Chapter 10: The Craftsman Passes

The examiner said nothing, simply had the wine-bearer driven out. That meant the drumbeats counted!

“Haha! Let’s make it a round number!” The executioner struck the drum twice more.

Well then, the competition time was reduced by a full quarter-hour.

One young craftsman had been nervous since entering the grounds. His woven bamboo basket was crooked and misshapen, and he’d been wrestling internally over whether to start again. Hearing the rapid five drumbeats, he thought the rules had changed and immediately broke down in tears.

Meanwhile, people had started coming to toss flowers to Wang Ge. The first was a woman in her thirties. Wang Ge had already finished her product, and upon seeing her straw sandals—different from the others, with an extra back strap and an additional set of ties—the woman immediately took a liking to them.

She placed her flower before Wang Ge and murmured, “You’ll keep your word, won’t you? If you win, I really will come to the inn to find you.”

“How would I dare deceive you, sister? Otherwise, how could my girl ever come to town again?”

“That’s true.”

“Once you leave, help spread my name around. I’ll make you two extra pairs when the time comes.”

“Deal!”

“But don’t tell anyone else about this little benefit.”

“Oh, don’t worry, I’m no fool.”

From then on, more and more people came to toss flowers, and Wang Ge finally breathed a sigh of relief. At that moment, she had no idea that not all craftsmen were regarded equally. Several examiners were huddled together, debating whether to grant Wang Ge the title of “first-grade craftsman.”

A master craftsman would rarely accept a disciple, mostly due to lack of time and energy. However, after the contest, the “first-grade craftsman” could choose any one of the examiner-masters to study under, and the master could not refuse. Once apprenticed, the master would, for the sake of reputation, give thorough guidance, making it nearly certain the apprentice would pass the next craftsman’s test in two months’ time.

Those examiners in favor of Wang Ge had clearly seen her solid fundamentals and her speed—where others wove one, she could finish two.

The sole voice of opposition had only one reason: she was overage. Ever since the Emperor’s decree on craftsman’s examinations, the number of yearly candidates had been as countless as fish in the river. Over time, not only did the candidates for apprentice and craftsman become ever younger, but so did the masters themselves.

Take Bu Zhi Township, for instance. The prodigy Liu Bo not only studied hard but also wove straw sandals, passing the craftsman’s exam at age ten, to the county’s acclaim!

Unfortunately, Liu Bo later gave up the craft to focus on his studies. To encourage local craftsmen, for the past two years, Liu Bo had been invited as an examiner at every craftsman selection.

Liu Bo now walked over, cast his vote of opposition, and left.

One examiner remarked in surprise, “I saw young Liu linger long before that Wang girl’s work—I thought he’d support her, but he opposed her instead.”

“I understand him. With such talent, he looks down on those who rely on age and experience to hone their craft.”

“The craftsman’s path is broad and open at the start; anyone may step onto it. But when you reach our level, the road narrows to a single plank. To cross it takes both talent and diligence—neither can be lacking!”

“Yes, talent must come first, no denying it!”

Had Liu Bo heard their debate, who knows what he would have thought? They misunderstood him—he’d voted against Wang precisely because he saw her talent was exceptional. If she took a master locally, her mind might be constrained, stifling her future. As for becoming a master herself? He firmly believed, barring mishap, that she would achieve it within ten years.

The craftsman selection began at dawn and ended a quarter before noon. Wang Ge never expected that she would make it into the ten spots set by the examiners, being the second to be named. After these ten were chosen, the ten who received the most flowers were also selected, making twenty in total.

Only then did Wang Ge see that Liu Bo was among the examiners.

The chief examiner announced, “After our deliberation, we have named Zhang Qing as the first-grade craftsman. Zhang Qing, step forward.”

Eight-year-old Zhang Qing came forward, cradling his finished grass basket. The material was bulrush; it stood only a foot high and half as wide, but it showcased his steady, solid skills.

The hardest part of bulrush weaving is the preparation—selecting, washing, drying, pounding, and softening the reeds. Zhang Qing’s family was poor and couldn’t pick reeds of uniform thickness, so he split them himself, twisted them into finger-thick ropes, then polished them with cloth until soft and smooth before starting to weave.

The result was a basket as supple as hemp yet as tough as bulrush. A carrying strap was attached a third from the top, allowing it to be slung over the shoulder. The ends of the strap ran up the inside, forming a lid to keep out rain.

“Zhang Qing,” the chief examiner said, “among us examiners, both Master Zhao and Young Master Zhao are skilled in grass weaving. You may choose either as your teacher.”

Zhang Qing’s father whispered a name in his ear, and the boy obeyed, declaring excitedly, “Sir, I wish to apprentice under Young Master Zhao.”

Master Zhao felt no loss of face, and first congratulated Young Master Zhao, saying he had gained a good disciple.

The chief examiner addressed all the craftsmen, “On the fourth day of the fifth month, all craftsmen are to gather at the county staging post, each with at most one relative. All materials and tools for the competition will be provided by the county office. Each may enter up to two categories, but not in related skills. On the fifth and sixth, you will familiarize yourselves with the testing grounds; the exams begin on the seventh and last about half a month. Remember, when obtaining your travel permit, list all your baggage—no sharp implements allowed, or you won’t be able to lodge at the inn, let alone enter the county! Any questions?”

Because the craftsmen’s pass rate affected the officials’ annual evaluation, the chief examiner was quite patient and affable with the twenty young craftsmen.

Wang Ge raised her hand.

The chief examiner recognized her. “Speak.”

“Sir, does going to the county for the exam cost money?”

He laughed, “So long as you don’t buy anything extra, there’s no expense.”

“Thank you, sir.” Wang Ge and her second uncle exchanged relieved smiles.

As soon as they left the exam grounds, a crowd gathered around Wang Ge. Many had brought straw, eager for her to fulfill her promise.

One had to admit, the people of this era valued honesty. Those who hadn’t tossed her a flower did not try to take advantage. The first woman who’d tossed a flower was pushed to the edge of the crowd, anxiously waving her arms and shouting, “I was the first!”

“I won’t forget!” Wang Ge called back loudly. “Everyone, follow me to the inn. The cart was borrowed—I need to return it first.”

So dozens of villagers followed her and her uncle to the staging post.

The chief examiner chuckled, “If you didn’t know better, you’d think Wang Ge was already among the top apprentices. Hm? Where’s Liu Bo?”

“He said he had lessons today and went home early.”

Others envied Liu Bo for serving as an examiner at such a young age, but little did they know how weary it made him. When he returned home, his mother, Mistress Ren, was spinning thread.

Liu Bo saw his writing tablets had been cleaned and, kneeling by the spinning wheel, said, “Let me do it, Mother. You should rest.”

“Oh, you,” Mistress Ren replied with a gentle smile. “We may not be rich, but we don’t need to rely on my spinning and your sandal-selling to get by. I just can’t sit idle.”

Liu Bo murmured assent. “Father’s letter should arrive soon.”

“Soon, I expect,” Mistress Ren replied, not hiding her longing for her husband in front of her son. She spoke slowly, “Sometimes I wonder, what is your father doing now? Is he thinking of us at this very moment? Alone in Luoyang, is he suffering? Are the students at the Imperial Academy as obedient, clever, and easy to teach as my own son?”

Liu Bo’s cheeks flushed. “Mother, you praise me in new ways every day…”