"It's not that my eyesight is sharp, but that you didn't obtain an antique snuff bottle with an inner painting. Otherwise, you would have noticed something was amiss too," Wang Guan chuckled lightly. "Speaking of which, my luck was better. The moment I picked it up, I got something bearing a Guangxu reign mark."

"That's hard to say," Yu Feibai offered with a wry smile. "Even if I had seen the mark, perhaps I would have dismissed it as a modern replica, just like Elder Feng did."

At this moment, Ding Yang, who had remained silent, suddenly interjected, "You claim they are genuine; what is your basis? We don't have to believe you just because you say so."

"The basis is our eyes."

Wang Guan didn't react, but Yu Feibai flared up in anger. "I say, are you here just to find fault with us? Aren't these inner-painted snuff bottles antiques? Is that not a good thing?"

"I am merely stating objective facts."

Ding Yang said calmly, "I'm not afraid of anything else, just that you've misjudged, and Elder Feng will be disappointed again."

"There's absolutely no room for error."

Yu Feibai snorted, "If these things turn out to be fake, I will buy them all at their current market price as antique inner-painted snuff bottles. If they are real, you don't have to pay a cent. You just have to face us and shout 'I have blind eyes' three times."

"Hmph, childish," Ding Yang dismissed with disdain.

Seeing this, Yu Feibai was immediately amused and sneered, "Scared, afraid of losing, are you? Since that's the case, stop putting on that superior air; it's repulsive to look at..."

Seeing that Yu Feibai had gone a bit too far, Wang Guan hurriedly cautioned, "Feibai, say a little less."

Of course, Elder Ren nearby was also displeased. Not just because of Yu Feibai's words, but also because of Ding Yang’s conduct and the air of arrogance surrounding him, which Elder Ren found thoroughly distasteful.

Elder Ren knew this stemmed from Ding Yang's education. Just as Yu Feibai mentioned, Ding Yang's period of study at the Repin Academy of Fine Arts had cultivated a habit of holding himself in very high regard. He consistently looked down upon his domestic peers, and even his seniors.

That was why Elder Ren kept a tight rein on him, hoping to temper his character.

Alas, the results were not very apparent. Even with him present, Ding Yang remained so haughty. If he weren't here, wouldn't Ding Yang be even more presumptuous? Thinking this, Elder Ren frowned, once again doubting whether his decision to take Ding Yang as his final disciple had been too hasty.

At this point, seeing the atmosphere grow stiff, Elder Feng quickly spoke up, somewhat hesitantly, "Actually, that's what I was thinking too. Young friend Wang Guan, you say these are antiques; you're not just trying to make me happy, are you?"

"Elder Feng, if you are unconvinced, you are welcome to find someone to appraise them."

Wang Guan smiled. "Coincidentally, I know an auction house in Shudu that is currently preparing for an auction. If you are willing, I can help make contact. I imagine the person in charge of that auction house would certainly be delighted to send an expert over to appraise them for you."

"That's right."

Knowing exactly who Wang Guan was referring to, Yu Feibai also chimed in with a smile, "That auction house is currently short of consignments. If they see these treasures at Elder Feng's home, they will certainly pester you endlessly to entrust them with the auction."

"But when I bought them, they all said they were modern craft pieces."

Seeing how certain the two men sounded, Elder Feng started to believe them a little, but he was mostly bewildered.

"Modern craft pieces also come in different tiers," Yu Feibai shook his head. "First, I need to correct a slight misconception you had just now, Elder Feng. You think all inner-painted snuff bottles are done by hand; that's not necessarily the case. High-tech forgery is rampant now, and even among inner-painted snuff bottles, there are pieces where a sketch made via photography is used."

"Inner-painted snuff bottles made using the photography method are the lowest grade; the painting is rigid and lifeless, lacking artistic flow, and can be bought for at most a few dozen yuan. Truly hand-painted inner-painted snuff bottles start at several hundred or a thousand yuan. The highest tier would naturally be the work of a master."

Yu Feibai sighed. "Masterpieces created by masters, due to their unique crafting process and exquisite, beautiful artistic spirit, are hailed internationally as works of supernatural craftsmanship. Their auction prices often exceed hundreds of thousands."

"Of course, fine pieces made by masters of inner-painted snuff bottles lack a certain ancient patina compared to true antique inner-painted snuff bottles. Therefore, most collectors still favor the antique pieces."

Then, Yu Feibai inquired, "Elder Feng, how much did you spend when you bought these inner-painted snuff bottles?"

"Not much, just a few hundred or a thousand yuan," Elder Feng murmured distractedly. "I bought them all at craft shops."

"That doesn't make sense. Antique inner-painted snuff bottles shouldn't appear in craft shops," Yu Feibai frowned, equally puzzled.

Wang Guan pondered for a moment, then suddenly laughed, "The ones Elder Feng bought himself must be craft pieces. However, the ones gifted to him—that's not necessarily true."

"Oh!" Yu Feibai's eyes lit up, and he nodded. "That makes sense. Especially the pair gifted by Elder Feng's family for his birthday; one was clearly genuine and one a fake."

The 'genuine' one was the snuff bottle depicting the Three Immortals of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity, which Wang Guan had identified and categorized as an antique. As for the other one, depicting a bust portrait of Elder Feng, it was naturally a modern craft item.

In an instant, Elder Feng understood, frowned, and then quickly left the study to go to the living room to make a phone call.

A few minutes later, Elder Feng returned to the study, his expression betraying an unconcealed happiness. At this point, without him needing to say a word, everyone already knew. Wang Guan had guessed correctly again.

Moreover, they didn't need to ask. Elder Feng laughed and cursed, "That prodigal boy actually dared to deceive me, colluding with a bunch of people! They said they were craft pieces, but in reality, they were antiques."

"Hehe, Brother Feng, this isn't deception, but sincere filial piety," Elder Ren was also quite pleased. "The only reason they didn't tell the truth was probably fear that you would scold them for wasting money."

"But they shouldn't have kept it a secret indefinitely," Elder Feng felt much better, though he still complained verbally. "What if I had accidentally lost or broken the items? That would have been such a waste."

"That's why more than one person gave them."

Elder Ren said with a smile, "Your students haven't forgotten you, their old headmaster."

"Having the thought is enough; why give such valuable things?" Elder Feng shook his head, delight evident on his face, the wrinkles completely smoothed out. His earlier depression over mistakenly buying the Su Dongpo calligraphy copy had been banished to the heavens.

"Elder Feng, you don't need to be overly cautious."

Wang Guan smiled now. "The quality of inner-painted snuff bottles isn't that fragile. As long as there isn't deliberate knocking, even if it falls to the floor from a table, it might not crack. Of course, you should also pay attention to maintenance during daily care. Handling them from time to time can also make the bottle body more lustrous."

Elder Feng carefully noted this, then took Wang Guan's hand, expressing deep gratitude. "Young friend Wang Guan, thank you so much. If you hadn't reminded me, I wouldn't have known that I could be tricked outside, and that I wasn't even safe at home."

The last sentence was, of course, said in jest.

Simultaneously, Elder Feng suddenly slapped his forehead, as if remembering something, and hurriedly said, "Oh, right, I recall that appraisal usually requires a fee..."

"Elder Feng, you're trying to make me feel small," Wang Guan quickly said. "I am not a professional appraiser. I am just visiting your home and helping you look at some things; how could I possibly ask for money?"

"Exactly, let's not talk about money; talking about money is too vulgar."

Elder Feng agreed, his eyes twinkling. He immediately clapped his hands, pointed to the pile of antique inner-painted snuff bottles, and said with a smile, "Since you also like inner-painted snuff bottles, and you're the one who identified these, you should pick one."

"Elder Feng, there's no need."

Wang Guan naturally declined. "These items are tokens of appreciation from your family and students; how could I possibly take them?"

"I will certainly keep their sentiment in mind. But now that they have gifted them to me, they belong to me. Therefore, I want to give one to you now; this is my sentiment, and you cannot refuse," Elder Feng insisted, speaking somewhat ramblingly.

Wang Guan felt embarrassed to accept and continued to shake his head in polite refusal.

However, Elder Feng was somewhat insistent, gripping Wang Guan's arm and refusing to let go, determined that he must choose one.

This led to a stalemate.

Seeing this situation, Qi Qingguo, who had been watching for a long time, finally spoke up. "Elder Feng, since Wang Guan is unwilling, let it go. It is proper for a young person to respect the elderly and care for the young by helping an elder with matters."

"Respecting the elderly and caring for the young is correct, but there is also the saying, 'What the elder bestows, one must not decline.' Brother Ren, wouldn't you agree?" Elder Feng was set in his opinion, even pulling Elder Ren in for support.

"That is also true," Elder Ren smiled. "If it weren't for Wang Guan, these antique inner-painted snuff bottles would truly be pearls hidden in the dust. Logically, Brother Feng should indeed offer some form of repayment."

"Exactly!" Elder Feng nodded, threatening rather dominantly, "If you don't take an antique inner-painted snuff bottle today, don't even think about leaving my house."

"Elder Feng, is it that serious?"

Wang Guan was caught between laughter and tears. "People engage in forced buying and selling; I've never heard of forced gifting."

"You haven't heard of it before, but now you'll get to see it," Elder Feng chuckled. "Young man, you need to be more straightforward. Don't be so wishy-washy and affected. If you don't take one soon, I'll call you hypocritical."

"Fine, I'll take one."

Wang Guan shook his head with a bitter smile. "However, coming to your home as a guest, getting free food, and now taking things for free—I can't bring myself to do that. How about this: we exchange?"

"Exchange?" Elder Feng looked surprised. "Exchange what?"

"To put it plainly, it's trading one item for another. This kind of activity is quite common in our collecting circles," Wang Guan said with a smile, reaching into his pocket and taking out the late Qing Dynasty jade fish.

This jade fish, having been treated with Wang Guan's special ability to clear the impurities from its surface, had regained its crystalline and bright appearance. Its condition was impeccable, immediately signaling to anyone who saw it that it was a fine object.

"No, no, no."

Now it was Elder Feng's turn to shake his head. "I intended this as a gesture of my thanks; how can I accept something from you?"

"That's what I was about to say," Wang Guan smiled. "I only helped you look at a few things, and now I'm demanding benefits? That would be even more laughable. Someone might well whisper behind my back and curse me as soon as I leave your door."

These words were spoken casually, but they struck a chord.

In that instant, Ding Yang found the remark extremely grating, and his expression darkened noticeably. (To be continued)RQ