Rebirth: Splendid Marriage in the 80s Chapter 2440 - 2376: No Kicking Allowed

Previously on Rebirth: Splendid Marriage in the 80s...

Chiang Xiao spotted a man struggling in a pristine lake, claiming to have hooked a massive fish he couldn't reel in alone, and he beckoned the group for help in exchange for half the catch. Startled by her sudden return, Meng Xinian and the others agreed to assist, drawn by the allure of fresh fish and the lake's stunning scenery, though Meng remained cautious about potential threats to their food. To ensure safety, they relocated their barbecue supplies to the lakeside, where the man, now casually dressed and humming on his boat, eagerly welcomed their well-equipped setup for a shared meal.

He showed no hesitation whatsoever, immediately acting as if he were already one of their bunch.

The fellow seemed roughly thirty years in age. As he grinned, subtle creases formed at the edges of his eyes, yet those marks somehow lent an extra dash of allure to his presence.

He certainly carried a magnetic quality.

Still, his outfit resembled that of an ordinary rural laborer in his forties or fifties—coarse fabric top, baggy fabric trousers, draped carelessly and hiding the solid build underneath.

Chiang Xiao was on the verge of addressing him when Meng Xinian abruptly flung a scoop of sand his way, chuckling and swearing, "You bastard, so it’s you! How did you end up here?"

Huh?

Chiang Xiao, Wang Yi, and Chen Yin all froze in surprise. Could this really be an acquaintance of Meng Xinian's?

The man evaded the sand from Meng Xinian's kick, leaped from the vessel, and splashed through the shallows toward them.

"Meng Xinian, you rascal! I'm your senior brother! After all these years apart, this is your welcome?"

"Senior brother my ass!"

Meng Xinian set aside his belongings and strode forward. It seemed like a joyful reunion hug was coming, but the moment they closed in, the mood flipped abruptly.

The pair launched into a brutal brawl.

Chiang Xiao watched in stunned silence as Meng Xinian clashed with the man, struck by how swiftly and deftly the stranger moved, all while feeling utterly puzzled.

She turned to Chen Yin in astonishment and asked, "Who is this guy? How come Brother Xinian knows him?"

"Him? No idea on my end," Chen Yin paused to recall before replying, "But I do remember a figure Meng Xinian would handle just like this. He was once a top operative in a elite task force, racking up major feats by eighteen or nineteen, and word had it he was a martial arts prodigy. Then, at some point, whispers spread that he acted strangely. Eventually, for reasons unclear, he got booted from the unit."

"So what's his connection to Brother Xinian?"

"Back then, Xinian told me about a teammate from that force who shared tons of techniques to boost his workout results—it was this very guy."

That must explain why he called himself Meng Xinian's senior brother.

The grueling drills Meng Xinian put Zhao Xin and the rest through, which often had them in tears, drew in part from this man's teachings and got polished up by Xinian personally.

Chiang Xiao had never once heard Meng Xinian bring up anyone like him.

Besides, what brought him to this spot?

And how did their paths cross by pure chance?

After all, a boat sat there, and their choice to head out today was spontaneous, so it didn't seem like he'd planned an ambush.

As they chatted, Meng Xinian and the man had traded blows beyond count.

Each strike came with raw power and no holding back, landing with solid thumps against skin and muscle.

Wang Yi winced with every impact, shrinking back behind Chen Yin.

"Doesn't that sting when they go at it so hard?" she murmured.

Chiang Xiao abruptly recalled Meng Xinian's chest wound, and right then, she spotted the man swinging a kick straight for it.

Forgetting any concern over whether Meng Xinian might evade it, in her panic she snatched a chicken leg and chucked it at the man's head.

"Don’t kick!"

She bellowed in rage.