September 30 is the monthly evaluation day of Yao's Wood Workshop.
At this time of the month, Master Yao and the manager of the Wood Workshop would assess the four workshops of Heaven, Earth, Black and Yellow respectively. The assessment results of the month would be used to determine the position of the branch in the sect for the next month.
This status was reflected in all aspects. The salary of the month, the etiquette when meeting each other, the seats when gathering…all occasions with grades would be based on the results of this assessment.
Xu Wen was very surprised when he heard about this rule of Yao's Wood Workshop.
In his view, although this management method still reveals some unique styles of this era, it is already very advanced.
It is said that this rule has been implemented since Master Yao's grandfather's time and has been used to this day. It seemed that the rules of this wooden workshop were stricter and more modern than he imagined.
The four wooden workshops of Heaven, Earth, Black and Yellow were nominally divided according to different levels, but they were actually responsible for different tasks. So the end-of-month assessment is done within these four workshops, which do not communicate with each other.
The Yellow Square was divided into five wooden yards. Xu Wen and the others were divided into five.
On the evaluation day, Xu Wen still woke up very early. After finishing his work, he did not immediately go to Huang Zi Fang. Instead, he returned to the cabin of the prospective apprentice and prepared to bathe and change clothes.
Last night someone sent new clothes for them to change into tomorrow.
The new clothes were made of coarse linen and were very rudely sewn. However, for these farm children who came from all directions, there was a new set of clothes, which was just like New Year's.
Last night, several teenagers carefully folded their clothes and put them away. They even got up from time to time to look at them, afraid that others would steal them.
Xu Wen wasn't as cautious as they were, but he still folded his clothes and laid them under the pillow.
Cherishing clothes was secondary. Although these youths were young and came from farming families, it was hard to say what they would do to fight for the entry quota. Xu Wen did not want to take risks.
It was a dreamless night. It was as if even his sleep had become sweeter after he came to this world.
It was late September, and the well water in the morning was already cold. Xu Wen picked up a bucket and poured it on his head. Countless small particles immediately appeared on his skin.
There were quite a few people by the well, all of them young apprentices who lived together. They were also jumping around and talking excitedly.
"Dress up. It's a rare opportunity to attend the Huang Zi Fang evaluation today. Chick, you're so delicate. Maybe some master will take a fancy to you and harvest you as a disciple!"
These words had a slight feeling of intimacy, but both the speaker and the obedient looked like they were taken for granted.
That chick was a skinny, white-faced teenager who looked two years younger than the others. He said with a sad face: "What's the use of looks? I look like a chicken. Who can believe that I am as healthy as an ox?"
As he spoke, he watered his head with well water like everyone else, grimacing from the cold.
"Sigh, how can it compare to the luck of some people? They were brought to the wood workshop to do work the moment they came in. Unlike us, we do chores every day. I don't know how long we'll last." On the other side, a youth with some buckteeth said reluctantly and even glanced at Xu Wen.
"It's nothing much. I have a cousin who went to Chen Jiafang on the other side of the mountain to help. He said that apprentices were doing odd jobs for the first year, even if they entered the door. Master sees that you are doing well, so he will teach you something. It's normal for us here." another mild and ordinary-looking youth consoled.
"Who doesn't know? It's just that some people…Hmph." The buck-toothed youth glanced at Xu Wen again and muttered.
Not suffering from poverty but suffering from inequality is a common problem of many people.
If everyone did chores together, these teenagers might not be unbalanced.
However, Senior Brother Zhou specially selected Xu Wen and Lu Cheng from these ten teenagers and let them enter the Yellow Square to learn in advance.
These five people might have been selected because they had done well in their chores on the first day, but they had also done very seriously afterwards. Why didn't Senior Brother Zhou take a look at them?
After Xu Wen finished washing, he dried it with a towel and went back to his room to change into new clothes.
The linen cloth was very rough. If he changed to the modern one, he would definitely feel pain when it rubbed against his skin, but now he wore it without any discomfort. Of course, if he was born into a wealthy family, he might have to cry after wearing clothes for a while.
He had heard all the words of those youths just now, but he did not make any response.
Everyone's opportunities are different, you can only do to grasp the efforts that have come.
At the beginning of Chen, it was seven o'clock in the morning. Senior Brother Zhou arrived on time. He looked around and nodded in satisfaction." Not bad. Let's go."
The youths lined up in two rows and headed to Yellow Square neatly.
Xu Wen walked in the middle of the team, and beside him was Lu Cheng.
Halfway through, Lu Cheng suddenly raised his head and looked ahead. His eyes lit up.
Xu Wen followed his line of sight and saw Master Yao walking in the direction of Yellow Square with two people while talking. The three of them were wearing green robes, completely different from their usual appearances.
Xu Wen was also a little surprised.
Although the Heaven Earth Black Yellow Square did not have a strict grade difference, the Yellow Square was a wood yard and did the most basic work.
Logically speaking, Master Yao and the others should pay more attention to Tianzi Square for such a major event as the monthly evaluation. Why would they come here first?
Perhaps he heard their footsteps, Master Yao waited for the three of them to stop and looked back. Then, the three of them pointed and said something.
Lu Cheng's expression immediately became excited and expectant. After a while, he noticed Xu Wen's gaze and snorted softly. He raised his chin reservedly.
Looks like something else will happen today…
Xu Wen already had a rough idea.
The apprentices walked into the Yellow Square and stopped.
Brother Zhou turned around and said,"Lu Cheng, Chen Tie, He Ping, Liu Ada, Xu Wen, you five go back to your respective places." You will also participate in today's monthly evaluation." He turned to the other youths and said," Wait here. Someone will come and lead you in."
With that, he walked away without looking back.
Lu Cheng's face was obviously a little smug. Xu Wen walked towards the old wooden yard with the envy and hatred of the teenagers.
The weather in the old lumberyard today is completely different.
Just like Xu Wen and the others, Xu San and the others all wore new clothes and even had a little trim on them. They looked much cleaner than usual.
When they saw Xu Wen come in, they were very friendly. They came forward to greet him and smiled and told him what would happen when they practiced calligraphy tomorrow.
After a while, Master Lian walked out and glanced at them indifferently. The disciples immediately fell silent.
Xu Wen suddenly realized that although Master Lian looked like an ordinary middle-aged craftsman, his occasional expression was somewhat different from others.
Master Lian is still dressed as usual and has not made any preparations for today.
"Let's go." He said.
Xu San and the others followed him obediently.
Xu Wen looked around and realized that someone was missing. He asked Xu San softly," Where's Little Senior Sister?"
" Shh…It's fine if we hang out together, but how can she participate in such a serious matter?" Xu San lowered his voice and said.
Xu Wen frowned. He knew yesterday that Lin Lin was part of the evaluation of the old lumberyard, but he didn't expect her to be present.
He didn't say anything and didn't notice Master Lian's backward glance.
The layout of the Yellow Square was similar to that of ordinary residential buildings. The only difference was that there was no garden at the back. Instead, a large and flat square was left. The square was covered with bluestone, specially for the Yao Clan's Wood Square to store temporary materials when it received major construction projects.
The square was now in the air. The masters and disciples of the wooden yards of Huang Zi Fang arrived one after another, each occupying a corner.
A stone platform had been erected in the direction of the south. On the platform, there were a few armchairs, but they were still empty.
After a while, Master Yao and the others arrived and took their seats in the armchair.
Xu Wen noticed that the disciples of the various woodyards all had surprised and excited expressions on their faces. Obviously, Master Yao and the others would not come at this time in the past.
At two o'clock, everyone arrived. A middle-aged man standing above the stone platform rang the bell and said loudly," The end of the month assessment of the Yellow Square has begun. A disciple's ceremony!"
The last four words, his voice dragged very long. As they spoke, the masters and disciples of Yellow Square all bowed and cupped their hands, bowing to the person sitting on the stone platform.
Xu Wen followed suit. From the corner of his eye, he noticed that while everyone was bowing, only Master Lian had his hands behind his back and his back was straight. Obviously, he is not among the so-called "disciples."
" Today's evaluation is still the same as before. There are three items in total."
Master Yang announced today's rules in a loud voice.
"First, identify trees. Each of the lumberyards recognized its name from among the uncertain trees. Three points for each correct person."
"Second, say wood. Each lumberyard holds a piece of wood and says how to identify it. The highest score is five points, which will be assessed by the masters."
"The third item is choosing trees. Each person selects the standard of wood, takes out the same wood from each lumber yard, and scores it by speed and quality. The highest score is ten points, which will be assessed by the masters."
"Everyone in Yellow Square, can you hear me clearly?"
The rules were simple, and Master Yang had explained them clearly.
As soon as his voice fell, the people below responded with a roar: "Clear!"
"In that case-"
The sound of pan was crisp, piercing through the rocks and clouds.
" Yao Family Yellow Square September evaluation begins!"