Chapter 82 The natural first place
Rekindling the fire and tempering is not a problem for Jiang Lin.
It was just that he was surrounded by a bunch of people and it was airtight, which made him quite helpless. He always felt like a giant panda in the zoo.
Many apprentices knew that there was no hope of becoming a full-time official, so they came to watch the fun.
In fact, many people don't care if Jiang Lin cheats, it won't affect them anyway.
And if you really put aside your preconceptions and take a closer look, you will find that his skills are truly extraordinary.
Others carefully control the temperature of the fire when lighting it, for fear of being too high or too low, but Jiang Lin is different.
The bellows whirred, raising the temperature directly to the point where the furnace was red-hot. Many apprentices could not stand the high temperature and had to retreat far away.
The extremely high temperature causes the pig iron to be calcined very quickly, turning it into bright red almost at a speed visible to the naked eye.
They all took the pig iron from the basket together, and many people followed them all the way. They were enough to ensure that Jiang Lin did not cheat this time.
But having said that, if I didn’t cheat this time, doesn’t that mean I didn’t cheat on the last piece of iron?
Seeing Jiang Lin using the tongs to pick out the perfect piece of cherry red pig iron, some of the apprentices who had previously shouted that this was a fraudulent move fell silent.
Obviously, this is a skill gap.
But...this gap is too big!
Even my own official blacksmith has never seen such a powerful fire-making skill!
At this time, Jiang Lin had already picked up a sledgehammer and started banging. The sound was still an extremely monotonous clang, which seemed to many people to have no sense of rhythm at all.
But just like this monotony, the piece of pig iron was quickly shaped into the shape of a long knife.
Then use a small hammer to level it, then put it into cold water to quench, and then sharpen it.
He was so skilled that it was hard to believe that this was something an apprentice could do.
An apprentice gritted his teeth and said: "The South Blacksmith Camp has gone too far! If we get such a person to participate in the apprenticeship test, who can beat him?"
"That's right, this is not the absolute number one apprentice!"
"It's so irritating, but to be honest, if I only studied for two months, it would be so admirable. This person's talent is probably comparable to that of the ancestor!"
"Compared with the Patriarch? Isn't it a bit exaggerated?"
The apprentices were talking a lot, and there were similar voices among the official blacksmiths.
Until the long sword was completed, Jiang Lin walked to the validation platform under the watchful eyes of thousands of people.
Many apprentices were still in the training stage at this moment. Seeing Yuan Gaohao pick up the long black and shiny knife, their strength suddenly weakened.
Discouraged, frustrated...
Compared with Jiang Lin, am I really qualified to become a full-time employee?
He struck the knife test stone with his hand and looked at the one-inch mark in the stone. Yuan Gaohao nodded and announced the result loudly.
Not surprisingly, the outcome was already determined from the moment Yu Maoming personally stepped down to testify for Jiang Lin.
Although he was ruthlessly rejected by Jiang Lin for two consecutive solicitations, Yuan Gaohao did not hold a grudge.
For such a genius, even if he cannot win over him, he must not become an enemy.
They are just blacksmiths and do not need too much intrigue. On the contrary, the more skilled the person, the more worthy of respect they are.
Yuan Gaohao smiled slightly and said: "Jiang Lin, don't go back, just stand here."
Jiang Lin hummed and walked to him obediently and stopped.
Yuan Gaohao's meaning was very clear. With Jiang Lin's skill level, he would climb up sooner or later, so he might as well take advantage of this regular test to become familiar with him and let everyone know what he looks like.
In this way, it can be regarded as a small favor, so why not do it.
Looking at the tall and extraordinary young man standing next to Yuan Gaohao, Zhao Yankui was smiling and full of pride.
This is his apprentice!
Looking at the four major blacksmith camps, whose apprentice can have such an honor? Soon after, other apprentices came over one after another to participate in the experiment. When everyone arrived, they would look at Jiang Lin first.
There was envy, admiration, and jealousy in his eyes.
Small-tempered, face-saving, and silent.
Those who were open-minded and alert took the opportunity to say hello to Jiang Lin and say a few words to establish friendship.
When someone takes the initiative to speak, you can't help but respond.
For a time, Jiang Lin was much busier than Yuan Gaohao in front of the test bench.
However, he did not become domineering because of his high level of skills. His attitude was always calm and polite, which made it difficult not to like him.
Yan Tianrong on the stage saw this scene and secretly approved in his heart.
He has extraordinary skills and is calm enough. He is a good seedling worth cultivating.
The Eighth-Rank Secretary-General suddenly had an idea in his mind at this moment.
Check out the 16-9 book bar and see the correct version!
Although Yu Maoming was loyal enough, his loyalty was to the Blacksmith Camp, the Foundry Department, and the Daqian Dynasty, not to himself.
Faced with a craftsman with such seniority and high prestige, even Yan Tianrong had to be polite.
Even when there were differences of opinion many times, he had to listen to Yu Maoming.
Although he may appear calm on the surface, he may actually feel displeased in his heart.
Therefore, Yan Tianrong has always wanted to cultivate a true confidant in the Foundry Department, but he has not found a suitable candidate.
Jiang Lin's appearance quickly made this idea clear.
Glancing at the tall, gray-haired Yu Maoming, Yan Tianrong rubbed his index finger back and forth on the armrest.
Soon, the time limit for the apprentice test came. The apprentices who failed to complete the casting in time were beating their chests and wondering why they couldn't move faster!
Those who finished stared at the names on the iron plate in order. Some were happy, while others were annoyed.
Only rivers and forests are as stable as majestic mountains.
"Jiang Lin, Song Binghui, Tang Cheng, Xu San..."
Yuan Gaohao read out a bunch of people's names, about dozens of them, and brought them to the audience.
He cupped his hands and lowered his head and said: "I'm telling you, Master Siwu and Master Craftsman, there are fifty-three people who can be converted into full-time apprentices in this apprenticeship test. Among them, the top one is Nan Blacksmith Ying Jianglin!"
Yuan Gaohao didn't stop talking. He continued to describe the subsequent rankings, but no one was listening.
Even those apprentices ranked second, third, and fourth in line were looking at the figure in the front who was much taller than themselves, with very complicated emotions.
In the South Blacksmith Camp, Blacksmith Qi chuckled and said: "Congratulations, Master, my beloved disciple won the first place. You should have a good celebration when you go back!"
Other blacksmiths also echoed and congratulated each other. The atmosphere was as warm as a big girl getting married.
"That's natural, that's natural!" Zhao Yankui laughed out loud.
"Jiang Lin." Yu Maoming waved, and when Jiang Lin stepped forward and bowed his hands in salute, a smile appeared on his face and he held the iron plate in his hand.
There is silver on it, the familiar Qi and Blood Pill, and a high-quality sledgehammer.
"This is a reward from the Foundry Department. Take it." There were not many polite words, it was very straightforward.
However, Jiang Lin had no intention of accepting it. He still bowed his head and said, "Tell Mr. Craftsman, can the student exchange these rewards for something?"
"Oh? What do you want to change?" Yu Maoming asked.
Jiang Lin's voice was calm and clear to the ears.
"I can't repay the kindness I received from my master and the old masters of the Southern Blacksmith Camp. Today is a regular test. I want to help my master and others. I ask the master craftsmen to do it!"
Happy National Day, readers. There will be another chapter around 12:30 after dinner.
Request for further reading, monthly votes, and collection!
(End of chapter)