Restoring cultural relics: Starting with the crying Tang Dynasty figurines

Su Yuan waited in confusion for a few minutes before Zhong Ming's voice came from the mirror, sounding much weaker than usual:

"Stop shouting... We're fine, it just took a lot of effort just now."

Miao Deyu's voice followed, weak and listless:

"Young man from the Su family... what a grand scheme your ancestors orchestrated... keeping it from us all..."

Su Yuan hurriedly asked, "What just happened?"

"Yes... the Soul-Locking Pearl has recognized its master."

Zhong Ming's voice gradually returned to normal: "So it turns out that your ancestor collected and preserved the remnants of Miss A Wu's spirit."

"Just now, the part of the Spirit-Locking Pearl sensed the presence of the jade ring and activated itself, reconnecting the two parts of the remnant spirit."

"And what about Ah Wu now...?"

"It's much more complete than before."

Zhong Ming continued, "They're still not fully back. You saw the words your great-grandfather carved: the Soul-Locking Pearl only took in a portion of Miss A-Wu's three souls and seven spirits."

"The rest are scattered throughout the mezzanine. You have to go into the mezzanine to find them and gather the scattered souls together before she can fully awaken!"

Su Yuan stared at the light spots in the bronze mirror and clenched the Spirit-Locking Pearl in his hand.

He suddenly realized that the Spirit-Locking Pearl was so small, how could he carry it around? At that moment, the jade ring on his hand warmed up again, reminding him of a detail!

He hurriedly took off the ring and examined it. Sure enough, there was a small indentation on the inner wall of the ring. He quickly pressed the Spirit Locking Bead on it and tried it.

Perfect! I hadn't noticed this groove before, but I was surprised to find it here.

Next is the matter of entering the mezzanine. I don't know when we can enter. My father was too impatient and went into the mezzanine. He went crazy after he came out!

But Su Yuan was not afraid. He had almost everything he needed and knew a lot of information.

Just then, the phone vibrated on the table.

Su Yuan picked it up and saw that it was that unfamiliar number again:

"Did you get the Soul-Locking Pearl? Be careful, don't let the wrong people know."

Su Yuan stared at the message, a chill running down his spine. He quickly replied, "Who are you?"

He sent the message and waited a minute, but received no reply. He waited another five minutes, still nothing. He tried calling back the number, but it was switched off.

Su Yuan shakily put down his phone and sat on the bed to think.

This person not only knew he was looking for the lock, but also knew that the lock contained the Spirit-Locking Pearl, and that he would get it tonight!

Who exactly is this person?

Are they friend or foe? The second message doesn't seem like they're on the opposing side.

Su Yuan couldn't figure it out; too many clues were flooding his mind at once, making it feel like a tangled mess.

It's all so confusing!

He knew that what he needed most right now was time to allow Awu's remaining spirit to stabilize a bit more before slowly asking Zhong Ming about the things in the mezzanine.

He put on the jade ring, but this time he didn't feel anything special. He also put the key lock and the jade piece away and put them all into his backpack.

He placed the bronze mirror beside his pillow, lay down on the bed, and turned off the light.

I closed my eyes and said in my heart, "Awu, goodnight."

Just as Su Yuan was about to fall asleep, the curtains on the window fluttered twice without any wind, and a child's voice reached his ears:

"Master Su... could you spare some time tomorrow to fix me...?"

"I look terrible. I came here as soon as I sensed the commotion."

Su Yuan didn't open his eyes and asked softly, "Yes, where are you...?"

"Really? Thank you so much! I live at Old Li's house right behind yours. I'll remind him in my dream tonight."

Su Yuan smiled and slowly fell asleep.

Su Yuan was awakened by birdsong the next day.

The mornings in his hometown are much quieter than in the city. There are no car horns or construction noise. He took his phone out from under his pillow and glanced at it.

It's past eight o'clock. I slept too soundly last night and didn't even dream.

He sat up in bed, looked tenderly at the bronze mirror, and went out of the bedroom to wash up.

His mother, Liu Xiuyun, had been busy in the kitchen for half a day, steaming buns on the stove and cooking millet porridge in the pot.

Su Yuan was brushing his teeth when he heard voices outside, his mother's voice:

"Brother Li, is something the matter?"

"Um... I heard your son is back, and I know he can fix things. I have a jar I'd like him to take a look at..."

Su Yuan hurriedly ran over and mumbled, "Uncle Li, I'll go check on him after I finish eating."

Old Li left with a smile after hearing this. Su Yuan came back, finished brushing his teeth, had breakfast with his parents, and then went out with his toolbox.

Liu Xiuyun smiled and said, "Yuan'er really can't stay still!"

Su Fu said slowly, "It's good to be busy..."

As soon as I entered Old Li's yard, Old Li came out to greet me:

"Xiao Su is here, take a look at her."

After entering the house, Old Li carefully placed the item on his table. It was a porcelain jar about twenty centimeters tall.

A boy riding an ox!

"This was ordered by my elders in Jingdezhen during the Republic of China era. They said it was a special gift for the eldest son's graduation ceremony, and the image of riding an ox symbolizes a newborn calf."

Su Yuan noticed that the boy was still holding a flute in his hand, and knew that it meant he would make a name for himself.

Old Li sighed and continued:

"The old man specifically told me before he passed away that this thing had been passed down for generations, and I shouldn't break it, but it still didn't..."

He scratched his head, not understanding:

"I don't know why, but last night I dreamt that this thing said you, Su family boy, can fix things, so I went to your house to find you."

Su Yuan smiled to himself, but didn't dare to say anything. He put down the toolbox and began to examine the items.

This is a famille rose porcelain jar depicting a child riding an ox. The porcelain body is delicate and the glaze is warm and lustrous. It is an authentic piece from a famous workshop in Jingdezhen during the Republic of China period.

The cow's coat should have had ochre and black stripes, but now most of them are blurred.

The boy's face, which should have been rosy and chubby, was now ashen and gray, as if covered with a layer of dust!

The most serious damage was to the flute in the boy's hand, which was broken. Only a small piece remained attached to his palm, the entire flute body missing.

"Sir, where are the porcelain shards from this flute?"

Su Yuan asked to see if it had been saved.

After listening, the old man took out a bag from the old cabinet, took out a small cloth bag from the bag, opened it, and inside were two pieces of porcelain thinner than his little finger.

Old Li said regretfully, "Only these two pieces are left, the rest... can't be found."

Su Yuan picked up the two pieces of porcelain with tweezers and examined them against the light. The porcelain body at the break was whitish, indicating an old fracture that had been there for at least several decades.

He didn't start repairing it right away, but instead closed his eyes and gently held the porcelain jar in his hands.

"Young Master Su, what do you mean by this?"

"I'm listening, please don't make a sound."

Old Li stared wide-eyed, not daring to ask any more questions!

Su Yuan was actually feeling the texture; he ran his hand over every detail of the picture of a boy riding a bull, from the curve of the bull's horns to the muscle lines of its legs.

From the boy's rounded back of the head all the way to the broken end of the flute.

A minute later, Su Yuan opened his eyes, didn't say anything, and just nodded.

Old Li was completely bewildered!

Su Yuan placed the porcelain jar on the table, first using a soft-bristled brush to clean the surface, and then taking out a bamboo skewer of moderate softness and hardness from the toolbox to begin cleaning the grime.

The painted layers of the Republic-era porcelain had become somewhat loose after more than a hundred years, and he carefully scraped them off bit by bit with the tip of a bamboo stick…