Three days later, in the evening, Tian Qing gathered all of them together.
August late summer early autumn, but the temperature has not dropped, the surrounding air is still hot.
The cicadas on a parasol tree beside him were deafening, but the edges of some leaves had already begun to show a slight yellow color.
"The day after tomorrow, we'll leave. We'll set off at the right time, but we'll arrive at the wrong time."
Tian Qing stood in front of them, his gaze sweeping over them, and he spoke a few words.
Xu Wen was already very used to this world's timekeeping method, so he directly switched it to modern terms.
It's six o'clock at noon, and two o'clock at noon at noon. It took a total of eight hours to walk from Yao Clan's Wood Square to Yushui County, and the distance was indeed not short.
He heard that Yushui County was the largest city in this area. It was located beside Moon Lake. The scenery was very beautiful. Many celebrities had come and wrote poems and left words. The names of the poems were quite prosperous.
"Lin Lin, something." Tian Qing said briefly.
Lian Linlin immediately brought up a tray. There were twenty pouches on the tray, each of which was only half the size of a palm. They are fine and smooth, and look delicate, but there is nothing embroidered on the surface, and they are very simple.
Lian Linlin gave Xu Wen and the others a packet. The packet fell on his hand and felt a little heavy.
Xu Wen opened it and saw a bunch of copper coins inside. They were all brand new, as if they had never been used before.
"It's rare to enter the city, so each of you should bring some pocket money. Money is not much, buy some snacks casually. Go out and watch more. If you cause trouble, settle it yourself. Don't come looking for me."
Tian Qing's tone was a little stiff. His disciples were stunned for a moment, but they all revealed touched expressions.
After a year here, Xu Wen already knew why.
In ancient times, before apprentices entered the master's workshop, they worked as miscellaneous workers in the master's workshop, including food and accommodation, but they were all unpaid.
Sometimes Master would give some pocket money to disciples who were closer to him during the New Year holidays, but that was only a small amount. Generally, it was only given to those disciples who had won Master's favor and were destined to inherit the mantle.
Xu Wen had never heard of someone as generous as Lian Tianqing who had a share in everyone.
After all, the status of an apprentice could be heard from its name.
Even in modern times, before PhDs, students did not receive salaries from teachers.
Of course, money was secondary. Just the qualification for this apprentice examination was already very rare.
For Xu San and the others, it was not too much to say that Tian Qing was their benefactor.
"How can I let Master spend money?" Xu San and the others were embarrassed to refuse.
"If I tell you to take it, then take it. Otherwise, you don't have to go for the apprentice test tomorrow." Tian Qing said coldly.
Xu San and the others immediately shut up. After a while, they bowed and bowed deeply to Lian Tianqing.
Lian Tianqing was truly a very good master…
The examinees from ancient times were probably the same. Xu San and the others were a little nervous when they thought of the official exam the day after tomorrow.
They gathered in groups of three or five and called out to each other to hold the Buddha's feet temporarily.
Tian Qing called Xu Wen to him and asked him about his recent learning of Tongmu Qiao.
The nature of tung wood is indeed somewhat similar to fir, and the two eighteen clever techniques are also relatively similar.
Three days was enough to master it, but to complete it to the level of Cunninghamia lanceolata, a lot of training was needed.
These days, Xu Wen's hand has not left the tung wood, the skill is advancing at a rapid pace.
Tian Qing inspected a component that he had just completed halfway, pointed out a few problems, and waved him away.
Xu Wen pondered as he turned around. Suddenly, he heard someone calling him from behind.
"Ask many questions." It's Lin Lin.
"Hmm?" Xu Wen stopped.
Lian Linlin led him to an empty corner and slipped him another purse.
This pouch was different from the previous ones. There was a strange pattern embroidered on the outside. It was curved and twisted. Xu Wen couldn't tell what shape it was, but he knew at a glance that it was the outline of the fir he had just practiced not long ago.
Such a strange pattern embroidered on the pouch, let it take some unusual design sense.
The pouch had a faint lotus fragrance, soft and sweet. This fragrance instantly brought Xu Wen back to his senses, and his expression was a little complicated.
"Um…Xiao Xu, I have a favor to ask of you." Lian Linlin seemed a little embarrassed. Her wheat-colored cheeks were slightly red.
"What is it?" Xu Wen paused for a moment before asking.
"This is the pocket money I secretly saved. I won't go with you this time. Help me buy some ink, paper and inkstones in the county. There isn't much money, don't buy too expensive, it's best to buy more…" As she spoke, she became more embarrassed and her voice became softer.
Xu Wen immediately knew that he was thinking wrongly. For some reason, his mood was more complicated than before. For a moment, he did not know what to say.
"Is it inconvenient? "That's true. It's such a long way. It's not convenient to have too many things…" Lian Linlin clearly misunderstood his silence and quickly explained for him.
"It's not inconvenient. I'm just a little strange. Didn't Master prepare it?" Xu Wen asked.
"Those aren't enough. I…um…want to write something secretly." Lian Linlin looked left and right and said to Xu Wen with a red face.
"Write something? Write what?" Xu Wen was also a little curious.
"Don't ask anymore…You'll know when you write it later!" Lian Linlin blushed and shook her head. Then, she asked him softly," Aren't you laughing at me?"
"Why?"
"You want to write when you just learned to write, and you want to run before you learn to walk."
"I also want to become as powerful as Master."
"Hmm?"
" You've just learned your craft and you're already thinking about this. Are you thinking of running away before you can walk?"
Even Lin Lin suddenly understood, she stared at Xu Wen, happily smiled and said: "Remember to help me buy ah!" And flew away happily like a bird.
So he just wanted to find a buyer…
Xu Wen looked at her back and felt a little regretful and fortunate.
He carefully put the pouch in his pocket, turned around, and continued toward the workshop.
The next day, when the sky had just turned white, the twenty apprentices of the old lumberyard lined up neatly in two lines and waited at the old lumberyard.
There was a light rain last night and the temperature dropped rapidly. The air this morning is a little chilly. Compared to yesterday's hot weather, it was quite pleasant.
Xu Wen stood at the end of the queue, holding a piece of tung wood in his hand. He gently touched it with his fingertips and felt its delicate texture.
The connection between man and wood is sometimes established in the most direct way.
Not long after, chickens crowed in the village one after another. Tian Qing strode in and glanced at them." You're early."
"Yes!" All the disciples answered in unison, full of energy.
"You're in good spirits. It's best if you do the same for tomorrow's exam. Let's go."
Tian Qing led them out of the old wooden field. Each of his disciples carried a large bag, which contained the clothes and food they had changed in the past few days, including Xu Wen. Only Tian Qing was empty-handed and did not take anything.
Just as they walked out of the old wooden yard, they saw Senior Brother Zhou standing at the door with a middle-aged man, talking about something.
"Just right." Tian Qing said with an unclear meaning and walked forward to meet them.
Lu Cheng woke up early in the morning and felt a little stuffy. His heart immediately tightened.
Today, he had to go to Yushui County, and tomorrow, he had to take the apprentice examination. If he caught a cold at this critical moment, things would go wrong.
Brother Zhou came to pick him up early in the morning. Today, he will accompany Lu Cheng to Yushui County to take the exam.
As for Master Yao, the apprentice examination was followed by the 100-worker examination. At such times, some famous craftsmen gathered together, and over time a fixed industry exchange meeting was formed.
Master Yao had already left two days ago.
Lu Cheng did not hide anything and told Senior Brother Zhou about his physical condition. Senior Brother Zhou was also a little nervous. He informed the kitchen to boil a bowl of ginger soup for him and asked him to drink it before he set off.
The ginger soup was slightly scalding, and Lu Cheng was sweating profusely from drinking it. He felt his mind clear up a lot. Senior Brother Zhou was waiting for him outside. He jogged out and saw the group of people at the old timber yard.
For some reason, Xu Wen stood out in the crowd even though they were all young farmers. He stood there with a bundle on one shoulder, his posture tall and straight, like a bamboo pole facing the wind.
It's kind of cute.
Lu Cheng felt a little sour.
No matter how pretty she looks, I'm the one taking the apprentice exam tomorrow, not you.
I'm the one who's gonna make it back, not you.
Recalling that Xu Wen was the one who gave him this qualification, and that he was the one who taught him how to be accepted by his master, Lu Cheng slowed down his pace a little guiltily and pretended to be reserved as he walked over.
As soon as he got closer, he heard Senior Brother Zhou's surprised voice.
"Apprentice test? To join us? So many people?"
Lu Cheng was shocked, what?!