Chapter 5 - Chapter 5 Undercurrents Surge, A Fierce Foe Appears

The days passed quickly, and I spent every spare moment either sorting stamps or wandering around old streets and markets, hunting for hidden treasures. I had already collected three more sets of rare stamps, all of which were not yet popular but would soon become valuable. The 300 yuan I earned from selling the first set had long been turned into more "seeds" of wealth, and my small wooden box was gradually filled with stamps and a small amount of cash. I kept everything a secret, never mentioning my collection to anyone—neither my parents nor my classmates, for fear of attracting unnecessary trouble.​One Saturday morning, I went to the stamp market again, this time not to buy, but to observe the market trends. I wanted to know when the boom I remembered from my past life would start, so I could sell my stamps at the best price. The market was even busier than before, with more collectors and vendors gathering. I walked around quietly, listening to their conversations, trying to get useful information.​As I passed a stall selling stamps, I heard a man's voice talking about the recent changes in the stamp market. "Did you hear? Someone has been buying up rare zodiac stamps recently, and the price of some sets has already started to rise," he said. "I heard that a set of horse zodiac stamps was sold for 600 yuan yesterday—who would have thought those old pieces of paper could be so valuable?"​My heart skipped a beat. The boom was coming earlier than I expected! This was both good news and bad news. The good news was that I could sell my stamps sooner and earn more money; the bad news was that someone else had also noticed the potential of these stamps, which meant more competition.​I followed the sound and saw a middle-aged man in a black jacket standing by the stall. He was tall and thin, with sharp eyes that seemed to be able to see through everything. He was holding a magnifying glass, examining a set of stamps carefully, and his movements were calm and steady, showing that he was an experienced collector. The vendor was talking to him respectfully, which meant that this man was not an ordinary person.​"How much is this set?" the man asked, pointing to a set of tiger zodiac stamps—exactly the same as the one I had in my wooden box. His voice was deep and calm, with a hint of authority.​The vendor smiled and said, "Mr. Li, you know the market. This set is in good condition, and the price has been rising recently. I'll give you a fair price—800 yuan."​Mr. Li nodded without hesitation and took out 800 yuan from his pocket, handing it to the vendor. He put the stamps carefully into a leather folder and turned to leave. As he walked past me, his eyes glanced at the envelope in my hand—where I had put a few rare stamps I had brought to check the price. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he paused for a moment, as if he had noticed something.​"Young man, are you also collecting stamps?" he asked, his voice not cold, but not warm either. I felt a little nervous, but I forced myself to stay calm. "Yes, just a hobby," I said, putting the envelope behind my back subtly.​Mr. Li looked at me for a few seconds, then smiled faintly. "Hobbies are good, but stamps are not just toys—they're assets. If you want to collect them well, you need to have eyes and patience. Don't waste your time on useless things." With that, he turned and left, his figure quickly disappearing into the crowd.​I stood there, my heart still beating fast. This Mr. Li was definitely a tough opponent. He was not only experienced but also had enough money to buy up rare stamps. If he kept buying, the price of stamps would rise faster, but it would also be harder for me to find more rare sets. I realized that I couldn't take my time anymore; I needed to speed up my pace and collect as many rare stamps as possible before he snapped them all up.​That afternoon, I went back to the old street again, this time more urgent than before. I visited every old shop, carefully checking every corner where stamps might be hidden. I bought two more sets of rare stamps, spending almost half of my savings. But I didn't regret it—these stamps would soon bring me huge profits.​On my way home, I passed a small alley and saw Zhang Wei and his two friends standing there, talking in low voices. When they saw me, they immediately stopped talking and looked at me with mockery. "Hey, Lin Hao, are you still out collecting your junk stamps?" Zhang Wei sneered. "I heard the stamp market is going crazy recently—did you make any money? Or are you still wasting your time?"​I didn't want to argue with them, so I just walked past them without saying a word. But Zhang Wei stepped forward and blocked my way. "Why are you running? Did I hit a nerve?" he said, reaching out to grab the envelope in my hand. "Let me see what kind of junk you're carrying now!"​I dodged his hand quickly, my eyes turning cold. "Get out of my way," I said. I didn't want to cause trouble, but I wouldn't let him bully me either. Zhang Wei was stunned for a moment—he had never seen me speak to him like this before. He got angry and raised his hand, as if he was going to hit me.​Just as his hand was about to fall, a voice sounded from behind. "What are you doing here?" It was Mr. Li, who had just left the stamp market. He walked over, his eyes cold as he looked at Zhang Wei. "Bullying a child? Is that what you do?"​Zhang Wei's hand froze in mid-air. He looked at Mr. Li, his face turning pale. He didn't know who Mr. Li was, but he could feel the authority from him. "I… I'm just joking with my classmate," he stammered. Mr. Li snorted coldly: "Jokes are not made like this. Apologize."​Zhang Wei had no choice but to lower his head and mumble an apology to me. Then he and his friends ran away in a hurry. I looked at Mr. Li, feeling a little confused. "Thank you," I said sincerely. He nodded and said, "You're a smart kid, but you're too young and too impulsive. In this business, you need to keep a low profile and not attract trouble. Otherwise, you'll lose more than you gain."​I thought about his words and nodded. "I understand, thank you for your advice." Mr. Li smiled and said, "I've seen your stamps—they're good. If you ever want to sell them, you can come to me. I'll give you a fair price." With that, he left again.​When I got home, I locked myself in my room and thought about what had happened today. Mr. Li was a mystery—he was both a rival and a potential helper. His appearance meant that the stamp market was about to enter a fierce competition period. I needed to be more careful, more patient, and seize every opportunity. I took out my wooden box and looked at the stamps inside—they were my hope, my weapons to change my fate.​I decided to sell one set of horse zodiac stamps first, to test the market and get some cash. I would keep the other sets and wait for the price to rise further. At the same time, I would continue to look for more rare stamps, and also pay attention to Mr. Li's movements. I knew that the road ahead would be more difficult, but I was not afraid. With my memories of the past and my determination, I would surely win this "battle" in the stamp market.​As night fell, I looked out the window again. The stars were still bright, but there was a hint of unease in the air. Undercurrents were surging in the stamp market, and a fierce foe had appeared. But I was ready—I would face the challenges head-on, and use my wisdom to turn the situation to my advantage. This was not only a battle for wealth, but also a battle for my own destiny.