He was born as a blacksmith, but he dominated the world

Chapter 18 Test Questions (Third update, please read later)
Zhao Yankui's face darkened, and he turned around and glared at Dong Songchang: "Don't go too far, or you might capsize in the gutter!"

Dong Songchang laughed at the people around him: "See? Our Master Zhao also loses his temper sometimes."

As he spoke, he suddenly slapped his head and said, "I almost forgot. That kid named Jiang Lin seems to be good at making fire, and he hasn't learned much about hammering yet. I was confused and put him on the list of apprentices in the hammering area. Oh, look at my brain, Master Zhao, I'm really sorry, blame me, blame me, haha..."

Who couldn't see that Dong Songchang did it on purpose? The blacksmiths following him all laughed along.

Some of the brave ones even said to Zhao Yankui, "Master Zhao, Jiang Lin's talent for fire-making is indeed top-notch, but since he was mistakenly reported as an apprentice in the Hammering Area, there is nothing we can do. Let's think about how to treat his injuries."

"Who do you think you are to talk to me!" Zhao Yankui glared at him fiercely.

The blacksmith didn't dare to argue with Zhao Yankui, so he just shrank his head and said nothing.

Zhao Yankui seemed to be completely enraged. He pointed at Dong Songchang and cursed: "You hypocrite, you pretend to be a scholar every day, but you do all kinds of sneaky things! Don't you think Jiang Lin is not good enough? Come on, I'll bet you twenty taels of silver that Jiang Lin will pass the apprenticeship test this time. Do you dare?"

Dong Songchang was stunned. He didn't expect Zhao Yankui to ask for a bet.

He was a little hesitant for a moment. Zhao Yankui was not a brainless person. Why would he want to gamble money for no reason?

Is there something fishy going on?

At this time, Dong Songchang saw Qi the blacksmith pulling Zhao Yankui hard, as if he wanted to persuade him to do something.

Zhao Yankui pushed him away forcefully: "Don't pull me!"

Dong Songchang's eyes lit up and he laughed out loud: "Okay, since Master Zhao is so interested, then you can all be witnesses. Twenty taels is twenty taels, why not take the free money? When I win money later, I will treat the brothers to wine and meat!"

The blacksmith who had just been glared at suddenly laughed and said, "Master Zhao, I wonder if we can also join in?"

Zhao Yankui was stunned, as if he didn't expect that there would be other people joining.

His stunned expression made the blacksmith think that he was afraid, so he continued, "Master Zhao, don't be afraid. We only have 20 taels, not much, not much."

Blacksmith Qi said angrily: "Don't go too far. Although Jiang Lin has only been in the forging area for ten days, we taught him a lot last night. He may not be unable to pass the test!"

"last night?"

As soon as these words were spoken, more people burst into laughter.

Even the blacksmiths who originally had no intention of participating now became interested.

How could an apprentice who only cram at the last minute possibly pass the test?

They all clamored to join the gambling game and kept provoking Zhao Yankui with words, saying that they also had the possibility of losing and that the master chef could not retreat.

Zhao Yankui's eyes were red, and he ignored Qi the blacksmith's pulling and said, "Let's gamble, take out the silver first, so that you won't default on your debt later!"

"Damn it, you guys are going too far! In that case, I, Qi Shulin, will bet with the master chef on this one. Is there anyone else who wants to follow?"

Originally, Zhao Yankui just wanted to trick Dong Songchang, but after this incident, the blacksmiths on both sides couldn't help but join in, and at least dozens of people got involved without knowing it.

From twenty taels to forty taels, and finally accumulated to as much as three hundred taels.

Even though Dong Songchang was not short of money, he still became greedy when he saw three hundred taels of silver piled in front of him.

His eyes narrowed with laughter. Great, originally Jiang Lin was the only one in charge, but now he unexpectedly got so many benefits. If I had known earlier, I should have given him more silver.

At this time, someone came over and reminded: "Master Chef has arrived!"

A burly, eight-foot-tall, white-haired old man with bulging muscles came over with the gait of a dragon or a tiger. Although he was old, he was still full of energy and had an extraordinary aura.

If Zhao Yankui is a black iron tower, then the old man is like a black mountain.

He was none other than Yu Maoming, the master blacksmith of the Foundry Department. He had once forged a sixth-grade sword and was the most skilled blacksmith among the four major blacksmith camps.

Next to him was a middle-aged man who was equally burly and dignified, also wearing the uniform of an iron official. He was Yuan Gaohao, the deputy chief craftsman of the Foundry Department.

Zhao Yankui and others hurried over, bowed and saluted: "Master Craftsman."

Yu Maoming nodded slightly, glanced at the silver piled on the ground, and looked puzzled: "What are you doing?"

Dong Songchang immediately said, "It's nothing. Master Zhao's new apprentice is also taking part in today's test, so we made a small bet. Master Sijiang happened to be here, so why not be a witness for us?"

Yu Maoming glanced at Zhao Yankui and the indignant blacksmith behind him, then looked at Dong Songchang, who was full of laughter and excitement.

The expressions of the two groups were completely different, and it was obvious that they were arguing.

Yu Maoming did not ask about it. A little gambling was just for fun. Besides, the blacksmith camp should maintain a certain competitive momentum. Otherwise, how could he have the motivation to work after spending the whole day doing boring blacksmithing and not earning much money?

Just because of his understanding of Zhao Yankui, Yu Maoming was very curious about what kind of apprentice he was that could make this man willing to gamble with real money.

Zhao Yankui is not the kind of person who likes to make random moves. If he dares to gamble, he must have some confidence.

And Dong Songchang dared to take this gamble, Yu Maoming couldn't help but find it interesting.

Yuan Gaohao and his men collected the silver and followed them towards the blacksmith shop.

Soon, the group arrived at the blacksmith shop, where all the apprentices were waiting.

Jiang Lin saw the old man walking in front from afar, and knew that this should be the master craftsman that Zhao Yankui mentioned.

As expected of the blacksmith camp's chief craftsman, his stature is even stronger than Zhao Yankui's.

It should be the effect of the furnace baking method. The more sophisticated the blacksmith's skills, the more muscular his physique.

Jiang Lin couldn't help but wonder, if he really cultivated an indestructible golden body, would he turn into a humanoid monster?
After entering the blacksmith shop, Yu Maoming glanced at the many apprentices, and then said solemnly: "Today I will preside over the apprentice test. Those who pass will be rewarded with one tael of silver and two taels of red meat. Those who fail will be punished with thirty strokes of the cane! I hope you will show your enthusiasm. I don't want to see so many people get their butts bruised."

None of the apprentices dared to laugh. Most of them had sad faces, fearing that they would get into trouble.

But since it’s an apprenticeship test, the questions shouldn’t be too difficult, right?
Yuan Gaohao stepped forward and continued, "The test question for apprentices in the fire-making area is to burn at least one piece of pig iron in half an incense stick. Apprentices in the forging area must complete the casting of at least one weapon within an hour, and they must do everything from burning the fire to forging on their own."

When the two questions were read out, most of the apprentices looked even more miserable.

This time limit is too short!

Half an incense stick?
Those who are less skilled may just barely get the furnace temperature up.

Jiang Lin was the only one who looked relaxed among the crowd.

Is this the apprenticeship test?

It seems that Dong Songchang didn't put in much effort, so it's not that difficult at all.

(End of this chapter)