Test

"Skipping class again?" Professor Wang glanced sideways at Gu Ming, holding a small piece of jade in his hand.

Gu Ming, smiling, walked over to both Zheng Boss and Professor Wang. She first nodded to Zheng Boss and then answered, "I don't have class this morning."

"Oh," Professor Wang responded, not saying anything further, continuing to fondle the jade piece in his hand.

Zheng Boss, finding the situation amusing, glanced between the two of them and joked, "What happened? I step out for a moment, and you two start acting all awkward?"

"There's nothing awkward, just idle chatter," Professor Wang replied with a smile. He and Zheng Boss had known each other for many years, so he wasn't bothered by this teasing.

"Gu Ming, did you upset old Wang?" Zheng Boss ignored Professor Wang's remark and turned to Gu Ming.

Gu Ming secretly glanced at Professor Wang. Seeing his casual demeanor, she couldn't help but give a bitter smile. It was clear that Professor Wang had long known what she was up to and was simply waiting for her to admit it.

"Professor Wang, I heard you're going to assist in cultural relics salvage, and that you'll select some students to join. How do you think I'd fare?" Instead of trying to hide her intentions from someone who had already figured it out, she decided to be straightforward.

The moment she spoke, Professor Wang looked up.

"I thought you would have kept quiet about it until now!" Professor Wang gestured for her to come closer and pointed to the jade piece in his hand. "Take a look at this."

Gu Ming's eyes lit up. Since Professor Wang didn't outright refuse her, this must be a good sign.

She obediently moved forward, taking the jade from his hand. With her left hand, she casually stroked its surface. She immediately felt a slight warmth in her palm, but no voice or sense of joy came from her heart.

This piece of jade was a genuine item, but it wasn't very old, and it had little value. The term "genuine" here meant that the material of the jade was real, not a resin or quartz imitation.

If it had been just an ordinary jade piece, that would have been fine. Modern jade items were abundant. However, based on the engraving and design, this piece seemed to belong to the Yuan Dynasty.

After careful inspection, it was clear that this piece was a modern reproduction of a Yuan Dynasty jade item.

Gu Ming knew that Professor Wang was testing her, so after realizing that the piece was a recent reproduction, she examined it carefully.

She understood that Professor Wang's "look at it" was not just about determining if it was real or fake; she also had to explain why she came to that conclusion.

"You've got one minute. Give me your opinion," Professor Wang said, starting his timer, as if in class.

Gu Ming gave him a reproachful glance. In class, the one-minute rule was for efficiency, but now that they were outside, it still felt a bit ruthless.

"As for the cultural relic salvage..." Professor Wang prolonged his voice.

Gu Ming quickly composed herself and began speaking, "This piece features a motif of sea buckthorn attacking a swan, which was commonly used during the Yuan Dynasty. It's rare in the Ming Dynasty but reappears in the Qing Dynasty."

Professor Wang nodded, acknowledging her observation.

"Sea buckthorn is a small but fierce bird, much like a kestrel, that often swoops down from great heights to capture a flying swan. The motif symbolizes the small overcoming the big, the weak defeating the strong, which fits the spirit of the Northern nomadic tribes. Based on this, it looks like a Yuan Dynasty jade piece. But upon closer inspection, it is not a true Yuan Dynasty artifact; it is a modern reproduction."

Gu Ming spoke confidently about the piece, analyzing its features.

"This jade piece appears very smooth and polished, giving the impression of age, yet when we examine the craftsmanship, particularly the engraving, the lines are stiff and unnatural. The sharp corners are rough, and the straight lines are uneven. These are not typical features of ancient jade crafting. Therefore, I can only conclude that it is a modern reproduction."

Clap clap clap...

Before Professor Wang could say anything, Zheng Boss clapped his hands in applause. "This jade piece was sourced from a friend of mine. Old Wang has already seen it, and indeed, it's a modern reproduction. It's been some time since I last saw you, Little Gu, but your skills have certainly deepened. Old Wang, you've got a good student here!"

"Just average," Professor Wang finally gave Gu Ming a smile.

"It's all thanks to Professor Wang's great teaching," Gu Ming thought to herself, relieved.

Had it not been for the papers Professor Wang assigned her on jade items recently, she wouldn't have been able to identify the reproduction and explain her reasoning so confidently.

"Alright, no need for compliments. You can come with me this time. Since your internship is coming up and there aren't many important classes left," Professor Wang said with a smile.

"Really?" Gu Ming was thrilled. She hadn't expected it to be so easy to secure a spot. She knew many people had worked hard for this opportunity, but here she was, getting in without much effort. This was called having connections—after all, her relationship with Professor Wang was much closer than most.

"Go, there's no need to ask so many questions," Professor Wang shot her a playful look.

"Thank you, Professor Wang! Thank you so much!" Gu Ming bowed gratefully.

"Just a heads-up, this opportunity is rare. It's not just me going, and each professor can only take a few students, so make sure you make a good impression," Professor Wang warned.

Gu Ming nodded eagerly, thumping her chest in assurance. "Professor Wang, don't worry. I'll cherish this opportunity and won't disappoint you."

"Time is short; we leave in three days. Get ready," Professor Wang instructed.

"Professor Wang, I only heard about the discovery of an archaeological site. Where exactly is the site? Can you tell me?" Gu Ming seized the opportunity to ask.

"This isn't an archaeological site; it's a noble tomb in Taiyuan," Professor Wang said, giving her a disdainful look.

"You didn't even know that and were eager to ask for a spot?" he added.

"Taiyuan?" Gu Ming furrowed her brow. She vaguely remembered that Du Hao had been involved in a project related to Taiyuan recently.