Chen Yifei had collected quite a few plastic bags full of chicken and pig hearts. Carrying them both hands, he looked like he was dragging two giant weights as he walked along the Frosty Street.
"So many hearts... Even if I cook them for every meal, it will take months to finish them all..." Chen Yifei sighed. "And who wouldn't suffer from heaty symptoms with all this eating?"
He decided to bring everything back home with him. "It should last longer in the cold weather," he said.
As he turned to head back home, he heard a commotion up ahead at the intersection of Frosty Street and the next street over. It was a small market that he frequently visited, so he was familiar with the scene. After a moment of hesitation, he decided to head towards the commotion.
Strictly speaking, this market was also within his jurisdiction, so whatever was happening there was his responsibility to investigate. Besides, he needed to buy some side dishes to go with all those hearts he had just collected. So, he could also seize this opportunity to stock up on more groceries.
As Chen Yifei entered the market, he saw two law enforcement officials standing over a vendor stall. The lively morning market had suddenly gone quiet. A middle-aged woman was lying on the ground among potatoes and Chinese cabbage, obviously having been kicked down by someone's foot.
"Officers, isn't this place already under our jurisdiction?" she asked nervously, looking up at the two officials.
Guo Ge replied calmly, "You paid the other officer, did you not?"
The woman nodded, "Yes, I gave money to Officer Zuo."
Guo Ge sneered, "Zuo may have taken your money, but this is still my territory now. Do you understand?"
Seeing Guo Ge's piercing gaze, the woman trembled, "But sir, my shop really doesn't have any money right now. Can't you give me some more time?"
Without another word, Guo Ge kicked over the vegetable basket beside her and stood up. He waved at the other official, "Search the place for drugs or anything suspicious."
The other official immediately started searching through the store, throwing open cabinets, boxes, and even the vegetable baskets, turning the entire shop into chaos.
"Officer, officer, there's nothing here!" the woman exclaimed, trying to stand up from the ground. "Please, we're just a humble food vendor. We don't have anything illegal here."
An old man who had been watching the commotion tried to intervene, "Officer, this is within Chen's jurisdiction. Isn't it better to stay out of this?"
Guo Ge sneered, "What Chen? Which Chen are you talking about?"
Just then, a voice interrupted, "Me."
Chen Yifei walked in holding several plastic bags full of groceries. He had been listening in on the conversation and decided to step in.
Upon seeing Chen Yifei approach, everyone in the market made way for him, allowing him to pass through the crowd effortlessly.
Guo Ge's eyes narrowed, "What are you doing here, Chen Yifei? You can't just barge in here and start causing trouble."
Before Guo Ge could finish his sentence, Chen Yifei launched himself forward and collided with him, sending him flying backwards! The force of the impact sent Guo Ge crashing into several stalls before finally coming to a stop.
The other official gaped in surprise, "Chen Yifei, what are you doing?!"
Chen Yifei ignored him and walked over to where Guo Ge lay sprawled out. Reaching into one of the plastic bags, he pulled out a sharp boning knife and held it in front of Guo Ge.
"What do you want?" Guo Ge exclaimed nervously, shrinking away from the blade.
Chen Yifei's expression remained blank as he said, "Aren't you looking for death? Let me help you out."
With that, he plunged the blade into Guo Ge's shoulder, causing him to scream in agony. The sudden violence and bloodshed sent shivers down the spines of the onlookers.
The other official stared at the scene in disbelief. From the moment Chen Yifei appeared until now, he had only done two things - kick and stab. His movements were so quick and seamless that no one had even reacted in time to see what happened.
"When did this Frosty Street become your territory?" Chen Yifei asked, pulling the blade out and wiping it clean on Guo Ge's clothes.
"Chen Yifei!! Are you looking for death?? Just wait to be... aaaahh!!"
Guo Ge's words were cut off as Chen Yifei stabbed him in the lower abdomen again, causing him to scream in pain once more.
"Continue," Chen Yifei's voice was devoid of any emotional fluctuation, "The cross-section of a boning knife is small. Even if you're stabbed, it's not easy to cause massive blood loss... Avoiding vital areas, how many times do you think I can stab you at most?"
"You're crazy... you're just a madman... aaaahh!!"
"Stop."
A voice came from behind.
At the entrance of the market, Han Meng, wearing a windbreaker, walked in with a stern face. Behind him were several law enforcement officers, one of whom was Xiao Zuo who had just left.
Xiao Zuo saw Guo Ge lying in a pool of blood on the ground, and his eyes revealed deep shock!
"Han Meng, the Chief, is here!"
Upon hearing someone in the crowd shouting this sentence, Chen Yifei's eyes slightly narrowed. He looked down at Guo Ge, who was pale and in pain, and slowly stood up from his body.
"Can someone explain to me what happened?" Han Meng's deep voice sounded.
"Chief Han Meng!" One of the law enforcement officers immediately spoke up, "This Chen Yifei intimidated residents within the jurisdiction and extorted money extensively. Guo Ge just said a word to him and was stabbed on the spot..."
Han Meng's eyebrows rose, and his gaze towards Chen Yifei was somewhat strange.
"Intimidating residents... extortion of money?"
"It's true!" Xiao Zuo immediately agreed, "I also saw it. Those bags on the ground are filled with evidence!"
Chen Yifei's expression suddenly became subtle.
The surrounding residents of Cold Street were stunned and couldn't help whispering...
Han Meng and Chen Yifei exchanged a glance. After a moment of pause, the former slowly spoke:
"Chen Yifei, open the bags."
"..." Chen Yifei finally understood what these law enforcement officers were up to. He couldn't help but ask, "Are you sure?"
"Open them."
"...Okay."
Under the gaze of everyone, Chen Yifei bent down and slowly opened the bulging plastic bags on the ground...
The next moment, a dense array of chicken hearts, duck hearts, and pig hearts were exposed to the air.
[Audience Expectation +7]!
The atmosphere suddenly fell into an eerie silence.
Xiao Zuo and Guo Ge, who gritted his teeth and stood up, were stunned when they saw this scene.
"..." Han Meng's mouth twitched slightly. He looked at Chen Yifei with an innocent face and couldn't help asking, "What are so many hearts for..."
Chen Yifei pondered for a moment and answered with a stiff neck,
"I love eating them."