"It's so hot, so hot, so hot."
Lian Linlin was sweating profusely, running in and out while nagging.
"If it's hot, sit down. If your heart is calm, it'll naturally cool down." Master Lian was dizzy from her noise and said impatiently.
"No, there are only five days left. There are still many things to prepare. I have to hurry!" Lian Linlin flatly refused and continued running.
Maybe she was running too fast, and she tripped over the threshold. Xu Wen happened to pass by and helped her up.
"Benefactor!" Lian Linlin called out, and just as he stood up, he hurriedly ran in.
Seeing her like this, Xu Wen laughed.
One evening a month ago, Master Lian finished his meal and drank tea to gargle his mouth. He seemed to say to them very unintentionally: "Apprentice test will be held in a month. You all go and try it."
Xu San, Qian Ming, and the others were helping Lian Linlin clean up at the dining table while chatting and laughing. The atmosphere was very harmonious. Hearing Lian Tianqing's words, everyone instantly fell silent.
"We?" Xu San asked.
"Both?" Qian Ming added.
"Apprentice test?" Most of the apprentices 'attention was focused on this.
"Well, all of you, go and try it together." Lian Tianqing nodded.
Even Xu Wen was stunned.
Lu Cheng had told him regretfully that he needed the Wood Workshop Master's recommendation to participate in the apprentice examination. There was only one quota for each Wood Workshop.
Including Xu Wen, there were a total of twenty apprentices in the old lumberyard, which required twenty spots.
How could Lian Tianqing get so many slots?
"You don't have to worry about qualifications. Just focus on preparing for the exam." Tian Qing said indifferently.
After he finished speaking, he picked up the teacup and left from the side of the table. The rest of the people looked at each other. After a while, Qian Ming whispered to Xu San: "You pinch me quickly!" Damn, be careful!"
Xu San is used to living, honest, speaking and doing Ding is Ding Mao is Mao. He pinched it so hard that Qian Ming's tears welled up in his eyes, but his mouth cracked into a huge smile." It's true!" Can I really take part in the apprentice test?"
"Yes! Master always means what he says. If he says we can participate, we will definitely participate! "Xu San's words came out like a string of bullets.
"Don't you stutter anymore? "Qian Ming suddenly realized something.
"Ah, I, I seem, I really don't seem to stutter anymore? "Xu San was stunned for a moment.
"Hahahaha! "The acolytes beside him laughed together.
In the joyous atmosphere, Xu Wen's gaze rested on Lian Linlin.
She was laughing along with everyone. Her smile was cheerful and there was no trace of haze. She was really happy for everyone.
But for some reason, Xu Wen felt that there was something hidden under this smile. Something was not right.
"What's wrong with you?" Xu Wen asked softly as he handed her a rag.
"Ah? It's nothing." Lian Linlin smiled as she looked at him, as if she was a little surprised.
Xu Wen did not say anything else. Instead, he took the dishes from her hands and followed her to the kitchen at the back.
Even Lin Lin didn't say anything along the way. She followed behind Xu Wen and hummed a tune leisurely. There was a hint of melodious in the lively tune. Xu Wen had heard her hum it a few times before, but it was not the style of local folk songs.
"You only hum this when you're in a bad mood." Xu Wen went to the kitchen, put the dishes on the counter, and heard the tune stop abruptly.
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
"I…I can't take the apprentice exam with you guys, right?" After a moment of silence, Lian Linlin finally asked softly.
Xu Wen turned around and stared at her.
The girl stood by the kitchen window, half of her body hidden in the shadows. She looked out of the kitchen window at the green vine on the eaves, her expression a little worried.
Xu Wen remembered everything that had happened in the past year.
Tian Qing taught him, he taught Lian Lin Lin and all the apprentices of the old lumberyard. Apprentice Xu cherished this rare opportunity and learned it very seriously.
Lin Lin was more serious than them.
Carpenter or woodwork restoration, beyond theory, requires a great deal of practice.
These practices require physical strength, require long periods of concentration, and are very laborious.
But Lin Lin never falls behind.
She did what Xu San and Qian Ming did. Sometimes because some special factors are slower than them, she will do it longer, with time and more effort to make up for it.
Perhaps she was trying to prove something, perhaps it was just pure love. Xu Wen didn't know, but she saw it all.
Now, the other apprentices had a formal opportunity to continue moving forward and prove themselves. However, the " everyone " that Lian Tianqing referred to earlier clearly did not include her.
Tian Qing was different from many people in this era. He cherished his daughter very much and did not think that girls were only worthy of sitting in the boudoir and teaching their husbands and children. But even he subconsciously ignored her at this moment.
"Yeah, maybe not." Xu Wen admitted.
Throughout history, looking back a thousand years later, he knows exactly what constraints women in this era suffered.
Female champion, female general, almost all can only exist in the legend of the book.
"Indeed." Xu Wen admitted bluntly, but Lian Linlin's expression became a little more cheerful. She scooped up a ladle of water from the tub and pouted as she washed the dishes."Actually, I already knew. Lu Ban Mozi Ding Huan Cai Hou, all male. There have been no female craftsmen since ancient times!"
"That's not right." Xu Wen shook his head." Lei Zu is the ancestor of weaving. She is a woman."
"…Yes." Lin Lin was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed."You're right. I learned my craft because I liked it. So what if I can't take the apprentice exam? I still like it!"
Even Lin Lin had always been like this. Her temper and her troubles always came and went faster. It was always warm and comforting to be around her.
Xu Wen also smiled, he took Lian Linlin's washed bowl, wiped it with a cloth handkerchief, and said,"Yes, if you like, do it." So what if I can't take the apprentice test? Craftsmen want to leave their skills in the world. Your craft, it'll carry your name."
Lin Lin's eyes sparkled. She threw the bowl back onto the table with a thud and said heroically,"Yes! Even if I can't be an official, I will let future generations remember my name!"
Xu Wen did not remember hearing her name, but he still said sincerely: "Come on!""
After that, Lin Lin really changed. She was still working as hard as before, but there was a chord in her heart that seemed to have been relaxed and became more calm and determined.
She was no longer anxious about the immediate gains and losses, but set her sights on the farther future.
In addition to studying, Lian Linlin also arranged for Xu Wen to travel all matters. Food, clothing, shelter, transportation, preparation for exams, she wants everything in front of her.
She smiled and said to them,"You have to take the exam yourself. I can't help you." But leave everything else to me!"
She seemed to be born with a slightly underdeveloped cerebellum, and from time to time she would be knocked down by something. So she stumbled around and saw that the exam was only five days away.
"Master."
Xu Wen put aside his unnecessary thoughts and walked to Lian Tianqing. He respectfully called out.
Some people are like ponds, looking very deep, but half of them are actually mud; some people are like secluded pools, the water surface is clear, but the bottom is not visible, and they do not know where to go.
Tian Qing was undoubtedly the latter.
The longer Xu Wen studied with him, the more he felt that he was unfathomable.
"Take a look." Lian Tianqing said.
Xu Wen handed him the item in his hand.
It was an oddly shaped wooden component, curved and straight, round and square, curved and twisted. It was difficult to describe what shape it was.
Tian Qing took it over and flipped it around. His gaze swept over every detail. At the same time, his left thumb kept moving and touched its surface completely.
He looked very cautious, and his attitude was obviously much more serious than usual.
After a while, Lian Linlin carried a bunch of things out. When she passed by her father, she glanced at him casually and immediately widened her eyes. She cried out softly,
"Eighteen coincidences? You succeeded?"
She leaned over and looked closely, then a soft cry: "What a powerful fir!"
Eighteen together is a wooden word, coincidentally there is another I.
Eighteen skills was the basic skill of the true inheritance of carpentry.
In addition to the name of the word wood, this eighteen also represents eighteen kinds of wood, eighteen different basic carpentry, and eighteen different connection methods.
The material of each kind of wood is different, and accordingly, the scope of application and the craftsmanship that can be operated are also different. For example, this fir tree in Tianqing's hand includes all the shapes that fir trees can form, as well as the mortise and tenon structures that can be made of it.
The Eighteen Skills seemed simple, but in fact, it included all the basic skills needed for woodworking. It was a skill that a carpenter needed to cultivate for a lifetime.
Cunninghamia lanceolata is a kind of fast-growing wood, the wood is light and tough, easy to handle. Therefore, Cunninghamia lanceolata Qiao is also a relatively simple kind of eighteen Qiao Li, used to give Xu Wen such a novice beginner to get started better.
However, eighteen Qiao is the most testing person. Xu Wen asked this fir Qiao that all parts are complete in shape, and there is no gap on the surface, just like a whole piece of wood carved out.
This skill was not something that a novice who had only learned for a year could tell. It was like an old master.
"Not bad. Tomorrow, I'll start practicing Tongmu Qiao." Lian Tianqing nodded.
"Yes." Xu Wen answered naturally.
"The apprentice test is in five days!" Lian Linlin shouted anxiously.
"Tongmu is similar to fir, lighter in material and slightly different in feel. Get used to it. Give me the results in three days." Lian Tianqing said.
"Yes."
"There are similarities in the techniques, and all changes are consistent. You should experience them well."
"Yes."
The two of them asked and answered each other as if they didn't care about the important exam five days later.
Lian Linlin wanted to grab their ears and shout,"Five days!"
"What is the apprentice examination?" Tian Qing glanced at his daughter and asked indifferently.
" It's different every year…" Lian Linlin's voice immediately softened when he stared at her.
"What about its essence?" Lian Tianqing asked.
Lian Linlin didn't say anything. After a moment, he suddenly understood.
Apprentices try to investigate its essence, and what they test is the basic skills of apprentices. Xu Wen had practiced the most fundamental things. What else did he need to prepare?
"I want a piece of paulownia." Xu Wen said to Lian Linlin.
Now all the goods in and out of the old wood yard must be registered, and Lian Linlin is responsible for handling them.
"Sigh…Sigh!" Lian Linlin came back to her senses and replied clearly," I'll get it for you!"