Reborn Treasure Appraiser: I Really Didn’t Want to Be an Expert

Chapter 109: Be content with yourself

The sky is full of stars, and the moonlight shines through the glass, casting a cool silver glow on the floor tiles.

Lin Sicheng flipped on the switch, his vision suddenly brightening. The ventilation fan hummed softly. Pots of green ivy sat by the window, their leaves swaying slightly. The scent of pinewood mixed with a faint hint of motor oil drifted through the studio.

The electric kiln had been unpacked and Li Zhen had already done some maintenance. The pottery machine was also in place, quietly leaning against a corner.

The long table in the middle was covered with a plastic tablecloth. Everything was tidy and the floor was spotless.

Lin Sicheng was stunned for a moment.

On the day the electric kiln arrived, he came once and gave Li Zhen and Xiao Yuzhu a key each. After that, he was busy and didn't pay any attention.

After returning with Professor Shang in the afternoon, he called Li Zhen, who said that everything was basically packed. But Lin Sicheng didn't know how neatly it was packed.
After a quick look around, he held the bedding and pushed open the door of the compartment.

The desks and chairs were already in place, along with a computer, so it could be considered an office. There was also a room with a bed set up inside, which served as a makeshift lounge.

Pushing the door open, Lin Sicheng was stunned again: Again, clean and tidy. Most importantly, everything it should have is there.

Bedding, pillows, shoe racks, wardrobes...

I gave Li Zhen 10,000 yuan, but the computer outside alone cost 7,000 or 8,000 yuan, and I also had to buy a desk and furniture.

Surely that’s not enough?
After putting down the bedding, he pushed open the bathroom door. Again, everything was there.

After thinking for a while, Lin Sicheng walked to the outer room again and lifted the disposable tablecloth on the long table.

Tiles of strange shapes are neatly cut and arranged on the long table. Lacquer, porcelain powder, rice flour, tile ash... all the necessary materials are available.

Then open the refrigerator next to the electric kiln: eggs, various pigments, glazes... it's full.

That’s awesome, Senior Sister Li… How much money did you spend?
But this is only secondary: the key point is that in just one week, not only was the cleaning done so cleanly, but the preparations were also so complete?
How many classes have you missed? How did Professor Shang agree to this?
Xiao Yuzhu must have contributed a lot...

Lin Sicheng looked at the time again: It’s too late, let’s talk about it when we meet tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.

He put away his phone and sat on his work chair, his mind involuntarily emerging with the scene of the opening of his first studio in his previous life.

That was in Beijing, in 2012, after my grandfather was diagnosed with the disease.

Gradually, his achievements grew and his fame grew.

Compared to this, this place seems insignificant, but the feeling is wonderful: it is like... taking a very crucial step in life.

Suddenly, his hands itched, and Lin Sicheng subconsciously looked at the tiles on the long table.

He almost stretched out his hand, but then stopped: Don't work if you drink, and don't drink if you work... He had insisted on this for half his life in his previous life.

Although it wasn't much, with two bottles for four people, he only drank three or four taels. Ye Anning drank more than him.

But no matter how little it is, it is still wine. If the grinder slips, half a finger will be gone.

After hesitating for a moment, he retracted his hand: Drink less next time.

He then stood up, looked around slowly, and walked around several times before returning to the inner room.

At night, Lin Sicheng kept dreaming, all of which were scenes from his previous life.

With vigor and enthusiasm,

……

The morning mist is wrapped in the autumn chill, and the first rays of sunlight fall on the frosty locust leaves.

Li Zhen clenched the thermal bag tightly, pressing her knuckles against the lines of the hard canvas, squeezing out a crescent-like shape.

The smell wafted out faintly, with the unique spicy aroma of Hu La Tang.

He walked quickly to the door, paused, and a hint of suspicion flashed in his eyes: Lin Sicheng called yesterday and said that he wanted to move here?

Just as she was guessing randomly, she heard a noise behind her and turned around.

Lin Sicheng held a box in each hand, his forehead covered in sweat.

Seeing her hang the thermal bag on the door handle, Lin Sicheng smiled and said, "No need, Senior Sister, it's not heavy!"

"So much sweat, drink!"

"I drank it with Professor Wang! So I ran around this morning and worked up a sweat!"

"Oh!"

After opening the door and entering the studio, Lin Sicheng put the box on the long table and went into the lounge to wash his hands.

Li Zhen handed him a storage bag with three things in it: a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a towel.

"Haha... Thank you, Senior Sister!" Lin Sicheng thanked her quickly, "I really forgot!"

Yesterday his mind was full of President Yang, thinking about how to get him in as quickly as possible. He was lucky that he remembered to bring bedding.

In just a few minutes, Lin Sicheng had tidied up and placed breakfast on the coffee table in the office.

Three boxes of soup, three beef patties, and two trays of steamed dumplings. Lin Sicheng had a habit: drinking alcohol the first day, leaving him ravenous the next. Suddenly, his appetite was whetted. He said thank you, picked up his chopsticks, and started eating.

The office fell silent, with only the sound of Lin Sicheng slurping his food.

Li Zhen smiled and drank the soup in small sips.

While eating, Lin Sicheng came to his senses: Why does this atmosphere seem a little off?
Just as I was thinking about what to say to ease the situation, a strange cry came from the door: "You two didn't call me for dinner?"

Turning around, they saw Xiao Yuzhu with her hands in her outer pockets, staring at them with disgust.

Lin Sicheng chuckled and raised his chin: "That's for feeding the dogs!"

"Ah, thank you, Senior Sister!"

Xiao Yuzhu just noticed that there was still a copy on the table, so she hurried over and hugged Li Zhen's neck.

Then he became proud again, pointed his finger around the studio and said, "Aren't we awesome?"

"Great!" Lin Sicheng nodded, "Give me a raise!"

Xiao Yuzhu's eyes lit up: "Really?"

"You can't fool anyone but a child!"

Xiao Yuzhu clenched her fist and shook it at him.

When she sat down, Lin Sicheng had already started wiping his mouth: "You don't have classes today?"

"no!"

"That's perfect. Help me fix the gold-sprinkling bowl and the lard."

Li Zhen's eyes lit up: "What supplement?"

Lin Sicheng said nonchalantly: "Lacquer!"

Xiao Yuzhu just took a bite of the bun, and her mouth opened involuntarily, with oil and soup dripping down.

Half of her front was soaked before she realized what was happening and quickly took out a tissue to wipe it off. But her eyes were twinkling: "Great, my brother..."

While cleaning these days, Li Zhen mentioned that Lin Sicheng had repaired a plum vase from the late Qing Dynasty with gold repair, and Professor Shang praised it highly.

Xiao Yuzhu believed it, and was excited for several days. She said that by following Lin Sicheng, she could not only earn a salary but also learn a skill, which was a great bargain for her.

Because during college, schools do not teach Kintsugi unless you are a graduate student.

But 90% of graduate students cannot learn lacquer, and if they do, they only learn some theory.

Because lacquer is more commercial and only involves a small amount of "exhibition restoration", it accounts for a very small proportion of teaching tasks, and most professors do not do much research.

Even more, most museums do not conduct much research, and the research they do conduct focuses mainly on "rivet repair" and "kintsugi".

The reason is simple: lacquer restoration is too technically difficult, and museum artifacts can only be exhibited, not sold. To put it bluntly: museums have no motivation, and researchers have even less.

But for Xiao Yuzhu, a student, isn't this a pie in the sky?
You don't need to learn a lot, as long as you can mix lacquer and stick tiles together without cracking or splitting, you will be safe for life...

Suddenly, Xiao Yuzhu's eyes lit up and she stood up: "Lin Sicheng, I don't want a salary anymore... Teach me... Oh no, I'll pay your tuition, whatever amount you say..."

Lin Sicheng was stunned for a moment: "Didn't you decide to apply to be Professor Wang's graduate student? And then find a way to stay in school..."

Xiao Yuzhu said dismissively: "If I have learned lacquer repair, why should I stay in school?"

"No... Xiao Yuzhu, can you be a little more promising?"

"Yes, yes, yes... I'm a loser..."

Xiao Yuzhu's eyes curved, a flattering smile on her face, "Senior Brother Lin, are you thirsty? I'll make you some tea..."

Lin Sicheng uttered a "huh" and was about to say something, but paused.

Although Li Zhen remained silent, her eyes sparkled with longing and desire.

"Professor Shang doesn't teach?"

Li Zhen nodded: "There are too few application scenarios!"

Lin Sicheng suddenly realized: Professor Shang is first and foremost a professor, it is impossible for him to give Li Zhen special treatment.

Li Zhen quickly emphasized, "You don't need to teach us specifically. Just give us a few words while you're making up for it!"

Lin Sicheng nodded: "But this way, you can only learn the basics!"

"enough!"

Li Zhen nodded heavily and looked at Xiao Yuzhu again.

Xiao Yuzhu understood immediately and nodded quickly: As a human being, you should be content!
(End of this chapter)