Douluo Continent: Dragon's Journey Across the World

Chapter 8 The Blacksmith Shop

Yang Ping'an walked into the blacksmith shop and said to one of the blacksmiths inside, "Hello, sir, I'd like to apply for a blacksmithing apprenticeship. I wonder if that's possible?"

One of the blacksmiths, who was the leader, stepped forward. He was tall and muscular, clearly the result of years of blacksmithing. He said, "Young man, judging from your appearance, you should be a student at Notting Elementary School. You should focus more on meditation. If you become a Soul Master in the future, it will be much better than being a blacksmith."

Yang Ping'an quickly said, "Uncle, I am a villager from Wanghun Village. I am currently a work-study student. I want to learn blacksmithing so that I can support myself and also exercise."

The foreman couldn't help but laugh: "Little friend, I'm the owner of this blacksmith shop, my name is Tie Lin, you can call me Uncle Tie Lin. Being a blacksmith is very hard work, and you're too young to be an apprentice."

"Uncle Tielin, I'm very strong. You can try it if you don't believe me."

Tie Lin seemed a little conflicted: "Little friend, no matter what, you're too young. If you were over ten, I'd dare take you on as an apprentice, but you look like you're only six. Do your parents know you want to learn blacksmithing?"

Yang Ping'an's face darkened slightly: "Uncle Tielin, my parents have both passed away, and I live alone now. I am a work-study student at Notting Elementary School."

Upon hearing this, all the blacksmiths around fell silent, and some even stopped working.

One of the old blacksmiths said to Tie Lin, "Boss, I think this kid is quite strong. Why don't you just take him on? Even if he can't forge iron now, he can help with odd jobs. We can just pay him a lower wage."

Tie Lin thought for a moment before speaking: "Little friend, why don't you try swinging the smallest hammer we have here? If you can, then I can let you come here as an apprentice, but the apprentice's salary might be a little lower. Of course, if you work here, you won't have any problem eating."

"And another thing, you can't do blacksmithing in this school uniform either. Our environment is too dirty, and your school uniform will probably be ruined in a few days."

Yang Ping'an quickly said, "Uncle Tielin, don't worry, I will wear my own clothes from now on. I just came here today to find a job."

After speaking, Yang Ping'an picked up the smallest iron hammer on the scene. Even though it was the smallest iron hammer, it still weighed more than 30 kilograms.

However, Yang Ping'an had been training his body for a long time, so he was much stronger than other children his age. He picked up the hammer and swung it around a couple of times to show off his strength.

Tie Lin nodded: "Not bad. You're young, but you're quite strong. Even if you can't forge iron, you should be able to do odd jobs or some light lifting in our blacksmith shop. But don't you have to go to school?"

"Uncle Tielin, we have classes every morning and can arrange our own time in the afternoon. I can come here every afternoon to work and learn blacksmithing."

Tie Lin nodded: "That's not bad. You can come here for lunch and dinner every day. It's simple, but you'll be full. You can work here in the afternoon. Your monthly salary is ten copper soul coins, which is one silver soul coin. Once you become a true blacksmith, your salary can increase."

"Thank you, Uncle Tielin. I will definitely work hard in the future and will never let you down."

"Little friend, what's your name? Which village are you from?"

"My name is Yang Ping'an, and I come from Wanghun Village."

Tie Lin nodded: "Wanghun Village? That's quite a remote place. I remember Wanghun Village is dozens of kilometers away from here, it would take half a day to walk there."

"You'll start working here tomorrow."

After thanking Tie Lin once again, Yang Ping'an left the blacksmith shop.

As for why he became a blacksmith's apprentice, Yang Ping'an thought about it for a long time before making the decision.

Firstly, in terms of money, a blacksmith shop can provide a relatively stable income, at least guaranteeing basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter.

Secondly, the blacksmith shop is particularly rich in gold elements. Even simple blacksmithing can help strengthen one's body and physique. Furthermore, the Purple Gold Mastiff clearly prefers places like blacksmith shops, which would be beneficial for its future cultivation.

Most importantly, even if you reach the Soul Master level, you won't be able to acquire Soul Rings in the early stages. However, after learning blacksmithing, you can make things like bows and arrows, crossbows, or traps, which can prepare you for acquiring Soul Rings in the future.

On Earth, the ancient culture spanning five thousand years possessed a variety of weapons, including swords, bows and crossbows, ballistae, and even the most complex repeating crossbows like the Zhuge Repeating Crossbow. As a native of Earth, I have a certain understanding of these. With these things, acquiring spirit rings would be relatively easier.

In particular, some of the more powerful iron crossbows, while lacking the stealth and mobility of Tang San's Zhuge Divine Crossbow, are definitely no less powerful in attack.

As for hiring mercenaries to hunt for spirit rings in the future, Yang Ping'an had never thought about it. On the one hand, he had very high requirements for spirit rings, and on the other hand, he did not have the money to hire mercenaries. Moreover, he was just a primary school child. If those powerful mercenaries turned against him, he might not even be able to save his own life.

In short, learning blacksmithing is a very good choice at this stage, as it can at least ensure early growth.

After leaving the blacksmith shop, Yang Ping'an went straight back to the academy and went to the teaching affairs office, where he happened to run into Director Su.

Yang Ping'an quickly bowed and said, "Director Su, hello. I'm Yang Ping'an, a first-year student. I'd like to switch from a work-study student to a regular student. Is that possible?"

Director Su was puzzled: "Yang Ping'an, I remember your information says you're an orphan. If you're not a work-study student, how will you manage your studies and life in the future?"

"Director Su, I found a job at the blacksmith shop. I will be an apprentice there from now on. The blacksmith shop has advanced my tuition fees, and my livelihood will be guaranteed while I work there."

Director Su nodded: "Working at the blacksmith shop is indeed a good choice, but your innate soul power is only half a level. You should spend more time on meditation and training, otherwise you may have a hard time graduating in the future."

"Director Su, don't worry about that. The blacksmith shop has a very good environment. I will definitely work hard to cultivate and improve myself as much as possible. I will definitely become a Soul Master before graduation."

Director Su sighed: "The path of a Soul Master must ultimately focus on meditation. Although your family is poor and your innate soul power is weak, you must not let your living conditions affect your future."

After some discussion, Yang Ping'an took out three gold soul coins from his personal pocket as tuition for the year.

After Director Su collected Yang Ping'an's tuition fees, he reassigned Yang Ping'an to a dormitory and also issued a certificate to Yang Ping'an.

With the certificate in hand, Yang Ping'an went directly to the dormitory management teacher and changed his original dormitory to a one-room dormitory. The one-room dormitory was an entire floor with various small rooms, where all students lived independently, unlike the large communal dormitory like Room 7.

Yang Pingan himself didn't care much about moving dorms, but the biggest advantage of having an independent dorm was that he wouldn't be disturbed by others if he had his own little secrets.

As for the mere three gold soul coins, it was nothing to Yang Ping'an. If he could exchange three gold soul coins for one or two hours of cleaning time every day, it would be worth it no matter how you looked at it. Besides, in addition to the work assigned to him every day, the work-study students would occasionally have to assist the academy with other things. Perhaps the things were not heavy, but they were too much of a waste of time.

(End of this chapter)