Restoring cultural relics: Starting with the crying Tang Dynasty figurines

Su Yuan put aside his thoughts and prepared to deal with the cracks first.

First, use a cotton swab dipped in acetone to gently wipe along the cracks to remove oil and impurities from the surface.

This step cannot be rushed, as acetone evaporates quickly. Once the first wipe is completely dry, you can wipe it a second time. After wiping it three times, the inside of the crack will be clean.

Su Yuan put down the cotton swab and began to mix the copper material!

On the materials shelf in the repair center, there were all kinds of metal materials. Su Yuan picked out a piece of copper material with a composition similar to bronze beans and melted it into liquid using a blowtorch.

Using an extremely fine injection tube, aim at one end of the crack and inject it little by little.

Liquid copper seeped into the crack at a rate as slow as a drop of water from a needle tip.

The nozzle of the infusion tube is always moved forward slowly at a height of less than two millimeters from the crack. This way, it will not touch the object and will ensure that the copper material is accurately infiltrated.

Someone was secretly watching him from inside the house!

Jiang Weiguo stopped what he was doing and watched Su Yuan's movements from a distance, his gaze very focused.

Su Yuan's attention was completely focused on the bronze bean, and he didn't notice anything amiss.

After the crack filling is completed, wait for the copper material to cool and solidify, then use a fine file to smooth out any excess protrusions, and finally use deerskin to polish it smooth.

After the crack was repaired, the repair marks were almost invisible on the inside of the foot ring. Only when viewed closely under the light could a thin copper-colored line be seen.

Next, we'll replace the cover button!

The lid knob is shaped like a lotus bud, a common style during the Spring and Autumn Period.

Su Yuan found a suitable piece of copper from the materials shelf, used a chisel to first hammer out the general shape, and then switched to a carving knife to carve out the petal patterns little by little.

The lotus bud has five layers of petals, each with a different angle and curvature. Without any reference points, Su Yuan relied entirely on his knowledge of Spring and Autumn period bronzes and his feel for the material, carving each stroke meticulously.

When he carved the third layer of petals, he felt the bronze bean tremble slightly.

It's not an illusion!

He stopped carving and glanced at the bronze bean. The object itself was normal, but he could feel that the spirit of the bean was watching him work.

"Don't rush," Su Yuan said in a very soft voice, "It'll be soon."

The bronze bean trembled again and then fell silent.

Su Yuan continued carving the fourth and fifth layers, each cut precise and accurate. After finishing the last cut, he placed the lid knob on the bean lid to check; it fit perfectly!

We soldered it using tin soldering, and after it cooled, we polished and aged it, including the stripes on the foot ring.

It took three attempts to find the exact same color as the original mineral pigment, and finally two thin coats were applied.

At 11:40, Su Yuan put down his calligraphy brush, placed the bronze bean in the center of the workbench, and took a step back to look at it.

The lid and knob have been replaced, and the lotus bud petals are now clearly layered.

The cracks in the foot ring were cleanly and neatly repaired, with almost no trace of repair. The entire artifact stood very steadily, just as it had when it was first unearthed.

"Okay," he said softly.

The bronze bean trembled again, this time more heavily than before, as if nodding in gratitude.

Su Yuan smiled and packed up his tools.

When Deputy Director Chen saw him stop, he came over, picked up the bronze bean and examined it carefully, then removed the cap and looked at the interface.

Finally, turn the object over and look at the repaired crack on the inside of the foot rim.

Her expression changed from indifference at first, to surprise, and finally to serious appreciation!

"How many years has it been under repair?" she asked.

"Including my school years, it's been more than seven years."

Deputy Director Chen nodded, said nothing more, put the bronze bean back on the table, made a few notes in his notebook, and left.

Su Yuan noticed that she was smiling when she turned around.

Jiang Weiguo walked over from the other end of the house, holding a newly repaired bronze gu (a type of ancient Chinese vessel). He looked at the bronze dou (another type of ancient Chinese vessel) on the table and said with a smile:

"Su Yuan, I've seen your skills, they're indeed excellent. Zhou Chu didn't misjudge you."

Su Yuan replied modestly, "You flatter me. I just followed the rules."

"Rules?" Jiang Weiguo smiled. "There are plenty of people in this industry who follow the rules, but not many can execute them to your level!"

Su Yuan stared at the bronze bean without replying.

Jiang Weiguo glanced at him, said nothing more, patted him on the shoulder, and took his bronze gu to find Deputy Director Chen for his signature.

Su Yuan stood in front of the workbench, putting the tools back into the toolbox one by one.

The bronze mirror in my pocket got warm!

It wasn't burning hot, but that familiar warmth, as if they were inside, letting out a satisfied sigh.

We had lunch in the rest room at the restoration center.

Zhao Cheng sat down next to Su Yuan with his lunchbox and said, "Jiang Weiguo was watching you today while you were repairing that thing."

Su Yuan later realized it too: "Hmm."

"I looked in your direction at least seven or eight times."

Zhao Cheng broke apart a pair of disposable chopsticks: "I kept an eye on him. Every time he saw you, he would stop what he was doing and wish he could run up to you and watch you."

"Are you checking how well I've done the repairs?"

"It doesn't seem like it." Zhao Cheng thought for a moment, "It's more like they're confirming something."

What are we confirming? Are we confirming whether Su Yuan truly possesses the abilities of the Su family? Or are we confirming whether the jade ring in his hand is genuine?

Su Yuan couldn't understand it, so he buried his head and finished his meal...

The afternoon was free time for socializing. Tea breaks were set up in the lobby of the restoration center, and people gathered in groups of two or three to chat.

Zhao Cheng kept an eye on Su Yuan from ten meters away. Su Yuan stood by the window with a cup of tea, staring outside.

My phone vibrated in my pocket.

It was a message from Zhou Peiyuan: "Xiao Su, come to my place after the exchange this afternoon. I just arrived. It's 316 on the east side."

Su Yuan replied with a "Okay".

He put his phone back in his pocket, and as soon as he looked up, he saw an elderly woman with gray hair walking towards him!

She looked to be in her seventies, wearing a dark blue coat, with her back ramrod straight and her steps sprightly despite her age.

Su Yuan was stunned for a moment; he recognized this person!

"Grandma Lin," he called out, then realized that calling her "Auntie" wasn't appropriate.

Lin Yue smiled and walked up to him, also looking out the window: "Xiao Su, I didn't have a chance to ask last time, how's your dad?"

Su Yuan replied with a smile:

"Great, my mind is much clearer now. My workplace has processed my retirement, and I'm resting at my hometown."

Lin Yue nodded:

"Your dad has had a tough time too. He was only in his early twenties when your grandfather passed away... I can't quite remember. He's finally made it through now."

Su Yuan pursed his lips and didn't reply.

Lin Yue patted his arm:

"Alright, Xiao Su, your teacher Zhou asked me to come here to observe and see the skills of you young people. They're all very good, especially you!"

"That's all for now, I should go home after watching."

After saying that, she turned and left. Su Yuan watched her figure disappear around the corner of the corridor, and smiled with relief: "Thank you, Grandma Lin..."

The training ended at 4:30 p.m.

Su Yuan told Zhao Cheng and went to the east side of the third floor. The door to room 316 was closed, so he knocked twice.

"Come in."

Su Yuan pushed open the door and went in. This could be considered a temporary office space. Zhou Peiyuan was sitting on the sofa behind the coffee table. He pointed to the sofa opposite him:

"Please sit down, Xiao Su."

Su Yuan had a vague feeling that something was wrong!