Amidst the chorus of praise, Elder Tian repeatedly shook his head, waving his hands with a laugh, “It’s a good thing you didn’t call me a calligrapher, or I’d probably be too ashamed to jump into the lake.”

Amidst the laughter and light conversation, the topic naturally drifted back to paintings and calligraphy. This was no difficult subject for Wang Guan; after all, he was knowledgeable about art from ancient and modern times alike, so he had no trouble keeping up the conversation.

While they chatted, another person arrived. “My apologies, my apologies for keeping everyone waiting.”

Wang Guan glanced over as opportunity allowed. The newcomer was a slightly portly middle-aged man, his amiable smile unable to entirely conceal a shrewd and capable air—clearly a seasoned veteran of the business world.

“Shopkeeper Tan,” Elder Xing greeted him with a smile, “Come, have a cup of tea.”

“Thank you, Elder Xing.”

After a round of nods and acknowledgments, Shopkeeper Tan settled into an empty seat nearby. He then placed the item he was carrying onto the table, gently sliding it towards the center, his face alight with smiles. “The piece is here. Please, everyone, take your time to examine it.”

The item was a scroll. The paper felt faintly yellowed; if it wasn't intentionally aged, it suggested some considerable years. Just as Wang Guan was scrutinizing it, Elder Tian chuckled, “What are you hesitating for? Are you expecting us old folks to unroll it for you?”

“My apologies.”

Wang Guan immediately snapped back to attention, offering an embarrassed smile before rising to pick up the scroll. He deftly undid the tie and carefully, gently, unrolled the scroll.

Halfway unrolled, it was revealed to be a vertical hanging painting. Wang Guan adjusted its orientation and, with keen awareness, skillfully hung the painting on the beaded curtain nearby so that everyone could view it.

Only then did Wang Guan take a proper look. The painting depicted a scholar leaning against a large rock, engrossed in observing an object resembling a stone held in his hands. In the upper left corner of the painting were the characters Dongpo De Yan (Dongpo Obtains an Inkstone). The lower left corner contained the signature.

“Shanyin Ren Yi!”

With a single glance, Wang Guan blurted out, “Ren Bonian’s Dongpo Obtains an Inkstone!”

Ren Yi was Ren Bonian, a famous painter of the late Qing Dynasty. Since he hailed from Shanyin in Zhejiang Province, his signature usually read Shanyin Ren Yi. He was an outstanding portrait artist.

And speaking of Ren Bonian, one could not help but bring up Xu Beihong. Xu Beihong idolized Ren Bonian his entire life, claiming to be his reincarnation. This was because the day Ren Bonian died was the very day Xu Beihong was born.

To be revered by a master painter like Xu Beihong was enough to indicate Ren Bonian’s status in the late Qing painting world.

Of course, even now, works by Ren Bonian commanded significant value. This was especially true for his forte, figure painting, and moreover, the subject involved Su Dongpo. Considering the upcoming Suzi Cultural Festival, the painting’s value might appreciate by ten or twenty percent.

However, there was one prerequisite: the painting had to be an authentic original to be valuable. If it were a copy or a fake, the story would be entirely different.

“Exactly, it is Ren Bonian’s Dongpo Obtains an Inkstone,” Shopkeeper Tan said with a smile. “Gentlemen, you are all esteemed predecessors and experts in the world of painting and calligraphy. You should be able to recognize this as a treasure. If it weren't to contribute to the Suzi Cultural Festival, I wouldn't bear to part with it…”

This was setting a subtle trap for Elder Xing and the others. Modern painters were not necessarily experts in art appraisal. If they lacked self-awareness, making a mistake—and often at that—was not uncommon. If it had only been Elder Xing and a few others, Shopkeeper Tan might have succeeded. But regrettably, there were at least two true connoisseurs present.

Elder Tian took a brief look and then gestured, “Wang Guan, take a closer look yourself.”

“Certainly.”

Wang Guan nodded, carefully lifting the painting off the beaded curtain and placing it flat on the table for closer examination.

Speaking of Dongpo Obtains an Inkstone, it was actually a rather widespread theme. Legend had it that one day, Su Dongpo’s father, Su Xun, planned to plant something in their backyard and consequently asked his two sons to help with the labor.

Su Dongpo was quite young then, putting considerable energy into the work. While digging enthusiastically, he heard a clink and unearthed a square stone caked in mud. Su Dongpo picked it up to examine it, noticing the stone possessed a light green hue, somewhat resembling the back of a green fish, with a fine, soft texture interspersed with tiny silver specks.

Sensing the stone was unusual, Su Dongpo immediately presented it to his father, Su Xun, for inspection. Su Xun also found the material remarkable and decided to have an inkstone crafted from it for Su Dongpo to use. Su Dongpo cherished this stone inkstone dearly and named it the Tian Yan (Heavenly Inkstone)…

This was the famous anecdote of Dongpo obtaining the inkstone, a subject frequently painted by calligraphers and artists throughout history.

Of course, the theme was merely a starting point. Because each painter possessed a distinct style, the resulting images naturally varied. These stylistic differences were precisely the crucial basis for determining authenticity.

Wang Guan examined the work intently, studying it repeatedly. He suddenly laughed, “Elder Tian, I am still young, and my experience is shallow. I fear I cannot judge it well.”

There was nothing inherently wrong with his statement. As the saying went, smooth words from an inexperienced mouth were often empty. Elders often viewed young people as the morning sun, the pillars of the future. However, the key word here was future.

What did ‘future’ imply? Most understood—it meant waiting until the young people were no longer young before the ‘future’ qualifier could be dropped. Otherwise, one should simply remain the morning sun.

At least, that was Shopkeeper Tan’s assumption. He didn't suspect any hidden meaning in Wang Guan’s words, only believing him to be tactful and sensible, not pretending to know what he didn't and wasting everyone’s time.

However, Elder Xing and the others felt differently. After all, Wang Guan’s confident and fluid conversation with Elder Tian just moments ago had left a deep impression on them. Youth was no barrier to ambition; they certainly didn't regard Wang Guan as an ignorant junior. Hearing him claim he couldn't judge the painting well, those familiar with antique trade jargon understood a bit more immediately.

“Is that so?”

At the same time, Elder Tian rose and stepped forward to verify it himself. After all, Elder Xing and the others had invited him not just for his good calligraphy, but more importantly, to utilize his appraisal skills.

He could not refuse such a warm invitation. Having been invited, Elder Tian naturally felt obligated to do his utmost. Furthermore, as a professional appraiser, he understood the principle of meticulous caution; he couldn't simply rely on his trust in Wang Guan and refuse to examine the painting.

For a true connoisseur, trust was not a justification, and others' opinions were merely reference points. Whether an item was genuine or not required his own verification.

However, after a brief inspection, Elder Tian arrived at the same conclusion as Wang Guan. Yet, he did not state it directly, merely asking courteously, “Shopkeeper Tan, besides this painting, is there nothing else?”

“Ah?” Shopkeeper Tan was momentarily stunned. When Wang Guan said he couldn't judge it, Tan was certain Wang Guan truly couldn't understand it. But Elder Tian’s veiled suggestion made him hesitate.

In that instant, those who understood realized the situation. If they were industry insiders, they would know enough to keep quiet. But since the majority present were laypeople, someone inevitably couldn't help but ask, “Elder Tian, is there something amiss with this painting?”

“It’s not that something is wrong…” Elder Tian smiled and beckoned, “Wang Guan, why don’t you explain?”

Well, being young had this drawback: easily being used as a shield or a scapegoat.

Wang Guan offered a helpless smile and explained with considerable tact, “Ren Bonian’s brushwork and ink application were rich and varied, achieving a balance between substance and void, with changes in density that followed a certain discipline. Whether in figures, portraits, landscapes, or flora, his work was imbued with poetic sentiment and possessed a unique style that was fresh and fluid.”

“His main achievements lay in figure and bird-and-flower painting, often capturing the entire spirit of a figure in just a few strokes, with sparse ink creating a profound artistic conception. In other words, Ren Bonian’s lines in figure paintings were extremely concise yet steady, powerful yet elegant.”

Wang Guan continued his critique before pointing to the painting on the table, “However, these characteristics cannot be discerned in this particular work. Of course, given my youth, my eyesight and experience may be insufficient, so I might be mistaken. If I have misspoken in any way, I ask everyone not to laugh, but to offer guidance.”

Wang Guan’s explanation was sufficiently diplomatic, yet Shopkeeper Tan’s expression soured slightly. Although Wang Guan hadn't uttered the word ‘fake,’ everyone present wasn't foolish; they understood the implied meaning. They might not entirely trust Wang Guan’s judgment, but seeing Elder Tian sip his tea while nodding confirmed that he shared the same opinion, leaving them with no room for objection.

The atmosphere instantly became somewhat delicate. Wang Guan’s gaze shifted, and he suddenly laughed, “Elder Tian, why the sudden interest in Ren Bonian’s paintings and calligraphy?”

This was asking the obvious, and Elder Tian was happy to change the subject. “It’s not a specific interest in Ren Bonian’s works, but rather I am collecting items related to Su Dongpo for exhibition at the Suzi Cultural Festival.”

“I see,” Wang Guan nodded with mock seriousness, then smiled, “Actually, I feel that even if this painting is related to Su Dongpo, there’s always a layer of separation. If we could find the stone inkstone depicted in the painting, that would be the true treasure.”

“Su Dongpo’s Tian Yan Inkstone!” Elder Tian sighed. “Who wouldn’t want it? But that inkstone has been missing since the mid-Ming Dynasty; its whereabouts are unknown.”

“Indeed.”

Wang Guan nodded. “After obtaining this Tian Yan, Su Dongpo carried it with him constantly, cherishing it deeply. However, he lost it during his demotion to Huangzhou. After passing through many hands, it finally ended up with the powerful minister Yan Song of the Jiajing reign. When Yan Song’s estate was confiscated, the Tianshui Ice Mountain Record documented this precious inkstone. Unfortunately, once the item entered the Imperial Inner Treasury, there has been no further news of it.”

“I have that inkstone…”

Just then, Shopkeeper Tan suddenly spoke up. “In my shop, there is a stone inkstone that bears a striking resemblance to the legendary Su Dongpo Tian Yan, but I cannot ascertain its authenticity. If any of you are interested, I can bring it over for your inspection.”

Upon hearing this, everyone felt a measure of doubt, thinking the timing seemed far too coincidental. However, Elder Tian was not so quick to judge and instead asked with clear interest, “That would be best, Shopkeeper Tan, we would be much obliged.”

“No trouble at all. Please wait a moment, I will return shortly.”

As he spoke, Shopkeeper Tan smoothly rolled up the Dongpo Obtains an Inkstone scroll without leaving a trace and swiftly departed. Even if the painting was a fake and couldn't deceive Wang Guan and the others, as long as he could continue his business, the painting would eventually sell; he certainly couldn't just discard it carelessly.

Of course, that was a matter for later. Right now, Shopkeeper Tan was eager to close a deal and avoid leaving a poor impression on Elder Xing and the others, as that would mean losing out on substantial potential profit.

With this thought, Shopkeeper Tan, who had already walked to the first floor, gritted his teeth and immediately turned around and walked back… (To be continued)