Chapter 260 Mutual Tolerance and Understanding
The LED screen at the city hotel flashed red text: Congratulations on the successful completion of the inspection tour by the Northwest University Cultural Relics Restoration Center.
The conference room on the second floor was packed with people, and the host spoke with great emotion and passion.
After the speeches, several leaders spoke, fully affirming the achievements of the inspection team and its assistance to the provincial and municipal archaeological and cultural heritage departments. They expressed their gratitude in abundance.
Then Wang Qizhi spoke, but he only gave a couple of formulaic remarks, which took less than two minutes.
Just like reciting a poem, he did it without any emotion or smile. Even a fool could see that he was just going through the motions and was passively resisting.
Looking further back, everyone—Huang Zhifeng, Tian Jie, Gao Zhangyi, the archaeological team members, the lab technicians—had a dark expression on their faces, as if they were owed millions.
Sun Jiamu found it quite interesting.
Judging from this, Lin Sicheng probably didn't find any experimental samples?
Thinking to himself, the meeting ended, and Deputy Director Zheng and Deputy Mayor Jiang held Wang Qizhi's hands and talked for a long time.
They would say things like, "There's a reason for everything, please be understanding, it was a decision made collectively, and they couldn't do anything about it."
Sun Jiamu watched coldly: Those who didn't know the situation might think that these two felt guilty and uneasy.
That's nonsense; it's simply because they're wary of Wang Qizhi's status.
Wang Qizhi remained perfunctory, but even so, the three of them chatted for more than twenty minutes.
After finally finishing their conversation, Wang Qizhi rubbed his cheeks, which were trembling from faking a smile, and walked over.
Sun Jiamu joked, "Professor Wang, your patience seems to be growing?"
Wang Qizhi just smiled.
To borrow a phrase from Lin Sicheng: "If it does not move, it is still; but if it does, it is with the force of a thunderbolt."
Seeking momentary pleasure will only make your opponents more vigilant.
He changed the subject: "I heard they're having a buffet today, it's pretty trendy, I'll go check it out!"
Sun Jiamu nodded secretly: Not bad, he is indeed much more composed than before.
The two walked downstairs side by side. Sun Jiamu casually remarked, "It's been almost a week, and Lin Sicheng still hasn't returned. Could it be that he hasn't found a sample?"
"Isn't that exactly what you wanted?"
Wang Qizhi didn't care at all. "Tell me first, if he were to join your team, what position would you assign him?"
"He should at least be a team leader! Let's discuss it again when Wu Si arrives, and see which team he should be in charge of..."
Halfway through his sentence, Sun Jiamu suddenly stopped: "Wait... Lin Sicheng really didn't find a sample?"
Instead of answering, Wang Qizhi asked, "Director Sun, there's no need to be so strange. Logically, it should be normal for him not to be able to find it."
Logically speaking, that's true: it's not like cabbage, where you can just find a vegetable patch and dig up two sacks of it if you want it.
This is an ancient porcelain kiln site, and it was lost a thousand years ago. To this day, no site has been discovered, and the remaining artifacts are only a handful of imperial tribute porcelain.
Lin Sicheng's ability to find five kiln sites in Hejin in less than six months and excavate hundreds of jade artifacts and fragments has astonished Sun Jiamu, Wu Hui, and experts from the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.
It's impossible to suddenly bring back hundreds of kilograms, or even tons, of experimental samples after only a week away.
This is not a human, this is a god.
But Sun Jiamu always felt something was off: Lin Sicheng was too extraordinary, and sometimes he couldn't be judged by common sense.
Thinking to himself, he subconsciously looked up: "If that's the case, wouldn't Lin Sicheng have lost?"
Wang Qizhi gave an ambiguous answer: "You're unhappy that he lost!"
nonsense.
As long as we can get Lin Sicheng over here, even if it's just for a few months, he can completely be a hands-off boss and won't even need to go to the construction site.
Enjoying fine tea, sipping wine, and basking in air conditioning every day—life couldn't be better...
Sun Jiamu tried hard to keep a straight face: "Lin Sicheng wouldn't be deliberately avoiding me, would he? He's too scared to come back, would he?"
"What's said is said," Wang Qizhi joked. "Besides, you, Director Sun, are a cadre of a ministry. Unless he quits this line of work, even if it's just to curry favor with you, he'll still have to come back and give you an explanation!"
There's no need to flatter, because Wang Qizhi's wife's surname is Shan.
But there will definitely be many, many areas for future cooperation.
Sun Jiamu pointed at him with his finger, indicating that Wang Qizhi should speak properly.
When will he be back?
"It should be here soon, today!" Wang Qizhi checked his watch. "I called before the meeting, and they've already arrived in Heyang (a county under the jurisdiction of Weinan)."
"Heyang, he went back to Xijing? Wait, something's not right... just for this, he made such a long trip, and specifically chose today?"
Sun Jiamu looked around suspiciously, then lowered his voice, "They're not here to overturn the table, are they?"
Heh... flipping the table?
If we were really going to overturn things, I, the teacher, would have done it long ago. How could it be Lin Sicheng's turn?
"Don't worry, I'm just here to pick them up: he brought them all here, and now he'll be taking them back, right?"
Wang Qizhi said calmly, "Secondly, I'd like to talk to you in person! Director Sun, you are a ministry official, after all. If he doesn't want to talk to you in person, does he expect him to talk to you over the phone?"
What are we talking about? Joining the crew?
It was indeed a bit disrespectful, but Sun Jiamu still felt that something was off.
After pondering for a moment, the two entered the banquet hall.
It was called a buffet, but it was really just a simple, casual affair.
As soon as the two entered, Ren Xinbo and Wang Xiaoyi greeted them.
Ren Xinbo is the director of the Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau and also a student of Shui Jisheng; they meet every now and then. Wang Xiaoyi is also a familiar face, the deputy director of the Provincial Archaeological Institute. He was previously in charge of excavating the Laoyaotou site and would frequently call Wang Qizhi and Lin Sicheng.
It seemed to be a one-on-one reception, with two people coming specifically to accompany him, their attitude respectful and their words polite.
Whether it was out of consideration for Wang Qizhi's status or because they didn't want things to get too tense, it was ultimately an arrangement made by their superiors.
Wang Qizhi didn't want to make things difficult for them, so his smile became more frequent and sincere.
The group chatted and laughed as they picked up their food and found seats. Just as they sat down, Wang Xiaoyi across from them exclaimed, "Huh? Teacher Lin?"
Wang Qizhi subconsciously turned around, a smile appearing on his face: Lin Sicheng entered the restaurant, followed by Zhao Xiuneng.
The two walked with ease and natural demeanor, but for some reason, the atmosphere in the restaurant suddenly felt different: one moment it was noisy and bustling, the next it was quiet and subdued.
Tian Jie, Gao Zhangyi, Huang Zhifeng, archaeologists, data clerks, archivists, laboratory technicians... a total of about fifty people, all stood up.
As if suddenly finding a pillar of support, his dejected face brightened, and hope shone in his pupils.
The others looked stunned. Those who were joking stopped laughing and those who were talking stopped talking: This atmosphere is a bit off.
Everyone present knows exactly how this farewell party came about: strike while the iron is hot, make do with what you have, and get everything sorted out as quickly as possible before Xijing and Xida come to their senses.
So, work was halted the day after the Guzhen site was discovered. Two days later, a meeting was held to discuss the matter, and two days after that, a farewell party was held.
Once the inspection team leaves and there's no immediate falling out, everything else will be easy to handle; it'll just be a matter of wrangling and arguing.
Just then, Lin Sicheng, who had disappeared for almost a week, suddenly reappeared. It couldn't be that he came here just for this farewell dinner.
Looking at his men, they clearly seemed to think, "If Lin Sicheng dares to speak, they dare to overturn the table."
But the application has already been submitted, the leader has approved it, and an agreement has even been signed: from now on, we will not interfere with each other, and each person will study the other's work.
What's the point of causing another scene?
As he pondered this, Ren Xinbo instinctively stood up. But Tan Wu was faster, rushing forward in three strides.
Even from a distance, he stretched out his hand, his face full of humility: "Teacher Lin..."
Lin Sicheng grasped it and smiled again: "Secretary-General Tan, don't worry, I won't cause trouble!"
Instantly, the smile froze on Danwu's face, and he was even a little unsure how to respond.
"Professor Lin is joking!" Tan Wu forced a smile. "Director Sun and Professor Wang are over here. I'll take you there!"
"No rush, let me say a few words over here first!"
More than a hundred pairs of eyes focused like spotlights as he walked toward Tian Jie.
Without saying hello, I just looked at them one by one, whether it was Tian Jie, Gao Zhangyi, Huang Zhifeng, or the team members and group members.
More than fifty people stood silently in the restaurant, creating an indescribably eerie atmosphere.
Ren Xinbo and Tan Wu exchanged a glance, and simultaneously took out their phones, ready to report to their superiors at any time.
It's no wonder they were nervous: before, even if these people had complaints, at most they just looked a little unpleasant.
But when Lin Sicheng arrived, they were like firecrackers filled with gunpowder, all looking ready to explode at the slightest touch.
They were already acting unfairly, and if these dozens of people cause a scene today, do you believe they could make a national laughing stock?
As the two were still in shock and doubt, Lin Sicheng smiled and said, "Four months, more than a hundred days and nights, teachers, you've worked hard!"
The group remained silent.
Is it hard work?
That's true to some extent.
Lin Sicheng not only managed them strictly, but also set an example by eating and living with them, starting work earlier and finishing later than them, making the team members feel embarrassed to slack off.
But the income is high: the salary, bonuses, and subsidies combined amount to more than a year's salary in four months.
They understood even better: this wasn't a local act of kindness, but rather something Lin Sicheng had earned for them through his genuine abilities.
Putting everything else aside, if the resources were given to the local area, they would have to pay dozens or even hundreds of times more. And let's not forget four months; give them four years—could they even find these five sites?
Not to mention the Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau, even Director Wu and Section Chief Sun wouldn't dare to make that guarantee.
Let alone five places, they spent ten years before they found even one.
It's like a group of people painstakingly planting a tree with Lin Sicheng, nurturing it to maturity, only to have it suddenly kicked aside just as it was about to bear fruit?
The previously agreed-upon phased bonuses and policy support have all been reneged on and disregarded. Isn't this blatant bullying of honest people?
The more they thought about it, the angrier they became, and the group of people were determined to cause trouble as long as Lin Sicheng dared to speak.
Just as he was gritting his teeth inwardly, Lin Sicheng waved his hand again: "Relax, you can drink, you can drink as much as you want, it's okay to get drunk. Otherwise, when we go back tomorrow, we'll have to go back to work the day after, and the next time we get a break will be at least several months later..."
Someone sighed subconsciously: "I'm going to be sent home tomorrow, what's the point of working?"
Wait... something's not right?
Lin Sicheng said: "I'll go back tomorrow and start work the day after tomorrow..." So, work will only start when we get back to Xi'an?
Could it be a new project?
But that's impossible: they haven't even figured out how to study egg white jade, so even if there are new projects, they have nothing to do with Lin Sicheng.
Amidst the wild guesses, Gao Zhangyi couldn't help but ask, "What project?"
“Of course it’s egg white jade!” Lin Sicheng smiled. “What else could it be?”
Suddenly, they all seemed stunned.
In the first few days after Lin Sicheng left, they genuinely had no idea where he had gone, so they could only guess. Coupled with their anger and having nothing else to do, the group grew increasingly irritated.
Seeing that the people below were becoming increasingly agitated, and fearing things might really escalate if they weren't calmed down soon, the team leaders discussed the matter briefly before revealing a little information to them: Lin Sicheng had gone to find experimental samples.
But nobody took it seriously.
The reason is simple: even someone as extraordinary as Lin Sicheng, who seems to have opened his eyes and can predict the future, still took four months to find the ruins of Guzhen.
In just a few days, where are you expecting him to find enough experimental samples? Are you suggesting he conjure them out of thin air?
But having doubts is one thing, and having Lin Sicheng say it himself is another: having worked with him for so long, they know Lin Sicheng's personality very well.
Even if he was 100% sure, he would only tell you at most: 70%.
So, they must have found a sample...
Huang Zhifeng's eyes lit up: "How many?"
Lin Sicheng said calmly, "It's enough anyway!"
Suddenly, everyone was energized, as if they'd been injected with adrenaline.
Having spent so much time together, they firmly believed in one principle: no matter how impossible or difficult, if Lin Sicheng said he could do it, he definitely could.
It gets tiresome to talk about it too much, but if you count on your fingers: which of these five sites in Hejin was not difficult to find, and which one is not a miracle?
Therefore, if Lin Sicheng says it's enough, then it's absolutely enough.
In an instant, Huang Zhifeng's eyes turned red, and the lab technicians and engineers below trembled with excitement, wishing they could shout out loud.
It's not that they lacked self-restraint; they were simply too frustrated to swallow their anger.
Tian Jie and Gao Zhangyi exchanged a glance: it would be a lie to say they weren't envious.
But with different roles and strengths, they could only admire each other. You can't expect a bunch of exploration workers to compete with experimenters for projects, can you?
Even if we give it to them, we'll just be left watching helplessly...
Just as he was sighing inwardly, Lin Sicheng smiled again: "Tian Suo, Captain Gao, don't rush to report, and don't rush to dismiss us. Let me discuss it with the teacher, and we'll find you something to do..."
What are you doing, working as a porter in the lab?
Just as he was secretly mocking himself, Tian Jie suddenly paused: Wait... something seems wrong?
If Lin Sicheng really found enough experimental samples, where did he find them?
It couldn't have been readily available; otherwise, it would have been reported long ago.
After considering all the possibilities, it seems there's only one: Lin Sicheng discovered a new site?
Involuntarily, Tian Jie and Gao Zhangyi exchanged another glance, then turned their heads to stare at Lin Sicheng.
Lin Sicheng nodded slightly: "The kind that can be published in top magazines!"
These few words were like seven or eight iron hammers hitting them, leaving the two men completely stunned: After discovering the Guzhen ruins, Lin Sicheng didn't dare to say that he would definitely be featured in a top journal.
Unless you combine all five sites into one...
Seeing the two pairs of eyes about to pop out, Lin Sicheng pressed his hand down: "Let's eat first!"
Gao Zhangyi felt his face go numb, his mind reeling: "Okay...eat...eat..."
Tian Jie was slightly better, suppressing his pounding heart, and nodded vigorously.
Lin Sicheng smiled again: "Please sit down!"
He only said two words, but with a loud rumble, about fifty people sat back down.
The onlookers were stunned: their orders were carried out flawlessly, and their words were always obeyed, just like the military.
How tall must Lin Sicheng be, and how strong must his management skills be?
The key is the contrast between before and after: before Lin Sicheng arrived, everyone had a gloomy face, with dissatisfaction and anger written on their foreheads.
But as soon as Lin Sicheng arrived, after only a few words, everyone was as excited as if they had found gold: their spirits were lifted and their faces beamed with joy.
So, what did Lin Sicheng talk about?
Sun Jiamu was also thinking about this issue.
But while laymen only see the spectacle, experts see the essence. What shocked him even more was the emotion brewing in these people's eyes: they were willing to go through fire and water!
Just because Lin Sicheng said a few comforting words?
Damn it!
Just as they were secretly wondering, several figures appeared at the restaurant entrance: Zheng Ming and Jiang Chengying, followed by their secretaries, who were helping Shui Jisheng.
The meetings that needed to be held were held, the farewells that needed to be given were held, and the reassurances that needed to be given were given. The reception work was meticulous: almost one-on-one accompaniment. Thinking that everything was settled, the two of them took a break from their busy schedules and did not attend the banquet.
But as soon as they got back to the office, before they could even sit down properly, they both received a phone call: Lin Sicheng was back.
Upon seeing him, the group below became like they were on pins and needles, ready to explode at any moment...
At that time, the two men were in a state of panic. After talking to each other, they had no choice but to ask their secretary to invite Chief Engineer Shui.
Regardless, Lin Sicheng still held this old man in high esteem.
But looking at it now: it's not as exaggerated as the subordinates reported.
They seemed to be in a good mood, even better than a few days ago, chatting and laughing.
Something seems off, but whatever, as long as nothing serious happens...
Feeling a secret sense of relief, the group entered the restaurant.
Lin Sicheng was about to go to Wang Qizhi's table, but halfway there he turned back.
"Teacher Shui, Director Zheng, Mayor Jiang..."
Shui Jisheng paused for a moment, staring at Lin Sicheng.
He had a smile on his face, a gentle tone, and bright, clear eyes.
Having lived for over eighty years, from the Beiyang period to the Republic of China, then to the founding of the People's Republic of China, and the decades of upheaval that followed, what kind of scenes hasn't Chief Engineer Shui witnessed, and what kind of people hasn't he met?
No matter how deep a person's cunning or how high their cultivation, they can control their facial expressions, tone of voice, and even emotions, but they cannot control their eyes.
A person who is angry or resentful cannot have such a clear gaze...
After looking at him for a long time, Shui Jisheng finally sighed and said, "Xiao Lin, I'm sorry to have wronged you!"
"Teacher Shui, you're exaggerating. It's all for the sake of my work!"
Lin Sicheng replied, then smiled at Zheng Ming and Jiang Chengying, "Leaders, we may have to cooperate again soon. Let's be tolerant and understanding of each other!"
The two exchanged a glance, a thought flashing through their minds.
If you ask them to speak frankly, they hope they would never have any contact with Lin Sicheng.
Think about it: How could someone with real ability be a pushover?
Put yourself in their shoes; if you were in their shoes, you wouldn't let it go like that either. This has nothing to do with magnanimity, but rather with the philosophy and principles of interpersonal relationships.
But the problem is, the agreement between the two parties has been terminated, so what can they possibly cooperate on?
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