Chapter 112 A Cross-Era Craftsmanship Integration
The morning mist flowed along the blue bricks, and the iron horse emblems on the eaves swayed in the wind.
"Jingle bells~ Jingle bells~"
Lin Sicheng opened his eyes groggily; it was just getting light.
He stretched and picked up his phone...wait, it's off?
Lin Sicheng found the charging cable, plugged it in, got up and dressed, and just as he finished putting on his shoes, the screen lit up.
Then, like beans falling into an iron pot, more than ten text messages came in in the blink of an eye.
Lin Sicheng was taken aback and opened them one by one.
"Lin Sicheng, why is your phone off?"
You're so stupid!
Then came a bunch of emoticons: smug, headshot, unhappy, roaring...
No... Xiao Yuzhu, are you sick in the head?
He pulled it down with all his might.
Li Zhen: I don't have class tomorrow, I'll go to the studio.
Lin Sicheng thought for a moment and replied: "Thank you for your hard work."
Scroll down further, Guan Xingmin:
First: I need to contact you, but your phone is off?
Article 2: Yang has been arrested!
Lin Sicheng was stunned for a moment, then sat up abruptly.
Who else could the Yang mentioned by Guan Xingmin be but Yang Zhigao?
Looking at the time, it was only a little past six, but Lin Sicheng didn't hesitate at all and dialed the number directly.
It rang twice, and I answered almost instantly: "Haha, up so early!"
"Good morning, Director Guan!"
"Sleep my ass! I didn't sleep a wink all night!" Guan Xingmin chuckled softly, as if he were walking out.
Then came the sound of a door closing, much louder this time: "Thanks to you, brother has really done a great job this time!"
Lin Sicheng was stunned for a moment: "They really arrested him?"
If you calculate the time, it's been less than forty-eight hours.
"Otherwise what? Don't you even know who gave the order?" Guan Xingmin sighed slowly. "You've got a good teacher; your life is pretty much set!"
Lin Sicheng was stunned and speechless, his mind filled with thoughts.
Think back to that day: Lin Sicheng, you go back to school first, leave the rest to the teacher.
And yesterday: Stay at school quietly for a few days, no more than three days.
As a result, only one night passed.
"Yang Zhigao is really something: a two-story, over 500-square-meter fake jade workshop, all spotted. A safe as tall as a person was full of cash... Guess what else we found? Ledgers... Hahaha..."
After chuckling a few times, Guan Xingmin lowered his voice slightly, "It's all written down clearly who received what gift and how much it was..."
Even more astonishing: he remembers every transaction over 100,000 clearly, saving us so much trouble. And many of those transactions involved leaders… More importantly, this old guy has injured people, and more than one… His life is ruined…”
Lin Sicheng listened quietly.
In his previous life, Yang Zhigao didn't get into trouble this early, but the outcome was similar: life imprisonment.
It's likely that he's committed more crimes than Guan Xingmin mentioned, but the truth will be revealed sooner or later.
After Lin Sicheng had a moment to process this, Guan Xingmin continued, "We're still investigating and sorting out the funds, which may take about another week. But the leader specifically instructed last night that you must come to the city for appraisal... We'll schedule a time later."
Lin Sicheng readily agreed: "No problem!"
Even if the leader doesn't mention it, he'll still find a way to take a look.
That's about it. I'll contact you if anything comes up!
"Okay, thank you, Director Guan!"
"You've gone too far!" Guan Xingmin laughed heartily. "If I don't throw you ten tables after this, I'll feel guilty..."
Lin Sicheng roughly understood that Guan Xingmin's report should be submitted even before the leader's instructions, which was just right for him to do as he pleased.
He couldn't refuse the credit...
After hanging up the phone, Lin Sicheng slowly exhaled, feeling the pressure suddenly ease.
Even the best kung fu master is vulnerable to a kitchen knife. Thankfully, the potential danger has been eliminated.
Then he checked the time again: it was too early; Professor Wang probably hadn't gotten up yet.
Okay, I'll go find him around 7:30. I need to thank him in person, no matter what.
I put down my phone, brushed my teeth and washed my face. Just as I dried my face, my phone rang again.
Wang Qizhi: Are you up yet?!
He tossed down the towel and replied with two words: "Get up!"
Just as he turned back, Wang Qizhi's voice rang out from outside the door again, "Lin Sicheng, open the door...knock knock!"
Lin Sicheng was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly ran over and opened the door. Wang Qizhi was leaning against the door frame, unshaven, with huge dark circles under his eyes.
This means... you haven't slept all night?
Lin Sicheng was startled: "You and your teacher's wife... had a fight?"
Wang Qizhi rolled his eyes and yawned: "Can't you wish me well for once?"
Is it because of Yang Zhigao?
Lin Sicheng felt a warmth in his heart, but also some doubt: If everything is settled, it's impossible that he still can't sleep all night, right?
After a moment's thought, he said respectfully, "Teacher, thank you for your trouble!"
Wang Qizhi paused for a moment, then scoffed, "What's the big deal?"
He did help, but the key point was that Lin Sicheng's clues were too clear: the jadeite was problematic, but the jade itself was even more problematic. Guan Xingmin only investigated incidentally, and Yang Zhigao's true colors were exposed.
Then, just after Guan Xingmin finished reporting to the bureau, instructions came from above. It was like a dream come true, it couldn't be more perfect.
Yang Zhigao deserved his fate: with hundreds of millions of yuan involved in the case, how many people did this son of a bitch cheat?
After pondering for a moment, Wang Qizhi's expression turned serious: "An Ning said that the agate cup you saw yesterday was made of granulated gold?"
Lin Sicheng suddenly realized: No wonder you didn't sleep all night?
That's normal, though. If I hadn't had a drink when I got back last night, I wouldn't have been able to sleep either.
If a legendary skill reappears, there are only two possibilities: either it has been passed down through generations, or it was stolen from a tomb in the Qianling Mausoleum or some other Tang Dynasty tomb.
But the key point is the unique skill, which, given to Lin Sicheng and Wang Qizhi, is at least a provincial-level research project: the research and restoration of Tang Dynasty gold craftsmanship.
Don't underestimate its significance; its influence on cultural relics and ancient craftsmanship is even greater than their current research on the "independent origin of copper smelting."
Its influence is even greater at the business level.
For example, around 2021, Zhou Mousheng combined the engraving and filigree techniques of the Tang Dynasty with 3D printing to launch the Ancient Method Gold.
Mr. Zhou was a little better off, as he mainly used pure gold. However, when other stores started to follow suit, the gold content of the "traditional gold" products was less than half that of real gold, yet the price was twice that of genuine gold.
For example, Ms. Feng...
Lin Sicheng nodded emphatically: "Yes, it's 'Exploding Jewel Gold'!"
"That's good, better than me!" Wang Qizhi squinted. "You can actually sleep?"
Lin Sicheng smiled and said, "I had a drink when I got back!"
Wang Qizhi was stunned: Huh, why didn't I think of drinking a couple of glasses to help me sleep?
He glared at me: "You were downstairs last night, why didn't you come up and have a drink with me?"
Lin Sicheng looked helpless: "Teacher, it doesn't matter between the two of us, but there's also your wife, Sister Anning, and Youjian!"
That's true, children need to go to school.
Wang Qizhi waved his hand dismissively: "Let's eat first, then go take a look!"
Lin Sicheng nodded.
The two walked and talked as they headed out of the school. Just as they passed the staff dormitory building, Ye Anning came running down.
The teacher and student exchanged a glance. Wang Qizhi gave a signal, and Lin Sicheng belatedly realized, "Sister Anning, I was just about to call you!"
Ye Anning pursed her lips and simply smiled.
My aunt said last night: People like your uncle, Lin Sicheng, can forget about their wives and children as soon as they think about research or cultural relics.
So don't expect Lin Sicheng to call you; he's unlikely to even remember you.
So, as soon as her uncle left, she and her aunt got up and stood behind the window to look: sure enough, the two of them passed by downstairs without even glancing up at the building...
After saying hello, Lin Sicheng went to get the car and ate soup dumplings at the school gate.
The teacher and student talked non-stop: about things like granulation beads, filigree, flattening, gold amalgam... From beginning to end, Ye Anning was like a transparent person.
Remembering her aunt's words, she laughed again: "This kind of man is the most reliable. Even if a vixen flirts with him, he'll just think she has a bug in her eye..."
They talk a lot and eat slowly, taking an hour to finish a breakfast.
Ye Anning took the car keys and drove for them. About half an hour later, the three of them arrived at the clock tower.
The morning light cuts through the glazed tiles, creating iridescent ripples on the green walls. The brackets, reflected in the glass, sculpt streaks of red in the air.
It's just a clock tower, but the scenery is extremely beautiful. It's not even nine o'clock yet, but there are already a lot of tourists, making it noisy and solemn.
Lin Sicheng and Wang Qizhi had no interest in appreciating the scenery and went straight to the fields.
The black plaque with gilded characters gleamed: Sheng Kang Xuan. The roller shutter door had just been lowered, and the staff were still cleaning.
As soon as they arrived at the door, a greeter came up to greet them, but Wang Qizhi casually waved his hand and said, "Let's take a look first."
Then, the three stepped over the threshold, and immediately, all six eyes narrowed.
In an instant, the three felt as if they had entered a treasure trove: dazzling gold and a dazzling array of treasures.
Golden ear cup, golden mask, golden goblet, golden spoon, golden bowl.
Gilded bronze goblet, Sasanian gilded silver plate, gold hairpin, gold sword sheath, gold phoenix and silver hairpin, openwork gold purse, gold filigree winged crown, eagle-topped gold crown, gilded Jinde crown, gold filigree and kingfisher feather phoenix crown...
From the Shang Dynasty to the Qin Dynasty, from the Han Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, and then to the Song Dynasty, and finally to the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties.
From the Xiongnu to the Xianbei, then to the Rouran, the Turks, the Khitan, the Jurchens, the Mongols, and the Manchus.
Forget whether it's true or not, just tell me if it's complete or not.
Lin Sicheng and Wang Qizhi looked at each other, their eyes revealing undisguised surprise.
No matter how well one studies, it's impossible to master all the gold-making techniques of five thousand years of history, twenty-four dynasties, and even the nomadic peoples of the north. It wouldn't be enough for Lin Sicheng.
Let alone two lifetimes, it's impossible even eight lifetimes.
It's impossible to gather all the masters with these skills, otherwise this shop wouldn't be able to open in Xijing.
With that kind of technology, the Palace Museum would dare to carve a hole in the Forbidden City wall for him. The National Museum of China would dare to set up a booth for him in its first-floor exhibition hall, right across from Tiananmen Square…
Shocked, the teacher and student looked down for a closer look, and soon they both breathed a sigh of relief: most of them were machine-cast products, used to fool laymen.
Basically, it involves taking photos and samples at various museums, or even buying a 1:1 replica of a cultural and creative weekly magazine and bringing it back to copy.
The materials are mostly gilded bronze and gilded silver, but if you ask, they are definitely pure handicrafts.
Therefore, the prices are not low, with the lowest being over a thousand.
However, there are also some exquisite pieces, such as a gilded silver hairpin with dragon and phoenix patterns, which uses the relief carving technique of the Song Dynasty.
And that silver-plated gilded winged crown, modeled after the Wanli Emperor's, uses the filigree inlay technique from the Ming Dynasty.
Both of these techniques are inherited from the Eight Arts of the Tang Dynasty.
With a sigh of admiration, the teacher and student glanced at the artifact briefly, then took out magnifying glasses and aimed them at the gilded bronze vessel.
National treasure: Gilded bronze pagoda.
Unearthed in Fufeng, Baoji, at Famen Temple, a royal temple from the Tang Dynasty, the original artifact is now treasured in the Famen Temple Museum. It is among the first batch of cultural relics prohibited from being exhibited abroad and is even earlier than the agate cup.
When he first arrived in Baoji, Wang Qizhi spent some time studying the subject.
Looking at it now, it is almost a one-to-one replica of the one at Famen Temple: it is half a meter tall and one foot wide at the bottom, and it was molded into shape.
The tower has three levels: base, body, and spire. It sits on a Sumeru pedestal with three layers of railings, and the lintel is decorated with herringbone-shaped brackets.
The top is a single layer, with four pyramidal corners, each side cast with roof tiles, and the corner ridges are upturned. The finial is tall, with six progressively smaller finials, each topped with a canopy, a halo, an upturned crescent moon, and a jewel.
The pagoda gate was closed, but it could be opened to reveal a silver coffin inside, containing what is said to be a relic of Shakyamuni Buddha.
Of course, we're talking about the genuine article. Both Lin Sicheng and Wang Qizhi could tell that this was a modern imitation, artificially aged.
But the imitation is quite realistic, with an absolute 1:1 ratio, including the slightly oxidized bronze texture, which is 99% accurate.
The key issue is that, after looking at it for a long time, the two of them still couldn't tell the difference in craftsmanship between this vessel and the one treasured in Famen Temple.
The tower is constructed using the lost-wax casting method, with the base and body connected by copper tenons and mortise joints, and the finial (spire and jewel) fixed by interlocking.
All decorative symbols are engraved without molds, and the gilding process is done using amalgam.
The most crucial point is this: the real pagoda was "goldened seven times and then heated to remove the mercury," and this vessel was also "goldened seven times and then heated to remove the mercury."
The most difficult part is this: the edges, patterns, curved steps and eaves all need to be locally gilded and carefully baked in multiple stages, otherwise the copper base will deform.
Although the technique of gold amalgam has not been lost and has been passed down, it is extremely difficult to achieve this without the aid of any modern tools and chemical agents.
The two looked at it again and again for a full ten minutes.
The greeter followed behind, not allowed to speak, yet afraid to leave, and kept yawning out of boredom.
Suddenly, Lin Sicheng straightened up, tilted his head, and compared the two sides: "Teacher, don't you think this one is brighter, and the hammering patterns are fainter?"
"Even if it's a bit brighter, it's still normal!" Wang Qizhi wasn't entirely sure. "After all, it's a newly made replica!"
"It doesn't seem like a counterfeit!" Lin Sicheng squinted. "It's more like... polished agate?"
What is this? Polished agate... Where in the Tang Dynasty did they have this technique?
Wang Qizhi was stunned for a moment, then quickly lowered his head and brought the magnifying glass closer.
Then, his eyes opened wider and wider.
He had been so focused on identifying the craftsmanship features that he hadn't paid much attention to the details: under a high-powered microscope, the seven layers of gilding showed almost no obvious separation or pores.
This is clearly what Lin Sicheng said: after plating, the gold layer is repeatedly polished with an object to make it thicker, and naturally, the surface will have a unique "matte gold" finish.
At the same time, the engraved patterns are so shallow because they have been flattened.
However, Tang dynasty gilding cannot be pressed down unless the fire gilding technique of the Ming dynasty was used.
Wow, this is truly an epoch-making combination of craftsmanship...
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