Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Exploring Treasures in a New Town, Building a Hidden Defense

The following week was a test of my patience. I stayed in the city, never stepping foot near the stamp market or the previous small town, as if I had completely forgotten about stamp collecting. Every day, after finishing my homework, I would hide in my room, flipping through old stamp catalogs I had borrowed from the library, memorizing the patterns and values of more rare stamps. My mind was filled with Mr. Li's sharp eyes and the conversation I had heard in the teahouse—fear lingered in my chest, like a thin thread tightly winding around my heart, reminding me not to be careless again. But beneath that fear, there was also an irrepressible eagerness to collect more stamps; every rare set I added was a step closer to changing my fate, and I couldn't afford to stop.After careful consideration, I chose another small town, even more remote than the previous one. It was nestled between two low mountains, with no direct bus route—one had to take a country bus to the foot of the mountain and then walk for half an hour to reach it. I figured Mr. Li, with his status, would never bother to go to such a remote place; even if he did, he would not be able to find his way around easily. This was my safest bet, and also my only chance to continue collecting stamps without being noticed.On Saturday morning, I set off before dawn. The sky was still dark, with a faint glow on the eastern horizon, and the air was cool and dewy, making me shiver slightly. I wore a hat and a worn jacket, carrying a small canvas bag with only a few hundred yuan and an empty envelope inside. I didn't tell my parents where I was going—this time, I lied and said I was going to the library to study for the whole day. As I walked to the bus station, the streets were empty, only a few street sweepers were cleaning the roads, their brooms swishing against the ground, echoing in the quiet morning. My heart was a mix of excitement and anxiety: excitement at the thought of finding new rare stamps, and anxiety that Mr. Li might somehow track me down again.The country bus rumbled along the winding mountain road, shaking constantly. Outside the window, the sky gradually brightened, and the mountains were covered with dense green trees, their leaves glistening with dew in the morning sun. The road was lined with wild chrysanthemums, their bright orange and purple petals dotted among the green grass, adding a touch of color to the monotonous mountain scenery. After an hour's ride, I got off the bus at the foot of the mountain, and the first thing I felt was the thick mountain air, cool and fresh, mixed with the fragrance of pine trees and wild flowers. It was a stark contrast to the stuffy air of the city, and for a moment, I felt a little relaxed, as if the tension in my chest had eased slightly.I followed the narrow dirt road up the mountain, the path covered with fallen pine needles, which were soft under my feet, making no sound. On both sides of the road, there were tall pine trees, their branches stretching high into the sky, forming a green canopy that blocked most of the sunlight. Only a few rays of light filtered through the leaves, casting thin, golden streaks on the ground. From time to time, I could hear the chirping of birds in the trees and the gurgling of a small stream not far away, which made the mountain even quieter. As I walked, I couldn't help but glance behind me every few steps, my hands tightly clutching the strap of my bag—even in this remote place, I couldn't shake the fear of being followed. I knew this was paranoia, but after the encounter with Mr. Li, I didn't dare to take any chances.After walking for about half an hour, the small town finally appeared in front of me. It was smaller than the previous one, clinging to the side of the mountain, with houses scattered randomly, most of them made of stone and wood, with thatched roofs that had turned gray with age. Unlike the neat stone streets of the previous town, this one had winding dirt roads, which turned muddy in some places, leaving deep footprints. The town was so quiet that I could hear the crowing of roosters from the distant courtyards and the barking of dogs echoing between the mountains. There were no bustling crowds, no noisy vendors—only a few elderly people walking slowly with crutches, their figures thin and hunched, blending into the quiet mountain scenery.I stood at the entrance of the town, taking a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. I told myself to be calm, to act like a casual traveler, not a stamp collector. I adjusted my hat, lowered my head slightly, and walked into the town along the dirt road. The ground under my feet was soft, and with every step, I could feel the coolness of the soil seeping through my shoes. On both sides of the road, there were small yards surrounded by stone walls, some with wooden gates hanging crookedly, and some with no gates at all, revealing the small vegetable gardens inside—tomatoes, peppers, and green onions grew neatly, their leaves glistening with dew. A few cats lay lazily on the stone walls, squinting at the sun, which had just climbed over the mountain, casting warm light on the town.I walked slowly, my eyes scanning every house and every corner, but my mind was alert, constantly checking my surroundings. I was afraid of encountering anyone who might be suspicious, afraid of hearing Mr. Li's name again, afraid that this peaceful town would also become a place of danger. But at the same time, I was filled with hope—this remote town, untouched by the hustle and bustle of the city, must have many old stamps hidden in the homes of the townspeople. Those stamps, forgotten by time, would be my new treasures.I passed a small stone house with a thatched roof, and a faint smell of ink came from inside. I hesitated for a moment, then gently knocked on the wooden door. The door creaked open, and an old man with white hair and a long beard stood in the doorway, wearing a blue cloth jacket, his eyes cloudy but bright. "Who are you, young man?" he asked, his voice like the creaking of an old wooden chair."Grandpa, I'm a traveler passing by," I said politely, trying to look calm. "I heard this town is very beautiful, so I came to have a look. I also like collecting old stamps—do you have any old stamps at home that you don't need?" My heart was beating fast as I spoke, afraid that he would be suspicious, afraid that he would drive me away. I held my breath, waiting for his answer, my hands unconsciously twisting the strap of my bag.The old man stared at me for a few seconds, then smiled, revealing a few remaining teeth. "Stamps? I have some. My son used to work in the post office, and he brought back many stamps when he was young. They've been locked in the drawer for years, and I don't know what to do with them. Come in and take a look." His words made me feel a surge of relief, as if a heavy stone had been lifted from my chest. I followed him into the house, my steps light with excitement.The house was small but tidy, with a wooden table in the middle, covered with a worn cloth. The walls were adorned with old photos and a few ink paintings, which looked like they had been hanging there for many years. The old man walked to a wooden drawer, rummaged through it for a while, and took out a small iron box. He opened it, and inside were dozens of stamps, neatly arranged in a notebook.I walked over, my hands trembling slightly with excitement. I carefully flipped through the notebook, my eyes scanning each stamp. Most of them were common stamps, but after flipping through a few pages, I found a set of horse zodiac stamps—different from the ones I had collected before, this set was a limited edition, which I remembered would be worth more than 2,000 yuan in half a year. My heart skipped a beat, and I had to bite my lip to keep from smiling too broadly. This was the treasure I had been looking for!But as soon as the excitement came, it was replaced by caution. I thought of Mr. Li, of the danger of being discovered, and my smile faded. I forced myself to look calm, pointing to the set of horse stamps and asking, "Grandpa, how much is this set of stamps? I really like it." My voice was steady, but my hands were still trembling slightly—I was afraid that he would ask for a high price, afraid that I wouldn't have enough money, and even more afraid that someone would come in and see us.The old man looked at the stamps, his eyes filled with nostalgia. "This set was my son's favorite. He said it was very rare. But now, he's working in the city and doesn't come back often. These stamps are useless to me. If you like them, give me 700 yuan. That's all I ask." 700 yuan was more than I had expected, but I knew it was a steal. This set of stamps would bring me huge profits, so it was worth every penny.I quickly took out 700 yuan from my pocket, counted it carefully, and handed it to him. "Thank you, grandpa. I'll take good care of them." The old man smiled and patted my hand. "I'm glad someone can appreciate them. Take them, young man. Maybe they'll bring you good luck." I carefully put the stamps into the envelope, tucked it into my inner pocket, and felt a sense of security—this set of stamps was not only a treasure, but also a step closer to my dream of changing my fate.As I was about to leave, the old man said, "Wait a minute, young man. I have another box of old letters in the back room. There are some stamps on the envelopes—maybe you'll like them. I'll go get them for you." I nodded eagerly, my heart filled with anticipation. While waiting for him, I stood by the window, looking out at the town. The sun was now high in the sky, casting warm light on the stone houses and dirt roads. A few children were playing in the distance, their laughter echoing between the mountains, adding a touch of vitality to the quiet town. But even in this peaceful scene, I couldn't relax—I kept looking around, my ears pricked up, listening for any unusual sounds, afraid that Mr. Li would suddenly appear.A few minutes later, the old man came out with a cardboard box. He opened it, and inside were dozens of old letters, their envelopes yellowed with age, covered with stamps of different patterns. I carefully picked up the letters, tearing off the stamps gently, my heart racing with excitement. Among them, I found two more rare stamps—a set of monkey zodiac stamps and a set of rooster zodiac stamps, both of which were valuable. I looked at the old man, my eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you so much, grandpa. You've helped me a lot.""It's nothing," the old man said with a smile. "These letters have been sitting there for years. The stamps are useless to me, but they might be useful to you. Take them all—no need to pay extra." I insisted on giving him 200 yuan, but he refused, shaking his head firmly. "I said no, young man. Just take them. It's a gift from an old man to a young man who likes stamps." I had no choice but to accept his kindness, feeling warm in my heart. In this remote town, I had encountered the same kindness as the old woman in the previous alley, which made me realize that there was still warmth in the world, even in the middle of competition and danger.I said goodbye to the old man and walked out of the stone house. The sun was warm on my back, and the fragrance of pine trees and wild flowers filled the air. I walked along the dirt road, my steps light, but my mind was still alert. I kept my head down, avoiding eye contact with anyone I met, and walked quickly towards the exit of the town. I didn't dare to stay any longer—even though this town was remote, I was still afraid of being discovered. My heart was a mix of joy and caution: joy at the huge harvest, and caution at the hidden danger that might be lurking nearby.As I walked down the mountain path, I couldn't help but take out the stamps from my inner pocket and look at them. The horse, monkey, and rooster stamps were all in perfect condition, their colors bright, as if they had just been printed. I smiled softly, feeling a surge of confidence. With these stamps, my collection was getting richer and richer, and my dream of changing my fate was getting closer and closer. But at the same time, I reminded myself that I couldn't be complacent—Mr. Li was still looking for me, and the stamp market was becoming more and more competitive. I had to keep building my defense, keep being cautious, and never let my guard down.When I got back to the city, it was already afternoon. I went home quietly, locked myself in my room, and hid the new stamps in the floorboard, next to the others. I counted my savings—after buying the horse stamps, I still had some money left, which was enough to buy more stamps if I found any. But I decided to take another break, to let the heat die down, and to avoid attracting Mr. Li's attention. I sat on the bed, looking at the wooden box under the bed, and thought about the old man in the mountain town. His kindness made me feel warm, and it gave me more courage to keep going.That night, I lay in bed, unable to sleep. I thought about the mountain town—the stone houses, the dirt roads, the pine trees, and the old man's warm smile. I also thought about Mr. Li, his sharp eyes, and the danger he brought. I knew that the road ahead was still full of challenges, but I was no longer as afraid as before. I had my stamps, my determination, and the warmth of the kind people I had met. I would continue to bide my time, build my defense, and wait for the right opportunity to strike. I would not let Mr. Li stop me, and I would not let my past regrets repeat themselves. This was my counterattack, and I would keep moving forward, no matter what obstacles I faced.