This sentence immediately stumped everyone present, except for Li Chonglou.
What good could a mere notebook possibly have?
Could it be something the emperor of the previous dynasty had personally used?
Basically, normal people define the value of antiques based on the identity of the user and the culture they represent.
Paper, in itself, is too ordinary.
Even if it were paper used by the emperor, so what?
However, if the calligraphy on it was from an emperor, that would be a different story. But several people present were familiar with calligraphy, and it was clear that this script did not come from any emperor.
There was no imperial aura.
Li Chonglou said subtly, "Antiques are derived from scholarly curios, and scholarly curios originally did not refer to the broad categories we have today. They simply referred to the playthings of scholars and refined gentlemen during their leisure."
"And the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone – the Four Treasures of the Study – were the foremost among them."
"Since ancient times, paper has had its own intricate standards, and ancient paper is an indispensable category, though generally inaccessible to most people."
"My notebook, with its药黄 (yào huáng) exterior, emits a faint fragrance from two meters away, and makes a rustling sound to the touch – it is undoubtedly硬黄纸 (yìng huáng zhǐ)."
"This type of paper was a precious coated paper produced between the early Tang and mid-Tang dynasties. It was formed through a two-stage processing of the晋代 (Jìn dài) 药黄纸 (yào huáng zhǐ) base."
"Tang Dynasty硬黄纸 (yìng huáng zhǐ) came in two thicknesses: the thicker was used for transcribing Buddhist scriptures and official documents, while the thinner was used for tracing and copying ancient artifacts."
"By the Song Dynasty, it became even more refined, evolving into金栗山笺 (Jīnlìshān jiān) and金栗山藏经纸 (Jīnlìshān cángjīng zhǐ)."
"Among these,金栗山藏经纸 (Jīnlìshān cángjīng zhǐ) was the foremost masterpiece among famous Song Dynasty papers, also known as黄经笺 (Huángjīng jiān)."
"Primarily made from bark, its interior and exterior underwent a waxing and burnishing process, and it was dyed with黄檗 (huáng bò) to achieve a yellow hue. Due to its thick, fine, smooth, and lustrous quality, and its resistance to decay over time, it was extremely valuable."
He spoke fluently, with logical reasoning.
"Wonderful!" As soon as he finished, Lü Yunxu led the applause.
Several cadres from Qin Prefecture also nodded in agreement.
These individuals were generally fond of calligraphy and knew of Xuan paper, but they had never imagined that the Four Treasures of the Study held such significance within the antique realm.
It was an eye-opener!
Even Director Zhu nodded in admiration.
"Hmph, at least you have some knowledge," Mo Zhigao said with a slightly unnatural expression.
This notebook of hard yellow paper was his favorite private collection, and it had stumped no less than ten so-called master appraisers.
After all, paper, compared to other antiques, is extremely difficult to preserve, so those who collect paper are exceedingly rare in the antique world.
However, those who do are invariably top-tier.
Li Chonglou's ability to articulate such details indeed impressed him, leaving Mo Zhigao somewhat at a disadvantage.
Just then, Li Chonglou continued, his words creating an even greater stir: "Looking at the laid pattern, the paper color, and the crack patterns of this notebook in your hand, it should have been made in the early Tang Dynasty. Its original form was likely a large square paper of 560 x 26.8 cm, making its value extraordinary."
"If I recall correctly, a similar piece was unearthed in Dunhuang, on which the 'Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra, Volume Two' was transcribed. Ten years ago, it was auctioned for over 2.5 million."
"And this one of yours, you've folded it into A4 size for convenience – it's a blatant waste of a heavenly treasure!"
"You are unworthy of using this paper because you lack the most basic reverence!"
Each word was like an arrow, each sentence like a blade.
Li Chonglou's tone grew sharper and sharper, finally piercing Mo Zhigao's heart like a keen edge.
Upon hearing this, his face turned ashen, and his body involuntarily swayed.
He had no way to refute these words.
Antiques, unlike modern luxury goods, are treasures carrying history. They are not to be damaged casually simply because they are worth only a few million.
Although he was not short of money, he had overlooked a crucial point: reverence.
Reverence for time and history.
A distinguished collector of antiquities, after decades of practice and enjoying fame, was being lectured by an unknown individual.
Crucially, he couldn't refute it. This was no different from an invisible slap to Mo Zhigao's face.
It ignited a furious blaze within him, and to mask his wounded pride, he suddenly lashed out, "Boy, do you think you're so great just because you know a bit of obscure knowledge?"
"You dare to instruct me? Who do you think you are!"
"Looking at you from head to toe, I can't find anything that would impress anyone. You, a pseudo-collector, only have a silver tongue."
"You're not fit to mingle in the antique circle."
Unable to outwit Li Chonglou in knowledge, he was forced to find another approach, intending to compete with Li Chonglou in terms of wealth.
Judging by Li Chonglou's attire and demeanor, he didn't seem like someone from high society.
He likely wouldn't possess the considerable financial means to acquire precious items.
In this regard, he was confident of his superiority.
"If you have anything good, you carry it with you?" Li Chonglou said with a self-mocking smile, not in anger, "According to you, if I had anything precious, could you possibly buy it all?"
It was truly a case of a pillow arriving just as sleepiness struck.
He was already fretting about how to digest the batch of bronze mirrors from Tian Lingli's uncle.
And here came a show-off, wanting to compete with him in wealth.
Wasn't that simply foolish?
If that was the case, why let such a "fat sheep" escape?
"Of course, if you have anything good, I will acquire it all," Mo Zhigao, having been put on the spot, could only feign protection of his last shred of dignity.
After all, he would normally acquire any good item he came across.
"A batch of heirloom Han Dynasty bronze mirrors, do you dare to take them? Twenty-four pieces, including a Wu Zixu portrait mirror and an eight-trigram mirror," Li Chonglou dropped a bombshell.
"Where did you get them?" Mo Zhigao's expression shifted slightly.
Twenty-four heirloom bronze mirrors, and judging by Li Chonglou's tone, they weren't recently unearthed.
The value of such a large collection of bronzes, if their condition was well-preserved, was something he dared not estimate at present.
But if they were genuine, then Li Chonglou would have once again slapped his face severely.
"Don't ask about the origin of the items. You don't even know the basic rules, yet you dare to impersonate a senior. How utterly laughable!" Li Chonglou, now in the advantageous position, turned the tables: "If you can handle it, come back here in three days, and I'll let you see them."
"If you can't, I won't force you."
Li Chonglou employed a tactic of playing hard to get, piquing Mo Zhigao's interest.
Quarrelling over seniority was child's play; profit was what adults pursued.
A megalomaniac like Mo Zhigao was, in essence, no different from himself – arrogant and always aiming to acquire good things he saw.
As for the definition of "good things," it varied from person to person.
Having immersed himself in antiques for decades in his previous life and being a renowned national collector, ordinary bronze wares no longer appealed to him.
But for Mo Zhigao, bronzes should be as captivating as "finding a bargain" is for beginners.
Making a substantial profit from him was a desirable outcome.
"Ah, young friend, what you say is true. If Zhi Gao cannot afford it, am I not here, Zhu Youzhen?" Director Zhu chuckled, smoothing things over.
After this trial, Li Chonglou's abilities had been acknowledged in his mind.
Furthermore, hearing about such a legitimate collection of bronzes, though he appeared calm on the surface, his heart was instantly overjoyed.
As long as they were genuine, Mo Zhigao would have no chance to acquire them.
He intended to acquire them all.
"Hmph, Director Zhu, do you really believe him? If he truly had them, why wouldn't he show them now and insist on waiting three days!" Mo Zhigao said with a displeased snort, "Most likely, they aren't even his possessions, but he's borrowing them to make money? You think you can fool me with such trivial tricks?"