Restoring cultural relics: Starting with the crying Tang Dynasty figurines

Su Yuan subconsciously touched his pocket and ring. Gu Yuanhang continued, "And then there's Sun Guoliang, who's gone missing..."

Su Yuan was stunned.

"This didn't happen today. From what I understand, he didn't return to the repair center yesterday afternoon, and he hasn't shown up today either!"

Gu Yuanhang took a bite of the fish and then said:

"Our people checked his cell phone signal, and there was no trace of his activity after noon yesterday."

"He might be in trouble," Zhou Peiyuan added from the side. Su Yuan was silent for a few seconds: "Was it Han Zhengming who did it?"

"uncertain."

Gu Yuanhang said, "Sun Guoliang has a weakness that Han Zhengming created within him; that weakness is both a tool and a rein. If Sun Guoliang tries to break free from control, that weakness will backfire!"

"If Han Zhengming feels he's no longer useful, he'll take back that gap; either of these possibilities exists."

"Is there a third possibility?" Su Yuan suddenly asked. Gu Yuanhang glanced at him but didn't answer.

Su Yuan understood; Sun Guoliang was already the third possibility… gone!

Gu Yuanhang picked up his teacup and took a sip: "Finally, there's that wall you sealed up before. I had someone go and check it out."

Su Yuan suddenly felt nervous and listened intently.

"New fine lines have indeed appeared on the wall, but they are not large, and you can feel the things inside moving."

Gu Yuanhang put down his teacup: "The gap you sealed hasn't loosened; what's loosening is the wall itself, the increasing pressure in the interlayer..."

Su Yuan listened without saying a word.

"I'm not urging you to fix it right away," Gu Yuanhang said, softening his tone. "I just want you to know that the wall won't hold for long. You can decide when to go."

"It would be best to let us know when you're going."

Su Yuan nodded and made a note of it.

"Let's eat first," Zhou Peiyuan said from the side. "The food's getting cold."

The three of them stopped talking and started eating.

Half an hour later, after finishing their meal, the waiter cleared away the dishes and served tea again. Gu Yuanhang glanced at his watch, stood up, and said, "I have to go now. You guys chat."

Zhou Peiyuan nodded and didn't stop him. Gu Yuanhang walked to the door, glanced back at Su Yuan, and said:

"Don't delay the matter of that wall too long."

The two tables of people in the small restaurant also left, and the restaurant became quiet. Zhou Peiyuan held his teacup, lost in thought.

Su Yuan looked at him and said:

"Teacher Zhou, about that wall, should I go and go see it when I get back?"

Zhou Peiyuan snapped out of his reverie and put down his teacup: "There's no rush. Go back to your unit and sort out what you're doing before you go."

Su Yuan hummed in agreement.

Zhou Peiyuan stood up and patted him on the shoulder: "Let's go. Let Shen Yue take you home first. I'll go back later. I'll take you to the station first thing tomorrow morning."

After the two left the small restaurant, Su Yuan couldn't help but ask, "Teacher Zhou, do you think Sun Guoliang is still alive?"

Zhou Peiyuan took a drag of his cigarette, remained silent for half a minute, and then said:

"I don't know... but I hope he lives, not because he's a good person, but because if he dies, there will be one less clue to investigate Han Zhengming."

Shen Yue parked the car at the alley entrance, and Su Yuan got in and glanced at Zhou Peiyuan through the car window.

The light from the cigarette Zhou Peiyuan was smoking by the restaurant door flickered for a moment, and he waved to him.

Back at Zhou Peiyuan's apartment building, Su Yuan went upstairs, and Zhou's assistant, Xiao Meng, opened the door for him. The apartment was dark; he didn't turn on the main light in the living room and went straight into the second bedroom.

He put the toolbox away and took out the bronze mirror, placing it on the bedside table.

After a quick wash, Su Yuan lay down on the bed. His phone screen lit up; it was a message from Zhao Cheng:

"Xiao Su, I'll meet you at Teacher Zhou's house tomorrow morning."

Su Yuan replied with an "okay," placed his phone face down next to his pillow, closed his eyes, and went to sleep.

The next morning at seven o'clock, Su Yuan was woken up by the alarm clock. Zhou Peiyuan was already busy in the kitchen, with porridge cooking in a pot, pickled vegetables being chopped on the cutting board, and two hard-boiled eggs placed next to the stove.

"You're up? Wash up and get ready for dinner," Zhou Peiyuan said without turning his head.

After Su Yuan hummed in agreement and returned from washing up, the two sat facing each other, drinking porridge in silence.

After finishing his porridge, Zhou Peiyuan wiped his mouth and took out a train ticket from his pocket, placing it on the table.

"The high-speed train will arrive at your destination at 10:30. Shen Yue will take you to the station at 8:30. Zhao Cheng will be in the same carriage as you."

Zhou Peiyuan looked at Su Yuan and said, "After you get back, don't rush to the other side of the wall. Take care of what you're doing and get everything ready before you go."

Su Yuan nodded and put the ticket in his pocket.

"And one more thing!" Zhou Peiyuan paused for a moment, "Just keep Sun Guoliang's situation in mind. Your unit should already know about his disappearance."

"Um."

Su Yuan stood up and picked up his toolbox. Zhou Peiyuan saw him to the door. Su Yuan changed his shoes and went out. He turned back to say something, but Zhou Peiyuan waved his hand.

"Go ahead, let me know when you get there."

Su Yuan hummed in agreement and walked downstairs. Zhao Cheng was already waiting at the door. He was carrying a file folder and a backpack. When he saw Su Yuan come out, he nodded.

"Let's go, Shen Yue is waiting."

After the two got into the car, Shen Yue started the car and drove out of the residential area.

Zhao Cheng, sitting in the passenger seat, glanced at Su Yuan in the rearview mirror: "Did you sleep well last night?"

"It's alright." Su Yuan leaned back in the seat. "How about you? Are you getting used to the guesthouse?"

"I'm used to it." Zhao Cheng smiled. "It's just that the food here doesn't smell as good as Aunt Li's cooking at the company cafeteria."

Su Yuan smiled too.

When the car arrived at the high-speed rail station, Shen Yue helped carry the toolbox and luggage to the entrance and said, "Have a safe trip."

Turned around and left.

After passing through security, the two found a seat in the waiting hall. Zhao Cheng sat next to Su Yuan and subtly glanced around at the crowd.

Su Yuan knew he was checking to see if anyone was following them.

After boarding, the two men sat next to each other, with Su Yuan's window seat. He placed his toolbox beside his lap, his phone vibrated, and he took it out to check the temperature.

The message came from Chen Xiaohe: "Su, there's still no news about Sun Guoliang. Director Zhang said the higher-ups are investigating and told us to continue our normal work."

Su Yuan stared at the message for a few seconds and replied only, "Brother Chen, we'll arrive at noon."

Chen Xiaohe replied instantly: "Okay, I'll come pick you up."

Su Yuan smiled, put his phone back in his pocket, and as the train started moving, the scenery outside the window began to rush past. Zhao Cheng pulled a document from his file folder and flipped through it.

"Xiao Su."

"Um?"

"I know about that wall too." Zhao Cheng stared at him. "You should go see it when we get back. I'll go with you."

Su Yuan glanced at him.

"That's what Director Zhang instructed," Zhao Cheng said. "My current mission is to protect you. Wherever you go, I have to go with you."

Su Yuan paused for two seconds, then nodded: "Okay."

At 10:30, the high-speed train arrived on time. Su Yuan, carrying his toolbox, exited the station and immediately spotted Chen Xiaohe. Chen was standing outside the exit, mimicking Su Yuan by holding up a large sheet of paper. Su Yuan couldn't help but laugh!

He grinned when he saw Su Yuan come out.

"Su, over here!"

Chen Xiaohe waved his hand, and Su Yuan walked over: "Brother Chen, what are you doing?"

"I'm picking you up." Chen Xiaohe smiled, crumpled the paper and stuffed it into his pocket, then took Su Yuan's toolbox and saw Zhao Cheng behind him: "Old Zhao."

The three people got into the car, and Chen Xiaohe started the car and drove out of the parking lot.

"What exactly is going on with Sun Guoliang?" Su Yuan wanted to get more details, but Chen Xiaohe shook his head: "I'm not quite sure..."

"What did Director Zhang say?"

"Director Zhang said that the nine departments above are investigating, and told us not to get involved."

Seeing that he didn't know any more details, Su Yuan stopped asking. Chen Xiao suddenly said:

"Su".

"Um?"

"Did something happen to you when you went to the provincial capital?"

Chen Xiaohe glanced at him in the rearview mirror: "You seem a bit different this time."

Su Yuan smiled awkwardly: "It's nothing serious, I'm just tired."

Zhao Cheng, sitting in the passenger seat, glanced at him in the rearview mirror but didn't say a word!