Yao Clan's Wood Workshop was just a workshop, but there were obvious levels within it.
Master Yao was the signature master of the Yao Clan's Wood Workshop. He was famous outside and his craftsmanship was extraordinary. Even in the capital, his reputation spread.
However, in recent years, due to some reasons, he had rarely done any work himself. Most of the time, he managed the Yao Family Wood Workshop.
In short, he was the owner and the highest leader of this wood workshop. All the other masters were under him.
Below Master Yao were a few venerable masters of Tianzi Square. They are skilled, each has a unique skill, but buried in work and teaching disciples, rarely out.
Below them were the masters of the Heaven, Earth, Black and Yellow workshops.
Some of these masters were inherited by the Yao Family and nurtured by themselves, while others were hired from outside. The master in charge of each field is relatively high in level, and the master subordinate to the lower level is relatively low.
That is to say, Master Yao stands at the top of the pyramid of Yao's Wood Square, and Master Lian is at the third level, which is a little bit to the side. Even in Huangzi Square, the old wood yard is a relatively marginal area, which has to be admitted.
Now that Master Yao had thrown an olive branch at Xu Wen, if he really learned Master Yao's unique skills, it would not be a simple matter of just making a living. Perhaps the imperial court would take a fancy to him…With the importance the imperial court attached to craftsmen now, it was possible for him to be promoted to a higher position!
However, a roadblock appeared halfway. Before Xu Wen could say anything, Master Lian rejected him directly. What did this mean?
Lu Cheng was very clear about the internal situation of the Yao Clan Wood Workshop. He had even heard rumors that Master Yao's original disciple Zhou Zhicheng could no longer work as a carpenter due to certain reasons. This master had to find someone else to inherit his legacy.
This was a rare opportunity. Lu Cheng had been here for this since the very beginning.
His second uncle was also an old carpenter. His second uncle was a widow and childless. He treated him as his own son. He had taught him some skills since he was young, but he was not considered a disciple. There was no obstacle from another disciple.
He entered the Yao Family Wood Workshop with a better foundation than others, and he was careful everywhere to guard against other fellow disciples. This was to stand out from the crowd and gain the respect of Master Yao.
He had long heard that Master Yao would personally visit the five of them for the monthly assessment today to see if he could choose a good one to take in.
He didn't know what had happened and why Master Yao was in such a hurry, but when he saw him walking over at the entrance of Yellow Square today, he immediately understood that the news was true. He was overjoyed and decided to show off his true abilities.
He didn't expect that the first round would be fine, but his well-prepared second round didn't win Master Yao's favor. He only scored two points.
At the same time, Xu Wen, who had always been dull, shone brilliantly. From the first round onwards, he performed extremely brilliantly.
Lu Cheng had a strong sense of crisis in his heart, but the monthly evaluation relied on his true ability. He racked his brains, but there was nothing he could do.
Now, he watched Master Yao invite him personally and thought that the matter would be settled. Unexpectedly, Master Lian refused Xu Wen first!
"Oh, Xu Wen, what do you think?" Master Yao glanced at Master Lian and asked Xu Wen with a smile.
Xu Wen looked at Master Lian and looked at him.
Lu Cheng was secretly anxious. What else was there to consider?
One was a top craftsman whose name was known to the imperial court, and the other was an unknown country master from the old lumberyard. Normal people would know how to choose!
"I accept you as my disciple." Master Lian nodded to Xu Wen and said somewhat stiffly.
Say no!
For some reason, even though Xu Wen had this opportunity, Lu Cheng could not possibly have it again, but Lu Cheng was still genuinely anxious.
"Okay." To everyone's surprise, Xu Wen nodded to Master Lian and agreed.
Not only that, he turned to Master Yao and rejected him very formally." I'm sorry, I've already joined Master Lian. I can't take you as my teacher anymore."
"Are you sure?" Master Yao stared at him, unable to distinguish between joy and anger.
"Yes." Xu Wen nodded seriously.
" Good, good…" Master Yao laughed twice and didn't say anything else. He cupped his hands at Master Lian and turned to leave.
Then Master Yang announced that it was noon, and the evaluation was temporarily suspended. It was not early, that is, it continued at 1 p.m.
Each woodyard disbanded one after another and went to eat.
Master Lian glanced at Xu Wen and waved his hand." Oh, wait until today is over." Then he left, his meaning very unclear.
Many people passed by Xu Wen, and most of them had incredible expressions on their faces.
Lu Cheng could clearly hear two senior brothers discussing beside him.
"He let go of such a good opportunity just like that? Is your brain covered in shit?"
"Tsk tsk, I guess he was fascinated by a woman. I've seen Master Lian's girl before, she's really pretty."
"Woman…"
Lu Cheng gritted his teeth and took a big circle. He ran to Xu Wen's side and pulled his sleeve. He whispered," Are you stupid?!"
Xu Wen turned around and was surprised to see him.
" Who is Master Yao? Haven't you heard of him?" Lu Cheng was exasperated and told him everything he knew about Master Yao. Finally, he said," Rich and capable, what kind of woman can't be found? Go apologize to Master Yao now. Maybe you still have a chance!"
Xu Wen looked at him strangely. After a moment, he asked," If I don't acknowledge Master Yao as my teacher, won't you have a chance?"
" I, I…" Lu Cheng stammered twice and flew into a rage." I just don't like it. What right do you have to give up on something that I value so much…Yes, that's it!"
Xu Wen smiled, as if he had seen Lu Cheng for the first time, and sincerely said,"I have considered it before making a choice." You are very talented. As long as you are diligent and steadfast, Master Yao will definitely see you."
"Do, do you need to say it!" Lu Cheng's face flushed red and he turned around to go back. After taking two steps, he turned around and pointed at Xu Wen." Women are everywhere. It's a rare opportunity to become a disciple!"
Xu Wen smiled and nodded. Lu Cheng turned around and jogged away.
Xu Wen was a little surprised.
He had always thought that he had seen clearly what kind of person Lu Cheng was.
He had a good background. Compared to ordinary farm children, he had received a certain education and was relatively knowledgeable. He likes to play chess and likes to manipulate others.
Smarter than expected, but also able to suffer. Chopping firewood according to the rules of the Yao Clan's Wood Workshop was actually a rather arduous task. He was able to complete it ahead of time by himself every day. It was obvious that he did not lack perseverance.
Jealousy, love to win, this is the driving force of his actions, but also the reason for some of his behavior.
Out of this understanding, Xu Wen naturally felt that he was valued by Master Yao and would become Lu Cheng's enemy.
This thought was probably correct. The jealousy in Lu Cheng's eyes was also clearly visible just now. But Xu Wen really didn't expect that he would come here specifically to persuade him…
Some people are really interesting…
In the past, lunch was arranged by the people of each lumberyard.
But today, lunch time was only half an hour, very short.
Therefore, lunch was arranged in a unified manner. Each of them sent someone to pick it up and call back to eat together.
Xu Wen was delayed by Lu Cheng for a while. When he returned, Xu San and the others had already gone to get dinner. The rest of the people looked at Xu Wen strangely. They didn't understand him, but they felt a little closer to him.
Obviously, in their opinion, Master Yao was a better choice than Master Lian. However, Xu Wen would choose their Master as their Master, and they felt quite happy.
Lin Lin wasn't around, so he didn't know what to do.
After a long time, they came back. There were only leftovers in the food box, and half of them were cold and only a little warm.
Xu San said helplessly," The order of cooking is also based on last month's evaluation results. We are ranked last…Endure, endure."
The others looked as if they were used to it and called out to eat quickly. It was a little over a quarter of an hour before midnight, and if he did not eat quickly, he would starve.
Everyone wolfed down the food together and rushed to the square after eating.
When they arrived, everyone from the other woodyards had already arrived. The senior brother guarding the door frowned and muttered," You guys are the latest again."
Xu San smiled and apologized. Xu Wen raised his head and looked down at the stone platform.
On the wooden tablet, the morning scores of each wood yard had already been counted.
Beech first, redwood second, cypress third, ash fourth, old wood fifth.
There was a difference of more than 100 points between Old Wood and Fraxinus mandshurica, and the difference was huge. In the past, this hundred points was a natural chasm, a distance that could never be crossed.
At this moment, Xu Wen took a deep breath.