As soon as Old Madam Li spoke, Su Tian smiled. She knew right away that Su Lili didn’t recognize good opportunities—sure enough, the wealth offered to her was rejected. Just like her past self, short-sighted. “Five yuan for four stamps” meant five yuan for four stamps, a reasonable price she could accept. Su Tian immediately took out the money: “Here, five yuan.”
Old Madam Li reluctantly handed over the monkey stamp. Selling it still made her a bit sentimental, but thinking of her eldest grandson waiting at the hospital for medical fees, she gritted her teeth and gave it to Su Tian. Su Tian smiled as she took it, confirming that in this era there were no fakes—it was a genuine, unused stamp, very well preserved. Even a single stamp from the future could sell for five or six thousand yuan; a complete four-stamp set could go for over thirty thousand! If sold in her livestream, three thousand would already be worthwhile.
Su Tian pocketed the stamp and planned to leave, wanting to avoid encountering Su Lili to prevent unnecessary trouble. She thought for a moment and asked, “Old Madam, do you know anyone else who has monkey stamps they’re willing to sell? If so, I can give you a dime per stamp as a delivery fee.” Su Tian couldn’t approach directly, but she could use a middleman. Old Madam Li, not lacking money, would hardly refuse a chance to earn some. Upon hearing this, her eyes lit up: “Two dimes per stamp, or I won’t do it.” Su Tian didn’t care about a dime or two and readily agreed: “Alright, I’ll come by at four this afternoon. If you miss it, no problem. I have to go collect stamps elsewhere.” Gu Zhiwei didn’t get off work until 5:30, so coming at four would surely avoid him. Su Lili wouldn’t go grocery shopping at four either—perfect timing to avoid them. Old Madam Li nodded.
Seeing that it was almost noon, Su Tian went to a state-run restaurant for a bowl of noodles. Eating the steamed bun had made her teeth ache, and she wanted something warm with soup, so she also ordered a salted duck leg. Having earned some money from the stamps, she deserved a treat. After eating, she wandered around the city’s supply and marketing cooperative, almost buying a lot of things. Thinking she would return home tomorrow, she only looked around for now. She ended up with a bag of loquats, eating them on the way—so sour it made her lips pucker.
At the agreed time, Su Tian saw Old Madam Li already waiting, with a basket woven from reed leaves holding a few monkey stamps. “They all think the price is too low and don’t want to sell. I had to plead and persuade to get these ten,” Old Madam Li said.
Su Tian’s eyes lit up at the full ten-stamp set. “Thanks for your hard work. Here’s the money for the stamps, 12.5 yuan, and your delivery fee, 2 yuan. Take it. Next month I’ll come again. If you have monkey stamps, I’ll still buy four for five yuan, but no delivery fee.” Old Madam Li nodded enthusiastically—any chance to earn was welcome. She could still go to a few other sellers and negotiate; she told them one yuan per stamp, and from this round, she earned 2.5 yuan! Su Tian had no idea. She had to admit, Old Madam Li knew how to profit from price differences—that was her skill. Old Madam Li had other business and left promptly after collecting her money.
Su Tian also didn’t linger. After taking the stamps, she was about to leave when she collided with someone at a corner. Her straw hat fell off. As she bent to pick it up, a long, slender hand reached it first, and a cool, indifferent voice said, “Sorry.”
Su Tian also apologized: “I’m sorry, I didn’t see you…” Their voices sounded familiar, and both looked at each other with slight surprise. Su Tian noticed the bruise on the other’s forehead had faded, leaving only a faint purplish mark, and widened her eyes.
Qin Yan’s gaze fell on her round, almond-shaped eyes and slightly parted red lips, revealing a few white teeth, staring at him in astonishment. The reflection of his own figure in her pupils made Su Tian slightly raise an eyebrow.
In unison, they said, “It’s you?” Recognizing Qin Yan, Su Tian secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Qin Yan glanced in the direction Su Tian had been going, assuming she was looking for Su Lili, and nodded slightly. Seeing her wearing the straw hat and about to leave, he frowned and kindly reminded, “Are you going the wrong way?”
Su Tian raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“Your cousin lives in that courtyard,” Qin Yan pointed to his own courtyard. He and Gu Zhiwei lived in the same courtyard, but Gu Zhiwei’s house was larger, upstairs, with fewer pests. His own place was on the first floor, worse off with mice, cockroaches, and occasionally snakes. Many people didn’t want to live on the first floor, but at least he could grow some vegetables like cucumbers and beans.
“I’m not looking for her. If I see her, don’t mention me, thanks!” Su Tian, pressed for time, was planning to go to the supply and marketing cooperative nearby and take a bus home early the next morning.
Qin Yan frowned, unsure of her meaning and didn’t ask further. He assumed she had come for her elder aunt, since she didn’t seem to have a good relationship with that cousin. Qin Yan didn’t intend to interfere. Seeing her leave, he also planned to return.
After a few steps, two youths riding “Erba Dazhang” bicycles passed by, chatting: “Up ahead, heard she’s pretty and fair-skinned, wearing a straw hat—let’s see if we can catch up…”
Qin Yan paused, his mind picturing Su Tian’s fair, beautiful face and watery eyes, with the straw hat on her head. Recognizing the two aimless, idle local youths who liked to harass pretty girls, he frowned. Seeing the direction they were going, coincidentally the same way Su Tian had left, Qin Yan’s expression darkened. He turned and chased after them.
Su Tian intended to go to the nearby supply store but hadn’t reached the entrance when the ringing of a Didi car startled her. She instinctively pressed against the wall to give way to the cyclists.
Just as they slammed on the brakes beside her, the handlebars swerved, and before Su Tian could react, someone snatched off her straw hat, revealing a frightened little face, eyes warily watching them, voice a little cold: “What are you doing?”
“Where are you going? Need your brother to give you a ride?” one of the flashy young men, with a crew cut, raised his eyebrows teasingly and tapped the back seat of his bike with a hint of playfulness: “Don’t be afraid, brother saw you walking alone and felt sorry for you, so I came to be your horse and carriage.”
Su Tian recognized the two in front of her. In her past life, when she first married and walked down the street, they had harassed her too. When Gu Zhiwei found out, he went to their house. Their parents, being factory workers, naturally didn’t dare offend Gu Zhiwei and scolded them badly. They even came to the house to apologize personally, respectfully calling her “sister-in-law,” knowing she was Gu Zhiwei’s wife and no longer daring to do anything to her. Later, they ended up being executed for robbery and murder.
Knowing they weren’t good people, Su Tian’s face darkened. Without the Gu family backing her now, she just wanted to get away safely. These two were future murderers; there was no reason for her to pick a fight.
Su Tian shook her head and deliberately said, “My parents are just ahead waiting for me. Thanks for your kindness, but I have to go first.”
They clearly didn’t believe her. Blocking her path wasn’t enough—one of them tried to grab her shoulder to take advantage of her. Su Tian was about to scream for help when a sharp voice rang in her ear: “Ouch, let go! Let go, your hand’s going to break!”
Seeing his companion’s arm being twisted, the crew-cut youth’s face turned fierce, ready to attack. But when he saw the person’s face, his expression instantly changed, and a hint of fear appeared in his eyes.
Seeing this, Su Tian looked back and saw the newcomer—like a savior had appeared. Her expression relaxed, and her eyes lit up.