45: Chapter 45 Recruitment Assessment

“Brother, where are we going?” Luoer asked.

“We’re going to find Mei Wenhua,” Shen Wengang replied.

“Mei Wenhua?” Luoer was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

“Haha, Brother, you’re so funny! Mei Wenhua, Mei Wenhua! Hahaha, Brother, how did you discover that? Why did he pick such a name?…”

Luoer chattered on and on, leaving Shen Wengang speechless.

Was it really that funny? Her sense of humor was so low!

However, seeing his Sister’s sunny smile, he felt quite happy himself.

The two dogs followed silently on either side of them, “extremely obedient.”

Soon, following the address on the recruitment order, Shen Wengang arrived at the entrance of a detached house.

Most people in the Settlement lived in tents. To get a courtyard here, one had to be capable.

“Who are you looking for?”

After Shen Wengang knocked on the door, a Young woman in her twenties came out from inside. She looked like an assistant, dressed in business attire.

“Hello, we came according to the address on the recruitment order,” Shen Wengang said.

“Oh! Hello, please come in,” the Young woman opened the door and led the two inside.

“Sorry, pets are not allowed inside,” the Sister stopped them when she saw two large dogs following behind.

“Is that so? But they’re very well-behaved, they won’t run around or bark, right, Bean Sprout?” Luoer explained.

Luoer had named her dog Bean Sprout.

Bean Sprout cooperatively nodded.

“Is this dog a spirit?” The Sister looked puzzled, so cute, what to do, she liked them too.

While the Sister was momentarily stunned, Luoer spoke again:

“Miss, Bean Sprout will get lost if left outside. Please let them come in. Please?”

“Okay… Okay. But once inside, let them follow me first. You can pick them up when you leave,” the Sister said.

“Yay! Thank you, Miss!” Luoer was very happy, and the Sister also smiled awkwardly.

The courtyard was designed in an ancient style. Upon entering, the first thing one saw was a screen wall made of green bricks. A huge lotus flower was carved on the screen wall. In the upper right corner were two lines of inscription: “Emerging from the mud unblemished, cleansed by clear ripples yet not enchanting.”

Bypassing the screen wall, the courtyard was already filled with people. It seemed they were all there to apply.

Although there were many people, they all looked sallow and emaciated, with disheveled hair and mostly unkempt clothes.

On the steps at the entrance of the main house was a grand armchair, and a middle-aged man, about 40 years old, was leaning back in it. From time to time, he would pick up his thermos cup, unscrew the lid, and take a sip of tea.

“Boss Mei, there are enough people, let’s begin,” a spectacled Young woman in business attire beside him said softly.

The middle-aged man did not speak, simply nodding slightly.

“Hello everyone! Welcome, brave warriors, to the recruitment. However, out of responsibility to everyone, we will conduct some basic assessments to determine your strength. Only those who pass the assessment can participate in this operation. So, next, let’s begin the first assessment: weightlifting.”

Under the guidance of the Young woman, everyone came to a corner of the courtyard. A barbell was placed in the corner, its weight unknown.

“Here is a barbell, weighing 60 kilograms. No matter what method you use, as long as you successfully lift the barbell and hold it for 5 seconds, you pass. A reminder to everyone, if you can’t do it, don’t force yourself to avoid injury. Alright, let’s begin.”

A young man holding a stopwatch was already standing by, waiting quietly.

People lined up and tried one by one.

60 kilograms, which is 120 pounds. For people who don’t usually do heavy labor, lifting it would be quite difficult.

Indeed, several people in a row failed. Two of them couldn’t even lift the barbell by a single centimeter.

It wasn’t entirely their fault; they hadn’t eaten well for several months, feeling dizzy from hunger, so how much strength could they possibly have?

Immediately after, a brawny man let out a loud shout. His face turned beet red, and the veins and tendons on his neck bulged as he finally managed to hold it for 5 seconds.

Everyone applauded and cheered.

However, everyone who followed, without exception, failed.

This time, it was Shen Wengang’s turn.

Shen Wengang wasn’t sure if he could lift 120 pounds either. So he extended his hands and tentatively tried applying some force.

Huh? That’s not right.

The barbell was gently lifted, then put down.

Everyone thought he had given up. Unexpectedly, Shen Wengang stood up but did not leave. Instead, he put down the tightly cloth-wrapped long object he was carrying on his back, stretched his wrists, and prepared to try again.

He gripped the bar with both hands, lifted it gently, and the barbell smoothly went over his head. His face was not red, and he wasn’t out of breath, seemingly effortless.

Everyone was astonished. Even the middle-aged man sitting at the entrance of the main house couldn't help but be shocked: Good heavens! What great strength!

“Alright, that’s enough!” The Young woman next to him reminded him.

Shen Wengang only put the barbell down after hearing the reminder, and everyone cheered in unison.

Shen Wengang picked up the long object leaning beside him and walked down.

Immediately after, Luoer walked up.

“Qian Luo, what are you doing?” Shen Wengang rebuked.

Infiltrators had a rule to use codenames outside. So in front of everyone, Shen Wengang no longer called her Luoer.

“Brother, I want to try too,” Luoer said with a smile.

“Nonsense, get down now!” Shen Wengang commanded.