Chapter 99: Restoring Artifacts

Chapter 99: Chapter 99: Restoring Artifacts

He waited until the bus had turned the corner before turning and walking back toward the base.

Shen Songyao’s business was going better and better. After setting up her stall in the morning, she could make at least thirty to forty yuan.

On days with a lot of customers, she could even make a few extra dimes on top of that.

Of course, it was hard to make much more than that. After all, she was only selling small odds and ends like needles, thread, buttons, and hairpins.

After packing up her stall, she headed straight for a newsstand. A brief chat was all it took to strike a deal with the woman running it.

Three yuan a month to store her things there, and she could pick them up anytime.

After stashing her belongings and grabbing a quick, hot meal, Shen Songyao followed the address Director Han had written and found her way to the museum’s main entrance.

At this time of day, outsiders had to buy a ticket to get in, so Shen Songyao had no choice but to find a staff member and ask with a smile.

"Hello! My name is Shen Songyao. Director Han asked me to come and repair something. Could you please let him know I’m here?"

The staffer glanced at her.

’Can a girl this young really restore artifacts?’

Shen Songyao immediately pulled a slip of paper from her cloth bag.

"Here, this is the address Director Han wrote himself. You can see his handwriting!"

"If you’re not sure, you can take this and ask him yourself. It’ll clear things up!"

The man stared at the note for a few seconds, then squinted at Shen Songyao before finally nodding.

"Wait right here. Don’t move."

He gave her another couple of looks before turning away.

Shen Songyao immediately agreed.

"You got it!"

She sighed internally. ’Life is so inconvenient without a cell phone!’

’Nowadays, this would be settled with a quick phone call.’

More than one person at the entrance was staring at her. As soon as one walked away, another would take their place.

Shen Songyao simply stood up straight, completely unfazed.

Fortunately, she only had to wait a few minutes before she saw Director Han hurrying over, shouting as he ran.

"Xiao Shen! You’re here, Xiao Shen!"

Shen Songyao immediately looked up, got on her tiptoes, and waved enthusiastically.

"Director Han! Over here!"

As soon as he reached her, Director Han caught his breath. The first thing he said was,

"This is all my fault! I was so focused on writing down the address that I completely forgot to notify the front gate. I’m so sorry for making you stand here and wait..."

Shen Songyao quickly waved her hands dismissively.

"It’s not your fault at all! I never told you exactly when I’d be arriving. Besides, I only waited a few minutes. It was no trouble at all!"

Hearing this, Director Han’s expression relaxed considerably, and he turned to lead Shen Songyao inside.

When they entered the office, two middle-aged men were already sitting inside.

Hearing footsteps, they both looked up toward the door at the same time.

Director Han introduced them with a smile.

"This is Director Zhang."

He had barely finished speaking when he gestured to the man on the right.

"And this is Director Yu."

Shen Songyao nodded to each of them in greeting.

"Hello, Director Zhang. Hello, Director Yu."

Director Han then asked casually.

"Xiao Shen, have you eaten?"

Shen Songyao nodded.

"I just finished. A nice, hot meal. I feel great!"

Hearing that, Director Han clapped his hands decisively.

"Then let’s not waste any more time! The museum has all the tools you’ll need. Are you ready to start whenever?"

Shen Songyao agreed without hesitation.

"Let’s get right to it!"

Director Yu personally brought in materials like copper wire and gold foil.

Director Zhang followed, carefully carrying a tray with two pieces of jewelry.

Shen Songyao took the items and examined them. The filigree was delicate, but the lines lacked definition, and the joints were slightly coarse.

’This level of craftsmanship, at best, is something an ordinary family might keep as an heirloom. It’s a far cry from being display-case quality.’

’As for the period...’

She pinched an earring, turning it over in her fingers, and said without thinking.

"This looks like the work of a folk craftsman from the late Qing or early Republican period. It’s not imperial."

The moment she spoke, all three men looked up, their eyes wide with surprise.

"Xiao Shen, you can even tell what period it’s from?"

Shen Songyao gently placed the pieces back on the tray.

"Mhm. The techniques from each dynasty are different. It’s like how everyone’s handwriting has a unique style; craftsmanship has its own ’hand’ as well."

Director Han’s heart skipped a beat.

’This girl is the real deal!’

"You’ve probably figured it out already. These two aren’t the pieces we actually need you to work on."

He looked a little sheepish.

"Xiao Shen, please don’t take it personally. We were just being cautious..."

Before he could finish, Shen Songyao waved her hand.

"I get it, I get it. We’re talking about precious artifacts. It’s always smart to be careful."

Hearing her say that, Director Han’s eyes welled up with emotion.

"Xiao Shen, thank you so much for being so understanding!"

Shen Songyao didn’t want to dwell on it and simply rolled up her sleeves.

"Enough with the pleasantries. Let’s get to work!"

"Right, right! To work, to work!"

The two small pieces of jewelry had only minor flaws. Shen Songyao put her head down and worked for a couple of hours, and the job was finished.

"All done! Director Han, everyone, come take a look!"

The three men gathered around, examining the pieces with a magnifying glass from every angle for a long time before nodding in unison.

"You really can’t tell they’ve been repaired."

Director Han’s face was filled with admiration.

"Xiao Shen, I’m impressed! You’ve got some serious skills!"

With that, he signaled for the other two directors to bring in the other items.

Three of their most prized treasures: a garlic-head gold vase with a coiling dragon, a gem-encrusted golden phoenix hairpin, and a gilt choker with kingfisher feather inlay.

"These are the three, Xiao Shen."

Director Han gestured to them.

Shen Songyao finally snapped out of her daze.

’Wow, they’re beautiful!’

"Xiao Shen, could you give us an estimate? How long will it take to repair these three pieces?"

She examined each one by hand.

The golden phoenix hairpin and the choker were the most heavily damaged.

The gold vase wasn’t in much better shape; the whiskers on the dragon’s head were bent, and part of a claw was missing.

Shen Songyao thought for a moment.

"If I have all the necessary materials, each piece should take about half a day."

"The gold vase and the choker will be quicker; the phoenix hairpin will take a little longer."

Director Han said at once.

"Tell me what materials you need, and I’ll have someone get them ready immediately!"

Shen Songyao asked for a pen and paper and quickly scribbled down a list.

Director Han glanced at the list and frowned.

"Some of these will have to go through an official request process. It might take a couple of days."

Shen Songyao nodded.

"That’s fine. Once everything’s arrived, you can just find me at my stall."

Director Han asked offhandedly.

"You won’t suddenly move to a different spot one day, will you?"

Shen Songyao gave a wry smile.

"I can’t really make any promises. If someone shoos me away, I’ll have no choice but to pack up and go."

Hearing this, Director Han slapped his forehead.

"Oh, that’s an easy fix!"

"I’ll have a word with the people who manage this area. You can set up your stall with peace of mind. No one will bother you."

"Really?"

Shen Songyao’s eyes lit up instantly.

Director Han chuckled and nodded.

"Of course! You’re taking on such a huge task for me. A small favor like this is the least I can do."

Shen Songyao waved her hands frantically.

"No, no, no, that’s not a small matter at all! For me, this is a huge deal!"

And because it was such a big deal, when Shen Songyao was about to leave, Director Han tried to press the payment for the two jewelry pieces on her, but she adamantly refused to take it.

That evening, Li Hanchen and Shen Songyao were suddenly the only two left in the room.

The space wasn’t large, but the atmosphere shifted instantly.

How had it changed?

Shen Songyao couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

Her heart skipped a beat.

’Here’s my chance!’

"Honey~"

she cooed, her voice turning sweet.

A shiver ran down Li Hanchen’s spine, and he nearly lost his footing.

"I’ll do the dishes."

His throat was a bit dry, and it took him a couple of seconds to force out the words.

Shen Songyao nodded like a chicken pecking at rice.

"Mhm, then I’ll go take a shower!"

Li Hanchen: "..."

’Who said anything about you taking a shower?’

But he swallowed the words before they could leave his mouth.

Instead, his hands moved even faster, and he finished cleaning up in a flash.

Drying her hair, Shen Songyao walked into the bedroom and flopped onto the bed, waiting for the fish to take the bait.