Chapter 3, Apprentice

The shopkeeper was exposed for his scheming and chuckled, saying, "Miss, you are exceptionally astute. This fellow's family holds a certain influence in this Yicheng, and they are all quite shameless. Their skill in ingratiating themselves is truly remarkable. One must consider the master when dealing with the dog; I, an old man, lack the courage to send this fellow away for you, so I hope you will forgive me"

Indeed, the shopkeeper was somewhat amused and said, "Many apprentices do not last through this year. However, they will learn a thing or two; having more skills is never a burden. Moreover, carpentry requires a certain amount of physical strength. After a year of hard work, developing some strength is not in vain. After the second year, some of the apprentices from the Ye family will enter the rough workshops, while others will be dispatched to the port or to several military camps in the suburbs of Yicheng to handle various tasks"

The shopkeeper, with no reservations, explained: "This Ye family workshop is not open to just anyone. To learn the craft from the Ye family, one must first undergo a year of apprenticeship, mastering basic skills such as sawing, planing, and drilling. In the second year, the apprentices begin formal training under several masters. During the first year, apprentices learn their trade in the Ye family's repair workshop, and those who show greater skill may be sent out. Various inns and restaurants inevitably attract some rowdy patrons, or there are instances of drunken disturbances, leading to items being damaged. The apprentices in their first year learn their craft in the Ye family's repair workshop, and those with better skills are dispatched. Various inns and restaurants inevitably attract some rowdy patrons, or there are instances of drunken disturbances, leading to items being damaged. The dispatched apprentices come equipped with toolboxes for repairs, and small shops operate similarly; if something breaks, a worker is sent to the Ye family's repair workshop to call for help, and the repair costs are quite low. If a piece of furniture is severely damaged, it is taken back to the repair workshop; however, most minor issues can be resolved with just a few taps. Sometimes, the effort required to repair some broken tables and chairs exceeds that of making new ones, but as long as the customer does not request a replacement, the repair workshop guarantees the work will be done well." The shopkeeper pointed to a table nearby and said: "Look at this table; despite its shiny surface, it was originally broken into several pieces. It was those masters from the repair workshop, along with a few apprentices, who managed to fix it so well that I, an old man, cannot tell where it was broken. Although it can be a bit troublesome, those apprentices have honed their skills quite well over the year."

"Shopkeeper, why are there so many people gathered around that large crane?" the young lady inquired

Not entirely. The temperament of individuals varies; some are lively and prefer to think through problems and adapt, while others may be rigid in their thinking. In fact, the most skilled apprentices often end up in rough workshops, as they are truly serious about their craft. The personnel dispatched must possess adequate skills, but it is rare to find those who also have a flexible mindset. In this port, there are no fewer than a hundred types of large and small ships, and the variety of tasks is overwhelming. Those with a rigid mindset are likely to be overwhelmed here. It is said that the same applies in the barracks; sometimes the commander whimsically decides to create something, but it is truly unpredictable. Isn't this also a case of utilizing people according to their talents? Those who enjoy craftsmanship delve into their skills, while those with a lively mindset gain experience and broaden their horizons.

Indeed. A low table from the Ye Workshop can surprisingly sell for 5 taels of gold in the capital. However, that low table is so reflective that its surface is as smooth as a mirror, capable of reflecting a person in every detail. Even several old craftsmen in the capital, who have always made furniture for the royal family, said they did not know how it was made.

Upon hearing the steward's words, Manager Liu laughed heartily and said, "Isn't this just playing tricks on people? However, upon further reflection, there is indeed some truth to this regarding the apprentices."

"It is of no concern," the young lady said softly, "Perhaps the shopkeeper does not wish to cause any trouble."

The shopkeeper chuckled and said, "Those apprentices are merely stationed at the port; they should be maintaining the crane's functionality. In fact, every maritime merchant inevitably has large items to transport. Previously, we would dismantle several planks from the ship, add heavy cargo for ballast, and set up a few planks for loading and unloading. The construction of this thousand-pound crane has saved everyone a great deal of trouble. No one wants to keep dismantling and reassembling the planks, as that would be akin to a futile endeavor. As for any wooden items in need of repair at the port, those apprentices are responsible for them. It's not just a matter of earning money; there are many peculiar items on the ship, and their experiences from a year of repairs will far exceed what they would have learned in a workshop. Those who can serve as apprentices at the port are typically in their second or third year; many can advance to the Yé family's workshop as skilled workers after just one year."

The shopkeeper continued, "Regardless of whether it is through external training or meticulous refinement in the rough workshop, those who can endure the 3-year apprenticeship will be able to enter the Ye family workshop as craftsmen. In fact, among those who can survive this foundational year and the three-year apprenticeship, there is hardly one in ten. Even though the Ye family offers quite generous wages to these apprentices, if they do not pass the apprenticeship, they will have to seek other paths. However, if the apprentices succeed, the Ye family will present them with a complete set of woodworking tools, including saws, planes, hand drills, chalk lines, and steel rulers, all of which are exceptionally fine tools. The set of tools from the Ye family workshop is something that idle carpenters outside can hardly obtain. This set is placed in a coarse cloth tool bag, stored in a toolbox made of iron frames and wooden shells. Those apprentices who finally receive this set of tools are often moved to tears. Once they enter the Ye family workshop, things are different. Besides a portion of individuals who will continue to refine their woodworking skills, many others will have to relearn skills such as lacquer work, barrel hooping, and carving. It is said that some will even learn blacksmithing techniques or pottery methods. The intricacies within are profound, and I, an old man, cannot explain them clearly. However, the furniture and lacquerware produced by the Ye family workshop, I believe, you esteemed individuals have heard of them."

How could a few apprentices from the Ye family manage such a large project? That is truly remarkable. Seeing that the young lady was very interested in these matters, Manager Liu took over the conversation

"5 taels of gold is quite excessive," the shopkeeper remarked in surprise. "Although the items from the Ye family workshop are not cheap, they are still considered accessible for ordinary families in Yicheng. The furniture from the Ye family is regarded as quite affordable in Yicheng, being much more durable than the products made by less skilled carpenters. Moreover, the designs are unique, and the dimensions are very practical. Many families would rather pay double for items from the Ye family workshop than casually hire a carpenter to make furniture, as prices in the capital are unreasonably high."

It is not easy for businesses to operate, and this is understood; there is no need to take it to heart. Manager Liu said with a chuckle, showing great understanding.

Manager Liu nodded and said, "That is indeed the case. What comes next?"

Manager Liu asked again: "Apprentice, is there any regulation regarding work here?"

"The rough workshop? Are those apprentices not skilled?" asked Manager Liu

The shopkeeper leaned out to take a look at the drawing and said, "Oh, that is the crane made by the Ye family workshop for the Qi family. About ten months ago, the Qi family had a ship arrive from the West, bringing a very large Western clock. Originally, the clock was packed in a box, and it seems that the young master of the Qi family wanted to take a look at it on the ship, so he assembled it there. As a result, when they arrived at the port, they found they could not disassemble it and had to open the top hatch to find a way to lift it out entirely. The original small hoisting rod and porters were of no use, and in a hurry, the Qi family sought help from the young master of the Ye family. Unexpectedly, the young master of the Ye family immediately drew up a design and had the workshop create this horse-drawn crane. That day, the clock was unloaded from the ship to the shore, and the entire street was filled with onlookers. This clock weighs 4,000 jin, and it seems that using this crane for loading and unloading was not difficult at all, so this crane is called the 'thousand-jin crane.' However, since the original supports were all carved from wood, they do not seem very sturdy, especially with the humidity of the port affecting them. Recently, the Qi family and the Ye family workshop have been trying to find a way to reconstruct this crane using stone and high-quality steel. Look over there by the crane; those wearing blue coarse cloth clothes with yellow embroidery are the apprentices of the Ye family workshop."

At this moment, the shopkeeper wiped his sweat and approached, repeatedly apologizing: "I sincerely apologize for the offense, I sincerely apologize. It got busy down below, and I accidentally let this fellow come up."

The shopkeeper noticed that the young lady and Manager Liu showed no signs of blame, and he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief