Chapter 206 Who negotiated that?
The two engaged in a question-and-answer session.
One acted without hesitation, while the other was stunned into silence.
At first, everyone thought Director Liu was just curious, so no one took it seriously. Some borrowed paper and pens, while others organized their notes.
After listening for a few minutes, several professors and researchers realized something was wrong: the plate that Director Liu was holding should be a celadon glaze from the Yaozhou kiln, dating from the Five Dynasties to the Northern Song Dynasty.
It is said that it shares the same origin as the Chai kiln of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, the Ru kiln and the Ge kiln of the Northern Song Dynasty, and that the craftsmanship was inherited from the secret color glaze of the Yue kiln, but the technology was later lost.
In the early days of the People's Republic of China, under the guidance of Professor Li Guozhen's team of the National Porcelain Group, and through the unremitting efforts of the Provincial Light Industry Institute and Tongchuan Ceramics Factory, it took seven years, until the 1980s, to initially restore the Yaozhou kiln celadon technique.
Subsequently, the Tongchuan Light Industry Institute, Pottery Institute, and Porcelain Research Institute continuously experimented and improved, perfectly replicating the Five Dynasties sky-blue glaze and carving techniques that had been lost for nearly eight hundred years.
To be honest, Yaozhou porcelain's ability to be listed as an intangible cultural heritage item relies on its celadon technique. The sky-blue glaze is the core and representative technique of celadon craftsmanship, and it was the biggest advantage in the application process.
The remaining carving and engraving are just icing on the cake; it's nice to have them, but it doesn't really matter if they're not there.
It could even be said that celadon and sky-blue glaze were the mainstream techniques of Yaozhou ware. Leaving aside political influences, even if Lin Sicheng had recreated the tea dust glaze, it wouldn't have had a significant impact on Yaozhou ware.
Furthermore, it's possible that, due to the influence of the property, its social impact could reach an even higher level.
But suddenly, the World Heritage Application Center produced a replica of a celadon-glazed flower-shaped cup. What does this mean?
This means that not only has the technology been cracked by others, but they are also openly training on it?
For a moment, the conference room fell eerily quiet. A group of professors and researchers looked at each other, then turned to stare at the television camera.
If you dare to broadcast it, someone will dare to imitate it.
Given the civil property environment in 2008, the government turned a blind eye to purely innovative scientific and technological research, let alone micro-innovations derived from the restoration of lost ancient techniques.
If you don't sell well, that's fine. But if you sell even slightly better, believe me, hundreds of imitation porcelain factories could open up all over the country overnight.
By doing this, isn't Lin Sicheng essentially cutting off someone's source of income?
Just as I was still in shock, Director Liu picked up the backflow pot again and asked those two questions: How is the internal structure stabilized, and how is the expansion difference resolved?
It's no exaggeration to say that when Lin Sicheng answered, several people felt a sudden blankness in their minds, as if bees were buzzing in their ears...
That means the pot that Director Liu is holding is a replica of the Yaozhou Reverse Flow Pot from the Five Dynasties period.
In an instant, more than half of the ten leaders in the first row leaned forward, their eyes wide open, staring at the kettle in Director Liu's hand.
It's not that leaders lack self-restraint; for example, someone solved Goldbach's Conjecture in front of a mathematician.
It's not quite accurate, and it's a bit exaggerated, but that's definitely the gist of it.
Immediately, the leaders of the Industry Bureau stood up: "Old Liu... Director Liu, bring it over here, let us take a look..."
Director Liu glanced at Lin Sicheng, then took the teapot away.
As soon as he received it, the bureau chief's hand sank: "Is there water in here?"
He shook it, and it made a gurgling sound inside. He then instinctively raised it higher: there was a plum blossom-shaped hole on the bottom of the pot, and when he touched it, there were still damp marks around it.
What does this tell us?
This means the water in the kettle was poured in from the bottom.
With another shake, no water was seen in the hole at the bottom, but a few drops actually came out of the spout.
As if in disbelief, the director looked at the pot over and over, tapping and shaking it, then covering the spout: placing it upright, upside down, and flat... but no matter how he placed it, not a single drop of water flowed out of the hole at the bottom.
Then, the leaders remained motionless, staring intently at Lin Sicheng.
It can be said that if the sky-blue glaze and tea dust represent the glazing techniques and firing level of Yaozhou celadon, then the reverse-flow pot represents the level of scientific and technological innovation and application of Yaozhou kiln from the Five Dynasties to the Northern Song Dynasty.
Moreover, it represented the highest level of technology at that time.
The former represents only one place, while the latter represents the whole country and even leads the world for several centuries: it was not until the early Ming Dynasty that Europe saw the emergence of communicating vessels based on the principle of equal water level, and they were made of metal.
What does this mean?
But unsurprisingly, not only was the technique lost, but even the physical artifacts disappeared. It wasn't until the 1980s that one was discovered in Binzhou.
Then, following the same pattern, the Tongchuan Light Industry Institute, Pottery Institute, and Porcelain Research Institute successively conducted research for more than 20 years.
Everything else is easy to solve, except for two points, which are the two points that Director Liu asked, which have troubled dozens of researchers from several institutions for decades.
The principle is actually quite simple: the liquid levels are equal. But knowing it is one thing, implementing it is another: after all, it's not metal or plastic that you can just bend or weld however you want.
This is porcelain, which must be fired in sections to take shape. Naturally, this will cause a difference in the coefficient of expansion between the body of the pot and the conduit. Either the conduit will explode when fired, or the body of the pot will crack.
Secondly, the plum blossom-shaped holes for bottom water injection and the pipe interface need to be seamlessly connected at high temperatures, but no matter how they are heated, they will eventually leak.
The main reason is that there are too few samples. There's only one in the world. What are you going to do, break it for you to study?
There were hardly any reference documents available, so they could only try again and again, burning the same material repeatedly. But simply trying was useless; the parts that were supposed to explode still exploded, and the parts that were supposed to leak still leaked.
It's no exaggeration to say that in order to solve these two problems, the leaders in charge of industry in Tongchuan, as well as the Industrial Bureau and the Porcelain Research Institute, practically wore out the doors of several provincial units.
Unfortunately, it was all for naught.
But suddenly, Lin Sicheng produced a replica.
If this were happening privately, Tongchuan would probably be grinning from ear to ear. But the problem is, this is a public training session?
There were at least fifty or sixty people in the conference room, and in the two corners at the front, there were two huge video cameras...
Director Lin, you've not only cut off their source of income, you've uprooted them.
The leaders looked at each other, unsure of what to say.
The professor and researcher were speechless, unsure whether they should have taken the notes.
Only Lin Sicheng and the institute leaders remained calm and unperturbed.
A porcelain restoration center, a conservation center—if you won't let me study the techniques, then what am I supposed to study?
Lin Sicheng slowly and deliberately picked up the pot and returned to the podium. He clicked the mouse, and the screen showed the initial scene of molding the pot.
Is this the start of a lecture?
The professor and researcher exchanged bewildered glances, unsure whether to continue listening.
The photographer held the camera, unsure whether he should record or not.
Ye Xing'an sat at the very back, first sighing, then praising.
The so-called teaching and imparting knowledge, even if what is taught today is just the tip of the iceberg, Lin Sicheng can withstand such great pressure and use it for training without hesitation, which deserves praise for his selflessness.
Just as Lin Sicheng was secretly marveling at this, the conference room door was suddenly pushed open.
A huge group of people entered: Wang Zeyu, Tian Chengming, Song Jingxian, Meng Shufeng...
The commotion was minimal, and they deliberately kept their footsteps light. But Lin Sicheng on the stage suddenly stopped, quietly looking towards the back of the conference room, and the others subconsciously turned their heads as well.
No... how could it be such a coincidence?
No, judging from Lin Sicheng's expression, it was clearly him who summoned them.
In an instant, expressions varied: astonishment, surprise, suspicion, confusion...
At first, Wang Zeyu smiled at Lin Sicheng, but when he saw several familiar faces standing up in the first row, he quickened his pace.
A warm smile spread across his face, and words of apology welled up in his mouth, but he suddenly froze halfway through his journey:
On the screen, Lin Sicheng is holding a chopstick and wrapping it with porcelain clay. Below is the base of the teapot, with two halves of the sculpted teapot body placed on either side.
What kind of porcelain would be made in sections, and require such fine tubes?
Reverse flow pot.
Then look in front of Lin Sicheng, isn't there a gun right there?
And next to it, there is a celadon-glazed flower-shaped cup.
After looking and looking again, and confirming that he hadn't made a mistake, Wang Zeyu's face turned green.
Every single one of them had their eyelids twitching and their scalp twitching, and it was a really strong, rapid twitching.
They thought that the training Lin Sicheng was giving today would only cover the double-knife technique, or at least some basic knowledge of tea dust glaze.
I never expected that Lin Sicheng would try to kill someone right away.
Despite his many years of ups and downs, and his composure even in the face of imminent collapse, Wang Zeyu was unable to control his expression this time.
She managed to force a smile, but it immediately crumbled when she met Lin Sicheng's calm expression.
No, this leaves no way out for anyone at all!
Gritting his teeth and trying to regain his composure, Wang Zeyu shook hands with several leaders, his face full of bitterness: "Teacher Lin, can we talk?"
"Okay!" Lin Sicheng nodded. "But Mayor Wang, please wait a moment while I finish today's training!"
No... are you going to keep talking, or even talk for a whole day?
But can't we expect people not to talk about it?
This kid is impervious to reason; he only responds to gentle persuasion, not force. If you dare to stop him, he'll make sure you lose face...
Hmm, does he respond better to gentle persuasion than force?
In an instant, Wang Zeyu suddenly realized: So you've been chasing after me relentlessly, like a leech?
Is this endless harassment going on and on?
Alright, let's see how long you can keep this up...
That's definitely what Lin Sicheng was thinking, otherwise he wouldn't have specifically notified Lao Song and Lao Tian: "Leaders, I'm going to give a training session on Yaozhou porcelain today..."
Unconsciously, a trace of regret welled up in Wang Zeyu's heart, and the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.
After a long while, he managed a wry smile: "Okay, Teacher Lin, you go first!"
Lin Sicheng nodded and went back up to the podium.
The two deputy directors of the tourism bureau stepped back, and Wang Qizhi and Tian Chengming sat in the first row. They didn't even dare to exchange many pleasantries, just shook hands and said hello.
Sitting in the back row, Wang Yingtai was mesmerized and marveled: "These are city leaders; even in Beijing, they would be at the bureau level."
He was certain that anyone else, even Professor Wang Qizhi, would never have acted like Lin Sicheng: rejecting him outright without giving him any face whatsoever.
So, this is the power of knowledge?
If Wang Yingtai is like this, what about others?
Shang Yan and Lin Changqing were both on tenterhooks. They hadn't expected Lin Sicheng to be so resolute.
But then I thought: If we can even copy the reverse-flow kettle, what else can't we be proud of?
Just as he was feeling sentimental, Lin Sicheng clicked the mouse again and fast-forwarded.
Then he chuckled and said, "Everyone is probably thinking, Lin Sicheng, you're really petty: just because the Tongchuan Porcelain Research Institute didn't let you learn the technology, you're going after them relentlessly, bullying them all the time..."
Before he could finish speaking, the room fell silent for a moment, then burst into laughter.
Wang Zeyu looked embarrassed and gave a wry smile. Dean Jing feigned anger and pointed at him with his finger.
Even Ye Xing'an, who was sitting in the back, was at a loss for words, neither laughing nor crying.
Lin Sicheng wasn't in a hurry, so he waited quietly until the laughter subsided.
"Some people are probably thinking, Lin Sicheng, you're really neglecting your duties: it's a ceramic restoration and protection center, and also an intangible cultural heritage center. Why aren't you repairing the porcelain or researching restoration techniques? What are you researching about porcelain making and firing processes?"
"While you're criticizing me, you must all be very curious: after all, it's a lost art, a problem that Director Tian, Director Song, Director Meng, and countless predecessors have been researching for over twenty years without success. Not only have I solved it, but I've also created a finished product?"
"If I said that the celadon glaze and the inverted-flow pot were just side notes, you probably wouldn't believe me. So I'll explain it from the perspective of cultural relic restoration..."
Click the mouse again, and the progress bar jumps forward, displaying two diagrams of the internal structure of the backflow kettle on the screen.
Lin Sicheng pointed to the screen: "At first glance, isn't it simple: a tube is inserted into the center of the pot to fill it with water, and another tube is connected to the spout to pour it out. It does seem simple now, but in the Five Dynasties and the Northern Song Dynasty, it was not so simple:
It wasn't until the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty that Europe created a metal inverted vessel based on the principle of levelness, nearly five hundred years later than China... What's even more difficult is that our ancestors made porcelain, which was fired from clay..."
"The reason why it is difficult to restore it now is the core problem, which is also the most difficult problem to solve. There is actually only one problem: the firing process of the backflow teapot is roughly as follows: first, the lower half of the teapot and the bottom are shaped and fired, then the two water inlet and outlet are connected and fired again, and finally the lid is connected, the whole thing is glazed and fired again..."
Therefore, naturally, during the second and third firings, an expansion difference will occur between the unfired clay tubes and the already fired porcelain teapot: either the tubes will burst or the teapot body will crack. Even the water inlet tube and base cannot fit tightly together; the problem also lies in this expansion difference… So how to solve this?”
Lin Sicheng clicked the mouse again, and the screen flashed:
Still in the restoration room on the second floor, still with that long table, but what was placed in front of Lin Sicheng was no longer a clay model, but a fired teapot body, lid, and two tubing.
Someone suddenly realized and exclaimed, "Burn it in sections, then put it back together?"
Lin Sicheng gave a thumbs-up to the graduate student who answered first, and smiled: "So, does this count as ceramic restoration? Now no one should say I'm not doing my job properly, right?"
Laughter broke out in the conference room again, but it mostly came from graduate students. Then, it gradually subsided until there was complete silence.
Then, the laughing graduate students realized what was going on: burn everything first and then put it back together. It's such a simple principle, how could Tongchuan not have thought of it?
A quick glance revealed the same expression: those people still wore the same expressions as before, a mixture of surprise and bewilderment, pain and confusion.
If the problem of inflation were so easy to solve, they would have used it long ago, instead of being stuck for more than 20 years.
The professors and researchers, and even several institute leaders, all said: This is the most challenging problem in ceramic restoration, bar none.
If they were so eager to learn and so skilled at firing porcelain, they wouldn't have left over a million porcelain shards and nearly 100,000 precious artifacts unearthed from the Yuanmingyuan Garden, piling up for more than a decade without any attention or care.
Is it that blue and white porcelain, famille rose porcelain, and enamel porcelain have no historical value or are worthless?
Or perhaps the experts at the Palace Museum simply don't like to do the repairs?
No, it's not that. It's that there are only a handful of people who know how to make up for it, dare to make up for it, and have the ability to make up for it. Even if they worked 24/7, like donkeys, they still couldn't make up for it.
Conversely, if we were to ask Lin Sicheng whether he could do it?
Throw away this pot, set aside the trivialities, and the five institute leaders, plus Shang Yan and Lin Changqing, as well as the center's researchers and interns, will all nod in unison: Yes!
The large yellow-glazed jar with dragon and floral design, and the large blue-and-white jar from the Chenghua period—which one wasn't refired and restored?
If he couldn't even solve the problem of reheating, where did Lin Sicheng get the courage to repair the chicken cup?
The bureau leaders immediately felt relieved.
From Lin Sicheng's perspective: Since I've started researching, I must thoroughly understand it. Since I'm researching how to restore Yaozhou porcelain, I definitely need to fully grasp the production principles of Yaozhou porcelain.
It doesn't matter what kind of glaze or what kind of pot it is.
Therefore, solving the problem of the celadon glaze and the expansion difference of the inverted-flow pot are all incidental.
He was focused on one goal: applying for World Heritage status. The so-called pettiness and neglect of his duties are utter nonsense.
The group from Tongchuan felt a little relieved: the real problem was still the resurgence of the disease.
If this problem were so easy to solve, the streets would be full of Yuan and Ming blue and white porcelain, and Qing dynasty enamel and famille rose porcelain. Why would Yaozhou porcelain even be a problem?
Of course, it's not that easy to learn, and it's definitely not something you can master in just a few classes.
The problem is, Lin Sicheng really knows how, and he will definitely teach, otherwise he wouldn't have organized this training today.
Therefore, sooner or later someone will be able to learn it.
More importantly, there are the applications for World Heritage status and patents.
A mere tea dust glaze can cause such a commotion and chaos, let alone a reverse-flow teapot?
Next, the group from Tongchuan were in a daze, their minds elsewhere. Although they kept reminding themselves to listen carefully and take notes, their minds were a jumbled mess, and the information basically went in one ear and out the other.
In the end, I couldn't remember a single word Lin Sicheng said.
But they dared not disobey, fearing that Lin Sicheng might mention something important. Some even planned to interrupt him if he were to talk about techniques or core content that could not be leaked.
For the entire day, all nine of them, big and small, felt like they were sitting on pins and needles, with thorns in their backs, their minds wandering and their hearts unsettled...
The others, however, were completely absorbed, afraid of missing a single word.
Who would have thought that a lost skill, barely restored and freshly made, even before a paper has been published, would be brought up and discussed by someone?
Oh my god, I actually encountered this today.
In Lin Sicheng's view, what he talked about today was at most superficial, but for graduate students, these were all key points. Yet, it was explained in a simple and easy-to-understand way; even the two cameramen could understand it…
It's no exaggeration to say that a group of graduate students, teaching assistants, and even a few young lecturers and professors looked at Lin Sicheng with their eyes shining.
Why, you ask?
To summarize Lin Sicheng's points briefly, it boils down to a few SCI papers...
I didn't dare to lose focus for even a moment, and I swung my pen so hard it almost smoked. During the lunch break, I spent less than half an hour eating and going to the toilet.
Then they sat down in the training room and asked Lin Sicheng for advice.
Except for a trip to the restroom, Lin Sicheng never left the conference room; Li Zhen brought him his meals.
He didn't stop eating, talking as he ate...
The afternoon continued, and before we knew it, time had passed by, minute by minute, until Lin Sicheng said, "That's all for today!"
Everyone suddenly realized: A day has passed so quickly?
Looking at my watch again, it was already past six o'clock. Turning my head to look out the window, I saw that the sun had long since set.
Some people were still not satisfied, while others were reluctant to leave.
Almost instinctively, the graduate students looked at their notes and belatedly realized: their graduation theses, which had been delayed for two or three years, suddenly seemed to have a solution.
A girl mustered up her courage and raised her hand, looking at Lin Sicheng with hopeful eyes: "Teacher Lin, could we...could we attend the training sessions at the center?"
"Of course you can come, and you can ask questions anytime. You can also ask questions if you encounter problems with your thesis. Ask me, ask Assistant Professor Li, or even Professor Shang, Professor Wang, or Professor Lin (Lin Changqing)..."
Lin Sicheng smiled, "Of course, it can't be free. You have to register, there's a unified arrangement, and you have to take an exam. After passing the exam, you have to sign a contract with the studio... Of course, there's definitely no tuition fee..."
As she listened, the female graduate student felt a lump in her throat: Did that mean that as long as you study well, you'll even have a job?
Then think about those signs hanging at the entrance of the center...
From undergraduate to graduate school, a full ten years, I never realized that hope was so close to her.
She held back her tears, bowed deeply, and suddenly, the conference room, which had been filled with increasing noise, fell silent.
Many people then realized what Lin Sicheng had talked about today. Why did the mentors, who had carefully selected so many candidates, not allow those with slightly weaker abilities to come today?
It's more than just completing their studies; it's shown them a clear path forward...
Suddenly, a series of chaotic sounds broke out in the quiet conference room.
Those who hadn't gotten up pulled out chairs, those who had already gotten up stopped, and those who were halfway to the door turned around.
Then, they all bowed down.
Looking at the somewhat younger faces, the dozen or so leaders were stunned.
The professors in the middle row felt a little uncomfortable: they had been teaching for half their lives, when had they ever been so respected by their students?
But they can understand: which mentor would share their newly developed, or even unpublished, research findings with their students?
The answer is zero.
They may not be able to do it, but that doesn't mean they don't admire it...
Ye Xing'an was taken aback at first, then smiled, and then clapped his hands twice.
Thunderous applause erupted immediately.
The nine people from Tongchuan also clapped, but as they looked at each other, their nine hearts sank together.
What did you just say?
Lin Sicheng will definitely teach, and there will definitely be people willing to learn...
The students gradually dispersed, followed by the professors, and then the researchers from various departments.
The leaders deliberately waited until most people had left before gathering together.
Lin Sicheng also came over and greeted the leaders.
After a few pleasantries, he looked at Wang Zeyu, Tian Chengming, and Song Jingxian: "Gentlemen, would you like to have lunch first, or go to the office first?"
How could they possibly have the appetite to eat?
Just as Wang Zeyu was about to speak, Dean Jing spoke first, half seriously and half jokingly: "Lin Sicheng, don't be ridiculous. Who talks about things on an empty stomach? Even if there's no anger, it'll still stir up some fire... Of course, we should eat first!"
Mayor Wang was speechless.
Dean Jing smiled again: "Of course, it's just a casual meal, no alcohol. Once the negotiations are finalized, I'll treat Mayor Wang to a proper meal..."
That's right, take a break a little, so you don't get too tense.
Wang Zeyu nodded, and the group went to the restaurant.
It was indeed a light meal; Lin Sicheng returned to the center in about half an hour.
But no one came. He waited and waited, and still no one came. He waited for another half hour, but he didn't see a single person.
He stood by the window for a while, then dialed Dean Jing's number: "Dean, where is he?"
Who is it?
"The negotiator?"
"Why would you need to negotiate?" Dean Jing said slowly and deliberately. "Lin Sicheng, from now on, just focus on your technical work and don't let these things distract you..."
Wait, something's not right about that tone?
It means, I didn't go, and neither did you, Dean, right?
He pressed for details, only to be rebuffed by the dean, who then hung up the phone.
Lin Sicheng was completely confused: Who negotiated that?
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