Chapter 72 72. Apprentice
The temperature plummeted, breaking the bottom line again and again.
Late at night, Shalang was awakened by the cold. Although she was covered with thick straw, she still couldn't stop the pervasive cold.
It's so cold, I wish I had a quilt. The girl couldn't afford a linen quilt, let alone animal skins. She could only curl up as much as she could. Her mother and sister went to open up wasteland, leaving her alone in this drafty house.
I felt so sad without anyone to cuddle with for warmth. The sea breeze never stopped blowing, rushing into every corner of the house.
The small mud-brick house, less than two meters high, had no door and the narrow entrance and exit allowed people to crawl in and out.
Now, it is the third year since I came to this city.
It is really a blessing that I arrived here ignorantly.
This is the corner of the East Continent, a legendary pure land of peace and tranquility.
Without the oppression of lords and nobles, people lived and worked in peace.
You can pick as many fruits as you want in the wild.
There are always surprises along the coast. Various shellfish, shrimps, crabs and seafood are very delicious after just a little cooking.
Shalang likes this place very much. It would be even better if it was always summer. Every winter is so cold. When it was the coldest, she even thought she was going to die. The girl pushed away the straw and got up, and found a big stone nearby to block the door. Although it was still leaking, it was much better than before.
She hid in the haystack again.
In her deep sleep, she faintly heard the sound of the night watchman beating the gong. The sound continued for six times, and she opened her eyes.
Time is up.
At daybreak, the girl arrived at the Town Hall Square and waited.
In fact, she was not the first to arrive, as more than a dozen people had already arrived before her.
When they heard that the lord was recruiting apprentices for the pottery workshop, many families in Donggang City became interested.
Children who are under the age of fifteen are usually unable to participate in formal work and receive pay. They can only help their families with farm work, become apprentices or servants.
Of course, not everyone has a way out. Most of the refugee children can only pick some wild fruits with their friends and collect some shellfish and seafood to sell or use for themselves.
Every day, I struggled in vain to fill my stomach. I lived a life of alternating hunger and fullness.
This shows the appeal of being an apprentice in a pottery workshop. I guess following the lord at least means having enough food, and I can also learn a craft.
It is not impossible to be favored by someone with good luck As time went by, more and more people gathered in the Square of the Executive Hall.
Everyone was eagerly awaiting the Lord's arrival.
For people who have no concept of time, their concept of the morning agreed upon by the lord is mostly the moment when the sun rises.
But Lovi didn't think so . After eight o'clock in the morning, he arrived late with a maid and a team of guards.
The young man in a white silk coat clasped his hands behind his back and walked leisurely and slowly. He glanced at the crowded square in surprise: "Why are you here so early?"
Green, the middle-aged scholar stationed in the Executive Office, stepped forward and said, "The children were here when the sun rose."
"I should have told them that they can go in the morning. Morning means before eleven o'clock, right? The City Hall starts operating at eight o'clock, and I am not late." Lovi explained to himself, strode onto the podium, and announced loudly: "The selection of apprentices for the pottery workshop is about to begin. Those who are not relevant should leave as soon as possible."
Guards stood like javelins at the exit of the square, and parents and onlookers retreated one after another.
Luo Wei put his hands behind his back and waited for the crowd to quiet down. "You are too young to be suitable. I am only recruiting apprentices who are over eight years old and under twelve years old. Those who are under the age of twelve should withdraw voluntarily. Those who are over twelve years old should stand aside."
The first screening was based on age, which directly reduced the number of people by half.
In the second screening, priority was given to those without registered permanent residence, so the number was reduced by half again.
There were still more than 200 people left in the square. Then, during the third selection, Lovi asked the guards to give each person a lump of clay, asking them to use the clay to make a bowl or other practical utensils.
As a result, a scene of children sitting on the ground appeared in the square, and everyone tried their best to shape the clay into a suitable shape.
This is not an easy task and it requires a lot of hands-on ability.
For someone like Lovi who is clumsy, it is obviously not possible. Some people finish the work easily and show the finished product to Lovi. When Lovi nods his approval, it is considered passed.
Sharon bent down and formed the clay into the shape of a plate.
She has always had a hobby of playing with sand and clay, so she is very skilled at it.
After finishing the work as quickly as possible, Sharon brought the clay plate to the lord and bowed to present it.
"Not bad, very good." Luo Wei looked down at him, looking a little overbearing. His fair face was like a mask of majesty. His eyes were sharp and he didn't smile.
Sharon couldn't help feeling a little nervous.
It was not until the lord said "You passed" that she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Since I didn’t finish my breakfast, my stomach couldn’t help but growl.
Shalang covered her stomach with a shy expression.
Lovi looked at the pretty gray-haired girl, then turned to the scholar Green standing beside him and said, "Go and get some food. These children haven't eaten yet."
"My lord, what kind of food do you need?" Green bowed slightly with standard etiquette.
He was only about 1.6 meters tall, with a plain appearance. He had short dark brown hair with slightly curly roots. His eyes were a little small. He had a gentle temperament.
Green is the assistant arranged by Bruno. He is okay at work but not good at socializing.
"Prepare as much white bread as possible! Everyone who passes today will be rewarded with two pieces." Lovey gave the order in a generous manner.
"Yes, my lord." Green stepped back.
Lovey examined the children's works casually. Most of them had poor craftsmanship and could only barely make the shape of a bowl.
He showed no mercy and directly announced that it would not be approved.
The children who were unwilling to accept being eliminated cried loudly. Lowe gave each of them two copper coins to comfort them and waved his hand to tell the guards to send them away.
In less than an hour, he screened all the participants and found twenty-one people who met the requirements.
This is the result of precise control.
As you progress, the requirements will become higher.
Green and a guard held freshly baked white bread and, at Lowe's signal, distributed it to the children who passed by.
White bread was a rare food, costing five copper coins. It can be said without exaggeration that many people had never eaten it in their entire lives.
After just the first try, Sharon fell in love with the taste of white bread.
The aroma of wheat and the sweetness of candied dates were deeply imprinted in her memory and she would never forget them.
Lovi waited quietly for the children to finish eating and said, "I will take you to the pottery workshop. You can choose to live there, or live in your own home. You will not receive any salary during the apprenticeship period, only food and lodging will be provided."
(End of this chapter)
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