Chapter Twenty Examination and Verification
The festive atmosphere of the New Year had barely faded when an unusual kind of liveliness quietly spread through the Zhang family courtyard.
The source was a newly posted notice from the county government: the county would hold an examination for artisans after the spring. Any craftsmen, such as carpenters, bricklayers, and blacksmiths, who could pass the government's assessment would be officially registered and become officially recognized artisan households.
The news spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of Zhuoshui Village.
Although the social hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants is ranked after farmers, everyone knows the difference.
A truly skilled craftsman, recognized and registered by the government, enjoys a much higher status, greater reputation, and more work and wealth than an ordinary farmer toiling in the fields.
That's the skill that allows you to establish yourself and pass down your family's legacy.
Zhang Dahe has been walking with a swagger lately, his face glowing, and he can't help but mention it to everyone he meets.
"Hey, brother, have you heard? The county is going to hold a craftsman examination. My family's Liu Ji is a very good carpenter. When that happens, when anyone in the village builds a new house, puts up the main beam, or prepares a dowry, they'll all have to bring generous gifts and line up to hire our Master Liu Ji."
He could almost see his son wearing official robes and being respected by others; he couldn't hide his pride.
Zhang Liuji was in a real bind.
He had just returned from the fields, his trousers still splattered with mud, when he heard his father boasting to someone at the gate. He quickly ran over, a mixture of embarrassment and helplessness on his face.
"Father! Father! Please calm down! This is still far from certain! The exam date is set, but... but I really have no confidence!"
As he spoke, he half-pulled and half-persuaded Zhang Dahe, who was still not finished speaking, and pushed him into the yard.
Why are you unsure?
Zhang Dahe was being pushed along by his son, and he was still shouting indignantly.
"You've loved tinkering with wood since you were little, and the mortise and tenon joints you made are so perfect! Every single one of our cupboards and stools, wasn't it you who made them? They're so sturdy!"
"Dad! That's different!"
Zhang Liuji had a bitter face.
"The examinations conducted by the government are meant to reveal the true abilities of the candidates."
"I heard the exam was really detailed, covering everything from large and small carpentry to carving and reading blueprints... All year round, I just make doors and windows and repair farm tools for the villagers. I don't get many real jobs! I still have to work in the fields every day. I... I'm afraid my skills aren't enough..."
His tone was full of insecurity.
The requirements in that announcement were enough to make one's heart tremble just by looking at them.
When Zhang Liuli pushed the wheelbarrow into the yard, he saw the father and son, one with a ruddy complexion and the other with a worried expression, pulling at each other.
She put down the handlebars and asked with a smile.
"Brother Liu Ji, why haven't I seen you come to town to help me lately? Turns out you've been burying yourself in your studies at home!"
Upon seeing his cousin, Zhang Liuji seemed to have found someone to confide in, pointing to the faint dark circles under his eyes.
"Yi-jie, don't even mention it. I haven't been able to eat or sleep well these past few days, just thinking about the school entrance exam. Dad keeps harping on it, which only adds to my stress."
Zhang Liu smiled and ignored his complaints, instead turning around and laboriously unloading a few pieces of wood from the wheelbarrow.
The wood was freshly felled hardwood from the mountain, carefully sawn into uniform, square blocks, clearly specially selected.
"Oh dear! Yi-jie, what are you doing?"
Upon seeing this, Zhang Liuji quickly stepped forward to help catch it.
"This piece of wood is so heavy, did you carry it all the way down the mountain by yourself? I'm a grown man, why would I need you to help me practice carrying wood? Put it down, put it down!"
Zhang Liuyi patted the sawdust off his hands and smiled nonchalantly.
"It's easier. I see you practicing with those old pieces of wood every day, you've even ruined them. These pieces are newer, with straight grain, so they're easier to work with. When it comes to exams, you need the right tools to do your job well, so the material has to be suitable, right?"
She spoke so naturally, as if she had only done something insignificant.
Looking at the smooth, flat pieces of new wood that exuded a fresh woody scent, and then at his cousin's clothes covered in mud and sawdust, Zhang Liuji felt a warm glow in his heart, but also a little embarrassed, and could only thank her repeatedly.
In the courtyard, Zhang Liuji's practice area has been set up.
Next to a small stool, neatly arranged were the tools he had painstakingly collected over a long period of time, even after being scolded by Zhang Dahe several times for them.
A sturdy wooden horse, a wide-backed saw, a fine-toothed narrow saw, an ink line, a smoothly polished boxwood carpenter's square, a planer, a grooving planer, and also chisels, files, hammers...
There were at least ten different kinds.
Everything was wiped clean and arranged meticulously, demonstrating the owner's appreciation for them and the seriousness with which the test was being conducted.
Zhang Liuji took a deep breath, moved a piece of new wood that Zhang Yili had brought, and placed it steadily on the wooden horse.
He picked up the inkwell, pulled out the line saturated with ink, squinted one eye, gestured a few times at the wood, and then with a "snap," a straight, jet-black ink line shot out.
Then, he picked up his most commonly used planer, stood in a lunge position, put his strength into his arms, and steadily pushed the blade across the surface of the wood.
With a soft sound, thin shavings of wood gushed out merrily from the planer, carrying a fresh woody scent.
With steady movements, he smoothed and polished the rough surface of the wood, one stroke after another, following the grain of the wood.
Sweat streamed down his focused profile, but he was completely unaware of it.
Zhang watched for a while without disturbing them.
She didn't understand the intricacies of carpentry, but seeing her cousin's focused and meticulous manner, she knew he was practicing diligently.
She turned around and tiptoed into the kitchen.
The kitchen was filled with steam and the aroma of food.
Sister-in-law Li Xiulan was busy around the stove when she saw Zhang Yixin come in. She smiled gently and said, "Yi-jie'er is here? Perfect timing. Help your sister-in-law with the bellows for a while. The fire needs to be strong enough."
"Why!"
Zhang Yi responded and sat down on the small stool in front of the stove, skillfully pulling the bellows.
The bellows hummed rhythmically, and the flames in the stove were blazing brightly.
Li Xiulan stood in front of the stove, moving nimbly.
She first scooped out a piece of solidified white lard with a spoon and dropped it into the hot iron pot. The lard sizzled and melted quickly upon contact with the heat, releasing an enticing aroma.
Next, she pinched up a small handful of peppercorns and sprinkled them into the oil. The peppercorns crackled and popped in the boiling oil, releasing their unique spicy and numbing aroma.
Once the aroma was released, she poured the already washed and sorted green bean segments into the wok and stir-fried them quickly. The bright green beans tumbled in the oily wok, gradually taking on a glossy sheen.
Then, she added a few thinly sliced pieces of slightly fatty meat and stir-fried them with the green beans. The meat slices quickly changed color and curled up, releasing oil and meaty aroma, which blended perfectly with the fragrance of the green beans and the numbing aroma of Sichuan peppercorns.
Finally, she grabbed a handful of chopped green and white scallions and casually tossed them into the pot, then sprinkled some salt evenly on top. With a flick of her wrist, the spatula flew through the air a few times, and a rich aroma—a blend of meaty fragrance, fresh green bean flavor, the numbing sensation of Sichuan peppercorns, and the aroma of scallions—burst forth from the stove, instantly filling the entire courtyard. Even Zhang Liuji, who was engrossed in planing wood in the yard, couldn't help but sniff, and his stomach growled twice involuntarily.
"Sister-in-law, your cooking is absolutely amazing!"
Zhang Liuyi worked the bellows while sincerely praising the work.
The aroma made her mouth water.
"Even this simple stir-fried green beans and pork is so fragrant that it makes people unable to move! When Xiao Nan grows up and you don't have to watch over it all the time, if my stall can be expanded, I will definitely hire you as the head chef! With your skills in charge, I guarantee the business will be booming!"
Li Xiulan was a little embarrassed by her sister-in-law's praise, her face flushed, but her hands didn't stop moving. She deftly scooped the stir-fried dishes into a large earthenware bowl and said modestly.
"Look at what you're saying, it's not that good. It's just some ordinary home-cooked food, something I just made haphazardly."
But the smile in her eyes was undeniable; Zhang Yili's approval clearly made her very happy.
What does "doing things haphazardly" mean?
Zhang Yili insisted, "Being able to make home-cooked dishes taste this good is a real skill. My aunt even said that since you came to our house, she hasn't had to worry about cooking at all. The food tastes better than anything she's ever had in town!"
Her words weren't just flattery; Li Xiulan's cooking skills were indeed excellent, able to make the most appetizing flavors from limited ingredients.
Li Xiulan smiled and didn't refute anymore, but her heart felt warm.
She quickly washed the pot, added a ladle of water, and prepared to cook some noodle soup.
Just then, Zhang Liuji's voice came from the courtyard as he finished work and carefully packed away his precious tools.
Zhang Dashan also strolled in with his hands behind his back, clearly drawn back by the aroma of the food.
"Dinner's ready!" Zhang Liuyi called out loudly, bringing the steaming stir-fried green beans and sliced meat, along with freshly cooked multigrain buns, to the table. He also served each person a large bowl of noodle soup sprinkled with scallions and oil.
The family sat around a small square table in the main room.
The aroma of food mingled with the lingering scent of wood and the laughter of family members, filling the small farmhouse courtyard.
Zhang Dahe took a bite of the cornbread, ate it with the fragrant green beans and sliced meat, sighed contentedly, and couldn't help but bring up the old topic again.
"Liu Ji, eat more, we'll keep practicing this afternoon!"
"Your wood-planing skills are impressive, Dad. You're sure to succeed! If you pass the exam, Dad will buy you a good bottle of wine..."
"father!"
Zhang Liuji had just picked up a chopstick of green beans when he heard this and almost choked, begging for mercy with a mixture of laughter and tears.
"Please, have mercy on me! Let me have a peaceful meal, okay? I'm feeling really uneasy!"
Those watching the father and son bickering couldn't help but laugh.
Little Nan'er giggled incessantly when she heard the adults laughing.
Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the simple meal on the table and the hopeful faces of everyone present.
Looking at the glistening green beans and soft, sticky cornbread in the bowl, and then at his caring family members beside him, Zhang Liuji felt his anxiety and unease subside somewhat.
He buried his head in his food and ate heartily. With his family supporting him, what did it matter whether he passed the exam or not?
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