Restoring cultural relics: Starting with the crying Tang Dynasty figurines

Several signs were hanging at the entrance of the building, the most eye-catching of which was the large, gold-plated characters "Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau". There were already quite a few people standing at the entrance!

There were people of all ages, mostly dressed in formal attire, with badges hanging around their necks.

Su Yuan looked at himself. He was wearing a dark blue jacket over a white shirt. Although he didn't look as smart as those in suits, he wasn't bad either.

Xiao Meng parked the car and handed him a delegate's badge:

"Teacher Zhou has taken care of everything for you. Just go in. He'll be waiting for you inside. Leave your things in the car, and I'll keep an eye on them."

Su Yuan took the delegate's badge, said thank you, hung the badge around his neck, and got out of the car.

The provincial cultural relics bureau's office building was much more impressive than Su Yuan had imagined.

The hall floor is paved with light gray marble, and directly opposite the entrance is a huge background wall with the eight characters "Protect cultural relics, inherit civilization" written on it!

The calligraphy is vigorous, and the signature is that of a deceased calligrapher.

Su Yuan stood at the door, watching the crowds coming and going, and his social anxiety kicked in again.

Most of the people who came to the meeting were strangers to him. They were all chatting in small groups, while he was all alone!

"Su Yuan."

Suddenly someone called his name from behind. The voice wasn't loud, but it sounded familiar.

Su Yuan turned around and saw a man in his forties walking over from a black car. He was wearing a dark gray suit and had a smile on his face.

It's Zhao Cheng!

Su Yuan was taken aback: "Brother Zhao? What are you doing here?"

"Meeting?" Zhao Cheng walked over and patted him on the shoulder.

"In previous provincial cultural relic restoration seminars, the restoration unit would send someone. This year, Director Zhang said that since you're here, he asked me to come along and be your guide."

Su Yuan recalled that Zhang Weiyi hadn't sent any messages in the past two days mentioning that Zhao Cheng was also coming.

"Let's go inside and talk."

Zhao Cheng gestured with his chin toward the door, greeted the security guard at the door as if they were old acquaintances, and led Su Yuan through the lobby and up to the second floor.

The second floor was a conference room; the door was open, and quite a few people were already seated inside. Nameplates were displayed on the stage, with the leader of the Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau in the center, and several names Su Yuan didn't recognize on either side!

Several elderly experts with white hair sat in the first row; some were flipping through documents, while others were resting with their eyes closed.

Zhao Cheng pulled Su Yuan to sit down in the third row on the side and whispered, "This meeting is held once a year, and all the attendees are restorers from the province's cultural relics system."

"The morning session will consist of speeches from leaders and reports from experts, while the afternoon will be for group discussions. You can just listen for now; you don't need to speak."

Su Yuan nodded, feeling relieved.

He took out his phone and sent a message to Zhou Peiyuan: "Teacher Zhou, I've arrived, third row."

Zhou Peiyuan replied instantly: "Yes, I saw you. Let's have lunch together after the meeting."

Su Yuan replied with an "okay," then silenced his phone and put it back in his pocket.

The meeting started promptly at 8:30.

The leader of the Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau spoke first, summarizing the achievements of the province's cultural relics restoration work over the past year and praising several units.

The text mentions the restoration center where Su Yuan works, stating only that "a certain unit has made breakthrough progress in the restoration of bronze artifacts!"

No one was called out by name, but Zhao Cheng nudged Su Yuan's arm and winked at him.

Su Yuan smiled, feeling that Zhao Cheng had changed and was much more enthusiastic than before!

This person is giving an expert report on new concepts, technologies, and materials for cultural relic protection.

Su Yuan listened attentively and took notes in his notebook. He was interested in a new type of reinforcing agent. The person on stage said that this substance had better permeability than traditional materials and was suitable for treating decayed wooden artifacts!

There is also a new technique for creating an aged look that is said to be so realistic that it can be mistaken for the real thing.

The expert on stage then spoke for another half hour, but didn't mention what he was most concerned about!

For example, the hidden spiritual objects, and those things about the Su family that couldn't be discussed on paper. Su Yuan knew they wouldn't mention them, but he really wanted to hear about them.

Tea break is at 10:30.

Zhao Cheng pulled Su Yuan to the break room to get coffee, and whispered something in his ear:

"Han Zhengming didn't come today."

Su Yuan was somewhat surprised, and Zhao Cheng continued:

"He usually attends these kinds of meetings, so his absence this year is a bit unusual. But I heard that the province arranged for him to go elsewhere at the last minute!"

"I don't know exactly where."

Su Yuan hummed in agreement, thinking about what Zhong Ming had said. Han Zhengming was in the provincial capital, and Sun Guoliang would also be coming.

What are they doing in the provincial capital? Are they here for him?

Don't overthink it.

Zhao Cheng seemed to read his mind and said, "Just continue with your meeting. If there's nothing else after the meeting, go back early. The provincial capital is different from the town; there are too many people and too much gossip here."

Su Yuan nodded, finished his coffee, and returned to the conference room.

The last report of the morning was given by an elderly gentleman with gray hair, who talked about the traditional restoration techniques for bronze artifacts.

As Su Yuan listened, he felt that the old man's style was very familiar...

The ingredients, techniques, and steps used were almost exactly the same as those written in my great-grandfather's notes.

He was curious, but couldn't quite make out the brand name tag, so he whispered to Zhao Cheng, "Who is this old gentleman?"

Zhao Cheng glanced at the brand name:

"His surname is Shen, Shen Mingyuan, a retired expert from the provincial museum. I heard that he learned a craft from your great-grandfather when he was very young."

Su Yuan was taken aback at first, but then his gaze toward Shen Mingyuan changed!

Finally, the meeting ended after a long wait.

Just as Su Yuan was about to get up, Zhou Peiyuan called: "I'm in the meeting room on the east side of the second floor. Come over here first."

Su Yuan told Zhao Cheng, walked through the corridor, and pushed open the door to the reception room.

The reception room was small, with a long table and a few chairs, on which were placed tea sets and fruit. Zhou Peiyuan sat by the window, opposite a thin man in his fifties.

"Xiao Su, come and sit down." Zhou Peiyuan beckoned to him.

Su Yuan went in and sat down next to Zhou Peiyuan.

"This is Mr. Gu," Zhou Peiyuan introduced, "the deputy director of the Ninth Division."

Mr. Gu stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, looked up at Su Yuan, and examined the object as if he were looking at it.

"You're Su Shouzhuo's grandson, Gu Hangyuan?" His voice was strong and carried a slight northern accent.

Su Yuan wondered if this person knew about his grandfather and was he a friend or foe.

"Yes."

Gu Yuanhang nodded, his gaze shifting from the man's face to his hand, or more precisely, to the jade ring on his finger.

"Hmm, not bad, it's good that you're wearing it."

Gu Yuanhang continued, "The Spirit-Locking Pearl is also embedded there?"

Upon hearing this, Su Yuan instinctively wanted to pull his hand back, but then he thought that since Zhou Peiyuan had brought him to see this person, it meant that this person could be trusted.

"Um."

Gu Yuanhang smiled, picked up a file bag from the chair next to him, took out a photo from it, and handed it to Su Yuan.

Su Yuan took the photo and saw a building, a three-story building with gray bricks and tiles, with a row of people standing in front of it.

The photo was black and white, and looked quite old. Gu Yuanhang said with a meaningful look in his eyes:

"These are the nine earliest offices."