Yang Pingan walked into the Blacksmith Shop and spoke to one of the blacksmiths inside, “Hello, Uncle. I’d like to apply for a blacksmith apprentice position. I wonder if that’s possible.”
The lead blacksmith came out.
He looked tall and muscular, clearly built from long-term smithing.
“Little friend, you look like a student from Nuoding Primary School. You should be focusing more on meditation. Becoming a Spirit Master in the future is much, much better than being a blacksmith.”
Yang Pingan quickly replied, “Uncle, I’m a villager from Soulking Village, and currently a Work-Study Student. I want to learn smithing, partly to support myself, and partly to exercise my body.”
The lead blacksmith couldn’t help but laugh.
“Little friend, I’m the owner of this Blacksmith Shop. My name is Iron Forest. You can call me Uncle Iron Forest. Being a blacksmith is very hard work, and you’re too young right now. I’m afraid you can’t be an apprentice.”
“Uncle Iron Forest, I’m very strong. If you don’t believe me, you can try it.”
Iron Forest seemed a bit conflicted.
“Little friend, no matter what, you’re too young. If you were over ten, I’d dare to take you on as an apprentice. But you look like you’re only six right now. Do your parents know you want to learn smithing?”
Yang Pingan’s expression darkened a bit.
“Uncle Iron Forest, my parents have both passed away. I’m all alone now, and I’m a Work-Study Student at Nuoding Primary School.”
The surrounding blacksmiths fell silent upon hearing this, even stopping their work.
One of the old blacksmiths spoke to Iron Forest, “Boss, I think this kid is quite strong. Why don’t you just take him in? Even if he can’t smith right now, he can help with chores. We can just pay him a little less.”
Iron Forest thought for a moment before speaking.
“Little friend, how about you try swinging our smallest hammer here? If you can swing it, then I can let you be an apprentice here. However, an apprentice’s salary might be a bit low. Of course, if you work here, meals won’t be a problem.”
“And there’s another thing, you can’t smith in that school uniform. Our environment is too dirty. I’m afraid that uniform will be ruined in a few days.”
Yang Pingan quickly replied, “Uncle Iron Forest, don’t worry. I’ll wear my own clothes from now on. Today, I just wanted to find a job.”
After speaking, Yang Pingan picked up the smallest hammer on site.
Even though it was the smallest, it still weighed over thirty catties.
However, Yang Pingan had been exercising for a long time, and his strength was much greater than that of children his age.
He picked up the hammer and swung it twice to demonstrate his strength.
Iron Forest nodded.
“Not bad. Although you’re small, your strength is decent. Even if you can’t smith, you should be able to do some odd jobs or carry things around in our Blacksmith Shop. But don’t you have to go to school?” Read the latest chapters at novelping dot com.
“Uncle Iron Forest, our school has classes every morning, and the afternoons are free for us to arrange. I can come here to work and learn smithing every afternoon.”
Iron Forest nodded.
“That’s not bad. You can come here for lunch and dinner every day. Although it’s simple, it’s filling. You’ll work here in the afternoons, and your monthly salary will be ten bronze coins, which is one silver coin. When you truly become a blacksmith, your salary can increase.”
“Thank you, Uncle Iron Forest. I will definitely work hard in the future and will not disappoint you.”
“Little friend, what’s your name? And which village are you from?”
“My name is Yang Pingan, and I’m from Soulking Village.”
Iron Forest nodded.
“Soulking Village? That’s quite a remote place. I remember Soulking Village should be dozens of kilometers from here. Even walking would take half a day.”
“You can start working here tomorrow.”
After thanking Iron Forest again, Yang Pingan left the Blacksmith Shop.
As for why he chose to become a blacksmith apprentice, Yang Pingan had thought about it for a long time before deciding.
Firstly, in terms of money, the Blacksmith Shop could provide him with a relatively stable income, at least ensuring his basic needs for food, clothing, shelter, and transportation.
Secondly, the Blacksmith Shop had a particularly rich gold element.
Even simple smithing could not only strengthen his body and physique but also, Purple Gold Mastiff clearly preferred places like Blacksmith Shop, which would be beneficial for his future cultivation.
The most important point was that even if he became a Spirit Master, he wouldn’t be able to obtain a spirit ring in the early stages.
After learning smithing, he could create things like bows and crossbows, or even traps, which would prepare him for obtaining spirit rings in the future.
On Earth, ancient weapons history spanning millennias also possessed various weapons, including swords, bows, crossbows, siege crossbows, and even the most complex Godly Zhuge Crossbow.
As a Earth native, he had some understanding of these.
With these items, obtaining a spirit ring would be relatively simpler.
Especially some powerful iron crossbows, while perhaps lacking the stealth and mobility of the Godly Zhuge Crossbow crafted by Tang San, their attack power would definitely not be inferior to the Godly Zhuge Crossbow.
As for finding mercenaries to hunt for spirit rings in the future, Yang Pingan had never considered it. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
On one hand, his requirements for spirit rings were very high, and on the other hand, he didn’t have the money to hire mercenaries.
Furthermore, as a primary school child, facing those formidable mercenaries, if they turned against him, he might not even be able to save his own life.
In summary, learning smithing at this stage was an excellent choice, at least ensuring his growth in the early stages.
After leaving the Blacksmith Shop, Yang Pingan went straight back to the academy and arrived at the Academic Affairs Office, where he happened to meet Director Su of the Academic Affairs Office.
Yang Pingan quickly bowed.
“Hello, Director Su. I’m Yang Pingan from the first grade. I’d like to switch from being a Work-Study Student to a regular student. I wonder if that’s possible?”
Director Su was quite surprised.
“Yang Pingan, I remember your information states that you’re an orphan. If you’re not a Work-Study Student, what will you do about your future studies and living expenses?”
“Director Su, I found a job at the Blacksmith Shop. I’ll be a blacksmith apprentice there. The Blacksmith Shop has advanced my tuition fees, and since I’ll be working there, my living expenses will also be covered.”
Director Su nodded.
“Working at the Blacksmith Shop is indeed a good choice, but your Innate Spirit Power is only half a level. You should spend more time on meditation and training, otherwise, you might find it difficult to graduate in the future.”
“Director Su, don’t worry about that. The environment at the Blacksmith Shop is excellent. I will definitely cultivate diligently and try my best to improve myself. I will definitely become a Spirit Master before graduation.”
Director Su sighed.
“The path of a Spirit Master still relies mainly on meditation. Although your family conditions are poor and your Innate Spirit Power is also low, you absolutely must not let your living conditions affect your future.”
After some discussion, Yang Pingan took out three gold coins from his person as tuition fees for the year.
After receiving Yang Pingan’s tuition fees, Director Su rearranged a Dormitory for Yang Pingan and also issued him a certificate.
Yang Pingan took the certificate directly to the Dormitory management teacher and changed his original Dormitory to Dormitory One.
Dormitory One was an entire floor, containing various small rooms where all students lived independently, unlike Dormitory Seven, which was a large communal Dormitory.
Yang Pingan himself didn’t care much about moving dorms, but the biggest advantage of an independent Dormitory was that his little secrets wouldn’t be disturbed by others in the future.
As for the mere three gold coins, it was nothing to Yang Pingan.
If he could exchange three gold coins for one or two hours of cleaning time daily, it was worth it no matter how you looked at it.
Moreover, Work-Study Students, in addition to their daily assigned tasks, occasionally had to assist the academy with other matters.
Perhaps the tasks weren’t heavy, but they were simply too time-consuming.