The minute was up.
Zhao Siyang had completed 108 push-ups. He then stood up, and Zhang Tianxing also rose and walked towards his roommate.
Zhao Siyang took a breath and said, "My condition wasn't good today, my performance was average. I wonder how many Zhang Tianxing did in the last minute?"
In his opinion, Zhang Tianxing being able to do push-ups for an hour was already impressive. For the last-minute sprint, Zhang Tianxing would probably do about ninety. Otherwise, if he stood up and left immediately, it would clearly be a sign of someone who couldn't take a loss.
During the last-minute sprint, Zhao Siyang didn't have the energy to observe Zhang Tianxing's performance.
He hadn't expected Instructor Zhao Hu to say in a deep voice.
"Zhang Tianxing did 111, so you lost this competition."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Siyang nearly fainted.
What was going on? Zhang Tianxing did 111 in the last minute? How was that possible?
His pace was already close to the human limit. How could Zhang Tianxing have done it faster?
"Did you count wrong?"
Hearing Zhao Siyang's words, Zhang Tianxing felt speechless. Was this Zhao Siyang really simple-minded and muscle-bound?
With so many people watching, and two people counting, could there be a mistake?
Instructor Zhao Hu shook his head. There wouldn't be a mistake. In his opinion, both of them were good. Both had very strong endurance, but Zhang Tianxing's explosive power seemed a bit stronger.
That's why he pulled away from Zhao Siyang in the final sprint.
The students from the Materials Science department surrounded Zhang Tianxing. A few who knew him well punched him lightly.
"Captain Zhang, you're a hidden dragon, a crouching tiger! I never expected you to be so strong. Confess, what kind of miracle pill did you take to have such an effect?"
"Yeah, tell us. We're classmates, you eat meat, and we students should at least get some soup, right?"
"We eat from the same bowl, we're family. What can you tell us to make us a little stronger?"
"Save it. What's the use of getting stronger in an engineering school?"
"Aren't there the medical students next door?"
He hadn't expected to get an advertising opportunity even here. Zhang Tianxing then said loudly.
"I'm just a little stronger than others. I have a bold idea, which is that I eat crayfish. But this is just my personal opinion, and there's no way to verify it. I take no responsibility for what I say here."
Ma Qiang, hearing Zhang Tianxing's words from afar, immediately sputtered.
A capital "P" for "Proud" was written on Ma Qiang's face. He now understood why Zhang Tianxing could succeed.
He was advertising everywhere, subtly promoting crayfish.
If you said he was advertising, he'd say it was his personal opinion and unverified.
If you said he wasn't advertising, he'd clearly say he ate crayfish.
But then again, the taste of crayfish was really good. Did eating it really have an effect? The only drawback was that the crayfish were a bit too small.
They were a bit troublesome to eat. Delicious, yes, but a hassle to consume.
...
While Zhang Tianxing was enjoying heroic treatment, Zhao Siyang was in a sorry state.
"I didn't expect Zhao Siyang to be all flash and no substance."
"He bragged to the heavens, but was beaten by a crayfish seller. This Zhao Siyang is just famous for nothing."
"Yes, anyone can talk big. But I've never seen someone so out of touch."
"Especially after the competition, if you lose, you lose. He still went up to ask the other person how he was. Didn't he know Zhang Tianxing was faster than him?"
"I'm really impressed by him. Doesn't he know his own limitations?"
The more they had praised him before, the more they mocked him now. Zhao Siyang was lost.
He had never imagined he would lose, in an area he excelled at.
He had persisted for an hour, performing so perfectly, only to find out that there was always someone better. Zhang Tianxing had always been one step ahead of him.
"If Heaven begot Yu, why begot Liang?" the lament rose in his heart.
Just then, instructor Sun Mingfei arrived in front of Zhao Siyang.
Zhao Siyang quickly saluted.
"Greetings, instructor!"
"Young man, your physical fitness is good!"
Hearing this, Zhao Siyang's face turned red. After losing a competition, being praised for his physical fitness, could there be a more sarcastic remark? "Instructor, you're mistaken. Zhang Tianxing's physical fitness is even better."
Sun Mingfei smiled, "Zhao Siyang!"
"Present!"
"Do you want to join the army?"
"Yes, but I'm a university student."
"How about this? If you come to the army, I'll discuss it with the school to retain your student status. What do you say?"
"I'll leave it all up to the instructor."
"Discuss it with your family. I'll come back to find you later."
Having secured one, Sun Mingfei was satisfied. Now, he would see if Zhang Tianxing wanted to join the army.
"Zhang Tianxing!"
Hearing the instructor call his name, Zhang Tianxing hurried over.
Could it be that he was too outstanding and a VIP wanted him as a bodyguard?
That was impossible. He was just a student. He still had his crayfish business to return to.
"Instructor, please tell me what you need."
"Zhang Tianxing, do you have any intention of joining the army?"
This question completely stunned Zhang Tianxing. He had never considered joining the army.
He hadn't expected this to happen during his university military training.
"Zhao Siyang has agreed to join the army. If you agree, you'll be comrades," Sun Mingfei dropped another piece of information.
"Instructor, please give me some time to think. This is too sudden. I need to consider it."
Regret joining the army for three years, regret not joining the army for a lifetime.
However, he still had many things to do. If he joined the army, many of them would be impossible to achieve.
For a moment, Zhang Tianxing was caught in a dilemma, at a crossroads in his life.
Left, or right?
This was presented before Zhang Tianxing.
Seeing Zhang Tianxing's hesitation, Sun Mingfei offered a temptation.
"I can guarantee you this: if you join the army, I promise you'll enter military school in your second year and become an officer upon graduation!"
The cake was already drawn. It seemed he truly valued talent. Zhang Tianxing felt a bit overwhelmed.
This was different from what he had imagined. He had never thought about developing a career in the military.
He had always thought about being a landlord and collecting rent everywhere.
And spending a little money to experience the decadent capitalist life.
Suddenly, Zhang Tianxing felt a bit lost.
Had he been approaching life the wrong way before? Perhaps his life was just beginning now.
Seeing Zhang Tianxing's pensive expression, Sun Mingfei didn't expect Zhang Tianxing to agree immediately. After all, he was the number one crayfish man.
"How about this? After you go back, consider my proposal carefully. It's valid until the end of military training. Once this opportunity is gone, it's gone. You're in business, you understand."