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

Xu Xing's face darkened.

To steal a piece of life.

This is a major taboo in any industry.

Moreover, it's an S-level project, involving tens of millions of cultural relics and around 20 million in commissions.

The other party knew that Chengxinzhai had already taken on the project and appointed a restorer, yet they still interfered. This was not only stealing business but also a provocation against his professional abilities.

"Mr. Wang, I understand."

Xu Xing's voice was calm, but it carried a hint of coldness. "I'll go over after I finish lunch."

"Okay, I'll wait for you at the center."

After hanging up the phone, Xu Xing's eyes became extremely sharp. Since someone was putting their face in his own, he didn't mind slapping them a couple of times.

At 1:30 p.m. sharp, Xu Xing entered the Chengxinzhai Restoration Center.

Chen Ming, Liu Zhen, Zhao Fang, and Sun Hao were all in the porcelain group's workshop.

Chen Ming was the first to greet Xu Xing as he entered.

"XCMG is here! How was your rest? Are you about to start that S-level mega-project?"

He asked with a smile, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Xu Xing didn't smile, but frowned and said, "There's been a problem with the project."

"The owner's niece hired an expert from the porcelain research institute to try and steal the prize. They came over with the owner this afternoon to check on the situation."

Xu Xing's words were concise, but everyone understood them.

Holy crap!

Sun Hao was the first to jump up, cursing, "Damn it! This isn't the rule! The project's already decided, how can you change people at the last minute?"

Zhao Fang frowned and said, "Isn't this blatant job-stealing? It's so unethical!"

Even Liu Zhen, who hadn't gotten along with Xu Xing before, couldn't help but retort, "Just because you're from the research institute doesn't mean you're so great! Does that mean you can just take food from other people's bowls? I'm on your side in this matter, Xu Gong!"

Chen Ming, as the team leader, had the worst expression.

This concerns not only Xu Xing personally, but also the reputation and interests of the entire porcelain group.

"Don't worry, Mr. X, our porcelain team supports you. What's Mr. Wang's intention?"

"President Wang asked me to come over so we can work together to try and win him over."

Xu Xing looked at Chen Ming and said, "Team Leader Chen and everyone else, I'm afraid we'll have to trouble you all later."

Chen Ming nodded emphatically, "Of course!"

A moment later, footsteps and Wang Benquan's voice could be heard outside.

"Uncle, Xu Gong and the others should be at the workshop by now."

The door was pushed open and Wang Benquan walked in first, followed by three people.

One of them was an elderly man with gray hair, who should be the owner of the treasure and Professor Feng's lover.

He was wearing a gray jacket and looked somewhat uneasy.

Beside the old man was a woman in her early forties, dressed elegantly with curly hair and glamorous makeup. She carried a designer handbag, her chin slightly raised, her eyes filled with scrutiny and barely perceptible contempt.

This is my niece.

Standing to the side and behind the woman was a man in his forties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, a well-pressed shirt and trousers, with a briefcase tucked under his arm and a reserved expression.

His gaze swept across the studio with a condescending scrutiny.

It must be that expert from the research institute.

"XCMG, Team Leader Chen, everyone is here."

Wang Benquan forced a smile and stepped aside to introduce them: "This is my elder, Shen Congnian; this is Shen's niece, Qin Wei; and this is Zheng Guodong, an expert from the Porcelain Research Institute."

He then introduced the three men to Mr. Shen: "This is Mr. Chen Ming, the head of our Chengxinzhai porcelain group."

This is Xu Xing, the restorer of the Yongzheng Yuhuchun vase. These are all key restorers in our porcelain group.

Old Shen nodded to Xu Xing, his eyes showing a hint of embarrassment and doubt.

Qin Wei scoffed, her gaze sweeping over Xu Xing, lingering for a moment on his overly youthful face.

He said sarcastically, "Mr. Wang, is this Mr. Xu you're talking about? He doesn't look like he has decades of repair experience, even though he's not very old."

She paused, then said, "Uncle, if you ask me, for such a big project as restoring cultural relics, you should find a professional like Engineer Zheng. Some self-taught people occasionally get lucky and fix something, and then they dare to call themselves experts. This kind of hype is quite common in the industry."

Her words were extremely sharp, directly accusing Xu Xing of fabricating a thin resume and claiming that the rapid pace of his restoration was a publicity stunt.

Wang Benquan's face darkened, and he rebuked her, "Xiao Wei can't just say things like that. I've personally verified XCMG's technology, and the repair results have undergone rigorous evaluation."

"Evaluate?"

Qin Wei said dismissively, "Isn't the evaluation of our own company just a matter of your word? Repair a Yongzheng celadon Yuhuchun vase in three days? Mr. Wang, do you even believe that yourself? Engineer Zheng, what do you say?"

Zheng Guodong, who had been silent until now, gently pushed up his glasses and said calmly:

"Reproducing the 'sky blue after rain' glaze from Yongzheng imperial kilns is a well-known challenge. Having studied under my teacher for many years, I am well aware of the difficulties involved."

It would be impossible to complete the restoration of a damaged artifact in less than three to five months, from testing, analysis, and planning to repeated glaze tests, firing, and finally actual repair.

Three days…

He shook his head and didn't say anything more, but the disdain in that sigh was more lethal than any words.

"you!"

Chen Ming's face turned ashen with anger, and he said in a low voice, "Engineer Zheng, you're an expert at the research institute; you should know there are rules in this industry. We've already taken on the project, what kind of nonsense is this, barging in like this?"

Zheng Guodong frowned and glanced at Chen Ming, saying in a cold tone, "What I'm doing isn't stealing, it's exposing a fake. Restoring the celadon glaze in three days is a speed that even my teacher, Professor Zhou Zhihai, couldn't achieve personally."

Anyone with a modicum of common sense wouldn't believe such outrageous claims. I just don't want Mr. Shen's beloved possessions to be ruined by some charlatans.

"You're talking nonsense!"

Sun Hao, young and hot-blooded, blurted out, "We witnessed Xu Gong repairing the Yuhuchun vase with our own eyes the whole time!"

Just because you can't do it doesn't mean others can't. Just because you're incompetent doesn't mean you can't stand seeing others succeed.

"that is!"

Zhao Fang couldn't help but chime in, "We in the porcelain group all admire Xu Gong's craftsmanship. What gives you the right to criticize us?"

Seeing the porcelain group's excited atmosphere, Qin Wei became even more emboldened, clicking her tongue in provocation: "Getting anxious! That's what you call birds of a feather! Uncle, don't be fooled by them!"

Old Shen was caught in the middle and had a difficult time, but at the same time, he couldn't help but feel that Xu Xing's abilities were probably exaggerated.

It's truly unbelievable that it takes at least three days to repair a celadon porcelain piece with a celadon glaze.

He looked at Wang Benquan and stammered, "Benquan, this..."

Wang Benquan's face was ashen. He was furious at Qin Wei and Zheng Guodong's rudeness, but he couldn't vent his frustration because of his elders' feelings.

Just then, Xu Xing, who had been silent all along, raised his hand to stop Sun Hao, who was about to speak.

He looked calmly at Zheng Guodong, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger: "Engineer Zheng, I heard you're a disciple of Elder Zhou Zhihai?"

Zheng Guodong was taken aback, not expecting Xu Xing to ask this question suddenly, and then a hint of arrogance appeared on his face.

He said, "That's right, my teacher is Professor Zhou. His achievements in the field of porcelain are obvious to all. Although the celadon glaze is difficult to make, with my teacher's guidance and three to five months of time, it can be completely restored."

As for those absurd, quick-fix myths, it's best to avoid dredging them up and making ourselves a laughingstock.

He deliberately emphasized the phrase "myth of instant success".

Xu Xing nodded and stopped looking at him, instead taking out his wallet from his pocket and pulling out the plain white business card.

Then, to everyone's astonishment, he dialed the number on the business card and put it on speakerphone.

"Beep...beep..."

After a few rings, the phone was answered, and Zhou Zhihai's loud voice came through: "Hey? Who is this?"