Elder Feng’s words startled everyone, wondering how he could be so certain.

"Brother Ren, you must understand, I started as a teacher and have spent almost my entire life dealing with books and paper."

At this moment, Elder Feng, wearing a bitter smile, slowly explained, "The surface of the copybook was aged, so I couldn't tell much just by looking. But when I tore the paper and saw the cross-section of the tear, I knew."

The crowd rushed to look and saw that the torn edges had a slight whitish tint. Suddenly, understanding dawned on them.

"You see it too, don't you? Although I don't know how the outer layer of the copybook was artificially aged, true old paper, with its yellowed color, should have that tint uniformly throughout, permeated by the traces of time. Unlike this copybook, where the yellowing is only superficial."

Elder Feng sighed, "I really am getting old; my senses feel duller. If I were younger, one touch would have been enough for me to distinguish new paper from old."

Since Elder Feng himself possessed such experience, his judgment naturally left everyone speechless. Moreover, it directly proved that Wang Guan and Yu Feibai's assessment was correct.

Hearing Elder Feng's lament, the study quieted down once more.

After a short while, Elder Ren, wanting to dispel the slightly heavy atmosphere, decided to switch to a lighter topic, completely avoiding the matter of the copybook. Instead, he pointed to the exquisite snuff bottle on the desk and smiled, "My dear brother Feng, I never knew you had this hobby. These little things truly are exquisitely beautiful and a delight to behold."

"Heh heh, I only developed this fondness in the last couple of years."

Elder Feng managed a slight smile, tossed the torn copybook aside as if it were trash, then casually picked up a snuff bottle, stroking it gently, his features visibly relaxing.

"It started with my child, who was working in Guangdong Province. To celebrate my birthday, they specifically commissioned a pair for me."

As he spoke, Elder Feng retrieved the pair of snuff bottles, presenting them for everyone to admire.

Wang Guan observed that both snuff bottles were glass inside-painted pieces, tiny and exquisite, exceptionally delicate and attractive.

On one of the snuff bottles, someone had painted the Three Immortals of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity on the interior surface. The other snuff bottle featured a half-length portrait of Elder Feng, his expression benevolent and clear.

"Nice items. When I first saw them, I didn't pay them much mind, at most feeling pleased by my child's filial piety."

At this point, Elder Feng’s smile grew broader, and his tone became much more natural, "But later, my students thought I liked them, so they also gifted me some over time. Slowly, I truly came to enjoy them."

It was evident Elder Feng genuinely loved them; his demeanor completely transformed the moment snuff bottles were mentioned. The others present, possessing discerning eyes, naturally followed his lead, eager to prevent him from dwelling on the copybook incident again.

"Elder Feng, it seems most of your snuff bottles are inside-painted ones. Is there a specific reason you collect this category?" Yu Feibai asked curiously.

Snuff bottles gained popularity starting in the Qing Dynasty, and inside-painted snuff bottles likely originated during the Qianlong period. It was said that a young monk was inspired to create them after witnessing someone use a small spoon to vigorously scoop out the residual snuff stuck at the bottom of a bottle, leaving distinct marks on the vessel’s inner wall.

Regardless of the exact origin, inside-painted snuff bottles represent a major branch of snuff bottles, yet in a sense, they have diverged from the general category, establishing themselves as independent works of art.

The materials for inside-painted snuff bottles are generally stated to be crystal or glass.

Most of the inside-painted snuff bottles Elder Feng displayed on the desk were made of glass. Under the sunlight, some were crystalline and translucent, perfectly complemented by the delicate and elegant miniature murals—a truly remarkable sight.

Simultaneously, upon hearing Yu Feibai’s question, Elder Feng’s expression remained pleasant, but his tone took on a degree of rigor, "Because inside-painted snuff bottles differ from other snuff bottles; they possess a distinct characteristic."

"I know," Yu Feibai interjected, "Some snuff bottle makers, to save time and effort, directly use stickers to print patterns onto the vessel surface before firing. However, this method isn't suitable for inside-painted ones. Therefore, every inside-painted snuff bottle is painstakingly executed by a master craftsman, stroke by stroke, using special brushes to outline the design until completion."

Elder Feng stated with great seriousness, "Precisely. I believe that what they are doing is akin to creation, much like Brother Ren painting. The difference is that Brother Ren wields his brush on Xuan paper, splashing ink, while the master craftsman of an inside-painted snuff bottle meticulously draws within a space no larger than a square inch."

"Brother Feng, you are absolutely right."

Elder Ren nodded in agreement, "Any endeavor that involves genuine effort and expends great energy can be called creation, and the resulting object is art."

"Everyone, take a look. All of these items have been carefully selected. Their form, material, painting, and coloration qualify them as masterpieces." At this moment, Elder Feng was beaming, almost showing off as he arranged all the inside-painted snuff bottles in the center of the table for everyone to examine closely.

The others obligingly picked up an inside-painted snuff bottle each, turning it over gently in their hands.

During this process, Wang Guan spotted an inside-painted snuff bottle on which a cluster of orchids had been etched inside the vessel. A few leaves were slightly spread, appearing to sway in an unseen breeze, exuding profound charm.

Seeing this cluster of orchids, Wang Guan felt it resembled a motif from an ancient painting, rich with antique flavor. He immediately picked up this snuff bottle to examine it closely.

As soon as he held it, the small body of the vessel fit perfectly into his palm; his five fingers closed around it entirely.

The light, nimble feel was incredibly comfortable. However, it was precisely at this moment that Wang Guan vaguely sensed something was amiss with this inside-painted snuff bottle.

With a trace of confusion clouding his mind, Wang Guan frowned slightly, slowly turning the snuff bottle over in his hand. Suddenly, he noticed characters at the base of the vessel.

"Guangxu Nian Zhi!"

He focused his gaze and froze. Weren't these supposed to be contemporary craft pieces? Why would such a reign mark appear?

For a moment, Wang Guan felt bewildered. It was then he understood why he had felt something was off earlier: this particular snuff bottle possessed a subdued luster, lacking the bright sheen of newness.

That sharp, bright gleam—the so-called 'thief light' or 'fire light'—is inherent in anything new. Only after a long passage of time does this luster gradually dull and recede.

However, once an object’s initial bright luster fades, if handled frequently over a long period, it develops another kind of glow—what is known as patina.

Wang Guan now felt a layer of deep, quiet patina emanating from the inside-painted snuff bottle in his hand.

This presented a clear problem. Elder Feng had explicitly stated these inside-painted snuff bottles were contemporary crafts, yet Wang Guan felt they were antiques. One of them, therefore, had to be mistaken.

"Could I have misjudged it?"

Wang Guan first doubted himself, then scrutinized the snuff bottle again. Yet, no matter how closely he looked, he couldn't detect any contemporary freshness, nor the restless tone or dry texture characteristic of new items. On the contrary, he found the snuff bottle’s luster reserved and subtle, not flashy, possessing a warm, gentle color—clearly something very old, worthy of being called an antique.

Instantly, Wang Guan couldn't help but ask, "Elder Feng, who told you these inside-painted snuff bottles were craft pieces? Or perhaps you merely concluded they were contemporary crafts yourself?"

Everyone was startled, feeling a sense of inexplicable confusion.

At the same time, Yu Feibai asked strangely, "Wang Guan, what do you mean by that?"

"Look at this..."

As he spoke, Wang Guan inverted the inside-painted snuff bottle, allowing everyone to clearly see the inscription at the base.

"Guangxu Nian Zhi?" Yu Feibai exclaimed in surprise.

"You mean this?" Seeing this, Elder Feng immediately laughed, "That's a replica, much like the calligraphy copybook earlier—a fake. The difference is that one was intended to swindle money, while the other is merely an imitation in the antique style."

As he spoke, Elder Feng’s emotions became complex, "Come to think of it, these two matters both involve imitation, and on the surface, they seem similar, but their essence is worlds apart. Truly, the customs are declining, and human hearts are not what they once were."

"Brother Feng, you must look at the bright side," Elder Ren quickly soothed, glancing at Wang Guan as if reproaching him for bringing up Elder Feng's painful subject.

"A replica?"

At this, Wang Guan frowned and naturally lowered his head, activating his special ability. Formless qi flowed outward, and he received a wave of feedback.

In an instant, Wang Guan smiled faintly, and under everyone's astonished gaze, he began picking and choosing among the dozen or so inside-painted snuff bottles on the table, setting them aside and arranging them separately.

Wang Guan then leisurely smiled and said, "Feibai, do you still remember the lesson from the Twelve Flower Goddess Cups at the Longhu Mountain Hotel?"

"True items hidden amongst the fakes!" Yu Feibai gasped, then immediately understood, exclaiming in shock, "Are you saying these inside-painted snuff bottles are the real deal... Ah, no, real antiques?"

"Whether they are antiques or modern artworks, if you separate them like this, can't you tell the difference?" Wang Guan chuckled, "Actually, a brief comparison makes it clear. Modern craft inside-painted snuff bottles feature vibrant, strikingly bright colors. Especially the figure paintings, which are incredibly lifelike, possessing the style of modern sketching."

"However, the murals on the antique inside-painted snuff bottles here are more unadorned and simplistic. Whether it's landscapes, animals, or flora, the style is more impressionistic, bearing the characteristics of their era."

Having said that, Wang Guan expressed some confusion himself, "That’s why I asked Elder Feng, were these antique inside-painted snuff bottles truly purchased at the price of modern crafts? If so, you absolutely must tell me where you bought them; I’ll head over and buy a few immediately."

"Antique inside-painted snuff bottles..."

Wang Guan’s words left the others stunned, finding it hard to believe. Suddenly, the situation felt like emerging from a dark tunnel into bright daylight, a dramatic reversal. After a long silence, Elder Ren couldn't help but ask, "Wang Guan, are you telling the truth?"

"It seems so," Yu Feibai answered on his behalf. He picked up one of the snuff bottles, observing it intently, continuously rubbing it with his finger, even taking out a magnifying glass to study every detail.

"Wang Guan, you were right again."

A moment later, Yu Feibai let out a wry smile and shook his head, "Your eyes are truly sharp; no wonder you've picked up so many treasures overlooked by others." (To be continued)RQ