By linking my account to the check-in system, I became a leisurely traveler.

Chapter 227 Genius, Genius! [7,000 words, two chapters combined!]

Li Younan returned to the hotel to rest for a while, and it was already completely dark.

He planned to go out and find some food.

Another important reason why the capital is the capital is that you can find food from all over the country and even the world in the capital.

As a top chef, Li Younan is not only skilled at cooking, but also a connoisseur of fine food.

After resting for a while, he prepared to find two distinctive and representative restaurants to eat at.

The fermented mung bean juice he accidentally ate last time left him with severe psychological trauma, so this time he's going to find a more reliable shop.

However, as someone with over ten million followers, even though most people don't recognize him when he walks down the street, there's still a chance he'll run into fans.

He went to a private restaurant for dinner. Not long after, the owner suddenly knocked on the door and came in, asking respectfully, "Teacher Li, how was your meal?"

Li Younan blinked, looking puzzled.

"Here's the thing, Teacher Li, we've all watched your videos online. If there's anything we think we didn't do well, just let us know. And these two crab roe and caviar dishes are a gift for you."

As he spoke, the waiter placed a plate of exquisite complimentary dishes on Li Younan's table.

Li Younan was stunned for a moment before she understood what the boss meant. She felt a sense of absurdity and quickly thanked the boss.

The owner then quietly closed the door and left.

Li Younan tasted the dish that the boss had given him as a gift.

To be fair, in terms of taste and cooking time, it still falls short of my own, but it's still a very top-notch delicacy.

After all, if the ingredients are good, the result won't be too bad.

However, as Li Younan ate, he felt somewhat sentimental, and it was hard to tell whether he was happy or experiencing something else.

The shop owner clearly recognized him.

From the boss's perspective, having a social media influencer like himself, whether they're there to eat or to film videos, would make him very nervous.

If the online influencer enjoys the food, it's probably fine. But if there's anything that displeases him, a casual complaint online could be devastating for his restaurant.

So even though these two dishes were very expensive, he had no choice but to come over personally and present them to the chef with a smile.

After finishing his meal, Li Younan leaned back in his chair and rested in silence for a while.

He can now roughly feel the power of his influence.

If the meal really wasn't that good, Li Younan certainly wouldn't have bothered to complain about it online. But even so, it still made these businesses nervous, even to the point of being apprehensive.

Of course, there are also bosses who don't respect the power of online public opinion, and the outcome is...

It's hard to describe how I feel right now.

To be honest, it's a bit complicated.

He also began to understand why some ordinary people become so arrogant after becoming influential internet celebrities.

Just then, Li Younan's phone rang. It was the staff member from that afternoon calling; they had exchanged contact information.

Li Younan answered the phone, and the other party's voice came through the receiver: "Teacher Li, to avoid taking up your time, I'll get straight to the point. It's about repairing that national treasure..."

"Oh, okay, please go ahead."

"Here's the thing, Master Chen went to see the dean this afternoon and explained the matter to him. The dean and two other masters plan to invite you to come to the site again tomorrow to discuss it with you again."

"Ok."

At this moment, the staff member hesitated for a moment—what he had just said was rather polite and had not mentioned the most important part of the assessment.

He was worried that Li Younan might not have been prepared beforehand, so he thought for a moment and then said, "However, Professor Li, because the restoration of the national treasure is of great importance, there might be a test at that time."

Li Younan was actually quite pleased to hear this.

It would be strange if such an important matter didn't have an assessment or test.

Since the other party mentioned that testing was needed, it at least shows that their skills have indeed been recognized by Master Chen.

As for the possible assessment tomorrow, Li Younan was naturally not worried at all—after all, he was at the top level in any of these three skills, and in a sense, the old masters who were testing him were not necessarily better than him.

……

The next day, Li Younan arrived at the Palace Museum as promised.

This time, he went directly to a place that resembled a laboratory, and the same staff member from yesterday led him inside.

Besides Master Chen from yesterday, there were several other expert masters in the laboratory who looked quite old.

Master Chen led Li Younan to introduce several important figures present, starting with the dean, followed by the masters who were responsible for evaluating his other two skills today, Master Xu and Master Luo.

Although "master" is a more colloquial term, many of them are actually experts and scholars in their respective fields, and these people are all very cultured.

The other people who came to observe, though not introduced, all smiled and greeted Li Younan.

After learning that Li Younan was very likely to have mastered the technique of repairing the rotating vase, these craftsmen couldn't contain their curiosity and came over to observe.

Although most people still harbored some doubts—after all, Li Younan looked too young, so young that they felt the whole thing was absurd.

However, when they saw the tiny bit of skill that Li Younan displayed on the show "Living Alone in the Wilderness," they realized that perhaps this young man really was that incredible.

Then, the dean began to preside over the assessment. He said, "Xiao Li, don't be nervous. Master Chen has already told us about your situation. We value talent like you very much. As the saying goes, heroes come from all walks of life, and heroes have emerged from among the young since ancient times. As long as your level truly meets the standards, then those who achieve the best will be given priority."

"However, the Qianlong famille rose openwork revolving vase we plan to restore is a true national treasure, and we must ensure that everything is done flawlessly. Therefore, we need to assess your capabilities, and we hope you can understand."

Li Younan nodded respectfully and said, "Okay, Dean, I completely understand."

"Then let's begin. First, we need to assess your ceramic repair skills, Master Luo."

Master Luo nodded, and then took out a miniature replica of a rotating bottle from a box. The outer screen had a chipped bottom and the inner screen's rotating axis was missing. The scale was about 1:5.

Master Luo smiled and said, "What we need to repair is a revolving vase, so this investigation also needs to be combined with the difficulties of the repair. This replica was made when we were researching the repair plan, specifically to solve the problems of the repair."

Li Younan's gaze fell on the damaged replica.

Master Luo continued, "The requirements are that you match an axle made of the same material as the original tire and repair the damaged tire body with the outer screen, meeting two core criteria. First, after the repair, the inner screen must rotate 180 degrees without any jamming, and the connection error between the axle and the inner screen base must be no more than 0.1 millimeters. Second, after the tire repair, space must be reserved for the subsequent openwork carving of pavilion patterns at the damaged area of ​​the outer screen, with a thickness error of less than 0.05 millimeters at the base of the eaves, and the smoothness error of the connection between the repair and the original tire body's curvature must be less than 0.03 millimeters."

The director added from the side, "There are no more than three master craftsmen in the entire Palace Museum who can do this, so it's extremely difficult. Xiao Li, how long do you think it will take?"

Li Younan slowly walked to the replica and examined it carefully, while everyone else's eyes were all focused on him.

Everyone knows exactly where the difficulty lies in this tire repair problem.

First, there is the superposition of dual precision: the precision of the shaft must be controlled, the precision of the repair process must be taken into account, and the characteristics of ceramic materials and the principles of mechanical structure must be mastered.

Especially during firing, shrinkage occurs, and simply meeting the precision standard is not enough to pass the test.

Moreover, there are no standard spare parts that can be directly referenced, and no complete shaft remains. It is necessary to reverse-engineer the parameters of the original shaft by measuring the wear marks on the inner screen shaft hole and the base shaft groove.

The test lies in the experience-based judgment of the wear patterns of old tires, rather than simply a precise replica.

In other words, this means that Li Younan must be extremely familiar with the porcelain-making process.

In fact, this is one of the real difficulties in repairing that national treasure.

However, looking at Li Younan's experience, it seems that he only demonstrated his porcelain-making skills in that reality show.

While the fact that porcelain could be fired to that level in the wild certainly speaks volumes, a young man like him must have fired porcelain very few times.

How could you possibly do that without experience?
Master Luo then introduced the tire repair facilities and equipment in the laboratory to Li Younan, which were naturally highly technological and professional equipment.

After learning how to use the equipment, Li Younan's lips curled into a slight smile.

"Give me half a day. This process involves repeated firing, so it takes more time than other steps."

Upon hearing Li Younan's words, Master Luo's eyes widened, and the others began to whisper among themselves, while the dean stared at Li Younan in disbelief.

Half a day?

If it weren't for Li Younan's confidence and composure at this moment, and Master Chen's guarantee of character, they would have thought that Li Younan was just making fun of them!

The difficulty of this question lies in the reverse calculation of the shaft parameters, while simultaneously controlling the dynamic fitting accuracy of the shaft and the static allowance accuracy of the repair, and taking into account the firing shrinkage rate of the ceramic material.

Theoretically, it should take at least three to five days.

Two days are spent on measuring, analyzing, and designing the shaft; one to two days are spent on manufacturing and firing the shaft and replacing the tire body; and another day is spent on assembly and debugging.

But Li Younan told them it would only take half a day?
Everyone's expression turned somewhat strange, after all, they were all true experts in this field.

Li Younan politely asked the dean, "Dean, may I begin now?"

The dean began to waver. Perhaps Master Chen was not exaggerating. This young man was indeed quite skilled in powder painting, but he might still have some shortcomings in the craft of firing porcelain.

This gap meant he hadn't even grasped the difficulty of the problem.

Just as the dean was about to say something, Master Luo asked Li Younan a serious question: "Young man, what do you think the shrinkage rate of this replica is?"

Without much thought, Li Younan picked up the replica and said, "The firing temperature of this porcelain should be around 1100 degrees Celsius, and the linear shrinkage rate should be around 16%."

"But it definitely contains kaolin and quartz sand. I don't know the exact proportion, but judging from the weight... I estimate the shrinkage rate will be reduced to between 8% and 9%."

"But it's okay. When I repair the tire, I'll add some inert materials like alumina to control the shrinkage rate to 0.5%... Well, because precision is required, this number has to be accurate."

In fact, when Li Younan received this replica, the material ratio of the porcelain set had already appeared in his mind, and he even had a more precise understanding of the shrinkage rate.

However, he couldn't be too precise, or it would seem too incredible.

The ability the system gave him felt like a guiding force from the unseen world.

Upon hearing Li Younan's answer, Master Luo's pupils contracted slightly.

Because the data Li Younan gave was almost identical to the actual answer; the contraction rate was indeed 8.4%!

You should know that Li Younan hadn't actually done the test; he was able to give the answer accurately based solely on his experience.

He glanced at the dean, interrupting him before he could speak, and said, "Alright, Xiao Li, you can begin!"

The dean paused for a moment, glanced at Master Luo, and swallowed back what he wanted to say.

Li Younan, oblivious to the thoughts of the others, nodded and said, "Master Luo, please don't provide me with the specific parameters. Because when we actually begin restoring that precious artifact, we won't have access to those parameters. So, let's focus on practical application!"

...In fact, the most important step in solving the difficult problem of tire repair is parameter measurement and analysis.

However, thanks to the judgment provided by the system, Li Younan already had a general range in mind. Although it was not 100% accurate, it was almost a certainty.

This feeling is very mysterious and difficult to describe scientifically, since systems are inherently unscientific.

The reason he was so confident that he could solve this problem in half a day was because the most important parameter measurement and analysis would take others at least two days, while he only needed to verify the accuracy of his values.

Anyone who frequently does math problems knows that once you know the answer to a problem, it's very easy to verify its correctness by working backwards. You don't even need to work backwards; you can simply use other methods to check it.

Li Younan used laboratory equipment to calculate the density of the ceramic body. The next step should have been the design of the body, which would require creating a complete processing drawing. However, Li Younan still intended to skip this step.

The ancients were confident and well-prepared; his current state is probably more like having a clear direction.

The next step is the more time-consuming shaping and making of the shaft.

When everyone else noticed that Li Younan had skipped the blueprint design step, they couldn't help but look at each other in bewilderment.

However, Li Younan had already started to make his move, and although the others were full of surprise, they did not say anything.

When Li Younan started making the axle, he also took a deep breath.

The next task required extremely high precision, and Li Younan did it entirely based on intuition.

This thing feels very mysterious, and sometimes it can even transcend calculation.

When Li Younan began making the porcelain body, many of the porcelain masters present showed expressions of surprise.

Li Younan did not use molds, but shaped the body entirely by hand, and filled in the missing parts of the body. The whole process was very smooth and precise.

The master could tell a person's skill from the first touch; it wasn't until this point that they realized why Li Younan was so confident.

His hands are so steady!

They had never seen such steady hands before!

Thanks to the bonuses from several skills that Li Younan had previously acquired, each of his handcrafting skills enhanced the stability of his hands to varying degrees.

How precise and stable are his hands now?

If there were a surgery in the world that could only be performed by a surgeon with the most stable hand... and even Li Younan's hand couldn't perform this surgery, then there wouldn't be any surgeon in the world who could do it.

Li Younan was also very clear about his advantages, and the whole process did not actually take too much time.

One misconception is that when repairing cultural relics, the missing parts are not necessarily made entirely of the original materials of the relics.

In a sense, repairing cultural relics is not about using the flesh and blood of a person who is missing a finger to create a new finger, but rather about using a prosthesis or polymer nanomaterials to create a completely new finger that looks exactly like the original finger, so that no one can tell the difference.

Therefore, the materials that Li Younan chose did not require such a long processing time as traditional porcelain.

Without any measurements, relying solely on his eyes and hands, Li Younan had already completed the manual shaping and body fitting.

The next step, which is the most time-consuming and requires the most experience, is the firing process.

If the temperature is not controlled properly, it can easily cause cracking or deformation. Furthermore, if the shrinkage rate is not calculated accurately enough beforehand, it can easily lead to a lack of precision, ruining the assembly process and all previous efforts will be wasted.

Li Younan controlled the temperature of the kiln. At this moment, he became very serious. He still did not pay attention to the numbers displayed on the instrument, but only observed the flames and the state of the clay blanks inside the kiln with his naked eyes.

He still acts based on his intuition.

Seeing this, everyone tensed up and dared not breathe.

Finally, after several cycles of heating up, cooling down, and reheating, Li Younan wiped a little sweat from his forehead, smiled slightly, and said, "Alright, now we just need to wait for it to cool down naturally."

Only then did everyone check the time and realize that it was already afternoon, and they hadn't even had lunch.

But at a time like this, who's in the mood to eat?

While waiting for the clay blanks to cool, the director led all the expert craftsmen who had come to watch to the canteen for a meal.

Master Luo leaned closer to Li Younan, hesitated for a long time, and finally couldn't help but ask, "Little Li, when you were firing just now... were you relying entirely on your senses?"

Li Younan nodded: "Yes. It's hard for me to explain the feeling, but it's like there's a voice telling me, 'You need to control the heat, you need to raise the temperature, you need to lower the temperature, you need to rotate the embryo...'"

Master Luo's expression was somewhat complicated.

If the axle and body that Li Younan ultimately fired truly met the standards...

Undoubtedly, this will redefine his understanding of porcelain-making techniques and the limits that humans can reach!

For a long time, people were thinking about how to solve the problem of repair using mechanical advancements, and gradually began to ignore human initiative.

The appearance of Li Younan made Master Luo begin to doubt whether what he had been insisting on was right or wrong.

Finally, after a long wait, the tire body cooled to the appropriate temperature, and the next step was the most important assembly and debugging.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Li Younan took the fired axle and body in his hands and slowly inserted them into the joint of the body.

The axis rotates dynamically without any jamming or shaking, and there is no need for further fine polishing.

Become!

It really did work!
Everyone realized that the young man in front of them was not exaggerating; he had indeed solved the problem with an incomprehensible skill.

Damn, this young man... he really finished it in less than a day?

It was already late at night, but everyone's face was filled with undisguised excitement, even thrill.

Could it be that this young man is finally going to solve the repair problem that has been troubling them for so long?
The dean walked to the completed replica, adjusted his glasses, and examined it carefully. Finally, he looked at Li Younan with an expression of disbelief.

Many thoughts raced through his mind in that instant, the strongest of which was doubt—he was not even 30 years old!

How did he master such amazing skills?

The dean couldn't help but ask directly, "How many pieces of porcelain have you fired?"

Li Younan only vaguely said, "There aren't many, but once you understand the principle, I think they're all about the same."

"A genius, a genius!"

The dean sighed deeply; he couldn't find any other reason besides genius.

In any field, there are people who can be called geniuses.

What others need to spend years or even decades to master, a genius reaches their peak once they understand it.

This kind of thing is common in other fields. For a long time, in the field of traditional crafts, people firmly believed that the experience accumulated over many years was more important than so-called talent.

The appearance of Li Younan shattered everything they had believed in for many years.

However, compared to the regret of this shattered worldview, there was more excitement.

Li Younan has already demonstrated his superb skills in tire repair and painting restoration. So, even if he is slightly less skilled in carving, he might still be able to complete the restoration.

The next question was on openwork carving.

Similarly, for a semi-finished imitation revolving vase with a partially hollowed-out outer screen, the error in connecting the recarved patterns with the original patterns must not exceed 0.02 millimeters. At the same time, the width and angle must be reserved. Furthermore, there is no way to rely on mechanical tools, which completely tests the precision of handcraftsmanship and the ability to replicate the old craftsmanship style.

In fact, the most difficult part of restoring this top-level national treasure was the openwork carving process.

Unlike the other two steps, which can utilize some modern technology, this process relies entirely on the restorer's hands.

But because of the stability of Li Younan's hands that he had just demonstrated, and recalling the carving skills he had shown in "Living Alone in the Wilderness," everyone began to look forward to it.

At least, Li Younan has proven his ability.

Holding the half-finished product, Li Younan said, "Give me one night, and I can bring it over tomorrow."

This time, no matter how shocked everyone was, they were unwilling to show it as if they had never seen the world before.

Master Xu's lips twitched involuntarily.

Theoretically speaking, it would take him at least four to six days to handle such complex details, with two days just for designing and planning the carving scheme.

Master Xu coughed twice and said, "It's alright, there's no need to rush."

Li Younan said nonchalantly, "Can I take this back with me?"

The dean answered on Xu's behalf, "Sure, take whatever tools you need from here. It's getting late, so just contact me when you're done carving."

As he spoke, the dean handed his contact number to Li Younan.

That concludes today's tasks.

To be honest, because everyone was so focused, we didn't notice the passage of time, but before we knew it, a whole day had passed. The intensity was extremely high.

Li Younan didn't care at all; his physical strength and energy far surpassed those of these old men and middle-aged men.

But looking at the others, many were gently rubbing their lower backs, and they did look very tired.

Despite this, everyone was in high spirits.

Here, there is no envy of Li Younan's skills, only joy at the prospect of witnessing the restoration of a national treasure.

Many people have started calling Li Younan "teacher" because of his achievements.

Before leaving, the director said to Li Younan meaningfully, "Little Li, if you can really restore that revolving vase, you will become famous internationally, and I think many foreign museums will invite you to visit."

Li Younan asked with a puzzled look, "Foreign museums?"

But he quickly realized something and sighed softly.

After those two sentences, both the dean and Li Younan fell silent.

The dean smiled, shook his head, and said, "There's no rush to make a decision. You've had a long day, so go back and get some rest."

Li Younan nodded.

Li Younan returned to the hotel and began carving, working until about four or five o'clock the next day before finishing. He took a nap and the sun was high in the sky.

When he returned to the Palace Museum with the finished product and handed it to the director, the director was already much calmer.

Without further ado, the dean slowly stood up: "Come on, let me take you to see that damaged national treasure!"

(P.S.: There are still 3,000 words left. I'll post it tomorrow morning. I haven't finished writing it yet. I'm working hard to finish it!)

(End of this chapter)