Old Harden, can you handle having your vision-shifting abilities on all the time?

It was already noon when the license plates were issued, and Xu Xing had a simple lunch at a restaurant near the 4S store.

My phone rang right after I finished eating. It was an unfamiliar number from Chang'an.

"Hello, is this Comrade Xu Xing?"

A steady male voice came from the other end of the phone, introducing himself: "I am Li Ming from the Chang'an City National Security Bureau. Regarding the espionage case you reported last week, the preliminary investigation has been completed."

According to relevant regulations, you will receive a reward of 500,000 yuan for reporting this crime. Would it be convenient for you to come to the Gulou District Public Security Bureau now to complete the necessary procedures?

Xu Xing put down his chopsticks and said, "That's convenient, I happen to be in Chang'an."

"Okay, once you arrive, please go directly to office 305 on the third floor to find me."

"Okay, I'll be there in about half an hour."

After hanging up the phone, Xu Xing immediately turned on the navigation, went outside, and got into his car.

Looking up, the U8L quietly drove into the traffic. Xu Xing held the steering wheel with one hand and gently tapped the center armrest with the other.

Five hundred thousand is not a huge sum for him now, but it represents the country's recognition of his actions, which carries a different meaning.

The Gulou District Public Security Bureau is an old building, but the interior is clean and solemn. After parking the car, I went up to the third floor and found office 305.

I knocked on the door and went in. A man in his early forties, wearing a police uniform but no police hat, got up to greet me.

"Are you Comrade Xu Xing? I am Li Ming."

He extended his hand, smiling sincerely, and said, "Thank you for your contributions to national security."

Xu Xing shook hands with him and said, "Officer Li, you're too kind. This is what every citizen should do."

"That's true, but there aren't many people as perceptive and decisive as you."

Li Ming invited Xu Xing to sit down, picked up a stack of documents from his desk, and explained, "According to the assessment, you will receive a reward of 500,000 yuan for the clues you provided. This money is tax-free."

"Just sign your name and date here, and fill in your bank card number here."

Xu Xing signed as instructed.

"The bonus will be directly deposited into the bank card you provided earlier, and will arrive within three business days."

Li Ming put away the documents and smiled, "Also, an old comrade from a classified unit heard about your situation and specifically asked to thank you in person. If you're not in a hurry, he should be here soon."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a knock sounded on the door.

"Please come in."

The door was pushed open and an elderly man, well over sixty years old, walked in.

He wore a simple Zhongshan suit, his hair was completely white but neatly combed, and he wore a pair of reading glasses. He was in good spirits and walked with his back straight.

"Mr. Zhou, you've arrived."

Li Ming immediately stood up.

The old man waved his hand, his gaze falling on Xu Xing. He looked him up and down, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

"You must be Comrade Xu Xing?"

The old man's voice was loud and clear, with a gentle quality characteristic of a scholar.

Xu Xing had already stood up and nodded, saying, "I am Xu Xing, hello sir."

"Sit down, everyone sit down."

The old man sat down in the chair opposite Xu Xing, looked at him, and said with emotion, "We owe you a lot this time. Some of the research data that scoundrel stole involved the restoration results of glazes from the Ming Dynasty imperial kilns. If it were to leak out, the losses would be enormous."

Xu Xing solemnly replied, "I only did what I was supposed to do."

"What needs to be done, not everyone can do."

The old man shook his head and asked again, "I heard from Xiao Li that you used to work at the Jingyang County Museum?"

"Yes, I'm a cultural relic restorer, and I've been doing it for over twenty years."

"Cultural relic restoration..."

The old man asked thoughtfully, "Which specific direction?"

"I mainly do porcelain restoration, but I've also worked in other areas."

The old man's eyes lit up: "Porcelain restoration? Then you can do it now..."

"I recently changed jobs and am now in the porcelain group at the Chengxinzhai Restoration Center."

"Chengxinzhai? That kid Wang Benquan's company?"

The old man smiled and said, "Then we can really be considered half colleagues. My name is Zhou Zhihai. I've spent my whole life working on porcelain research. I have a nominal position at the Palace Museum and the National Museum of China."

Xu Xing's heart skipped a beat.

Zhou Zhihai!

This name is renowned throughout the Chinese porcelain industry.

He is a leading figure in the field of ceramic archaeology and cultural relic restoration in China. He has presided over many major archaeological excavations and restored many lost ancient porcelain-making techniques.

His name is listed at the top of the expert registers of the Palace Museum and the National Museum of China.

"It's actually Elder Zhou! I've heard so much about you!"

"It's all just empty fame."

Zhou Zhihai waved his hand, but the smile in his eyes deepened.

He pulled out a plain white business card from his pocket, which only had a line of handwritten numbers and the character "Zhou" on it.

"This is my private number."

He handed his business card to Xu Xing and said, "If you encounter any difficulties or have any ideas about porcelain restoration, feel free to call me anytime."

"I've been in this line of work for so many years, I've got some experience."

Xu Xing accepted the business card with both hands and solemnly put it inside his wallet.

"Thank you, Professor Zhou. I will definitely ask you for your guidance if I have any questions in the future."

"Good, it's a good thing that young people are willing to learn."

Zhou Zhihai stood up and said, "I have a meeting today, so I'll be leaving now. Comrade Xu Xing, let's keep in touch when we have time."

"Take care, Mr. Zhou."

After seeing Zhou Zhihai off, Xu Xing also bid farewell to Li Ming.

He went downstairs, got into his car, took out the business card, looked at it again, and carefully put it away. Zhou Zhihai was a true titan, and it would be good for him to stay in touch.

……

For the next three days, Xu Xing and Li Yuting chatted enthusiastically on Fetion.

The girl was full of energy, constantly sending messages from morning till night, sharing funny stories from class, complaining about the cafeteria food, and sending her a new sketch asking Xu Xing what he was doing.

Xu Xing didn't find it annoying at all; on the contrary, he found it interesting and replied to each message seriously.

"Brother Xu, our department is having a sketching exhibition next month, and my work has been selected. Would you like to come and see it?"

"Of course I'll go. Send me the time and place."

"Hehe, then I'll introduce you to all my classmates!"

"Aren't you afraid I'll embarrass you?"

"How could that be! You're so amazing, all my classmates are so envious of me!"

Xu Xing looked at the happy emoji on the screen, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.

On the morning of the third day, Xu Xing was reading a professional book about Ming Dynasty glaze formulas in his apartment when Wang Benquan called.

"Xu Gong, how was your rest?"

Wang Benquan's voice sounded somewhat tired.

Xu Xing closed the book and said, "That's great, Mr. Wang. I'm preparing to return to the center tomorrow to start that project."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.

"XCMG, there's something I need to discuss with you."

Wang Benquan sighed and said, "Something went wrong with the double-dragon-eared vase."

Xu Xing sat up straight: "Please speak."

"My elder relative, the owner of the bottle, has a niece who somehow invited a master from a porcelain research institute to repair this thing."

That woman was very persuasive and managed to convince my elder; now his attitude is wavering.

Xu Xing frowned.

"That expert will be accompanying my elder to the restoration center this afternoon, along with my niece."

They want to see the situation in person, so we might need XCMG, your personal involvement. Let's work together to try and get it done.

Wang Benquan added apologetically, "I didn't handle this well, and I'm sorry that you, Xu Gong, were wronged."