Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: Suspicion in the Deep Alley, Secrets Hidden in Words

The days after returning from the mountain town were filled with a fragile calm. I hid in my room every day, sorting out the newly collected stamps and memorizing the latest trends in the stamp market. The horse, monkey, and rooster stamps were carefully tucked into the floorboard, next to the other rare sets, forming a small but precious treasure trove. Every time I touched them, my heart was filled with both joy and anxiety—joy for the approaching dream of changing my fate, and anxiety for the shadow of Mr. Li that lingered like a ghost. I knew he would not give up easily; his pursuit was like a dark cloud, hanging over my head, making me dare not relax for a moment.After a two-day rest, I couldn't bear to stop. I decided to go back to the first small town I had visited—the one with stone streets and osmanthus fragrance. This time, I planned to explore the deep alleys I hadn't set foot in before, and I also wanted to visit the old woman who had given me the snake and sheep stamps, to thank her properly. I reasoned that Mr. Li would not linger in the same town for too long, and the weekday afternoon would be the quietest time, with the least chance of encountering him.On Tuesday afternoon, I asked for leave again, this time saying I had a dental appointment. I changed into plain clothes, carried a small bag with some cash and an envelope, and quietly took the bus to the town. The journey was smooth, and the scenery outside the window was still as beautiful as before—green fields stretching as far as the eye could see, and small villages dotted among them. When I got off the bus, the warm autumn sun poured down, coating the stone streets with a layer of golden light.The town was even quieter than I remembered. The stone streets, polished smooth by years of footsteps, glistened slightly under the sun, and the moss in the cracks was lush and green, like little patches of emerald. On both sides of the street, the old houses with blue tiled roofs stood quietly, their walls covered with light gray moss, and some windowsills were still adorned with potted chrysanthemums, their petals swaying gently in the breeze. The fragrance of osmanthus lingered in the air, mixed with the faint smell of rice from the nearby houses, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere. A few old women sat on bamboo stools at the door, chatting in low voices, their laughter mixing with the chirping of sparrows, echoing softly in the street.I walked along the stone street slowly, my head slightly lowered, pretending to be a casual traveler. I passed the small grocery store where I had gotten the rabbit stamps; the old man was still dozing off in the sun, his head nodding slightly. I smiled and walked past, then turned into the narrow alley where the old woman's courtyard was located. The alley was still quiet, with ivy climbing up the walls, their green leaves hanging down, brushing against my shoulders as I walked. The ground was covered with fallen osmanthus petals, golden and soft, and stepping on them made a faint rustling sound.When I reached the end of the alley, I saw the old woman's courtyard. The wooden door was still half-open, and the osmanthus trees in the yard were in full bloom, their golden flowers covering the branches, and the sweet fragrance was even stronger than before. I knocked gently on the wooden door, and a familiar gentle voice came from inside: "Come in, please."I pushed the door open and walked in. The old woman was sitting on the stone bench, sorting through a basket of osmanthus flowers, her white hair glowing in the sun. "Grandma, I'm back to thank you," I said with a smile, taking out a small bag of candies from my bag—this was the gift I had prepared for her, something simple but sincere.The old woman looked up, her eyes crinkling with a smile. "Oh, it's you, young man! You don't have to be so polite. I'm just glad those stamps found a good home." She put down the osmanthus basket and patted the stone bench next to her. "Sit down, sit down. I'll make you a cup of osmanthus tea; it's just brewed, very fragrant.""Thank you, grandma. You're too kind," I said, sitting down beside her. The osmanthus fragrance was overwhelming, making me feel relaxed for a moment. I looked around the courtyard—the small garden was tidy, with potted chrysanthemums and jasmine placed everywhere, and a small stone table in the corner, on which there was a pot of osmanthus tea, steaming gently."You like collecting stamps very much, don't you?" the old woman asked, pouring a cup of osmanthus tea for me. The tea was golden yellow, and the fragrance was even more intense when it was brewed.I took the teacup, took a small sip, and nodded. "Yes, grandma. I've liked stamps since I was a child. They're not just pieces of paper to me; each stamp has a story, and they're also a way for me to change my life." I didn't tell her the whole truth, but my words were sincere.The old woman smiled and nodded. "I understand. My husband also loved collecting stamps. He used to say that stamps are like windows, through which we can see the world. He spent his whole life collecting stamps, and every set was precious to him." Her voice was filled with nostalgia, and her eyes looked into the distance, as if she was recalling the days with her husband."Did your husband collect many rare stamps?" I couldn't help but ask, my curiosity piqued. I tried to keep my tone casual, not wanting to seem too eager."Oh, he collected a lot," the old woman said, sighing softly. "There were many rare zodiac stamps, just like the ones I gave you. But a few years ago, a man came to the town, saying he was a stamp collector, and wanted to buy all his stamps at a high price. My husband refused—those stamps were his life's work, and he wouldn't sell them no matter how much money he was offered."My heart skipped a beat. A man who came to buy rare stamps? Could it be Mr. Li? I tried to stay calm and asked, "Grandma, do you remember what that man looked like? Was he tall and thin, with sharp eyes?"The old woman thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, that's him! He was tall and thin, wearing a black jacket, and his eyes were very sharp, as if he could see through people. He stayed in the town for two days, visiting every old shop, asking about rare stamps. But no one was willing to sell their stamps to him—we townspeople are simple, and we don't care much about money; those old things are our memories."It really was Mr. Li! My hands couldn't help but tighten around the teacup, and my heart sank. He had been to this town before, and he had been looking for rare stamps here too. How many towns had he visited? How many rare stamps had he collected? A sense of crisis welled up in my heart—he was more powerful than I had imagined, and our gap was still huge."He didn't buy any stamps here, did he?" I asked, my voice slightly trembling."No, he didn't," the old woman said, shaking her head. "He was very disappointed when he left. He even asked me if I had any rare stamps, and I told him I only had a few ordinary ones. He didn't believe me, but he didn't force me either." She paused, then looked at me with a smile. "I'm glad I didn't tell him about the stamps I gave you. Those stamps are better off with you, a young man who truly appreciates them."I felt warm in my heart, and I quickly said, "Thank you, grandma. I will definitely take good care of them. I won't let you down."We chatted for a while longer, talking about her husband, about the town's past, and about stamps. The old woman was very kind, and her words were warm, making me forget the fear of Mr. Li for a moment. But just as I was about to leave, I heard a familiar voice coming from the alley outside the courtyard."Excuse me, auntie, do you know where I can find old stamps in this town?" The voice was cold and sharp, and I instantly recognized it—it was Mr. Li!My heart almost jumped out of my chest, and I quickly stood up, looking at the old woman in panic. The old woman noticed my nervousness and whispered, "Don't worry, young man. Hide behind the osmanthus tree; he won't find you." She pointed to the big osmanthus tree in the corner of the courtyard, which was thick and lush, perfect for hiding.I thanked her quickly, then squatted down and hid behind the osmanthus tree, holding my breath, my heart beating so fast that I could hear it. I peeked out from behind the tree and saw Mr. Li standing at the courtyard door, wearing a black jacket, his sharp eyes scanning the courtyard. He looked even more imposing than before, and his expression was cold, as if he was searching for something."Old lady, do you have any old stamps at home?" Mr. Li asked again, his voice unchanged, but with a hint of impatience.The old woman walked to the door, her expression calm, as if she had never seen him before. "Stamps? I don't have any. I'm just an old woman, and I don't collect those things. You can go to other shops to ask."Mr. Li stared at her for a few seconds, his eyes sharp, as if he was trying to see if she was lying. "Are you sure? I heard that there are many old stamps in this town, especially rare zodiac stamps. I'm willing to pay a high price for them.""I'm sure," the old woman said, shaking her head firmly. "There are no rare stamps here. You're wasting your time. Why don't you go to the next town to have a look? Maybe you can find what you want there." She deliberately led him away, her tone natural, without any trace of panic.Mr. Li frowned, looking a little disappointed. He glanced at the courtyard again, his eyes lingering on the osmanthus tree where I was hiding. I held my breath even tighter, my hands sweating, afraid that he would find me. For a moment, I even thought about running away, but I knew that if I moved, I would definitely be discovered.After a while, Mr. Li turned around and said, "Thank you, old lady. I'll go to the next town to have a look." He walked away slowly, his figure gradually disappearing at the end of the alley. I didn't dare to come out until his footsteps could no longer be heard, and I let out a long sigh of relief, my legs weak with fear."He's gone, young man," the old woman said, walking over to me and patting my shoulder. "Don't be afraid. He won't come back for a while."I looked at her, my eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you so much, grandma. If it weren't for you, I would have been discovered. You saved me.""It's nothing," the old woman said with a smile. "I can see that you're a good child, and that man is not a good person. I won't let him hurt you. But you have to be careful—he's very persistent, and he might come back again."I nodded heavily. "I know, grandma. I'll be more careful. I'll leave now, so I don't bring you any trouble." I quickly said goodbye to her, tucked the envelope with stamps tightly into my inner pocket, and walked out of the courtyard quietly.The alley was still quiet, but I no longer felt the peace I had felt before. Every step I took was light, but my mind was alert, constantly checking my surroundings. The osmanthus petals under my feet seemed to have lost their sweetness, and the warm sun felt cold on my back. I walked quickly along the alley, eager to leave the town as soon as possible.When I reached the main street, I didn't dare to stop. I walked straight to the bus station, my head down, avoiding eye contact with anyone. The stone streets, the old houses, the osmanthus fragrance—everything that had once felt warm now made me feel anxious. I knew that Mr. Li's appearance was not an accident; he was still looking for me, and he was getting closer and closer.I boarded the bus back to the city, and as soon as I sat down, I leaned against the window, closing my eyes. My mind was filled with the scene of Mr. Li standing at the courtyard door, his sharp eyes scanning the courtyard. I felt a deep sense of powerlessness—no matter how hard I tried to hide, he always seemed to be able to find me. But at the same time, I also felt a surge of determination. I couldn't give up; I had come so far, and I had collected so many rare stamps. I had to keep going, to be more cautious, to outsmart him.When I got home, I locked myself in my room, took out all the stamps, and checked them again. They were all safe, and that was the only comfort. I sat on the bed, thinking about what the old woman had said—Mr. Li had been to this town before, and he had been looking for rare stamps everywhere. He was a powerful opponent, but I was not without advantages. I had the memories of the past, and I had the kindness of people like the old woman. These were my strengths, and they would help me get through this difficult time.That night, I lay in bed, unable to sleep. I thought about the old woman's warm smile, about Mr. Li's sharp eyes, and about the long road ahead. I knew that the danger was not over, and that the next encounter with Mr. Li might be more dangerous. 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, keep my guard up, and wait for the right opportunity to strike back. I would not let Mr. Li stop me, and I would definitely change my fate.