Chapter 151 Closer
Chen Peng smiled and reached out his hand early.
That deputy director who kept urging Guan Xingmin to bring Lin Sicheng to the municipal bureau.
Next to me is Director Zheng from the Municipal Appraisal Department; we've dealt with each other many times.
Director Chen introduced, "Director He, this is Professor Wang from Xida University!"
"We know each other!"
Director He smiled and extended his hand, "Secretary Wang visited the bureau yesterday!"
Wang Qizhi shook hands.
It's not just the Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics.
He visited almost every municipal cultural bureau, tourism bureau, provincial cultural relics bureau, cultural department, and tourism bureau.
Anyway, I can see him every now and then.
Knowing that Wang Qizhi had a powerful background, the leaders were quite polite to him, but they were more curious about Lin Sicheng than Wang Qizhi.
Because Wang Qizhi was busy with various tasks, the main person in charge of the ancient blue and white porcelain restoration technique application for intangible cultural heritage status, and the inheritor, is Lin Sicheng.
I've reviewed all the materials and was amazed by Lin Sicheng's age, as well as the incredibly advanced porcelain restoration techniques shown in the video footage. I was even more surprised by the inverted-flow pot belonging to the municipal cultural relics company.
It's no exaggeration to say that if it weren't for this young man in front of him, He Zhigang would probably be guarding a cemetery somewhere by now.
Therefore, whenever Wang Qizhi or Lin Changqing submitted materials related to Lin Sicheng's application for World Heritage status, the attitude of the leaders from top to bottom was surprisingly consistent: they approved everything within the principles, and even those that slightly deviated from the principles were basically approved as well.
Anyway, it was almost like a smooth ride all the way.
Even Wang Qizhi himself knew perfectly well that the reason many procedures were approved so quickly had little to do with his status as a "third-generation red" (a descendant of a high-ranking official).
He shook hands with Wang Qizhi, then withdrew his hand and extended it again, his eyes fixed intently on Lin Sicheng, a gleam in them: "Little Lin, Lin Sicheng!"
Lin Sicheng smiled shyly: "Hello, Director!"
"Okay...okay! I've heard the name for so long, and I'm only meeting you today?"
He Zhigang smiled and nodded, "I didn't even have a chance to say thank you last time, but I have to thank you again this time!"
Lin Sicheng was taken aback: "Director, you flatter me!"
He Zhigang remained silent.
He knew whether to speak too harshly, Chen Peng (Deputy Director of the Municipal Bureau) knew, and the leaders of the Municipal Public Security Bureau and the Municipal Cultural Relics Bureau knew even better.
Leaving aside the reverse-flow pot, let's talk about this incident: if it weren't for the register and the jade Wenming, the municipal cultural relics and public security departments would have had no idea that Zhang Anshi's tomb had been robbed.
If it weren't for the second bronze mirror and the Seven Star Tablet, the Public Security Bureau and the Cultural Relics Bureau would still be following the procedures step by step.
It will never be like this: provincial leaders personally gave instructions, the provincial department supervised the case, and the municipal public security, cultural relics, customs, and cultural departments jointly established an investigation team. They are taking it very seriously.
Fortunately, the matter was taken seriously early. When the relevant departments investigated, they were all shocked: in just over a month, a large number of artifacts from the Western Han Dynasty had suddenly flooded into the black market. This indicated that tomb raiders were carrying out retaliatory excavations at an extremely rapid pace.
Then, the joint efforts of the public security, customs, and cultural relics inspection departments prevented most of the cultural relics from flowing out of the province, let alone to customs or even overseas.
As long as it's still within the province, finding it is only a matter of time. Even if it can't be found, the loss will only be some small items that are relatively easy to move and trade.
Heavy artifacts like bronze ware, stone coffins, and chariot fittings are difficult to transport and even more difficult to sell, so they can basically all be intercepted.
Therefore, even if some supervisors are eventually held accountable, it is generally within an acceptable range.
In short: if it weren't for Lin Sicheng, many more people would have suffered, and it wouldn't just be the cultural relics bureau and the public security bureau that would have been affected. The cultural bureau, customs, tourism bureau... in short, no one would have escaped unscathed.
Bao and Chen Peng are both supervisors. This was true last time, and it's even more so this time.
That's pretty unlucky.
So, tell me, who wouldn't feel warm and friendly towards Lin Sicheng?
He Zhigang half-jokingly said, "Your student should do the work, so don't always make Professor Lin and your teacher work so hard. Next time you need to submit materials, just do it yourself. Who would refuse to do it for you?"
Lin Sicheng smiled reservedly: "Yes, Director!"
"Here's what we'll do: save my phone number. If something can be resolved over the phone, we can do it over the phone. There's no need for you to make an extra trip!"
"Thank you, Director!"
He Zhigang nodded and gave a few more instructions.
Chen Peng and Lin Sicheng were already very familiar with each other, so Chen Peng didn't bother with formalities and patted Lin Sicheng on the shoulder: "I'll arrange a team for you, so feel free to use it!"
Seeing He Zhigang's curiosity, Chen Peng explained, "Xiao Lin suspects that Zhang Anshi's tomb isn't east of Duling, but west of it! To be on the safe side, I think it's best to search for it..."
He Zhigang was taken aback.
Just two days ago, a meeting was held where experts from the Provincial Institute of Archaeology, the Institute of Cultural Relics Protection, and other research institutes, including those from Duling (Emperor Xuan), Yangling (Emperor Jing), Baling (Emperor Wen), Changling (Liu Bang), and Maoling (Emperor Wu), unanimously agreed that Zhang Anshi's tomb is located east of Duling.
Because this is recorded in more than one ancient document, the recent patrols of the mausoleum area and the security team have mainly focused on the area east of Duling.
Suddenly, Lin Sicheng said that Zhang Anshi's tomb was west of Duling.
"Xiao Lin, do you have any evidence?"
"It's not really a basis, just a speculation I made based on apocryphal texts and feng shui data from the Han Dynasty, so on-site investigation is still needed!"
At first glance, prophecies, feng shui, and speculation seem rather unreliable. If it were anyone else, Chen Peng would dismiss them without the slightest hesitation.
But Lin Sicheng had learned from past mistakes: those two cases at the Municipal Bureau, one involving a jade lion paperweight and the other a replica of a Xuande incense burner, were cases that seemed certain to be solved, but he managed to turn them around.
In Chen Peng's words: "This kid is a bit uncanny. Every time he comes, the Municipal Bureau avoids a major disaster. Including the reverse-flow kettle and this time, that's four times already."
Otherwise, Chen Peng wouldn't even have a roadside marker to stand on; he would have been working as a gatekeeper at the market supervision bureau long ago.
Oh, and there was another case, the "Yang Zhigao case involving organized crime, extortion, and fraud": the case involved hundreds of millions of yuan, and Chen Peng got incredibly lucky.
Therefore, if Lin Sicheng said, "Zhang Anshi's tomb might be downstairs at the Municipal Bureau building," Chen Peng might very well tell him to try looking for it...
He Zhigang sighed inwardly, then nodded: "Then let's look for it, just in case."
"Yes!" Chen Peng nodded. "What if?"
It's quite strange that such a serious case, in such a public setting, would be met with the word "what if," coming from the mouths of two leaders of such rank.
Chen Peng glanced at his watch again: "Professor Wang, Director He and I need to report to our superiors, so we'll be leaving now. Xiao Lin, if you need anything, you can ask Lao Guan, Lao Zheng (Director of the Market Appraisal Department), or just call me..."
After giving a few instructions and turning around, Chen Peng suddenly remembered, "Oh right, the criminal investigation and inspection departments found another batch. It just arrived yesterday. Professor Wang and Xiao Lin, could you please take a look?"
The two nodded in agreement, shook hands again, and then the two bureau chiefs left with their assistants.
The items were downstairs, and Director Zheng from the Municipal Appraisal Bureau accompanied Wang Qizhi and Lin Sicheng downstairs.
As soon as I turned around, I saw the two female PhDs standing not far away. Their four eyes shone brightly, filled with a mixture of astonishment, surprise, and doubt.
Ren Qiuyu wasn't mentally impaired, nor was she blind; quite the opposite, she was exceptionally intelligent. She could immediately discern the two leaders' attitudes towards Wang Qizhi and his student.
Although he was polite to Wang Qizhi, it was more of a formal, perfunctory greeting. But his kindness towards his students, however, seemed genuinely heartfelt.
Especially He Zhigang: The two were obviously meeting for the first time, but when he saw Lin Sicheng, his eyes lit up and a look of surprise appeared on his face.
What's the surprise?
What's so surprising about a division-level cadre and a key leader in the Municipal Bureau of Culture meeting a student?
Let's think back to what He Zhigang said back then:
I'd only heard of him before meeting him today?
I didn't even have a chance to say thank you last time, and now I have to thank you again!
Keep my phone number safe. If something can be resolved through communication, just talk about it over the phone. There's no need to make an extra trip...
The more I think about it, the stranger it seems, and I can't even understand it: we just met, but it feels like I'm talking to my own child?
Subconsciously, the two female PhDs had the wrong idea: Could it be that his background is the same as Wang Qizhi's?
No wonder I ignored them earlier.
The two approached, and Ren Qiuyu smiled gently, "Professor Wang, are you going to the evidence department? Perfect timing, let's go together..."
Wang Qizhi hadn't really paid attention before, only thinking that Ren Qiuyu had a cheerful personality and they got along well. But since she was a teacher, and Lin Sicheng had specifically reminded him, he definitely had to pay attention.
So he simply nodded.
Wait, how come this is contagious?
His student was like that just now, and suddenly, Wang Qizhi is doing the same thing?
After a moment of surprise, Ren Qiuyu smiled and said nothing more, quietly following beside the two.
Lin Sicheng sighed inwardly.
He had previously wondered: generally, researchers are quite calm and composed, and rarely have that kind of bluffing and impulsive personality.
Besides, she's a female researcher?
Now we know: Professor Wang is a little bit unconventional, which is why Ren Fushi is unconventional.
When Professor Wang doesn't act out, Dr. Ren can also quietly act like a lady.
This is called a design-oriented personality, which means that I will become whatever you like.
It's normal and not surprising. After all, researchers are human too, with emotions and desires, and Professor Wang is exceptionally talented.
But to say that they want to steal Mrs. Shan's husband is truly a case of being delusional.
He doesn't even need to lift a finger: as long as Comrade Wang is half-awake and half-asleep, and can manage with one hand, he can handle it.
With their thoughts wandering, the group reached the fourth floor and entered the evidence center.
There were a lot of people, probably because it was a temporary organization, so it was a bit chaotic.
The professors and experts, in groups of three or five or seven or eight, stared at the objects on the long table and pointed at them.
All the machines were ready, and the staff were on high alert.
After taking a quick look around, Lin Sicheng was about to get a closer look when someone punched him on the arm: "You little brat, you're something else? You haven't even mastered the technique yet, and you're already pretending not to know people?"
Lin Sicheng quickly turned around: "Oh, Director Huang, didn't I see it?"
Nonsense, you wouldn't have seen it if you were being teased by those two crazy women.
Actually, the two weren't sitting far apart during the meeting, but Huang Zhifeng didn't want to deal with Ren Qiuyu, so he didn't go over.
Huang Zhifeng joked, then greeted Wang Qizhi, "Professor Wang is here too?"
Wang Qizhi was taken aback: Why is it that everyone who sees this is saying the same thing?
Chen Peng said this line, and Huang Zhifeng said this line too?
Does it make me feel like I'm superfluous?
He grunted through his nose.
Huang Zhifeng didn't mind and continued talking to Lin Sicheng: "You haven't come for several days. Yao Ke has been nagging you every day: saying that you're not doing your job properly, that you're not doing experiments and are just running to the police station all the time."
"We should be almost done!" Lin Sicheng smiled. "What about Director Huang?"
"Most of the researchers at the Provincial Museum also hold part-time positions at the Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau's Institute of Cultural Relics Conservation and Institute of Archaeology, so they'll definitely be available whenever needed. Look, Team Leader Chen is here too."
Huang Zhifeng pointed to Chen Fen by the long table, "Yao Ke is old and frail, so the leaders let him off the hook!"
Lin Sicheng laughed heartily and waved to Chen Fen again.
Chen Fen walked over and sighed, "Did Professor Wang bring you here to join in the fun again?"
Lin Sicheng laughed: "Really not!"
Chen Fen didn't believe it and glanced at Wang Qizhi.
Wang Qizhi was even more wronged than Dou E...
The two female PhD students looked at each other in bewilderment: How come Wang Qizhi has acquaintances everywhere he goes?
And it felt like he was closer to him than the previous two leaders?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com