Chapter 123 We Must Protect It (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Tickets 9/9)
Shang Yan took two steps back, her pupils contracted slightly, and her eyes became glazed.
It has a round mouth, full shoulders, a rounded belly, smooth patterns, and a light hair color...
To the naked eye, there is not a single trace of repair. It looks exactly the same as it did before.
However, by moving closer and using a high-powered microscope, the traces of the restoration can be clearly seen.
It wasn't that Lin Sicheng lacked skill, but rather that based on the "identifiability principle" of cultural relic restoration, it had to be repaired in this way.
It includes visual recognizability, compatibility of detection technologies, and reversibility of repair materials.
To put it simply: the naked eye may not be able to see it, but a magnifying glass must be able to see it, and a machine must be able to detect it.
This is the core principle of cultural relic restoration in international conventions, and authoritative domestic documents such as the "Guidelines for the Protection of Chinese Cultural Relics and Historic Sites" have even more detailed and explicit provisions.
But that's precisely why the restoration is so difficult: Shang Yan is an expert among experts; to the naked eye, it looks exactly like the real thing. But a closer look with a magnifying glass, even a complete novice could tell it's a repaired artifact…
What amazed Shang Yan even more was Lin Sicheng's exacting standards for "tradition" and "retro".
All techniques are done using ancient methods: splicing, carving, painting, and glazing are all done using ancient methods. This includes all raw materials: clay, glaze, cobalt, glue... anything related to modern science is avoided whenever possible.
After all the calculations, only the testing, observation, and re-firing in the furnace are done using modern methods.
Therefore, in order to ensure that it would pass the review, Lin Sicheng spent nearly five days refining this one large Chenghua jar.
Regardless of her skill level, her dedication, focus, and pursuit of perfection surpass all her students combined.
But Shang Yan was no longer jealous of Wang Qizhi, because from today onwards, she could also say to others: This is my student.
Although I'm not a mentor, just a guiding teacher...
The professor, beaming with pride, clutched a thick wad of red envelopes. Wang Qizhi handed them out one by one, repeatedly expressing his gratitude: "Thank you for your hard work these past few days... thank you so much..."
Shang Yan also received one, as did Wang Qizhi himself. It wasn't a lot, but it wasn't a small amount either: two thousand each, equivalent to one and a half months' salary for Li Zhen and Feng Lin.
When it was Lin Sicheng's turn, Wang Qizhi put the red envelope in his hand and patted him hard on the shoulder: "Take a good rest, clear your head, don't do anything or think about anything this week, just eat, drink, and play... leave the rest to the teacher!"
Lin Sicheng nodded.
I worked non-stop for five days. Although I wasn't to the point of neglecting sleep and meals, my brain was basically at full capacity. I even dreamed about repairing the large tank.
He remained in a state of extreme excitement, his mind was constantly tense, and occasionally he even experienced hallucinations where he couldn't distinguish between reality and imagination.
It's normal, but you do need to rest, though it will only take a day or two at most.
It was obvious what he was thinking. Wang Qizhi sighed, "It's already the eleventh, my silly apprentice!"
Lin Sicheng paused for a moment, then suddenly realized: Today is the 30th?
"Go back to the studio and wash up first. I'll send a car to take you. Go home and get a good night's sleep..." Wang Qizhi nudged him. "Go on!"
Lin Sicheng nodded and greeted everyone in turn, as always: polite, humble, and gentle, like a spring breeze.
Compared to when he's on stage, he seems no different. But once he gets into work mode, the professional, solemn, meticulous, and perfectionist aura that Lin Sicheng exudes is tangible.
The group quickly responded, their faces beaming with smiles, their waists involuntarily swaying.
Only Li Zhen seemed distracted, as if something was missing.
After watching Lin Sicheng leave the laboratory, she instinctively turned back and stared at the jar containing the large container.
Thinking back on the past few days, it feels like there's a galaxy between us?
Shang Yan saw this and sighed inwardly, recalling what Wang Qizhi had said to her before: "When Lin Sicheng is with you, he'll stand out like a crane among chickens. Your students can forget about having a good time..."
Sure enough?
She clapped her hands: "Alright, everyone go back now. You've had a tough few days, take a good rest!"
Several students said goodbye one by one, including Feng Lin. But just as she reached the door, Wang Qizhi called out, "Feng Lin, come back!"
Feng Lin blushed: The past few days have been so intense, my mind's a little foggy. She'd forgotten she wasn't a student anymore, but Professor Wang's research assistant.
Thinking she was being given some instructions, Wang Qizhi instead handed her a key: "Could you take me home on your way?"
"Okay, Professor Wang, anything else?"
"What's left? Get some rest..."
"Oh, oh~"
After chasing Feng Lin away, Wang Qizhi picked up the videotape and then the briefcase: "I've notified all the leaders—the principal, the secretary, the vice-principal, the dean—they're all waiting in the conference room… Do you dare to go?"
He paused for a moment, then glanced at her sideways: "Shang Yan, don't blame me for not reminding you: this is your only chance, don't miss it!"
Shang Yan scoffed: "Do you really need to use reverse psychology? Anyone who doesn't go is a fool."
Forget about daring or not, she'll fight anyone who tries to take it from her now.
She nodded emphatically and followed Wang Qizhi out of the lab. Just as they reached the bottom of the stairs, her brow furrowed slightly: "What if the leadership doesn't agree?"
"Impossible!" Wang Qizhi shook his head decisively. "The leaders aren't stupid, are they?"
"I'm not talking about projects, I'm talking about people..." Shang Yan said with some worry, "like me, like Professor Lin!"
There are at most three spots for supervising teachers, and Wang Qizhi has already designated them all. Will the school have any objections?
Furthermore, while she is indeed quite capable, she is not among the most senior in the department.
Most importantly, Professor Lin has already retired...
"You're worrying unnecessarily!" Wang Qizhi scoffed. "Do you think I'm a pushover, or that Lin Sicheng is made of clay? Believe me or not, I'll resign with Lin Sicheng in tow!"
Shang Yan was stunned: Right?
When Lin Sicheng was restoring cloisonné before, he thought to himself: With Lin Sicheng's skills, where can't he go?
What if we add blue and white porcelain to that?
Peking University's gates are always open; you'll like it here... If the leaders dare to pull any crazy moves, Wang Qizhi really dares to leave!
Shang Yan felt a sense of relief.
It's in the teaching and research building next door, only a three-minute walk away.
Pushing open the meeting room door, it was packed with people: the principal, the party secretary, the vice principal, the dean, the vice dean, the secretary of the Youth League Committee... more than a dozen people in total, almost all the leaders from both the school and college levels were present.
As is customary, after exchanging greetings with everyone, Wang Qizhi first took out a large jar, then turned on the projector and video recorder.
Shang Yan went on stage and gave a simultaneous explanation.
For more than two hours, the conference room was completely silent.
But the expressions on the leaders' faces were quite interesting: shock, astonishment, disbelief, and incredulity.
This is... Lin Changqing's good-for-nothing grandson?
This is a "seamless layered repair" technique that even Peking University and Fudan University dare not attempt.
Whether it's carving the core or even repairing mortise and tenon structures... no one else besides the Palace Museum and the Academy of Cultural Heritage understands this technique.
The Palace Museum is the only institution that knows how to use and teach this technology.
Don't even ask if the school taught it or not. Just ask Shang Yan, just ask those porcelain professors at the school, have they ever studied it?
Even after Shang Yan finished speaking and the projector was turned off, the leaders were still in a daze.
My eyes were fixed on the large jar, and Shang Yan's last words echoed in my mind:
Through Professor Wang's tireless efforts, and with the core techniques of blue and white porcelain restoration from various dynasties developed by the Institute of Cultural Heritage (National Institute of Cultural Heritage), and with the strong assistance of his team, Lin Sicheng perfectly restored the Ming Chenghua imperial kiln blue and white dragon-patterned "Tian" character jar...
They believed Wang Qizhi could obtain the core technical data from the Academy of Arts and Sciences. But they didn't believe a single word of the rest.
The reason is simple: Wang Qizhi has only been at the school for a few days.
Let alone a month, and let alone Lin Sicheng. Even if you gave the information to Shang Yan, and gave her ten years, could she even understand it?
But the problem is that the video clearly shows that Lin Sicheng was in charge all along... no, he completed almost 90% of the technical procedures.
Even Shang Yan only started providing some supplementary assistance from the fourth day onwards. The other doctoral and master's students received only basic support throughout the process.
They had little experience with carving blanks, and the leaders didn't really understand it, but they could at least look at the rest:
The double-outline filling technique when adding details, the "one-stroke dragon" technique when outlining patterns, and the "five waters of blue and white" technique when dyeing blue and white porcelain—these are all unique skills that only exist in ancient books.
Oh no, the Forbidden City will do it too, but only the Forbidden City...
But all of this was done independently by Lin Sicheng, and the entire process was recorded on video. How could this be faked?
Wang Qizhi also made it clearer: the whole thing is 101 hours long, filmed in one continuous shot, with not a single frame cut. If the leaders want to see it, he will release it right now.
What's more, Lin Sicheng spent five extra days teaching practical skills, lecturing non-stop from the moment he stepped onto the stage. Leaving aside the technical aspects, his reasoning, logic, and teaching ability alone surpassed that of many professors at the university.
Because several leaders, some of whom came from metallurgy and even archaeology backgrounds, were able to understand a lot of what they were saying, and even comprehend it.
This is completely outrageous: just how high must the teaching level be?
It's no exaggeration to say that if they closed their eyes, they would think it was a big shot invited to the school from the provincial museum or a more authoritative research institution.
Just as I was finding it unbelievable, the principal picked up his teacup and took a slow sip: "Secretary Wang, that report your lab submitted last time, the one about the origin of copper, who did you design it with?"
Wang Qizhi was taken aback: "Principal, it was me and Lin Sicheng!"
"I knew it! I think it was Lin Sicheng!" The principal put down his teacup and muttered, "But one is bronze and the other is porcelain, his academic field is quite different, isn't it?"
The leaders were stunned again: What origin of copper? How come we don't know?
The vice-principal and dean of the Department of Cultural Heritage Conservation remained silent: This project is going to compete with Professor Wang Changsui's team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, so of course it has to be kept secret.
Just as he was pondering this, the principal suddenly changed the subject: "I agree!"
ah?
The others looked at each other in bewilderment.
The previous sentence was "a rather big leap," and everyone thought the principal would definitely ask for confirmation, but suddenly there was "I agree?"
What did you agree to?
Then they found out.
"Now that everything has been repaired, you must have a general plan. You must have a clear idea of the funding, equipment, venue, materials, specimens, and staffing... So, just tell me now, everyone's here, let's discuss it..."
Everyone else immediately realized that as long as it wasn't too outrageous, the principal could approve it on the spot.
Wang Qizhi had anticipated this, and handed over a folder, saying, "Thank you, Principal!"
Wow, you've prepared quite a lot?
The principal chuckled to himself as he casually flipped through the book. But after just one glance, his eyelids started twitching rapidly.
Regarding the title: "Application Report for Intangible Cultural Heritage Project"
And the first line: This report aims to apply for the inclusion of "Yuan, Ming, and Qing blue and white porcelain restoration techniques" in the "National Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage Projects"...
After looking back and forth twice, the principal raised his head in astonishment, as if asking: "Applying for World Heritage status?"
Wang Qizhi was exceptionally serious and nodded solemnly: "Yes, Principal!"
Upon hearing the "yes," the principal chuckled: "Wang Qizhi, Wang Qizhi, I only put up a pole as tall as the roof for you, yet you dare to climb to the sky."
He chuckled twice, then adjusted his reading glasses and examined the document carefully.
The more I look, the brighter my eyes become:
The information ranges from project overview and historical development to cultural value and significance, as well as the techniques and processes involved. It also includes the project's current status, conservation plans, supporting documentation, and even videos and photographs.
The document includes the lineage of the inheritors, letters of recommendation from previous generations of ceramic historians, written evaluations from intangible cultural heritage experts, and even the applicant organization; everything is clearly listed here.
Wang Qizhi dared to write it down for him to see, so it couldn't just remain on paper. It meant that once the main leader signed it after today's meeting, the plan could be implemented.
The principal had a sudden inspiration: In this way, it would mean that Wang Qizhi and Lin Sicheng would do most of the work. As long as the application for World Heritage status is successful, the school would become a national-level heritage protection unit.
What are schools doing then, just waiting to reap the rewards?
Of course, applying for World Heritage status is a huge undertaking, and this is far from enough, but these points in the report are the most important and difficult. The rest is simply a matter of human, material, and financial resources; as long as one is willing to invest, it will be possible.
But believe it or not, if you take this report out, there will be plenty of organizations vying to submit it.
His brow furrowed suddenly, and the principal looked back. When he saw that the guidance team and the assistance team were all from the school, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, the school is still somewhat useful.
Including Lin Changqing: Even though he has retired, he is still a member of the school, so he is essentially still a member of the school...
The principal read it again, and only after confirming that there were no errors did he close the report: "I agree. We'll meet again after the meeting!"
Subtext: Even if a meeting is held, it's just a formality!
As long as it's within a reasonable range, there's nothing I wouldn't dare agree to.
However, there were too many people present today, so we have to postpone the event to another day.
Wang Qizhi was pondering this when the principal looked up again: "But I have one requirement: the core support team should be staffed with people from the school as much as possible!"
"Don't worry, Principal!"
"Hmm!" The principal nodded, then thought for a moment, "Where are they?"
"He's been working non-stop for five days and five nights, so I told him to go home and rest!"
"Yes, make sure you get enough rest," the principal nodded, then pointed to the folder, "and take good care of it too!"
It was a double entendre, but Wang Qizhi understood it instantly.
The plan must be protected, the data must be protected, and the people must be protected even more.
"Principal, I understand!"
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