Chapter 179 - 131 Let’s bet a bull!

"Fang Huai, you take the same year soldiers for a pull-up bar test as well, a weekly trial," Zhang Yang, you’ll be responsible for recording the scores."

Cao Yi’s command for Fang Huai, a new recruit, to lead the group undoubtedly raised his status.

Fang Huai was set to compete with Wen Jingsong for leadership, and Cao Yi planned to promote him ahead of schedule, allowing him to become the Deputy Squad Leader within the first half of the year, without having to wait for the new recruits to leave the group. By the second year as a First-class soldier, he would be made a squad leader.

This was also a result of the impression of solid self-awareness that Fang Huai had given everyone.

Like other well-connected individuals capable of handling training, Cao Yi believed that everyone would agree to Fang Huai’s early promotion.

"Yes!" Fang Huai certainly heard the difference in this command and responded loudly while standing at attention.

Hao Chengbin also added a word of encouragement, "Give it your full effort!"

"Yes, Squad Leader!"

...

Two in a line, three to a row.

Fang Huai stood beside the formation, leading three new recruits forward, calling out "One-Two-One" with a very loud voice.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Yang had no complaints about Fang Huai leading the group. He didn’t join the formation but simply followed quietly with a training booklet.

On the other hand, the group opposite was much larger, with two First-class soldiers at the front and six new recruits behind. Wen Jingsong walked alongside them, commanding quietly, yet with a sharp gaze.

Wen Jingsong, leading his group, did not shout orders and kept his eyes fixed ahead, his gaze cold and piercing.

At this moment, Fang Huai finally received a reward prompt before his eyes.

[Generating reward...]

[Please choose your reward.]

[1, Waist Strength Increase]

[2, Hand Strength Increase]

[3, Spleen Strengthening]

Seeing no special skill options, Fang Huai did not get tangled up in the decision and chose the Hand Strength Increase.

This time, he felt a tingling sensation in his hands, as if they were undergoing intense acupuncture, warm and spicy while the sense of strength gradually filled them.

Enduring the unusual sensation, Fang Huai carefully observed his entire arm.

Indeed, there was not the slightest change in the shape of his arm—no thicker, no thinner. All changes were internal.

By now, he had figured out an improvement plan.

If there were skills available, he’d prioritize them; without skills, his focus would be hand and leg strength, followed by waist strength.

Judging by the intensity of the first round of power enhancement, he needed to undergo at least two round of power enhancements before the Grand Martial Arts Competition, combined with extensive personal training, to stand a chance at ranking.

Rely on self-discipline alone?

Those who could vie for first place in the national competition were without exception both talented and hardworking, and the time spent working surpassed his imagination.

Take He Zhijun, for example, who trained so hard his body couldn’t take it anymore and had to rest in the new recruit group before immediately joining the training team upon his return.

His training was clearly excessive.

But the strength of the body has limits, to say nothing of whether there are others who train even harder than He Zhijun did—such intensity of training without muscular strain is impossible, and most likely there are issues like a herniated lumbar disc, and spine problems.

Just consider himself.

In these three months since enlistment, his shoulders, arms, and legs had visibly thickened from exercise, and his performance was continually improving. However, the progression of improvement would inevitably slow.

There is a limit to the strength that a body of a certain size can bear, and once reaching the limit, it becomes exceedingly difficult to gain even a little more strength.

To significantly increase strength, one would need to gain weight; otherwise, there wouldn’t be weight classes in many power-based sports competitions.

And the strength enhancements from the system undoubtedly increased the upper limit of strength that a limited body could sustain.

The subjects in the Firefighting Contest require one to be extremely agile.

A large bodyweight and big muscles could be advantageous for Police Dispatch and work, but competing in a competition could pose difficulties in some subjects. A larger body size would to some extent restrict agility.

In international firefighting championships in his previous life, all the competitors, regardless of nationality, had lean, evenly proportioned, and powerful builds.

In top-tier competitions, it is necessary to optimize every condition to the utmost.

Among the power enhancements, the enhancement to hand and leg strength is the most notable and thus should be prioritized.

The enhancement of waist and core strength would bring a sense of fullness during whole-body coordinated movements.

Although less critical than hand and leg strength, it is still very important,

For instance, during the leap through the air onto a window, many couldn’t do it not because they lacked training but because they physically couldn’t manage it.

Don’t think of things like the parallel bars and running as so powerful when the strength of the middle section of the torso is not easy to build up.

Many don’t know how to train it, nor do they want to because it takes a lot of time without obvious results.

As for the internal organs, the spleen and liver are both vital for maintaining internal circulation. His current physical condition is already quite good.

He plans to focus on gradual organ strengthening after the national competition, with every current enhancement aimed at improving performance.

...

"Look right!"

"Look forward!"

"Stand at ease!"

Fang Huai finished organizing the lines and stood in a row with the three peers.

The new recruits of the First Squadron were actually quite curious about Fang Huai’s abilities. In the new recruit group, Fang Huai was well-known, but after leaving the group, he received so many praises from old soldiers and cadres within little over a week. Was it really the result of hard work?

The three new recruits from the Second Squadron stood tall and proud, as if they were reflecting in glory.

The atmosphere in the Second Squadron indeed achieved what Fang Huai promised Han Yong, "The training might be tough, but never oppressive."

Every time they had work, they would be bragging happily and finish the job cheerfully. Occasionally, when Fang Huai felt the job wasn’t done well, he would let them rest and he’d check for any errors, but they would stand by, actively asking Fang Huai what wasn’t done correctly so they could improve next time.

They often envied Fang Huai, but each time he would say, "It’s not just my performance that makes everyone recognize us; it’s all four of us, with not one dragging behind."

At this point, Han Yong would proudly say, "Of course! If I were on the Flying Tiger Team, I’d drag you three down!"

Song Lin and Xiao Haishan would then laugh heartily, "General Han is the most awesome!"

Fang Huai’s performance made them very proud, and at the same time, they also took pride in their proactive and eager actions since leaving the group, never giving the old soldiers and cadres any reason to scold them.

But the atmosphere in the First Squadron was clearly different.

The new recruits were only daring to turn their heads slightly, cautiously looking around the Second Squadron’s environment, comparing it to their own squadron, and also observing that legendary same year soldier.

Fang Huai saw the same year soldiers from the First Squadron constantly glancing over and responded with a smile.

"Who’s going first, you or us?"

Wen Jingsong asked Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang was quite a tease, chuckled, and said, "Why are you asking me? Fang Huai is leading the team! I’m reading."

As he spoke, he pulled out the "Firefighting Equipment Encyclopedia" from his pocket and flipped through it with relish.

Wen Jingsong’s face darkened instantly.

Fang Huai almost couldn’t hold back a laugh.

Ni ma, leading these First-class soldiers and bringing out their sense of humor!

Fang Huai didn’t want to anger someone on the spot, so he took the initiative to speak:

"Squad Leader! Since you guys didn’t have morning exercises, you go ahead first!"

Wen Jingsong didn’t reply and turned his head to arrange directly:

"Qiao Xin, Liu Qitai, grab the bars! Yang Gaobing goes first, Yang Libing get ready!

For the first round, pull with all your strength! Everyone must at least reach their previous best record! Whoever falls short can expect to hang on the bar later!

If someone breaks their personal record, I’ll treat them to seafood tonight! Order whatever you want, I’ll have it delivered here!"

Wen Jingsong, half-tilting his head, made a statement that reeked of wealth and superiority.

Between the lines was a sense of superiority.

These days, a seafood meal in a southwestern city like this, not near the sea, can be damn expensive.

Even Yan Kuan, a First-class soldier of the First Squadron, couldn’t help but exclaim, "My god, General Wen is awesome! If I go up there and pull, does it count?"

Wen Jingsong gave Yan Kuan, who he wasn’t close with, a glance as if he found some excitement, raised his hand to pat another same-year soldier, Shi Jinbo’s shoulder, and said:

"You ask Shi Jinbo, how many times have I treated him to seafood? The boss of the seafood stall at the door even remembers my phone number!"

"My day, why didn’t you call me?" Yan Kuan exclaimed in surprise.

Shi Jinbo smiled and said, "Every time we call you to play basketball, you run to the rest room to read those crappy novels. If you don’t keep up with General Wen’s pace, how could you get to eat?"

The three of them chatted as if no one else was there, occasionally glancing at Zhang Yang, who wasn’t wealthy or powerful.

Now, Zhang Yang couldn’t smile anymore, just staring intensively at the book as if he couldn’t hear anything.

Their Second Squadron’s same year soldiers indeed didn’t have anyone particularly wealthy and generous, and not to mention their unity, it was hopeless.

Let alone inviting same year soldiers for takeout, sometimes even asking for a cigarette from a peer when one’s pocket was empty could be quite difficult.

The others were showing off, aiming their display at him.

Fang Huai smiled.

Feeling so superior over a seafood meal.

"General Han, I want to discuss something with you," Fang Huai’s voice wasn’t loud, but just enough for everyone to hear.

"Ah? What’s up?" Han Yong was confused.

Fang Huai said with a roguish smile:

"That Rolex Submariner you have, worth over 60,000, you haven’t lost it, have you? How about a bet with me, if I do 40 pull-ups today, you give me that watch?

If I lose, I’ll buy you a similar one."

Han Yong frowned, unable to detect Fang Huai’s jest, or the strange atmosphere.

After all, to him, Wen Jingsong boasting about those things was far too commonplace.

"You like that watch? Should’ve said so earlier, I’ll just give it to you!"

With that, the First Squadron went silent.

Wen Jingsong felt like he was choked on blood, wanting to curse at someone for bragging, but when he saw Han Yong’s chubby face that screamed tycoon, he instantly shut his mouth.

The new recruit, who brought three hundred thousand in pocket money when he enlisted, had Hao Chengbin’s words still echoing in his ears.

Fang Huai immediately waved his hands: "No way! I won’t take what I haven’t earned! If I manage 40 pull-ups, then I’ll ask you for it!"

Upon hearing this, Wen Jingsong immediately felt relieved.

pull-ups were known to be out of reach, he was just making a scene to target them.

I thought he could really give it away.

Who knew, after thinking for a while with his head raised, Han Yong said, "Your highest on the bar before, was the morning the day before yesterday, right? 31 pull-ups? How about this, if you reach 32 today, I’ll give you the watch!"

Now, even Fang Huai was left almost speechless.

It was clear that General Han really did want to give it away!

Fang Huai kept up the act:

"Forget it, I don’t really like that watch! Let’s not talk about more, how about a head of cattle as the bet?

pull-ups! Whoever loses buys a slaughtered cow and treats the whole squadron to two days of all-you-can-eat beef hot pot!

When the time comes, if we can’t finish it, we can invite the First Squadron’s comrades to join us, right?"

As he said this, he turned to Zhang Yang and asked, "Squad Leader Zhang, neither of us can go out to buy stuff, so if the loser gives you the money, can you and Squad Leader Chang go to the farmers market to buy it for us, how about it?"

Zhang Yang was baffled.

But seeing Wen Jingsong and the others losing face, he also felt greatly delighted and probed, "You two... are serious?"

This ni ma, a cow, wouldn’t that be almost ten thousand?

"Of course we’re serious." Fang Huai smiled.

Han Yong, looking at Fang Huai’s confident face, also nodded.

Zhang Yang swallowed hard and gave a thumbs up, "Alright! I’ll go buy it with Chang Ming!"

Wen Jingsong, seeing the odd look in the eyes of the two same year soldiers, felt like he had encountered a formidable enemy in his life and gritted his teeth.

Damn it, the new recruit record is 40 pull-ups! If I can’t make it, I’ll be watching you pretend!

He turned to the new recruits of his squadron and said, "What are you looking at? Get on the bar!"