Chapter 1, Curiosity Kills the Cat.

The "Cai Shen Temple" is dedicated to the God of Wealth, Fan Li, who was the business saint in history and was known for using the beauty Xi Shi to overthrow King Fu Chai of Wu. Therefore, starting from 2009, every Saturday and Sunday, many vendors selling antique jade gather here, forming a bustling antique market.

"Boss, what is this thing? It's quite interesting." A young man squatted in front of a stall selling antique jade and asked the stall owner with a smile.

Li Laoshu is proud, but in fact, he heard these words from others and diligently wrote them down. Every time he sells snuff bottles, he boasts and appears knowledgeable and well-founded.

The stall owner is nicknamed "Li Laoshu". He is originally a snobbish person. When he saw a young man who looked clean but dressed shabbily, he immediately looked down upon him. He then yawned indifferently and clicked his tongue before saying with his yellow teeth, "This is a snuff bottle from the Qing Dynasty, it's been around for hundreds of years."

Well said, I have exactly the same plan!" The chubby man clapped his hands and said, "But my nose has been uncomfortable these days due to allergic rhinitis. I can't smell anything, let alone whether it's fragrant or stinky in here. Even if it's filled with magical water, I wouldn't be able to smell a thing."

At this point, Li Mouse became anxious and said, "If you don't believe me, you can smell it."

All eyes were on Lin Yi, waiting to see his next move.

However, it's not like that... The young man reached out to take the thing.

Surrounding people looked at it with inexplicable surprise. Those who didn't see it clearly thought that two small green snakes had run out from inside and drilled into Lin Yi's nose.

The young man smiled and didn't mind Li Laoshu's sarcasm at all. He laughed and said, "As far as I know, snuff is in powder form, not liquid."

You don't know about this, do you? Li Laoshu finally managed to pick out the leek leaf stuck in his teeth with his fingernail, and spat it out on the ground with saliva. "Nasal snuff, this thing was introduced during the Ming Dynasty and only became popular during the Qing Dynasty after two or three hundred years... Nasal snuff is made by grinding good tobacco into powder, adding precious medicinal ingredients such as musk, or extracting from flowers. The production process is very sophisticated, and the aroma is divided into five types: pungent, pasty, sour, bean-like, and bitter... Because nasal snuff is prone to fermentation when stored in a snuff bottle, it is usually sealed with wax for several years or even decades before being sold... When the snuff foam ferments for a long time, it naturally oxidizes and combines with the moisture in the air to form... that thing, that form and state..." Li Laoshu spoke fluently, surprising the young people with his knowledgeable words. Some people gathered around, listening to Li Laoshu's nonsense. "That thing, that form and state..." Li Laoshu spoke fluently, surprising the young people with his knowledgeable words. Some people gathered around, listening to Li Laoshu's nonsense.

At this moment, the fat man snatched the snuff bottle from Lin Yi's hand in a rude manner, who was listening to Li Laoshu's exaggerated talk with a briefcase in his arms, and seemed to be examining it expertly.

Next to him was a graceful and charming woman, with a figure like a peach. The woman was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with fair skin, wearing a stylish black silk camisole and cropped white pencil trousers, wrapping around her perky apple-shaped buttocks, looking mature and sexy at the same time.

Are you buying it or not? Don't mess around, this thing is precious! Li Laoshu is very dissatisfied with the young man's behavior. In his opinion, the other party is the kind of legendary "poor loser", who has nothing but likes to ask about everything.

Therefore, Lin Yi's understanding of snuff is much deeper than that of Li Laoshu, who is only half-hearted. However, he has always been friendly. Seeing Li Laoshu boasting and even using his ancestor Li Lianying to advertise his snuff bottle, saying that Li Lianying was able to please the Emperor because he was good at purchasing well-made snuff bottles that catered to his preferences, Lin Yi just smiled and said nothing.

Lin Yiben is intelligent, how could he not understand the man's intention, he just doesn't understand why he's talking so much nonsense.

The young man listened with a smile, without arguing.

The fat man said, "If you really don't want it, then I won't force it. But since you're so interested in this little thing, I consider us kindred spirits. I like making friends with kindred spirits, so I want to study it together with you. You said this snuff bottle looks like it's from the Qing Dynasty, but what exactly is inside? Could it be that the smoke has oxidized into water?" Could it be that the smoke has oxidized into water?"

When the snuff bottle is placed, it doesn't feel like much, but when picked up, it feels icy to the touch, like holding a piece of black ice. The emerald green small porcelain bottle is the size of a baby's fist, small and exquisite, crystal clear. What is most surprising is that there seems to be a trace of liquid inside, which flows interestingly as the snuff bottle tilts.

However, he quickly understood it.

The stall owner, Mr. Li, suddenly felt that something seemed amiss. How could these liquids turn into gases?

The two of them walked arm in arm, their ears and temples rubbing against each other, their gestures intimate. They looked just like a couple who perfectly complemented each other in terms of appearance and wealth.

The young man smiled and reached out to pick up the snuff bottle again to examine it carefully. To be honest, he was just curious. Originally, he didn't want to reach out again after being rejected, so as not to be pushy. But when Li Laoshu said so, he felt embarrassed to refuse.

Lin Yi didn't care, but someone next to him was fooled by Li Laoshu's big talk. He was a short and fat man with a heart-shaped inch-long hair, a thick dog chain hanging around his neck, an emerald jade thumb ring on his hand, sandalwood bead necklace, and a fat man wearing a Rolex watch.

Lin Yimei frowned involuntarily. He was a friendly person, but that didn't mean he had no temper. Just as he was about to speak, the woman next to the fat man apologized first, "I'm sorry, little brother. My husband is impatient and can't resist what he likes. Don't bother with him." After speaking, she smiled at the young man, charming and enchanting, especially with her red lips and rosy teeth, making the surrounding male animals unable to help but drool.

Is the inside filled with snuff?

Li Laoshu doesn't feel that he has bad breath at all. He picks the leftover leek leaves from his teeth with the long fingernail left by his little finger, and says vaguely, "Do you know Emperor Qianlong and Empress Dowager Cixi, and Li Hongzhang? They all loved to use snuff bottles."

His name is Lin Yi. He doesn't have many hobbies usually, but he likes to come to the Temple of Wealth God on weekends, especially to browse books at the book stall. Reading a lot of books, he remembers many things. For example, he remembers that in Volume 7 of Qing Wang Shizhen's "Xiangzu Notes", it is said that "Tobacco produced in the country of Luzon is originally called Tanbagugu, also known as Jin Si Xun. I have detailed it in the previous volume. Recently, there are also nose snuff makers in the capital, which can clear the eyes and have the function of preventing epidemics." In Chapter 52 of "Dream of Red Mansions", "Bao Yu ordered She Yue to take some snuff and let him smell it. After a few sneezes, he felt better." In Chapter 10 of Mao Dun's "Midnight", "Du Zhuzhai had both nostrils filled with snuff, his eyes closed and his mouth open, waiting to sneeze."

As he leaned over the spout of the snuff bottle, Lin Yi took a slight sniff and saw the strange liquid inside the bottle instantly turn into two wisps of blue smoke, which then entered his nostrils.

Nonsense, is it not snuff, but plain water? I don't have time to pour things into it, the mouth is so small, even if I want to pour, I can't get it in. Li Laoshu was very dissatisfied with the stupid question asked by Nian.

The young man looked a little embarrassed, with a hint of apology in his smile. His beautiful eyes turned into bright crescent moons, twinkling.

Li Laoshu was about to say, "I can help you smell it if necessary," but hesitated when he saw the strange-colored liquid in the snuff bottle. Who knows what toxic substance might be inside? Besides, despite his seemingly simple appearance, this fat man is actually quite cunning. Even if he did smell it for him, he wouldn't believe him.

Everyone was stunned for a moment. However, it was Li Laoshu who reacted the fastest, saying "Pinch the person's philtrum, call an ambulance quickly! Damn it, my nasal snuff bottle!"

In the West, there is a saying, "Curiosity killed the cat." However, Lin Yi is the kind of person who is full of curiosity about things and can't sleep without figuring them out. Moreover, just now when he got the snuff bottle, he wanted to smell it and identify the scent, fearing that Li Laoshu might stop him. Now...

The people around were also looking at Lin He * Tu * Shu Yi, their eyes filled with doubt and curiosity, waiting for Lin Yi to reveal the answer.

Li Laoshu was slightly startled, feeling that this young man was very delicate and refined. Hmm, how should I put it, he seemed to be well-educated, especially when he smiled, it was very pleasant and made people feel very friendly. So Li Laoshu cleared his throat and said, "If you want to see it, you can, just hold it steady and don't break it all at once... Last time, I had a piece of good jade here that was smashed, but that damn dog refused to take responsibility."

Upon seeing this, Li Laoshu's heart blossomed with joy. At first glance, it was clear that this was a wealthy man. It was possible that it could be sold for a high price. So, Li Laoshu ignored Lin Yi, the poor customer, and eagerly flattered the fat man, praising his keen eye. With just one look, he found a treasure. Li Laoshu then went on to boast even more, saying how precious this item was, worth at least seven to eight thousand. If it were to be auctioned at a auction, it would be even more extraordinary, easily worth over ten thousand. The fat man paid no attention to Li Laoshu's flattery, nor did he care about Lin Yi, the poor guy. He arrogantly held the snuff bottle, rubbing and examining the patterns and craftsmanship, as if no one else was around. He then continued to boast even more, saying how precious this item was, worth at least seven to eight thousand. If it were to be auctioned at an auction, it would be even more extraordinary, easily worth over ten thousand. The fat man paid no attention to Li Laoshu's flattery, nor did he care about Lin Yi, the poor guy. He arrogantly held the snuff bottle, rubbing and examining the patterns and craftsmanship, as if no one else was around.

Lin Yi is not stupid. How could he not know what this fat man is thinking? However, compared to the fat man, he is more curious about what is inside the snuff bottle.

Although Lin Yi knew that he was the little white rabbit used for experiments at this moment, he was more curious than those around him about the secrets inside, so he... ... leaned his nose closer.

Too eerie, too terrifying.

The fat man saw Li Lao Shu and became speechless, thinking to himself that he wanted to make big money but didn't have the courage, so he deserved to run a stall for the rest of his life. Then he turned to Lin Yi, put on a smiling face, and pretended to be harmless, saying, "How about... little brother, help me out. Among all these people, I have the most fate with you and trust you the most."

The obese man is about thirty or forty years old, with a belly that protrudes like a ten-month pregnancy. He is arrogant and has a somewhat nouveau riche demeanor.

Lin Yi's temperament has always been peaceful. Seeing this, he no longer cared and prepared to leave. However, he saw the fat man suddenly speak, saying, "Wait, little brother, I apologize for not discussing it with you before bringing this thing over. To be honest, I really like this hetushucomcom trinket. It can be described in two words - 'elegant and exquisite'. But, as a gentleman, I won't snatch what others love. If you like it, feel free to take it. First come, first served!" The fat man said this with his mouth, but his eyes were full of mockery. In his eyes, Lin Yi, a poor loser, couldn't afford such a thing. The words he just said were just for show. But, as a gentleman, I won't snatch what others love. If you like it, feel free to take it. First come, first served!" The fat man said this with his mouth, but his eyes were full of mockery. In his eyes, Lin Yi, a poor loser, couldn't afford such a thing. The words he just said were just for show.

A seemingly light sentence, but it made the young man furrow his brows. The reason is that he himself is very clean, while Mr. Li, on the other hand, never brushes his teeth. Recently, he has also developed a habit of smoking, causing his breath to be extremely foul.

On weekends, the "God of Wealth Temple" in Nandu City is bustling with people, appearing particularly lively.

As Lin Yi seemed to hesitate, the fat man took the initiative to pull out the stopper of the snuff bottle and handed it to Lin Yi, saying, "Just take a sniff, at worst, I'll treat you to a meal later." Patting his chest, he appeared very bold.

The face of the fat man was solemn, his eyes flickered. He was glad that he didn't go to smell it just now. Everyone else was quiet, only that woman seemed to be somewhat reluctant in her heart, looking at Lin Yi with a compassionate expression.

Lin Yi inhaled the gas, but felt a pungent taste rushing into his nostrils, like eating too much mustard, choking him and making his tears flow. Then that taste rushed into his brain, stimulating his nerves. Lin Yi trembled all over, instantly fainted to the ground, and the snuff bottle in his hand also fell and shattered with a snap.

The stall owner looked dark, thin, and withered, with a deer-like head and rat-like eyes. He had gotten up too early to secure his spot and was now leaning against the wall of the God of Wealth Temple, resting with his eyes closed. Upon hearing a sound, he quickly opened his rat-like eyes and saw a young man in plain and shabby clothes - a white shirt, faded jeans, and a pair of Adidas knockoff sneakers that were almost worn out and revealing his toes.

Over the past three years, the scale here has been growing larger and larger. Even many merchants from surrounding provinces come here to do business, selling unique jades, antiques, old-fashioned record players, projectors, and even older tea cups, plates, bowls, old books, and newspapers. It can be said that except for illegal items, anything old can be bought or sold here.