Time flew by.

In 1977, Shen Nanchu took the college entrance examination and stood out with remarkable scores.

In the spring of 1978, as all things came back to life, Shen Nanchu officially became a freshman in the Archaeology Department of Jing University. That same year, she passed a rigorous grade-skipping exam, leaping directly from a freshman to a junior, causing quite a stir on the Jing University campus.

By 1979, Shen Nanchu took the undergraduate graduation exams ahead of schedule again, passing them effortlessly with straight As. That same year, she applied for Jing University's graduate admissions exam, and without any suspense, was admitted with high scores.

This rocket-like speed of academic advancement became a beautiful tale at Jing University and throughout the entire higher education community.

As a fellow archaeology student, Pei Yunzhou could only watch helplessly as his sister-in-law left him in the dust on her academic journey. Let alone catching up, he could barely even see the dust she kicked up.

However, Pei Yunzhou was not discouraged at all and maintained a very peaceful state of mind.

He often said to classmates who looked at him with sympathy,

Sigh, compare myself to my sister-in-law and second brother? Isn't that just asking for trouble!

Their brains are like they have motors installed; they operate on a completely different dimension.

Ordinary people like us are better off keeping our feet on the ground and taking it one step at a time.

He had long accepted the fact that his brother and sister-in-law were extraordinary, and he peacefully enjoyed his own pace of learning.

The Jing University administration, especially President Liang Guoming and Archaeology Department Head Yu Hongbin, treated Shen Nanchu like a precious treasure, nurturing her with the utmost care and placing great hopes in her.

After all, such monstrously talented individuals were incredibly rare to come by. She was the star of hope for the future of archaeology for both the school and the country.

They knew very well that the best seedlings required the top gardeners to cultivate them.

While other graduate students in her cohort were still struggling in the library studying basic theories and anxiously worrying about choosing their mentors and research directions for the following year, Liang Guoming and Yu Hongbin had already planned ahead, starting early to find the most suitable mentor for Shen Nanchu.

A good horse needs a good talent scout.

Their target was very clear and unanimous: the leading figure in the archaeology world, the deeply knowledgeable and highly respected Professor Shen Yuan.

Professor Shen Yuan's name was renowned in the archaeology community; he was a true national-treasure-level scholar.

It was just that in recent years, he had devoted almost all his energy to the exploration and research of the Lishan Mausoleum, stationed on the front lines of archaeology year-round, enduring the wind and sleeping in the dew.

It wasn't until recently, due to his advanced age and illnesses accumulated from overwork, that his body couldn't take it anymore. Under the strong urging of the organization and his family, he returned to his home in the capital to recuperate.

Though Professor Shen's knowledge was vast, his temper was also quite eccentric. Especially in recent years, he had thrown himself entirely into major research projects and had explicitly stated that he would not take on any more students, feeling it took too much effort and delayed his research time.

To get this old immortal to make an exception and accept a raw gem like Shen Nanchu, Liang Guoming and Yu Hongbin really went all out and racked their brains.

First, the two solemnly wrote a joint recommendation letter, detailing Shen Nanchu's miraculous academic journey, her photographic memory, her astonishing insight shown in archaeological practice, and her love and dedication to the cause of archaeology.

After the letter was sent, it was like a stone dropped into the ocean.

Liang Guoming couldn't sit still anymore and decided to pay a personal visit.

Carrying some premium Longjing tea he had managed to get his hands on, he knocked on the door of Professor Shen Yuan's quiet little courtyard near Jing University.

Shen Yuan didn't block him at the door and politely invited him into the study.

The study was piled high with books, rubbings, and various pottery fragments, leaving almost no room to step.

Liang Guoming had barely exchanged two pleasantries before cutting to the chase, praising how incredible Shen Nanchu was, calling her a once-in-a-century archaeological genius, and hoping that Elder Shen could...

Before he could finish, Shen Yuan clutched his chest and started coughing, saying with a weak breath,

Guoming ah, it's not that I'm not giving you face. Look at these old bones of mine. I just got back from Lishan, and the doctor said I need to rest and cannot overtax my mind.

Take a student? Alas, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak...

Saying that, he pointed to a box of bamboo slip fragments in the corner that had just been shipped back.

Look, I don't even have the energy to organize these treasures. Just looking at them makes me worry.

Liang Guoming saw this and realized his chance had come!

He immediately stated his position,

Elder Shen, your health is what's important! How can we trouble you with these chores? I'll do it! I'll help you organize them!

And so, the dignified President of Jing University spent that afternoon squatting in Shen Yuan's study, wearing reading glasses, carefully matching numbers and organizing those dust-covered bamboo slips until his back ached.

Meanwhile, Shen Yuan leisurely sipped tea to the side, occasionally offering a pointer or two.

Ah, ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‍yes, that piece should belong to the Yi Zhou Shu section... Be careful, it's very brittle.

When it was time to leave, Shen Yuan patted Liang Guoming on the shoulder and sighed,

Guoming ah, you really are considerate of this old man. You worked hard today. As for the matter of that student... let me think about it some more, just think about it.

Liang Guoming immediately felt there was a chance!

His hard work hadn't been in vain!

Hehe~~~

Sure enough, it took him stepping up to the plate!

...

A few days later, Department Head Yu Hongbin also made his move.

He brought a precious, solitary copy of a stone tablet rubbing to visit.

Shen Yuan's eyes lit up when he saw the rubbing, but upon hearing Yu Hongbin bring up Shen Nanchu and the apprenticeship again, he immediately started sighing and groaning.

He pointed to a pile of mud-covered pottery fragments in the courtyard that had been brought back from Lishan and were waiting to be cleaned.

Little Yu, look at my courtyard, it's too messy to even have guests over.

These pottery sherds record important stratigraphic information and need to be cleaned, classified, and drawn as soon as possible. But my hands, they've been shaking a lot lately. I really can't do this delicate work anymore...

Hearing this, Yu Hongbin thought, how could a national-treasure-level scholar be bothered by such trivial matters?

He immediately rolled up his sleeves. Elder Shen, don't worry! I'm an expert at this! Leave it to me!

Thus, the Head of the Archaeology Department of Jing University squatted in the small courtyard of Shen Yuan's home, holding a small brush and trowel, cleaning the dirt off the pottery sherds bit by bit. Then, he carefully categorized them by shape and pattern, and even had to draw sketches under Shen Yuan's guidance.

After working busily for the whole day, Yu Hongbin was covered in dirt and dust.

Shen Yuan paced to the side holding his teacup, occasionally commenting,

Mhm, that tripod leg belongs over there...

Make the lines on the drawing a bit smoother...

When it was over, Shen Yuan looked with satisfaction at the initially sorted pottery sherds and said to Yu Hongbin,

Little Yu, you really are the professional! You've helped me out tremendously!

As for that student... hmm, she is indeed a good seedling. I'll consider it some more.

Upon hearing this, Yu Hongbin was immediately overjoyed, feeling that the light at the end of the tunnel was right ahead.

Not bad, not bad, it was his prestige that did the trick after all!

...