Rebirth: Splendid Marriage in the 80s Chapter 2524 - 2460: Sharp as a Tack

When they arrived at the entrance and the rest had all departed, Meng Xinian lifted his voice just a little, "Comrade Xiao Wu."

Xiao Wu halted at once, "Officer Meng, anything more?"

"You seem somewhat familiar to me?" Meng Xinian inquired.

Noticing his desire to talk further, Xiao Wu told his colleagues, "Go on without me, I'll join you shortly."

The group of Public Security Officers departed ahead.

Xiao Wu turned back into the compound.

Meng Xinian thought he was rather sharp, choosing to linger while sending the others away first.

"Officer Meng, my aunt happens to be Deputy Liu’s wife."

Deputy Liu resided right there in the compound, naturally.

Meng Xinian knew well the residents of the compound. Upon hearing that, it clicked for him.

"Madam Liu’s nephew, then."

That explained it—he’d visited the compound previously, which made the face ring a bell.

"I’d like to find out who filed the report today? What proof did they provide that sent you all rushing here to investigate?"

Meng Xinian posed the question straight out.

Xiao Wu rubbed the back of his neck, appearing sheepish, and replied, "The complainant went by Nian Che. He claimed his fiancée, Chen Zhu, got dragged off against her will at Fuxi Restaurant today. He even brought along folks from Fuxi Restaurant to back him up, so we took his word for it."

"That’s the reason a whole bunch of you showed up to search the place?"

Xiao Wu jumped a bit.

Was he still holding a grudge over it?

Didn't they already say sorry, and Meng Xinian claimed to get it?

Was he planning to hash it out one-on-one now?

This isn't right, Officer Meng.

Xiao Wu appeared somewhat distressed, "Officer Meng, the one who complained never brought up your backgrounds, just gave this location. He insisted he trailed them here and witnessed you bringing the person inside with his own eyes. We skipped checking your identities and rushed over—that was definitely on us."

"Why the nerves?" Meng Xinian remarked, a tad at a loss for words: "I’m not here to pick a fight. I need you to reflect carefully—who pushed for jumping straight to a search with backup?"

Xiao Wu paused in surprise, then pondered deeply.

A moment later, he responded, "It was Xiao Ma. He was with us earlier, for sure. He insisted that if we were searching, we had to move fast; if the captive got shifted or harm came, we'd be caught flat-footed. So he led the charge right away, noting that a larger group would handle it better, and since someone who’d lock up an innocent woman might be risky, extra hands would ensure safety."

At first, Xiao Wu saw no issue, but Meng Xinian's nudge made him replay the day's happenings, and suddenly Xiao Ma's eagerness struck him as over the top.

In the past, Xiao Ma never showed such zeal.

No matter the situation, he stuck to orders and tagged along with the team, never taking the lead.

"This... about Xiao Ma..."

Xiao Wu wavered, uncertain if he ought to voice it.

Meng Xinian questioned, "Xiao Ma was there before, wasn't he? The guy with the mole on his neck?"

"Yeah, that's the one."

Xiao Wu felt stunned, surprised that Meng Xinian had paid such close attention. Amid a crowd, not always right in view, how had he spotted that tiny detail?

It made sense why tales of Meng Xinian's stellar military record and bright future circulated so widely.

For an instant, Xiao Wu held Meng Xinian in high regard.