"Aunt Liu."
After confirming there was nothing unusual, Jiang Feng called out.
"Xiao Jiang, where have you been running off to lately? You haven't come back at all. Several marriage proposals have fallen through, and I've wasted my efforts running back and forth many times."
Finally seeing Jiang Feng, Aunt Liu complained.
"There's been a lot of work in the prison, so I couldn't get away recently."
Jiang Feng explained.
"Alright, we're from the same alley, so I won't hold it against you. At the head of the alley, Butcher Wang's daughter has taken a liking to you. After I told them about your situation, Butcher Wang hoped you could marry in, and in the future, they can help you with the kids. What do you think?"
Aunt Liu got straight to the point.
"Uh... Aunt Liu, I have no intention of marrying in."
Jiang Feng directly refused. He had asked Aunt Liu for help in introducing people to deal with possible checks inside the prison and didn't expect to end up with an arranged marriage.
"There's nothing wrong with marrying in. Butcher Wang's kitchen always smells of pork fat. If you weren't a prison guard, they wouldn't even consider you. If you refuse today, you won't have another chance."
Probably after a few days without finding Jiang Feng, Aunt Liu spoke with emotion.
"Auntie, let's forget about it! I've thought it through; the marriage can take its time, there's no rush."
Jiang Feng's face was full of apology.
He had already returned to work on the first floor from the second, and with no prison hijacking occurring, no one from above would interrogate him, so the matchmaking could be avoided.
Aunt Liu left the yard at these words.
She cursed softly in the alleyway: "It's bad luck arranging a match for someone guarding a death cell, wasted days with nothing gained, better die inside the prison and not come out."
Jiang Feng was speechless.
He heard Aunt Liu's soft curses loud and clear.
He remembered giving Aunt Liu a red envelope when originally asking her to make introductions; he didn't realize refusing to marry in would provoke such resentment.
He thought he should steer clear of this woman in the future.
After washing up, Jiang Feng changed into clean clothes and headed to Fengyue Building.
When he arrived, Uncle Huo was already waiting for him at the door.
The two ordered a few dishes and drank two pots of wine.
After a satisfying meal, Jiang Feng bought Uncle Huo another jug of wine to take home.
Uncle Huo was all smiles, saying, "This jug of wine is great; Chief Chen has been busy with affairs these nights, asked me to swap shifts for a few days. With this wine, it won't feel cold on night duty."
"What happened to Chief Chen?"
Jiang Feng felt strange.
There were a few squad leaders on night duty, but not many; Chief Chen was one of them.
"I didn't ask him, it's just a few days' replacement, small matter, it's getting late, I'll head back first."
Uncle Huo shrugged it off.
"Uncle Huo, your body's just recovered; the weather is getting cold, I suggest you think twice, have him find someone else to substitute."
Jiang Feng tried to show genuine concern and advised.
"No worries, I've already agreed to help him; he's waiting for me at the small tavern in front, otherwise, do you think a single jug of wine would be enough for me?"
Uncle Huo patted Jiang Feng's shoulder and then walked towards the small tavern at the crossroads.
"Take your time, then."
Jiang Feng called out.
Uncle Huo waved his hand, hugging the wine gourd, and walked on.
In no time, he reached the small tavern.
Chief Chen already had peanut rice and a few dishes ready inside; seeing Old Huo at the door, he hurriedly came out to greet him, "Old Huo, I've been waiting for you for ages, eh... You're so reeking of alcohol, who treated you to a drink?"
"Didn't I just recover? My nephew insisted on dragging me to Fengyue Building for a drink; I couldn't decline, and here we are, making you wait so long."
Uncle Huo showed off and didn't say Jiang Feng treated, fearing that on night duty, Chief Chen might make things difficult for Jiang Feng due to not being invited tonight.
"Hahaha, it's alright; the small tavern's wine can't compare with Fengyue Building, but it's plentiful here."
Chief Chen laughed heartily, pulling Old Huo to sit by the window.
"Here, the wine's already warmed, have a taste."
He poured Old Huo a cup of wine.
"Smells like yellow rice wine."
Uncle Huo, a drink fiend, sniffed slightly, ready to gulp it down in one go.
"Snap!"
Just then, a piece of wood flew in from outside the window, hitting Uncle Huo on the head. The yellow rice wine didn't reach his lips, and with the blow, Uncle Huo was knocked out, slumped on the table, flipping a plate of peanut rice.
"Hey, Old Huo!"
"Who did this!"
Chief Chen was caught off guard, picked up the wood, ran to the door, only to find not a shadow in sight.
"Old Huo, wake up, damn it, whom did you offend!"
Unable to find the culprit, Chief Chen turned back to wake Old Huo, but seeing no movement, hurriedly ended things by carrying Old Huo on his back.
Unbeknownst to Jiang Feng in Chaoyang Alley, he wondered about keeping Uncle Huo lying down for a few days, pondering if this was right.
But then he thought about the possibility of someone even more formidable among the Red Lotus Sect Rebel Factions imprisoned in Zhenbei Prison, and he felt Zhenbei Prison would certainly have issues, especially at night.
If Uncle Huo really took night duty, he might end up disappearing for good.
"Someone."
"Not a Martial Artist."
Suddenly, Jiang Feng realized someone was following him from behind.
Stealthy, but the breathing sounded heavy to him, unlike a martial artist.
He turned back curiously.
It turned out to be Butcher Wang from the alley's head.
Butcher Wang hadn't expected Jiang Feng to turn around so suddenly and was startled. Harboring ill intentions, he raised his pig-slaughtering knife and struck at Jiang Feng.
Jiang Feng was taken aback; he never offended Butcher Wang; didn't he always buy meat from him during holidays? What was going on?
"Are you crazy, why are you attacking me?"
He reached out and easily grabbed Butcher Wang's wrist.
"Let go of me."
Butcher Wang used all his strength, yet found he couldn't break free, realizing things were not right.
"Did I offend you? Why are you attacking me?"
Jiang Feng used a bit of force.
"Ah... Please let go, my hand's going to break, I'm sorry."
Butcher Wang begged in pain, realizing to his horror that his sturdy body seemed like a chick before Jiang Feng, being lifted single-handedly.
An alarming thought came to him.
Jiang Feng was a Grade-Entering Martial Artist.
"Did Aunt Liu talk bad about me to you?"
After thinking it through, Jiang Feng believed this was the most likely scenario.
"Yes, she said you cursed my daughter, saying she's as fat as a pig, and that my Old Wang family was doomed to have no descendants. Let alone a visiting son-in-law, no one would take my daughter away; I couldn't stand it."
Butcher Wang confessed honestly.
"Such a gossiping woman."
Jiang Feng's face turned ashen, he released Butcher Wang's hand and took a brick from the side wall, crushing it to powder before Butcher Wang.
"You... you really are of Entry Grade, I... I'll kneel before you, spare me!"
Butcher Wang was so scared he knelt down and kowtowed.
Had he known Jiang Feng was a Grade-Entering Martial Artist, not even with ten times the courage would he dare attack Jiang Feng.
"If you want to live, it's simple; go kill Aunt Liu, otherwise, your whole family is doomed."
Jiang Feng angrily said.
"Alright, I won't let her off."
Butcher Wang picked up his slaughtering knife and dashed towards Aunt Liu's place.