"Are you sure we have to wear these sandbags every time we run?" Hubler watched Parks tie bag after bag filled with sand to his legs. "And it's that damn fully-equipped cross-country run? Parks!"
Parks finished tying the last sandbag, then pulled his pants down to cover it so it couldn't be seen from the outside, then clapped his hands and laughed, "Yes, Hubler. Do you think improving your physical fitness relies on just those training exercises? No, no, cross-country marching is nothing to you now, so why not challenge yourself again? Tie them on, come on!"
Hubler shrugged and began tying sandbags to his legs and hands: "To keep Lieutenant Sobel from finding any more excuses, I think I'll take your advice for now! I hope it works out."
Because Hubler wasn't very tall, his progress in many training programs lagged. Of course, Sobel wouldn't give him special treatment because of his height. After suffering several setbacks, Hubler decided to seek advice from Parks.
The initial result was that Hubler was punished by Captain Sobel once again. Even the armed cross-country runs that Hubler could barely keep up with before became very difficult after he started wearing sandbags.
"Damn it!" Hubler ran slowly down the road, carrying his rifle alone, his back soaked with sweat.
"Hey, Hubler! Don't complain, nothing is that easy to succeed at." At this moment, Hubler heard a voice from behind. When he turned his head, he saw Parks and Wyatt catching up from behind.
"Wyatt, don't tell me you've learned his methods too." Hubler looked at Wyatt, who had caught up, "Now I always feel like Parks and Sobel have something in common."
"Yes, I think so too." Wyatt laughed, "But his method might actually work. Look at Parks, how weak he was before, and now? He could practically subdue a bull."
"No, two!" Hubler laughed.
"You're both wrong! I absolutely cannot subdue two bulls!" Parks looked at them both staring at him, "I can definitely subdue three, Hubler."
The three burst into laughter. With companions, Hubler and Wyatt didn't feel so bad.
"By the way, you two, pay attention to your breathing!" Parks said while running, "Follow my command, let's adjust our breathing together, this will help you."
"Inhale!"
"Exhale!"
"Yes, yes, the qi must sink to the Dantian!" Parks nodded, watching the two run and adjust their breathing with him.
"Dantian? Where is the Dantian?" Wyatt asked in surprise.
"Here!" Parks laughed and patted his lower abdomen, "Yes, right here, sink the inhaled air here, and then exhale from here. No, no, Wyatt, I'm not telling you to slump your body, have your bones come out?" Parks grabbed Wyatt, who was about to collapse.
"But Parks, shouldn't the inhaled air be in those damn lungs? Why can it sink to the lower abdomen? Are you sure you understand some basic knowledge of human anatomy?" Hubler chuckled, even though he was exhausted.
"Use your mind, Hubler, use your mind to feel the air sinking into your Dantian. Feel like that's your lungs!" Parks said, "Forget those damn textbooks, if you want to get rid of Captain Sobel, then do as I say, don't ask so many whys, just do it!"
Parks knew he couldn't explain it clearly to them, because it was simply beyond their comprehension. After all, the cultural differences were too great, and the exchange between the U.S. and China hadn't reached such a deep level. Some Americans didn't even know where China was or what kind of country it was.
The three continued running up the mountain.
"Oh, it really does work a bit!" Wyatt exclaimed in surprise.
Hubler also nodded, but he was too exhausted to speak. Despite having adjusted his breathing and even learning to sink his qi to his Dantian, this was his limit. But no matter what, he gritted his teeth and persevered.
When he returned to the camp, Hubler was utterly exhausted. After Sobel dismissed him, he could no longer stand and collapsed onto the camp lawn.
"Hubler, use the method I told you to adjust your breathing, it's good for recovering your energy!" Parks sat beside him, and Wyatt also walked over with a smile and sat down.
"Where did you learn that? I don't feel as tired as before." Wyatt said, "I mean the feeling during the run."
"Everyone has different experiences, there's nothing to be surprised about. This is just a method of self-regulating physical fitness, it's nothing major." Parks tried to speak in a low-key manner.
"But it's much better than those damned U.S. Army training regulations!" Hubler, who had rested for a while, felt much better. He had never felt himself recover so quickly, it felt magical, especially after taking off those sandbags that felt as heavy as stones during the run. He felt light and refreshed, like having a sweaty sauna.
"That's the beauty of it. If you get used to the sandbags, you'll be addicted in the future." Parks smiled.
"Are you saying it's like the feeling of ejaculating?" Wyatt looked at Hubler, "He looks like he's just finished that, especially if he had a cigarette afterwards."
The three burst into laughter.
"Hey, Parks, why don't you introduce this method to the other brothers in Easy Company? Maybe we'll perform even better." At this moment, Hubler looked at Parks, "I'm serious, don't you want to?"
Parks smiled: "Do you think Captain Sobel would tolerate non-U.S. Army regulated training methods?"
"You could talk to Lieutenant Winterss first." Wyatt chimed in.
"Lieutenant Winterss isn't the company commander, Hubler." Parks nodded, then looked at Hubler, "You know why I'm teaching you this? Besides helping you, there's another reason, which is to show Sobel or Winters your progress, and of course, the other brothers in Easy Company. Only when they feel it's effective will I help them, if they're willing, of course."
Hubler and Wyatt listened, exchanging a knowing smile.
In just a short month, Hubler and Wyatt's physical fitness had improved significantly. This surprised the brothers in Easy Company, including Winters and Captain Sobel. Because Hubler could not only keep up with the team, but also had impressive performances, though limited to only one or two areas. But this achievement was already very good, as it was only a month of improvement. And Wyatt's performance in the team could already be described as good.
The brothers in Easy Company all knew that for this past month, Parks had been training these two guys in a special way. It seemed to have had good results. Heaven knew if they trained for a few more months, they would become the company's model soldiers.
So, brothers in Easy Company kept wanting to talk to Parks about his training methods.
"You shouldn't hide your secrets." Buck Compton also found Parks, and Luz came with him, "Look at our Hubler and Wyatt, you've trained them into the Flash."
"Don't say that, Buck! I don't want to hide anything, otherwise, Sobel will throw me out of Easy Company. I don't want that." Parks looked at the complaining Buck, a little amused, "Are you trying to compete with me on the training ground? If so, I won't teach you, I'd be at a disadvantage."
Buck then realized his tone was a bit off, so he smiled apologetically: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that."
"I know, Buck!" Parks patted Buck, indicating he didn't mind at all, "I don't know what the brothers mean, and more importantly, if this happens, what will Sobel think?"
Luz cursed: "Forget about that Captain! Parks, we all know you're a good person. I think your method, besides making me stronger, will definitely make me perform well in other areas too."
"Other areas?" Buck and Parks looked at Luz simultaneously.
Luz looked at the two in surprise and said, "Yes, when I was 16, I liked to dream. Don't tell me you haven't wished upon the moon every night for your dick to grow bigger and thicker?"
Parks and Buck were stunned, then shook their heads in unison: "Sorry, Luz, we really haven't made such a wish."
"Oh, don't lie, you definitely have!" Luz suddenly felt a headache.
"No!" Buck and Parks shook their heads firmly, then each stepped back, as if afraid of being infected by Luz.
"Come on, man, will you die if you admit it? Like me, you should be open and honest!" Luz was still trying to explain something, but Parks and Buck couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"I like you, Luz!" Buck said with a laugh.
Parks also nodded, saying earnestly: "Me too!"
"Oh, God!" Luz slapped his forehead in annoyance.