Chapter 40

However, Lu Buqi did not show any reaction, and he continued to eat the rare delicacy with a lowered head and a respectful demeanor...

When Wang Lishou glanced over, Wang Lihong chuckled, "I knew you would bring Buqi out, and since Buqi is out, he must be learning some skills from you, right? Or maybe he could go to my lumberyard? So when they asked, I just said that... By the way, you just said you ate several kinds of spirit beast meat?"

"Hehe... Let's not talk about that for now!" Wang Lishou waved his hand and stood up, looking around, "Everyone, listen up. Buqi will be staying in our shop from now on. For the time being, I won't assign him any specific tasks. If anyone has too much work, they can let him help out. He learns things quickly and can handle some heavy work, right, Buqi?"

Lu Buqi continued eating, seemingly oblivious to the discussion around him, but he did hear what Wang Lishou said. He nodded and mumbled a response, then continued eating.

"Right, since he will be working in the shop, he will be one of my people, and he will have the same food, lodging, and wages as everyone else." After a moment's thought, Wang Lishou continued, "Buqi, starting tomorrow, you will live with Niansheng. I will give you eight knives as your monthly wage."

Wang Lishou's words caused a stir. Wang Niansheng was the first to voice his objection, "Master, eight knives is the wage for a regular master craftsman. How can a mere marsh slave get so much? And he will live with me? The top-floor room you gave me as a reward for my outstanding performance? Isn't this unfair to me and everyone else?"

The apprentices, who had already been annoyed by Lu Buqi's strong rural accent, now looked even more displeased at the idea of him living in the best room and receiving such a high wage. Some of them even voiced their agreement.

"That's right, Lishou, this is a bit inappropriate!" Wang Lihong was also taken aback. With over a hundred people under him, he knew a thing or two about managing subordinates. He was willing to believe that Lu Buqi could become a valuable talent, but there was no need to favor him so much.

A cold snort silenced everyone, and Wang Lishou's fierce eyes flashed, "When did I need to seek your opinions on my decisions?"

Pausing, he looked around and finally focused on Wang Niansheng, "Niansheng, you haven't even completed your apprenticeship, but I already give you nine knives. Do you think no one has any objections? In this shop, whoever has the ability gets a higher wage!"

Wang Niansheng grumbled, "I'm not convinced. I get nine knives because I'm the best at forging among all the apprentices, and everyone can see that. He's just a new arrival, a lowly marsh slave with no surname. Why should he get so much?"

"You're not convinced? Tough guy, what do you want to do then?" Wang Lishou smiled inwardly, "Do you think I'm getting old and can't judge people anymore?"

"Your disciple dares not!" Wang Niansheng looked at Lu Buqi, who was still eating happily, "I just think he doesn't deserve such high regard from you! Master said that forging is a man's profession. Without strength, you can't forge; without courage, you can't forge; and without endurance, you can't forge. If Master really thinks he's worth the wage, then I'll represent all the fellow apprentices and test his skills."

"Master, Niansheng is right. You show what you're made of, and you get what you deserve!" A slightly older, sturdy-looking man added, "If he really has the skills, no one will have any objections."

Wang Lishou grinned, "That sounds like my apprentice. Don't just say someone can't do it, and don't bring up their background. Let's see what he's made of. Gangqiang, Niansheng, how do you want to test Buqi?"

Wang Niansheng flared his nostrils, "Since Master said he will be doing odd jobs, he must not have learned any technical skills before. Comparing forging skills would be unfair, so let's have a contest of bellows-pulling and furnace-tending to see who's better."

Pulling the bellows and tending the furnace are basic tasks in a blacksmith's shop. Many apprentices start with these tasks to develop their eye for detail and build arm strength, as well as courage and resilience. Although basic, these tasks are crucial for an apprentice's foundation. If one can't even pull the bellows well, they might as well go home and drink milk.

Wang Lishou nodded approvingly, "Niansheng, just for choosing this test, I won't punish you for questioning me. But what if you lose to Buqi?"

"That's impossible!" Wang Niansheng responded dramatically, "I've been with Master since I was fourteen, and it's been twelve or thirteen years. I've cultivated the Bear King's Great Strength Technique to the ninth level. If I can't beat a thirteen-year-old, I'll never be a blacksmith..."

At that moment, there was a sharp slap, and Wang Lishou struck Wang Niansheng across the face. As Wang Niansheng looked at Wang Lishou in confusion, Wang Lishou roared, "What do you think being a blacksmith is? Who said they would dedicate their life to being a blacksmith? Now, over a small bet, you want to throw it all away?"

Wang Lishou's voice echoed like a bear king's roar throughout the blacksmith's shop. Lu Buqi was taken aback; he never imagined that being a blacksmith was so sacred to Wang Lishou.

At that moment, everyone realized that Wang Niansheng deserved the slap. After all, every apprentice had taken an oath when they joined the master, and it was not to be taken lightly.

Wang Niansheng gritted his teeth, swallowed the blood-tinged saliva, and knelt down, "Master, I'm sorry!"

"This time, I'll let it go. If it happens again, I'll cripple you!" Wang Lishou glared at Wang Niansheng, "I know you feel wronged, but you said this because you thought you couldn't possibly lose. But I want to tell you, there are no absolutes in this world... If you lose, do you want me to destroy a disciple I like with my own hands?"

The words "a disciple I like" made Wang Niansheng tremble, his eyes welling up with tears, and his voice quivered, "Master, I won't talk nonsense again. Just watch, Niansheng will never let you down!"

"Get up!" Wang Lishou grunted, "If you lose, take two months' wages and treat Buqi to a good meal as an apology, how about that?"

A meal costing two months' wages, eighteen knives, was indeed a feast. Wang Niansheng nodded, "I'll do as Master says!"

"Master, what if Niansheng wins?" Wang Gangqiang, who had been supporting Wang Niansheng, couldn't help but ask.

Wang Lishou was taken aback; he hadn't even considered that possibility, "Then it means I misjudged him. I'll send Buqi away today and have him work as a carpenter with Lihong!"

Wang Lihong patted Lu Buqi, who had stopped eating, and chuckled, "That would be great, Buqi. Why don't you just admit defeat now and come work with me? I promise you won't get such a 'warm' welcome!"

As Wang Lishou's expression changed, Lu Buqi shook his head slightly, "This is fine."

"Ha... You're trying to poach my apprentice, Lihong!" Wang Lishou was greatly relieved, "Buqi, come over and see my shop's treasure!"

Only then did Lu Buqi have the chance to properly examine Wang Lishou's prized possession. Although he wasn't completely unfamiliar with blacksmithing, in his previous life, the old man who taught him the Five Animal Imitation Fist had a friend who was a blacksmith with his own shop. In Lu Buqi's memory, blacksmith shops were usually small, with only one furnace, and the furnace wasn't very large to save coal.

However, in Wang Lishou's shop, there were several furnace rooms, not to mention other buildings like warehouses, kitchens, and living quarters. The largest room had two large, long furnaces, with over a dozen anvils on either side, allowing thirty to forty people to work simultaneously. This was what Wang Lishou called the shop's treasure.

These large furnaces were only used when there was a lot of work and a rush was needed. Eight people were required to pull the bellows every day, taking turns.

Next to the furnaces, two large bellows gleamed with a dark, shiny surface. The handles, wrapped in sturdy hemp rope, were polished from frequent use.

"Sit here... or crouch, pull out, push in..." Wang Gangqiang, who was acting as a temporary instructor, demonstrated the basic movements to Lu Buqi, "Each pull must be complete, with enough force to generate a strong wind."

Lu Buqi nodded to show he understood, then sat down. He felt the bellows and realized that it wasn't something just anyone could pull. Without at least four or five hundred pounds of arm strength, it was impossible.

Although it's not advisable to engage in intense physical activity right after eating, Lu Buqi wasn't too concerned. For him, a task requiring several hundred pounds of strength was not considered intense.

"Buqi, right? You seem to have some strength!" Wang Niansheng, who was watching, added, "But don't get weak in the legs later, or you won't get such a satisfying meal again."

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