monday, Monday, spirit departs to the west.
Sunken Boat: Monday, Monday, utterly lifeless.
Hey, there are still more! Zhou Jingxing's competitive spirit kicked in.
Zhou Jingxing: Monday, Monday, all energy gone.
Sunken Boat: Monday, Monday, the person has already passed away.
Zhou Jingxing: I've already used Gui Xi, you've lost!
Sunken Boat: ...naive
Aren't you childish for joining me in this word chain game?
Zhou Jingxing wanted to say something more, but just then their curator arrived. He quickly put down his phone and stood up to greet him.
"Kim Gwan-jang, what brings you here?"
The curator, Jin Hai, was a very kind old man. He smiled and said, "Can't I come see you if there's nothing wrong? How's the progress on this batch of blue and white porcelain?"
Zhou Jingxing honestly replied, "I took a week off last week, so the progress was a little slower than expected. I plan to make up for it over the weekend and I will definitely finish it within the stipulated time."
Jin Hai nodded. "Thank you for your hard work. There's one more thing. The Bo Association is having a meeting in City A next month. We've received your invitation. Remember to attend."
Zhou Jingxing nodded, thinking to himself that his teacher was really quick.
Jin Hai glanced at the finished pieces Zhou Jingxing had repaired, asked him a few questions, and was about to leave. Just before he went out, he remembered something and turned back. "Jingxing, haven't you checked the museum's work group messages again?"
"Huh? What?"
Jin Hai shook his head. "I knew it. There's a link in the group that asks everyone to share it. I saw that everyone else shared it except you. You should share it as soon as possible; we have a requirement for the number of shares."
"Okay, I'll forward it in a bit."
Zhou Jingxing only checked his phone after Jin Hai had walked away. The chat was still stuck on Shen Zhou's comment, "Childish." He thought for a moment and sent a message.
Zhou Jingxing: Then I admit defeat. Losers have to pay the price.
Sunken Boat: ?
Zhou Jingxing: How about the loser treats the winner to dinner tonight?
Zhou Jingxing stared at the "typing" message behind Chen Zhou, feeling slightly nervous. Would he agree?
The "typing..." message disappeared; Shen Zhou hadn't sent anything. Zhou Jingxing felt a slight disappointment. He looked at Shen Zhou's avatar for a while before exiting the chat window.
Zhou Jingxing opened the work group; he'd been slacking off for ages, it was time to get down to business.
The link Jin Hai mentioned was a post published by a well-known domestic official media outlet: "Is the restoration of cultural relics meaningless? Are fragments of cultural relics worthless? These experts have something to say."
Zhou Jingxing's heart skipped a beat, and he clicked on the link.
This state-run media outlet interviewed several experts covering a wide range of disciplines, including archaeology, fine arts, calligraphy and painting, and seal carving. Without exception, they all emphasized the importance of cultural relic restoration, affirmed the value of fragmented artifacts, cited several examples of restored artifacts, and concluded by criticizing recent online statements that smeared the value of restored artifacts as "untrue," "taken out of context," and "attention-seeking."
Zhou Jingxing scrolled to the bottom and saw that the post had over 100,000 views. After forwarding the link, he opened Weibo and saw several trending topics related to the restoration of cultural relics.
Zhou Jingxing clicked on the most popular topic. It turned out that several major official media outlets had successively published comments on Weibo affirming the significance of cultural relic restoration. A documentary on the theme of cultural relic restoration was also promoted by netizens and became popular again.
Meanwhile, another news item also attracted attention online. "Ping An Mingcheng" (a local police station) issued a police report: "Recently, a key criminal suspect, Shi Moumou (online ID: Shi Gongzi), was apprehended. Investigation revealed that since 2017, Shi Moumou had attracted numerous followers under the guise of introducing daily life abroad. He then began to smear China with his own agenda, frequently publishing defamatory and slanderous content that tarnished the image of the People's Republic of China and threatened its security. After his arrest, Shi Moumou confessed to his crimes."
He was the one who first led the smear campaign against the restoration of cultural relics.
Currently, netizens' attention has shifted to the arrested influential blogger and the well-made documentary about the restoration of cultural relics. No one is paying attention to the sunken ship and the exhibition of restored cultural relics, and no one is posting negative comments anymore.
Zhou Jingxing sighed inwardly, "Teacher is amazing!"
To actually get state media to endorse it—that's some connections and influence. Wow.
Zhou Jingxing called Li Weilin to thank him for his help to Shen Zhou.
"Don't thank me. I'm not doing this just for you or Chenzhou. I've been in this business my whole life, and I can't just stand by and watch others smear the reputation of cultural relic restoration. I said it in the first lesson I taught you: 'The significance of cultural relic restoration is to restore history and to let everyone see the power of civilization that amazes the world.'"
"Jingxing, it is certainly important to focus on restoring cultural relics and improving one's own abilities and techniques. Promoting this technique and publicizing traditional skills and culture is equally important."
"We restorers still have a long way to go. Our teachers are getting old, and you young people must shoulder the responsibility!"
Okay, what a heavy topic!
Zhou Jingxing broke out in a sweat, overwhelmed by the deeper meaning in Li Weilin's words. He stammered out his heartfelt message and only breathed a sigh of relief after hanging up the phone.
He thought for a moment, then opened the three-person group chat and forwarded the police report to it.
Zhou Jingxing: Link
Zhou Jingxing: He's been arrested.
Zhang Jin: Thank you to the kind citizen, Zhou, for providing the tip.
Zhou Jingxing: The phrase "Zhou Moumou" sounds like a criminal suspect.
Zhang Jin: Thank you to the kind citizen Zhou Mouxing for providing the tip.
Zhou Jingxing: It's even worse. "Zhou Mouxing" looks like a criminal whose crime has been confirmed.
Zhang Jin: ...Are you busy? Is the plate fixed? Got some free time to slack off?
Zhou Jingxing: The model wasn't finished, so I took the opportunity to slack off.
Zhou Jingxing: Are you guys free this weekend? How about we go on a hot spring trip together?
Zhang Jin: Together? Why would we, a couple, bring a dog on a trip?
Zhou Jingxing: Caring for animals is everyone's responsibility
Zhou Jingxing: Actually, Zhao Xin and Shen Zhou invited me to go with them. I wanted you guys to come and support me.
Sun Qian: ? ? ? Why would a couple invite you to go out?
Zhou Jingxing: It's Zhao Xin. He's using his public displays of affection to provoke and force me to back down. [Smile]
Sun Qian: Oh, is that so? But it feels more like making things difficult for myself than provoking you.
Zhang Jin: Go! We won't lose face, even if we lose the argument! We'll back you up!
Zhou Jingxing: I haven't lost yet, thank you.
Sun Qian: Okay, we'll go. It's been a long time since I've been to a hot spring, let's enjoy it! [Cute]
Zhou Jingxing: Then it's settled. [OK]
Zhou Jingxing only discovered the message from Chen Zhou after leaving the group chat.
Shenzhou: Then come pick me up tonight.
Chen Zhou: I want to eat at that hot pot restaurant again. Is that okay, loser? [Cute]
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