122: Chapter 122 I Also Want to Learn Porcelain Repair

She looked at the fragments next to the thin-walled bowl.

"Anything that can be fixed, will be fixed,"

Hu Tian set down his pen. "As for what can't be fixed, keeping it serves as a reference."

Cousin Zhang Fei straightened up and glanced around the workshop. "Sister Waner has already gone to sleep. She asked me to tell you that you probably have no idea what time it is."

Hu Tian glanced at the watch on the workbench.

It was 10:40 PM.

He really hadn't noticed; between restoring porcelain and organizing fragments, the whole afternoon had slipped away.

"Understood,"

Hu Tian placed the notebook on the table. "Aren't you going to sleep?"

Cousin Zhang Fei giggled. "Since the college entrance exam ended, I've been staying up until past midnight. I'm not sleepy yet."

As she spoke, she pulled a phone from her pocket and handed it to Hu Tian. "By the way, Cousin, here's your phone."

Hu Tian took it and pressed the power button, but the screen didn't react.

The battery was dead; it had shut down.

He gave Cousin Zhang Fei a look.

Cousin Zhang Fei stuck out her tongue. "I was chatting with Sister Waner and forgot to check the battery."

Hu Tian didn't say anything and set the phone aside.

Cousin Zhang Fei turned her attention to the porcelain on the workbench. "Cousin, did you collect all of these?"

"Mm."

Cousin Zhang Fei leaned in to take a look. The notebook was densely packed with writing and many hand-drawn diagrams. After looking for a while, she couldn't understand much. "Cousin, your handwriting is too messy; it looks like ghost talismans."

Hu Tian glanced at her. "If you can't understand it, don't look."

Cousin Zhang Fei gave a cheeky grin. "Cousin, can you teach me? I also want to learn porcelain restoration."

"You?"

Hu Tian sized her up. "Do you have the patience for that?"

"I do!"

Cousin Zhang Fei patted her chest in assurance. "I have plenty of patience. Before the entrance exams, I did practice problems until midnight every day and never complained about being tired."

"Solving problems and restoring porcelain are different,"

Hu Tian shook his head. "Restoring porcelain requires more than just patience; it requires intuition and the ability to calm your mind. You have to sit for hours at a time, sometimes testing a single detail dozens of times. Can you handle that?"

Cousin Zhang Fei thought about it, looking a bit hesitant. "Then... I should be able to, right?"

" 'Should be' means you're not sure,"

Hu Tian closed the notebook. "Talk to me when you are sure."

Cousin Zhang Fei pouted, looking a bit indignant. "Cousin, you just don't want to teach me."

"It's not that I don't want to teach you, it's that you're not suited to learn right now,"

Hu Tian stood up and stretched his neck. "You just finished the entrance exams; this is the time to relax. Learning this is too tedious and doesn't suit you. Besides, aren't you in the Journalism and Communication Department? Why the sudden interest in porcelain restoration?" Cousin Zhang Fei giggled and sat down in the chair by the workbench. "Sister Waner told me."

"Wan'er?"

"Yeah,"

Cousin Zhang Fei rested her chin on her hands, her eyes sparkling. "Sister Waner told me that you're incredibly skilled at restoring porcelain. Even pieces broken beyond recognition turn into complete treasures in your hands. She said when you're restoring porcelain, you're so focused that you radiate a unique charm."

Hu Tian's movements paused for a moment.

Wan'er actually said that about him?

Cousin Zhang Fei continued, "Sister Waner even showed me a few photos of porcelain you've restored. My god, they were so beautiful, especially that Blue and White Porcelain Vase—it was breathtakingly gorgeous. Sister Waner said that vase was originally in dozens of pieces and you put it back together bit by bit. At the time, I thought, wow, that's just too cool!"

As she spoke, she stood up from the chair and walked over to Hu Tian's side. "Cousin, do you know? Our generation has been surrounded by electronic products since childhood. Everything is fast-paced—scrolling through videos, playing games, chatting—it's all fragmented. But restoring porcelain is different. It requires you to settle your mind and do it bit by bit, to feel the beauty settled by time. I think that feeling is wonderful and very meaningful."

Hu Tian glanced at her. "What you're saying actually makes quite a bit of sense."

"Of course,"

Cousin Zhang Fei raised her chin proudly. "I'm someone who's going to be a journalist. My observation and expression skills are top-notch."

"Since you're going to be a journalist, you should focus your energy on your major,"

Hu Tian packed up his tools and put them into the toolbox. "Porcelain restoration is something you can learn about as a hobby, but there's no need to study it deeply."

"Why?"

Cousin Zhang Fei asked defiantly, "Cousin, do you think I can't learn it?"

"It's not a matter of whether you can learn it,"

Hu Tian turned around and looked at her. "It's a matter of time and energy. Porcelain restoration is a deep field of study that can't be learned in a few days; it requires long-term accumulation and practice. You're about to start university, and those four years are the most important stage of your life. You should spend your time and energy on your major studies rather than spreading yourself thin."

Cousin Zhang Fei bit her lip. "But... I just want to learn."

"You can learn, but not now,"

Hu Tian's tone softened slightly. "After you graduate from university, if you're still interested, I can teach you."

Cousin Zhang Fei's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Really,"

Hu Tian nodded. "But the prerequisite is that you do well in university and build a solid foundation in your major."

"Deal!"

Cousin Zhang Fei immediately agreed. "Cousin, keep your word. Once I graduate, you have to teach me."

"Mm."

Hu Tian gave a brief response and turned off the light on the workbench. "Alright, it's late. Go to sleep."

"Oh,"

Cousin Zhang Fei took a lingering look at the porcelain on the workbench. "Then you should get some rest too, Cousin."

"I know."

Cousin Zhang Fei reached the door but suddenly turned back. "By the way, Cousin, Sister Waner also said you can not only fix porcelain but also appraise antiques. Is that true?"

"You could say that."

"Then can you teach me how to appraise antiques?"

Cousin Zhang Fei's eyes lit up again. "I think this would help me as a journalist too. If I ever have to do a report on antique culture, it would come in handy."

Hu Tian looked at her expectant gaze and remained silent for a few seconds. "Do you really want to learn?"

"I do!"

Cousin Zhang Fei nodded vigorously.

"Fine then,"

Hu Tian thought for a moment. "Tomorrow I'll take you to the Antique Market to show you what antique appraisal is really like."

"That's great!"

Cousin Zhang Fei almost jumped for joy. "Cousin, you're the best!"

"Don't get excited too early,"

Hu Tian warned. "The waters in the Antique Market are very deep. Don't go getting scammed when the time comes."

"With you there, Cousin, what do I have to fear?"

Cousin Zhang Fei said with a grin. "Cousin, what time are we leaving tomorrow?"

"Nine in the morning."

"Okay, I'm going to sleep now. See you tomorrow!"

With that, Cousin Zhang Fei skipped out of the workshop.

Hu Tian watched her retreating back and shook his head.

This girl really was full of energy.

He closed the workshop door, returned to the workbench, and looked at the porcelain fragments once more.

Today's work was mostly done; he would continue the rest tomorrow.

Hu Tian stretched, feeling aches in his shoulders and neck.

Working in the same posture all afternoon and evening was indeed taking a toll on his body.

He walked out of the workshop and went upstairs to his bedroom.

The room was very quiet, with only the occasional sound of insects outside the window.

Hu Tian walked to the window and pushed it open. A night breeze blew in, carrying the cool air of early summer.

He took a deep breath and felt his whole body relax significantly.

He had indeed been too busy lately; since discovering the Treasure Hunting Radar, he had hardly had a good rest.

But thinking of the treasures he had acquired, Hu Tian felt it was all worth it.

He turned to the bedside, picked up the charger, and plugged in his phone.

The phone screen lit up, showing that it was charging.

Hu Tian glanced at the time: exactly midnight.

He lay on the bed and closed his eyes, but the images of those porcelain fragments involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

Every fragment had its unique patterns and colors. To piece them together perfectly required immense patience and care.

But that was precisely the charm of porcelain restoration.

When you restore a broken piece of porcelain to completion and watch it regain its luster, the sense of accomplishment is beyond words.

As Hu Tian thought, he gradually drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Hu Tian was woken up by a knock on the door.

"Cousin, wake up!"

It was his cousin Cousin Zhang Fei's voice.

Hu Tian opened his eyes and checked his phone: 8:30 AM.

He rubbed his eyes and sat up. "Understood."

"Cousin, hurry up! Didn't we agree to leave at nine?"

"I know."

Hu Tian replied, got out of bed, and washed up.

By the time he finished getting ready and went downstairs, Cousin Zhang Fei was already waiting in the living room.

Today she wore a white T-shirt and denim shorts, with her hair tied in a ponytail, looking youthful and energetic.

"Cousin, you're finally down,"

Cousin Zhang Fei stood up immediately upon seeing Hu Tian. "Breakfast is ready. Let's eat quickly and head out."

"No rush,"

Hu Tian walked to the dining room. Seeing the lavish breakfast spread on the table, a wave of warmth rose in his heart.

After the two finished breakfast, Hu Tian and Cousin Zhang Fei drove to Binhai City Antique Street.

Antique Street was a famous market for antiques and second-hand goods in Binhai City.

It gathered dozens of antique shops of all sizes, along with an open-air street that ran from east to west, where many vendors set up stalls every weekend.

Today was Saturday, and the Antique Market was teeming with people, bustling with activity.

Hu Tian parked the car in a nearby parking lot, and the two walked into the Antique Street market.

"Wow, so many people,"

Cousin Zhang Fei said excitedly, looking at the bustling crowd. "Cousin, is it always this lively here?"

"There are more people on weekends,"

Hu Tian said. "It's a bit quieter on weekdays, but never deserted."

They walked along Antique Street, with the shops and stalls on both sides filled with various items.

Porcelain, jade, calligraphy and paintings, bronzeware, woodwork—everything was there.

Cousin Zhang Fei looked around curiously, finding everything fresh and new.

"Cousin, are these things real?"

She pointed to the porcelain in a street-side shop and asked.

"There's a mix of real and fake,"

Hu Tian said calmly. "That's how the Antique Market is. Real and fake are intertwined; it all depends on your eye."

"Then how do you tell the difference?"

"That's where the knowledge comes in,"

Hu Tian stopped and looked at the porcelain on a stall. "Come, I'll show you."

The two stepped forward. Hu Tian casually picked up a Blue and White Porcelain Bowl, turned it over to check the bottom, and then put it back.