Read Novel Full Chapter 735: Elder Qian: Luckily that kid went to become an actor!
Chapter 735: Elder Qian: Luckily that kid went to become an actor!
Time returned to the present.
Inside the restoration center, Professor Ye examined the new calligraphy work Xiao He had just written with meticulous attention, a look of shock flickering in his eyes—exactly like the expression Elder Qian had the first time he saw it.
His gaze kept returning to the photograph prepared in advance as a reference, then shifting back and forth as he carefully compared the two. Eventually he even took out a magnifying glass and began following the brushstrokes of Xiao He's writing stroke by stroke for comparison—
The other experts gathered around as well, closely observing the texture, occasionally taking out their reading glasses and straightening their posture so they could crane their necks to see better. Elder Qian, having missed the prime spot, merely wore the expression of someone who had weathered many storms, unperturbed as people jostled to get a look.
Only his heart was filled with more than a little emotion.
In fact, many of the processes used by restoration teams are similar to the "imitating the old with the old" methods used to forge fakes, except the former is done for restoration and preservation while the latter is for extortion, often at the cost of damaging more cultural relics.
With Xiao He's skill set, he would be a fantastic asset to restoration work, but if those people with ill intent exploited his imitation ability to commit fraud, he would also become an irresistible hot commodity.
After all, the final quality of calligraphy still depends on the person who lifts the brush.
When machines can no longer help, the last traceable flaw to be found will inevitably be the person who originally imitated the handwriting.
If that forgery technique were combined with Xiao He's imitation ability... it's possible no one in the world would be able to tell real from fake.Thank goodness, thank goodness!
Xiao He had gone to become an actor, keeping him far from those circles and the people in them, so there was no need to worry about their malicious gazes.
Elder Qian felt considerably relieved.
Otherwise he truly worried that Xiao He would be targeted by unscrupulous people, lured into doing illegal things that would ruin his entire life.
-
A few minutes later, Professor Ye finally put down the magnifying glass.
At the same time, everyone else fell silent.
"Not bad, truly impressive."
A smile softened Professor Ye's formerly stern face, and he couldn't help but ask Xiao He further, "Xiao Xiao, is your imitation ability some kind of innate talent? For other people's handwriting, how long do you generally need to replicate it?"
"Uh, actually I just copy what I see, nothing special," Xiao He scratched his head, glanced at Elder Qian beside him, and said very modestly, "I simply like Emperor Chen very much, so I studied his calligraphy carefully. As for other people's handwriting... it's okay, not exactly proficient."
Even so, Xiao He's remark did not dampen Professor Ye's enthusiasm.
"Good, good. What we need now are young people like you, fresh blood!"
Professor Ye laughed heartily, his eyes full of expectation and praise for Xiao He, paying no mind to Xiao He's humility, and he took the initiative to invite him, "What did you major in, Xiao Xiao? Would you be interested in working at our restoration center? Don't worry, the pay and conditions are completely legitimate!"
Xiao He: ...that’s a good question.
So how am I supposed to tell you I graduated from Hu University with a computer science degree, then became an actor in a field totally unrelated to my major?
And now I'm being invited to do cultural relic restoration work?
Fortunately, Elder Qian continued to speak on Xiao He's behalf: "Ah, Old Ye, what’s your memory doing! Xiao Xiao is an actor now! He's won two Award-Winning Actor trophies already! What’s the point of this job? Don't hold up the young man’s career."
"Ah, true."
Professor Ye realized his mistake, nodded awkwardly, and his expression shifted to a mixture of regret and decline.
Xiao He quickly added, "I did graduate from Hu University in computer science, so I really don't know much about relic restoration. I truly appreciate Professor Ye's kindness, but if you need help in the future, as a member of the Calligraphy Association I will do my best to assist."
Professor Ye raised an eyebrow, surprised that Xiao He was a computer science graduate, but said no more and steered the conversation back to business: "Since Xiao Xiao is here to help today, let's go in and collect samples and basic information now..."
He stood up, gesturing for Xiao He to follow, and asked Elder Qian, "Are you coming in with us today?"
"Since Xiao Xiao is going in, I won't," Elder Qian shook his head. "I'll wait outside."
Although the restoration center is part of the museum, it functions like a separate official institution with strict entry requirements.
Especially the main restoration room, where artifacts are repaired: it houses numerous instruments and special materials, so access is tightly controlled. Even if it didn't yet require signing confidentiality agreements, the multiple layers of corridors and doors were complicated, and Elder Qian, lacking energy lately, decided to forgo going in.
Professor Ye understood and motioned for Xiao He to follow him inside.
Along the way, Professor Ye chatted with Xiao He: "Did Elder Qian tell you why we wanted you to come?"
Xiao He shook his head honestly: "He only said the restoration center needed someone who really understands Emperor Chen's handwriting and can imitate the piece displayed at the art center, the 'Stabilize the Realm.'"
Xiao He didn't know much about relic restoration.
He had heard that the copy he had earlier written and sent to Elder Qian had been delivered to the restoration center, but he hadn't expected they would actually need him in person.
"Actually, it's because our center recently acquired a new machine, and we want to gather more on-site data to aid future restoration work."
Professor Ye didn't treat Xiao He as an outsider and explained their situation and purpose directly.
Put simply, they wanted to collect various kinds of on-site data while Xiao He recreated the 'Stabilize the Realm' piece, then use the machine to capture brushstroke characteristics, ink tones, bleeding, fiber seepage effects, and so on, in order to build a handwriting behavior logic model for later AI-assisted restoration and authentication.
Although the task was framed as being for the 'Stabilize the Realm' work, it wasn't entirely about that single piece. This was actually their restoration center's first formal introduction of an AI-assisted machine into a major restoration project. The trial would both test AI's development level and serve as a rehearsal for deeper cooperation with AI in the future.
It was an important experiment for the restoration center in applying AI to cultural relic repair.
To be honest, when Professor Ye said the restoration team was developing AI-assisted models, Xiao He was a little surprised.
His impression of relic restoration was still rooted in traditional methods—hands-on, old techniques where most materials and procedures were manually handled, giving a sense of high-minded craftsmanship detached from machines.
He hadn't expected they were already using AI analysis.
But thinking about it, this made sense. This was Beijing, and this restoration center was an industry-renowned official institution, equipped with the most advanced scientific technology. It was only natural they would be among the first to introduce AI assistance, and it would help push restoration work forward.
Professor Ye went on to introduce other functions of the AI machine. For instance, the sampled imitation would be entered into a database for AI comparison and analysis, and using the handwriting Xiao He "imitated," they could infer whether the burned 'Stabilize the Realm' matched the calligraphic logic seen in other authenticated works by Emperor Chen...
Professor Ye talked on and on, and since Xiao He was personally interested in AI, he listened with great fascination while they walked.
"AI applications have become so widespread."
After hearing Professor Ye's explanation, Xiao He couldn't help but marvel.
Applied to so many areas, AI truly changes how people work and live.
So investing deeply in AI surely holds broad prospects...
At that thought, Xiao He reached into his pocket with a sudden idea.
Perfect timing, he happened to have a business card for Heguang Technology on him.
He planned to take a look at that machine's quality later.
Xiao He pondered quietly.
Maybe this time he could find an opportunity to hook up an official collaboration.