Everything, as it should be, begins with the chef.
Only by improving the chefs' culinary skills could others enhance their strength. After all, Zhang Wei was too busy to personally prepare food for millions of people frequently.
It's important to remember that Zhang Wei's laborers were no ordinary individuals; they were all level twenty or above, with appetites hundreds of times that of a normal person.
After a long period, Zhang Wei finally began teaching again.
"As a chef, your first requirement is excellent physical condition!"
"Starting today, everyone must undertake fifty kilometers of weighted running daily, followed by various strength training exercises!"
"After a short rest, you will carve radishes with engraving knives!"
Though it sounded daunting, it was nothing for chefs who already possessed a certain level.
However, they soon discovered that they had underestimated Zhang Wei's peculiar methods.
Weighted running… he actually adjusted the weight based on their level!
The weight was half of that carried by laborers of the same level!
Watching the laborers sprint past, the chefs, carrying blocks of ice, complained, "What's the point of this? I've never heard of carrying ice blocks improving one's cooking skills."
"Exactly! I think the principal is just using us as temporary laborers because he doesn't have enough."
The laborers also chimed in.
Initially, they thought only a few chefs were being punished, but this group, vast and numerous, eventually grew to over ten thousand.
Some laborers laughed, "Haha, this is what we do best. You esteemed individuals are not suited for such manual labor."
But no matter how much they complained, Zhang Wei's orders could not be defied, and he had set time limits for everyone to complete their tasks.
Each person gritted their teeth and pushed themselves to the limit, sweat dripping like soybeans.
"Why is the boss making them do this?"
"Physical conditioning!"
Zhang Wei explained, "As you can see, at the same level, their carrying capacity is less than half that of the laborers. This indicates their bodies are still sluggish and haven't been fully developed."
"By setting a speed limit and having them transport heavy objects, I am training their strength and cardiopulmonary capacity."
"With sufficient oxygen supply, their bodies will become more responsive to commands!"
Xi Feng nodded, "So, it's a form of training. Then why not increase the weight? Is he afraid they can't handle it?"
From what Xi Feng understood, Zhang Wei was not someone easily swayed by pity.
Zhang Wei explained, "Of course not. I only want to enhance their cardiopulmonary function; I don't want their bodies to become entirely strength-focused."
After all, Zhang Wei didn't need more laborers.
The second part of the training: weightlifting!
This involved exercises typically done in a gym, but instead of dumbbells and barbells, they used heavy woks, solid rolling pins, and bags upon bags of grains and oils.
The woks were filled not with ingredients, but with highly dense Yuan Water!
Starting with double, then triple, quadruple, and quintuple weights.
For a time, they suffered immensely.
However, even more demanding tasks awaited. Zhang Wei required them to pick up their carving knives and engrave intricate paintings of birds, flowers, fish, and insects onto radishes.
This was, in fact, the specialty of many chefs, requiring incredibly precise control.
But the chefs, having just endured heavy lifting and localized muscle strengthening, felt every muscle aching, swollen, and numb. Not only were their breathing uneven, but their fingers trembled even when held still.
At this point, forget fine carving; they would have spilled a significant amount of salt just trying to sprinkle it.
"Muscle tremors indicate what? It means that these areas have never been adequately trained!"
"You've never properly utilized them. This is their first time, and trembling… trembling is normal! Doesn't everyone tremble the first time?"
(End of chapter)