Primarily, the market was flooded with forgeries. The instant the Mao Die Tu (Eighty-Eighty Painting) came into view, that thought flashed through everyone present.

At this moment, Old Yang abandoned his earlier notion of not looking at the painting first. He borrowed Wang Guan's magnifying glass and began to study it meticulously, repeatedly examining the flowers, grasses, cats, and butterflies, as well as the inscription and colophon.

After a long silence, Old Yang sat back down, his brow furrowed in deep thought.

"Old Yang, what do you make of it?" the stout middle-aged man quickly inquired.

"I won't speak first; let them talk."

Old Yang shook his head and asked in a gentle tone, "Young man, you've looked at it too. Do you have any insights?"

"Feibai, you speak," Wang Guan gestured. He truly didn't know much about calligraphy and painting. After admiring it for a long time from the side, he still felt utterly confused.

"I can't say for sure either. Please don't laugh if I'm wrong."

Yu Feibai hesitated before offering his opinion: "This person, Zeng Youzhen, I don't know much about her deeds. Therefore, I can only analyze it based on the painting technique."

The others nodded slightly, finding this starting point reasonable. After all, the author's life story was merely a rough reference; what truly allowed one to authenticate a piece of art was the artwork itself.

Seeing their agreement, Yu Feibai gained some confidence and slowly began: "The Cat and Butterfly Painting, also called the Mao Die Tu. In ancient times, eighty was Mao and ninety was Die. Painting cats and butterflies symbolizes longevity."

"Combined with the content of the colophon, this Ms. Zeng Youzhen was herself a woman of refined talent and artistry, a painter known for her meticulous brushwork in flowers and birds. The characteristic of her work is serene elegance; she studied the methods of Xu and Huang."

Yu Feibai smiled, "I happen to know this Xu and Huang well. Both were famous painters during the Five Dynasties period. Xu refers to Xu Xi of the Southern Tang; Huang refers to Huang Quan of Former Shu. Especially Huang Quan, who, like Zeng Youzhen, was also a native of Shu. It is highly likely she learned most from Huang Quan’s brushwork."

"That makes sense," Old Yang and the stout middle-aged man both nodded. As natives of Shu, even if they didn't know who Xu Xi was, they certainly knew of Huang Quan.

I imagine everyone has had the same experience: if a local person has any level of fame recorded in historical texts, they will certainly receive strong promotion from the local authorities. If you pay even a little attention to local cultural promotion, you’ll be surprised to find how many famous figures your hometown has produced.

At this point, Yu Feibai continued: "Huang Quan served in the imperial court, once holding the position of Hanlin Reader-in-Waiting in Former Shu, painting rare flowers and precious birds from the palace. His works of flowers and birds used extremely fine brushstrokes, characterized by multiple layers of color rendering—detailed and opulent—earning him the nickname 'Huang Family's Wealth and Nobility.'"

"If Zeng Youzhen truly learned Huang Quan's brushwork, then her painting should be relatively opulent," Yu Feibai stated frankly, not afraid of offending anyone. "But I don't see a sense of opulence in this painting."

"With such rich colors, how is it not opulent..." The stout middle-aged man immediately became displeased and hurriedly refuted.

"Uncle, let me finish speaking."

Yu Feibai was faster, waving his hand, his voice coming out like a string of firecrackers: "Furthermore, the colophon states that the cats Zeng Youzhen painted resembled tigers, and since Zhang Shanzi became famous solely for painting tigers, tracing the lineage back, she must have received much instruction from him. This means Zhang Shanzi's tiger paintings were learned from his mother, vividly capturing spirit. But look at the cats in this painting—lazy, fat, and huge. Where is even a hint of tiger form?"

Zhang Shanzi, as one of the representative figures of the Bashu School of Painting, though not as famous as his younger brother Zhang Daqian, was a renowned painter in the Republican era, making his name by painting tigers. It was through his patronage that Zhang Daqian gained his current reputation. The brothers worked together to establish the Da Feng Tang studio. In those days, his tiger paintings could rival Qi Baishi's shrimp paintings in fame.

A figure like that—the tigers he painted—the stout middle-aged man had certainly seen them, but that didn't mean he accepted Yu Feibai’s evaluation.

"Young man, your analysis is too subjective."

The middle-aged man shook his head and countered without hesitation: "You must understand, Zeng Youzhen only learned Huang Quan's brushwork; it doesn't mean she had to paint exactly like Huang Quan. Every painter develops their own characteristics. Otherwise, it wouldn't be learning; it would be copying. Zhang Daqian is just like that: in his youth, he studied the ancients; in middle age, he studied nature; after sixty, he took his heart as his master, painting as he pleased, eventually becoming a towering master of painting."

"Besides, Zeng Youzhen wasn't a court painter; she was a woman, managing the household and raising children—a housewife by today's standards. Perhaps opulent things wouldn't suit her spirit."

The stout middle-aged man continued, "I checked the records. The Zhang family's conditions weren't very good at the time. Zeng Youzhen often went around town embroidering patterns and making tapestries for others to supplement the household income. Sometimes, when she was overwhelmed, she would have her children help. It was precisely through her initial guidance and nurturing their interest in painting that the later masters, brothers Zhang Shanzi and Zhang Daqian, emerged."

"This point, I can confirm," Old Yang nodded at this. "Moreover, the colophon states that Zeng Youzhen took inspiration from Xu and Huang. Huang represents the 'Huang Family's Wealth and Nobility,' but Xu represents Xu Xi's rustic freedom (Ye Yi). Xu Xi’s paintings primarily utilized ink, applying only a light touch of cinnabar powder to the flowers and grasses—extremely elegant and refined."

"This is due to the difference in their social status, environment, living habits, aspirations, and aesthetic tastes, which led each to form a unique painting style," Old Yang mused thoughtfully. "Zeng Youzhen's family circumstances and status also determined her style. Elegant butterflies and grasses, along with the listless, leisurely house cats, somewhat align with her temperament."

"If Old Yang says that, he believes it's an authentic piece." The stout middle-aged man looked delighted.

"I only said the style fits her temperament; it doesn't confirm it is her work," Old Yang shook his head, then turned to Wang Guan. "Young man, what is your perspective?"

"You want me to look?"

Wang Guan blinked his eyes, not rushing to offer his opinion, but instead gazing down intently.

Obscured by the curtain of his falling hair, the people nearby could not see that Wang Guan's eyes had suddenly become extraordinarily pure, dark and bright like those of a young child. Then, his Qi extended, completely enveloping the painting.

In an instant, every detail of the artwork was reflected in Wang Guan’s sight.

After a moment, Wang Guan had clarity in his mind. He looked up slightly and smiled gently, "As Uncle said, without comparison, analyses based on brushwork and technique are too subjective. Therefore, I will start from the material of the painting to share my views."

It’s no wonder authenticating calligraphy and paintings is difficult. There are too many aspects that require careful examination, demanding thoroughness in every detail. In a way, this multiplies the challenge of confirming authenticity.

........................... Thank you to the book friend "Yue Wu Wei Yu" for the tip. On the Winter Solstice, the temperature plummeted. On a freezing cold night, instead of hotpot, I was typing away. A miserable writer, asking for collections and recommendations~~ C