117: Chapter 117: Do you have to pay for push-ups?

After the luggage inspection ended, it was time to assign dormitories.

Because Su Zhe brought that giant stainless steel basin, he was assigned to Class Two and became roommates with that refined boy, Li Fan.

After a quick tidy-up of his quarters, Su Zhe spent 500 popularity points to exchange for [Life Skill: Tofu-Block Quilt Folding Mastery]. He folded his quilt as flat as a block of steamed nut cake, leaving Li Fan dumbfounded, just as the assembly whistle blew.

3:00 PM.

The scorching sun hung high in the sky.

The ground temperature on the training ground was nearly forty degrees Celsius.

Instructor Thor, wearing sunglasses and with his hands behind his back, stood in front of the formation.

"Recruits!"

"Since you've come to the military, you must look the part of a soldier."

"Next, we will conduct an entry-level physical fitness assessment."

"Subject One: Push-ups!"

"Standard: Do as many as you can within two minutes!"

"The passing mark is 40 for male soldiers and 20 for female soldiers!"

"Begin!"

With the order given,

Everyone dropped down.

Li Fan had only done five when his hands started shaking, and his arms became as soft as noodles.

"I can't do it, Instructor... the ground is too hot... my hands hurt..."

Thor looked at him coldly. "Can't? A man can never say he can't! Continue!"

The veteran actor Zhang Zhigang was really giving it his all. Despite his age, he gritted his teeth and persevered, having already completed twenty, sweating profusely.

As for Yang Jinli...

She was sprawled on the ground, crying while doing one at a time. Her form was extremely poor, looking more like she was kowtowing to the earth.

"Wuwuwu... I want to go home... I want to eat potato chips..."

As for Su Zhe.

He was lying in the farthest corner.

His movements were so slow it was like watching a slideshow.

"One..."

It took him five seconds to go down.

"Two..."

It took him five seconds to come up.

He was frantically calculating in his head: "Doing one push-up burns about 0.5 calories."

"I haven't had dinner yet, and my glycogen reserves are insufficient."

"If I do them too fast, it will lead to hypoglycemia, which in turn causes dizziness and blurred vision, and I might even need to go to the infirmary for a glucose IV."

"While glucose can replenish energy, it doesn't fill the stomach."

"So... I should save whenever I can."

"As long as I hit the passing mark of 40, it's fine. Doing even one extra is a loss."

Thor walked over to Su Zhe.

Seeing his half-dead appearance, as if he were about to breathe his last at any second, Thor's brow furrowed.

"Su Zhe!"

"Here!"

Su Zhe remained sprawled on the ground, answering feebly.

"What are you doing? Giving CPR to ants? Show some spirit!"

Su Zhe sighed. "Report, Instructor!"

"I am rationally allocating my physical energy!"

"The sun is too strong right now, and sweating too much will take away salt. To prevent electrolyte imbalance..."

"Shut up!"

Thor was so angry he laughed.

He had led so many batches of soldiers, but this was the first time he had seen someone bring up electrolyte imbalance while doing push-ups.

Was this guy even here to be a soldier?

He was clearly here for a wellness retreat!

"Su Zhe, let me tell you."

Thor leaned down and whispered into Su Zhe's ear, in a voice only the two of them could hear, "See the Cooking Squad over there?"

"Tonight, Old Wang, the head of the Cooking Squad, made a special dish of braised chicken with mushrooms."

"But quantities are limited."

"Only the first-place finisher in this fitness test gets two extra large chicken drumsticks for dinner."

"The rest will only have steamed buns and pickles."

"You decide what to do."

Having said that, Thor stood up straight, prepared to watch Su Zhe cry.

However.

The very instant he finished saying the words "chicken drumsticks."

Su Zhe, who was sprawled on the ground,

Changed.

Those eyes, which had been like dead fish, suddenly erupted with two beams of golden light that seemed almost tangible.

That was...

A craving for food!

An obsession with protein!

"Chicken drumsticks?"

"Two?"

Su Zhe muttered to himself, "One chicken drumstick is about 150 grams and contains 30 grams of high-quality protein. Two would be 60 grams. How many steamed buns would I have to eat to make up for that!"

"I must have them!"

The next second.

Boom!

Su Zhe's arms suddenly exerted force.

His whole body bounced up as if he were fitted with springs.

"Thirty-one!"

"Thirty-two!"

"Thirty-three!"

His movements were so fast that afterimages appeared.

Every descent was close to the ground, and every ascent was as straight as a pine tree.

Not only was he fast,

But he was also extremely precise.

He was like a tireless pile driver.

Beside him, Li Fan was still struggling with his tenth when he suddenly felt a gust of wind sweep past.

He turned his head to look.

He was so startled that he fell back onto his buttocks.

"Holy crap!"

"What kind of frequency is this?"

"Is this an electric motor?"

Thor was also stunned.

He had just turned around to scold Yang Jinli when he heard a dense series of "whoosh-whoosh" sounds from behind.

He looked back.

Su Zhe had already reached sixty.

And there was no sign of his speed slowing down at all.

"This kid..."

Thor looked at his watch.

Less than a minute had passed!

Was that half-dead look from before just an act?

For two chicken drumsticks, was it really worth it?

"Eighty!"

"Ninety!"

"One hundred!"

Su Zhe got more and more into it.

He felt a continuous surge of strength within his body.

He even felt that using both hands was too easy and a bit boring.

"Instructor!"

Su Zhe shouted while continuing his push-ups.

His breathing was steady, without a hint of panting.

"I think using both hands is a waste of time! Can I change my posture?"

Thor: "???"

"What do you want to change to?"

"One-handed!"

No sooner had he spoken,

Su Zhe suddenly tucked his left hand behind his back,

Supporting his body with only his right hand.

"One hundred and one!"

"One hundred and two!"

He was still as steady as an old dog.

His body didn't wobble in the slightest.

All the guests on the scene were dumbfounded.

Yang Jinli sprawled on the ground, forgetting to cry, a snot bubble even popping out.

"Is... is this the same Su Zhe who only knows how to ride pigs?"

"Is he actually a retired special forces soldier who came back to be a celebrity?"

Thor's face also felt a bit of a loss of dignity.

He was from the special forces and could do one-handed push-ups too, but he definitely couldn't do them as effortlessly as Su Zhe, especially while asking questions.

"One hundred and fifty!"

Su Zhe switched hands again.

"Report, Instructor!"

"I feel like my thumb is a bit sore."

"Can I switch to using two fingers?"

"I want to practice the Two-Finger Zen!"

Thor: "..."

He took a deep breath.

He felt his authority was being severely challenged.

"Stop! Stop right now!"

Su Zhe leaped up and stood.

His face wasn't red, and he wasn't out of breath.

He even patted the dust off his hands, seemingly wanting more.

"Instructor, what's wrong?"

"I can still do more."

"I see a pull-up bar over there. How about I do a few pull-ups to liven things up?"

Thor walked over to him with a dark face.

He sized up this freak from head to toe.

"Su Zhe."

"Here!"

"Are you an animal?"

Su Zhe responded with a serious face, "Report, Instructor!"

"I am not an animal!"

"I am a warrior fighting for chicken drumsticks!"

"May I ask, am I in first place now?"

"Is there still a share of chicken drumsticks for me tonight?"

Thor looked into those eyes full of hope.

He suddenly felt a bit weary.

"Yes."

"You are first."

"The chicken drumsticks are yours."

"They're all yours."

"Now, immediately, right this instant, get back in line and stand properly!"

"I don't want to see you!"

Su Zhe gave a salute.

"Yes, sir!"

Then he happily ran back to the formation.

Passing by Li Fan, he pulled him up from the ground.

"Bro, keep it up."

"Although you won't get to eat chicken drumsticks,"

"You can watch me eat. Even catching a whiff of the smell is good."

Li Fan: "..."

I want to go home.

I want my mom.

This show is too cruel!