Master Dao is washing the pot.

The three large iron pots in which No. 180 ate and drank were each larger than a bathtub. Li Yuan washed them with great difficulty, lying on the edge of the pot and leaning half of his body to scrub them.

Wow!

A large bucket of water was poured into the pot, Li Yuan was doing the final cleaning, and none of the other apprentices were idle.

Chopping firewood, carrying water, preparing charcoal, carrying various iron ingots, wiping weapons, cleaning...

"Oh, I'm so tired. I heard that Duyun in the front yard, Lu Zhong and the others can rest before noon every day, and they can rest for two days in five days..."

"Oh, why didn't we get selected because we are weak? I heard that those in the front yard might be able to learn martial arts!"

"Oh, let's endure it, endure it for three years..."

"I have to take a day off tomorrow. I'm too tired...Oh, I really want to eat meat!"

…

Without Fatty Sun around, the apprentices were still talking to each other while working.

"forecourt……"

Li Yuan was doing stretching exercises in the corner and listening to the chats of the apprentices.

Naturally, there are more than seven or eight apprentices in their kitchen. There are five or six people who serve the shopkeeper and his family in the backyard, and there are about ten people who help in the shop in the front yard and work for the masters.

The treatment for apprentices in the front, middle and back courtyards is naturally the worst in the kitchen in the middle courtyard, followed by the backyard and the front courtyard.

Not only were the apprentices in the front yard not as hardworking as them, they had a monthly salary of one hundred and ten copper coins, and they also had the opportunity to practice martial arts.

However, he was weak and couldn't compare with the calf-like apprentices in the front yard. If he didn't know a few words, he might not be able to come in.

"I'm afraid it's more difficult to learn martial arts... But I have to try the 'ritual' first to see if it works..."

Li Yuan finished his work silently and was going to ask Fatty Sun for a half-day leave and withdraw his monthly money to prepare things needed for the ceremony.

Apprentices of the Intermediate School have ten days off. He has not gone home before, and he has saved three days of vacation, which he can withdraw at any time.

When he had just finished washing and before he had time to look for Fatty Sun, he heard a commotion in the courtyard.

"Huh? Why are they here?"

One of the apprentices stood up.

A dozen young men of similar age to them, but quite strong, came to the yellow mud open space in front of the middle courtyard carrying wooden-handled sledgehammers.

"The apprentices in the front yard? Are all of them so strong?"

Li Yuan slandered.

Compared with the apprentices in the middle courtyard who are like little chickens, the apprentices in the front yard are as strong as calves.

Over the past month or so, his body has improved a lot, but compared to these calf-like apprentices in the front yard, the difference visible to the naked eye is quite large.

It can be seen that among the apprentices in the front yard and the middle yard who are both apprentices, in addition to the differences in treatment in the shop and basic level, there are also differences in family backgrounds.

However, these 'little calves' are nothing compared to the person behind them.

'This man is so strong!'

Li Yuan's eyelids twitched.

The middle-aged man was more than 1.9 meters tall, with thick arms, gnarled muscles, a ferocious face, and a windy stride that made people intimidated.

"It's Guard Qin!"

One of the apprentices exclaimed, and all the apprentices, including Li Yuan, hurriedly stood up and followed Fatty Sun out to greet him.

The blacksmithing shop is rooted in Gaoliu County, but its business has already spread to several nearby counties and even Zhelongfu City. In addition to the masters, there are also some guards in the shop.

His high status and good treatment can be said to be just below those of the shopkeeper.

Li Yuan had a deep memory of these guards. Each of them had a huge appetite, and one of them was worth seven or eight apprentices.

"Brother Qin Xiong!"

Fatty Sun, who looked like a meatball, ejected from the kitchen and rushed towards him with a smile on his face:

"Brother, there is still a jar of good wine left. Can we have two drinks tonight?"

"talk later!"

Qin Xiong's rough face was expressionless, and he turned to look at the apprentices of the middle courtyard who were standing in a row like quails:

"Are all the people from the Intermediate Court here? They are too thin..."

"A few of them went out to carry charcoal..."

With a smile, Fatty Sun lowered his head and said, "I'm getting better these days, but I was even thinner before."

"Um."

Qin Xiong responded coldly, with a serious look that made the apprentices in the front courtyard feel a little short of breath.

Wow~

After a while, there was the sound of chaotic footsteps outside the courtyard door, and twenty or thirty apprentices came in a hurry from all over, both men and women.

"Are all the apprentices from the backyard, the utility yard, and the foreign ministry here?"

Li Yuan was slightly shocked.

Such a big battle?

"Okay, don't wait for those who didn't come!"

Qin Xiong's voice was loud and his eyes were fierce. All the apprentices who were stared at by him breathed quickly and subconsciously stepped back.

"Some of you must have guessed what Qin is doing here today."

Li Yuan lowered his head and glanced at the other apprentices with his peripheral vision. Sure enough, he saw a few of them looking happy, and couldn't help but feel a little moved in his heart.

Could it be said that even if you are not assigned to the front yard, you still have the opportunity to practice martial arts?

"Of all the businesses in Gaoliu County, the work in our weapons forging shop is one of the most difficult and tiring. However, every time we recruit apprentices, there are many people who enthusiastically sign up? There are even many people who want to be our apprentices by putting in money?"

Qin Xiong said as he glanced at Li Yuan, who lowered his eyebrows and was a little surprised.

'Second brother stuffed his money? No wonder my sister-in-law doesn't like me...'

Li Yuan felt a little enlightened, but couldn't help but feel depressed.

You're an apprentice yourself, and why did you just stuff your money into it?!

He really doesn't know this...

"Because, among the families in Gaoliu County, only the Four Seasons Medicine Hall, the Sanhe Gang, the Chai Gang, the Yizi Inn, the Fishing Gang, and our blacksmithing shop can teach apprentices martial arts!

Even if you are an apprentice in your middle school, if you work for a year or two, you will still have this opportunity!"

Teach martial arts in advance?

Li Yuan's eyes shone, and he felt enlightened.

The second brother had to send himself in even though he was stuffing money. Is it because of this?

The apprentices were very excited, and some of them could not help but clenched their fists. Among them were Liu Qing, the apprentice whose head was broken by Fatty Sun before, and Niu Gui, who came to the middle courtyard with him.

However, everyone was very sensible and no one dared to make a sound.

"You apprentices either come from poor families or have fallen into disgrace. If you hadn't joined the blacksmith shop, at most one or two out of ten would have had the opportunity to learn martial arts. Today, I will teach you martial arts on behalf of my master's family. Please remember your master's grace in the future.

Do your best!"

Qin Xiong's voice was loud and full of energy, and the following sentences were even more deafening.

'This is too much energy...'

Li Yuan felt his eardrums buzzing, feeling a little shocked and a little cursed.

This last sentence was definitely not meant for them...

"Today, I will teach you the 'White Ape Cloak Hammer'. Little brats, this is your only chance to join the inner court. Whether you can change your fate depends on you!"

Learn martial arts!

White Ape Cloak Hammer!

Qin Xiong's voice echoed throughout the martial arts arena, and all the apprentices were breathing rapidly, as if the fatigue from a long day's work had disappeared in an instant.

Children from poor families have already become masters and can be sent as apprentices. Who doesn’t know the importance of a craft?

Not to mention martial arts, this is something that can really change your life!

As for joining the inner court, most apprentices seemed calm, knowing that it was not something they could covet.

"No wonder he is carrying so many sledgehammers..."

Li Yuan suddenly felt something in his heart. When he glanced around, all the apprentices were tensed up. Niu Gui, whose head had been smashed by Fatty Sun earlier, was clenching his fists tightly and breathing rapidly.

"Lu Zhong, let them get familiar with the stance first!"

After saying this, Qin Xiong pointed at the apprentice in the front yard to stay, turned around and left.
To be continued...