Restoring cultural relics: Starting with the crying Tang Dynasty figurines

Su Yuan snapped out of his reverie and asked, "Brother Zhao, there's something I've been wondering about."

"What is it?"

"Han Zhengming wants the bronze mirror, jade ring, bronze plaque, and Su Zhi's sword that I possess. I have all these things, so why doesn't he make a move?"

"He has connections, subordinates, and influence. If he really wanted to rob something, even with the Ninth Bureau watching him, he wouldn't be without a chance."

Zhao Cheng stopped and thought for a moment: "There are probably two possibilities. First, he's waiting for some opportunity. Second, perhaps he doesn't dare."

"You dare not?"

"Yes. What you have in your hand is more than just an object."

"The bronze mirror reflects Zhong Ming, Miao Deyu, and even the shadow of your Su family ancestor. They don't seem like a threat, but who would believe they pose no threat at all?"

Zhao Cheng said as he walked:

"The jade ring and the spirit-locking bead are a set; they possess a spirit, and not just anyone can use them. As for Su Zhi's sword-making..."

Zhao Cheng paused for a moment: "That thing recognizes its owner. It's not from your Su family. Touching it could cause trouble."

Su Yuan touched the jade ring; it was warm to the touch.

"Han Zhengming must know all this too."

Zhao Cheng continued, "So he's not in a hurry. He's waiting for an opportunity to take all these things away at once, or for a way to break the bond of faith."

"Is this kind of thing even possible to solve?"

Zhao Cheng shook his head:

"I don't know. Your teacher Zhou and Director Gu are investigating. They're looking into who Han Zhengming has been in contact with recently and what connections he's made."

The two reached the stairwell, and Zhao Cheng patted Su Yuan on the shoulder:

"Don't overthink it. Let's resolve the wall issue first. I'll go with you the day after tomorrow, and Director Gu will also send someone."

Su Yuan nodded and went downstairs.

At lunchtime, Chen Xiaohe came over again, carrying his tray and sitting opposite Su Yuan. Qian Weidong also sat down next to Zhao Cheng with his lunchbox, and the four of them squeezed into one table.

"Su, have you seen what happened to the warehouse?"

Chen Xiaohe asked, and Su Yuan, remembering what Zhang Weiyi had said, hesitated and smiled, "I checked, there's nothing seriously wrong."

Chen Xiaohe stared at him for two seconds, then grinned and said, "Okay, if you say it's no problem, then it's no problem. Let's eat."

Qian Weidong remained silent, but Su Yuan noticed that he glanced at him with a look that said, "I know you're hiding something, but I won't expose you."

Su Yuan sighed inwardly. How come these people have all become so cunning?

After finishing his meal, Su Yuan returned to the warehouse.

The clay mold for the stone Buddha statue had dried completely. He lifted the cloth and pressed it down; it was hard enough to be turned into stone.

He took out a piece of stone that resembled the material of the Buddha statue, and, referring to the shape of the clay mold, used a chisel to carve out the general outline.

Then switch to a carving knife and carve stroke by stroke.

When carving the brow bone, repeatedly compare it with the other side until it is completely symmetrical. Next, carve the bridge of the nose, eyes, and lips, making careful adjustments to each part.

It was past three in the afternoon when Su Yuan put down his carving knife. He placed the carved stone next to the clay model and compared it. It was almost identical!

After gluing with epoxy AB glue and securing it in place, the next step is to distress it.

The stone was newly carved, and its color was several shades lighter than the original Buddha statue. Su Yuan brushed it with diluted hydrochloric acid, then coated it with quicklime, repeating this process two or three times until it was done.

The newly repaired face blends seamlessly with the original Buddha statue, restoring the original charm of Tang Dynasty sculptures to its original features in the eyebrows, nose, and lips.

The stone Buddha statue remained silent. Su Yuan smiled as he looked at the restored statue and began to pack up his tools.

After tidying up the tools, cleaning the worktable, and making sure everything was in order, I turned off the warehouse lights and left.

In the hallway, Zhao Cheng was waiting for him. When he came out, he asked, "Is it fixed?"

"Um."

The two went to the cafeteria together, and after dinner, Su Yuan returned to his dormitory. He placed the bronze mirror on the table, and the light inside shone brightly. Su Yuan felt that it had become much brighter.

He lay down on the bed and sent a message to Zhou Peiyuan: "Teacher Zhou, Director Zhang asked me to go to the other side of the wall the day after tomorrow."

Zhou Peiyuan replied quickly: "I understand. Gu Yuanhang will also send two people to accompany you, Shen Yue and Xiao Meng."

Su Yuan replied, "Okay."

He placed his phone beside his pillow, turned over to face the bronze mirror, and asked, "Mr. Zhong, we're going there the day after tomorrow. Is there anything you'd like to say?"

Zhong Ming's shadow slowly emerged, hands behind his back, expression serious: "Yes, be careful of Jiang Weiguo."

Su Yuan sat up: "Jiang Weiguo? What happened to him?"

"This afternoon, he met Han Zhengming in the provincial capital. We saw him in the bronze mirror. Although it took us a lot of effort because of the distance, there was no mistake, it was him."

Su Yuan's heart skipped a beat.

Jiang Weiguo is Han Zhengming's man; Han Zhengming knows this. But Jiang Weiguo met with Han Zhengming in the provincial capital. Could Han Zhengming also be on the other side of that wall?

"Why did he seek out Han Zhengming?"

"I didn't hear anything. I guess he used a gap to isolate them. I only know that the two of them talked for about half an hour, and Jiang Weiguo didn't look well when he came out."

At this moment, Miao Deyu's voice came out:

"Young Su, I think Han Zhengming is making arrangements for something. Jiang Weiguo went to see him, maybe to report something, or maybe to receive a new assignment."

"A new mission?"

"For example, keeping an eye on your movements when you go to the other side of that wall."

Su Yuan felt a jolt in his heart.

That wall is more than two hours' drive from the workplace, and it's quite remote. If Han Zhengming's men were to set up an ambush there...

"Master Zhong, when I go there the day after tomorrow, you two must keep an eye on things for me in the bronze mirror."

"You don't need to tell me. We're old bones, we can't do much else, but we can still keep an eye on people for you."

Su Yuan lay down again, thinking of Sun Guoliang. Did he go in alive, or did he die outside?

The light in the bronze mirror flickered twice. Su Yuan reached out and touched the surface of the mirror, then said softly, "Awu, the day after tomorrow, let's go together..."

The light suddenly flashed brightly, then slowly dimmed, its pulse faster than before.

Su Yuan couldn't help but smile, then closed his eyes and went to sleep.

The next morning, Su Yuan was awakened by the light reflected in the bronze mirror.

This light is not the kind that is dazzling; it is a soft, warm light that can be felt even through the eyelids!

He rubbed his eyes and looked at the bronze mirror next to his pillow.

The light spot slowly rotated in the center of the mirror, unlike its usual jumping around. Instead, it rotated very slowly, increasing in brightness with each rotation.

Su Yuan stared at it with delight for more than ten seconds and noticed that the edge of the light spot was changing!

The originally blurry ball of light began to shrink, and Zhong Ming's shadow appeared out of nowhere, standing with his hands behind his back on the edge of the mirror, watching quietly.

Su Yuan couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Elder Zhong, what's wrong with her...?"

"She's changing it." Zhong Ming's voice was very soft, as if he didn't want to disturb A Wu: "Don't stare at her, let her take her time."

Su Yuan swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue and quietly got out of bed to wash up.

He glanced at himself in the mirror while washing his face. Although his complexion was still not good and he looked tired.

But the corners of his mouth kept turning up involuntarily, and he felt a little more expectant because Ah Wu had changed!