The Great Zhou Dynasty did not belong to any of the dynasties known to Xu Wen, but the artisan household system here was actually somewhat similar to that of the last Ming Dynasty.

At first, the households were divided into three classes: civil, military, and artisan, with the highest civilian status, and the military and artisan status could not be moved at will, could not participate in the imperial examination, and had to participate in the service at any time, and the social status was very low.

Children born in artisan families are born artisans and are inherited from generation to generation, and they cannot intermarry across classes, nor can they be separated casually.

About 60 years ago, during the reign of the previous emperor, some of the craftsmen were given shifts.

In the past, even if there was no work, the craftsman had to stay in his post and could not leave, and even if the labor force was idle, he could not do anything else.

After changing to a shift system, craftsmen work in shifts, and when they are not working, they can rest or do some of their own things, such as carpenters can take jobs to help people make furniture, help people build houses, etc., and the use of labor is finally a little more relaxed.

Twenty-six years ago, this emperor ascended the throne with the era name Zhengzhi. In the tenth year of Zhengzhi, the system of substitution of silver for service was implemented.

Shift craftsmen collect four dollars and five cents of silver every year, which is called craftsman class silver. If you have money, you can only pay money and not work, and use money to buy time.

It is precisely because of this new system that the industry of Jiangnan Road has developed exceptionally rapidly, and many large and medium-sized private workshops have appeared. Traditional workshops such as Tianzuokaku have also grown particularly rapidly in recent decades.

But that doesn't mean they don't need to serve at all.

The imperial court still needed to employ workers, and in addition to shift workers, resident workers and resident workers have always existed.

The resident workers are the craftsmen who sit on the shift, and the surviving workers usually have some irreplaceable special skills, such as the masters of some special weaving and embroidery methods in the textile industry.

On this basis, the imperial court also made it mandatory that new apprentices who were promoted to craftsmen must serve three years of service, and then every five years they must serve one year.

However, compared with the previous shift workers, these forced labor are not completely free, and in addition to food and shelter, they can also get a meager salary. Especially when new apprentices first enter the industry, such a salary can save them the most basic capital, so at the beginning of the implementation, there was no strong opposition.

After Xu Wen's three rounds of apprenticeship examinations, no matter what level you look at, you have already left the school, and of course you are about to start your service.

"Isn't it arranged by the imperial court to go where to serve?" he was a little incredulous.

Is this ancient and so humane?

"Others can't, but you—I greeted Sun Boran. Lian Tianqing said briefly.

It turned out to be a back door...... Xu asked suddenly.

"You can't stay on Jiangnan Road, you can't go to the capital, you can do anything else. Lian Tianqing added.

Is this also called being a choice? Xu Wen was speechless.

The Great Zhou Dynasty was divided into four routes, with the capital as the head, the southern part of the Yangtze River being the busiest, and the rest of the southern Xinjiang and the Western Desert being remote and backward places.

Both the capital and Jiangnan have ruled out options, so there is only one choice between southern Xinjiang and the western desert. And these two items are actually similar to Xu Wen.

“...... West Desert Bar. Xu Wen thought for a while and said.

In modern times, he has always wanted to travel to the northwest, but by mistake, he has not been able to make the trip.

Now that you can only choose between these two options, let's go west.

"Okay. Lian Tianqing said without hesitation, as if she was a little satisfied with what Xu asked.

He withdrew his gaze from the chessboard-like pattern of Shipinfang, turned and walked back.

Xu Wen followed behind, suddenly a little reluctant.

In this world, an apprentice becoming a master is equivalent to separating from the master's family, and it is time to live his own life.

Especially when you are in the service, you must go by yourself, and it is impossible for the master to follow, at most, you will go to the master to kowtow after three years of return.

In the past two years, Xu Wen and Lian Tianqing have gotten along with each other day by day, although Lian Tianqing has few words, but he has taught him to do his best without the slightest reservation.

Now that I haven't seen them for several years, Xu Wen is really reluctant.

"I only learned fine wood...... he muttered softly, but in his heart, how could he just learn these things?

"Master, where are you going to go next when you leave Xiaoheng Village?" Xu Wen suddenly remembered something and chased after him and asked.

Speaking of which, this matter is also related to him, if he hadn't participated in the apprenticeship test and revealed Lian Tianqing's deeds, how could he have been forced to leave Xiaoheng Village?

Although it is strange for a craftsman to hide his deeds......

"I've already made arrangements. Lian Tianqing said.

"I'm back after three years, where am I going to find you?" Xu Wen continued.

"You'll know when the time comes. Lian Tianqing said.

He made it clear that he didn't want to say more, Xu Wen was a little disappointed, but even Tianqing was such a person, and to be honest, Xu Wen was used to it.

I just hope it's true, "I'll know when the time comes......

The two returned to the small courtyard, and as soon as they entered the door, they heard Lian Linlin shouting: "It's my turn, it's my time, you are not allowed to Laipi!

"Look at you......" a child's voice muttered, sounding quite old-fashioned.

When Xu Wen heard this, he didn't need to guess what he was doing.

Needless to say, even Lin Lin is pestering others to play marbles again.

This is her favorite game, and she pulls her brothers to play it if she has nothing to do, but she has played it very well, she loses nine times out of ten, and everyone will let her leave the remaining game.

But she really likes to play, and she has to be defeated again and again, and she is even more unproductive at this time......

No, listening to this movement, it's hard to say who is bullying whom.

Xu Wen walked over with a smile, but didn't notice that Lian Tianqing's expression next to him was slightly clouded.

There are twelve small pits on the dirt floor, and in contrast to them are twelve round wooden beads, all of which are made of rosewood leftovers, exuding a soft glow.

Now five wooden beads have entered the hole, and the sixth is about five inches from the hole, which is obviously a failure.

Lian Linlin ran to the side of the wooden bead, squinted one eye and began to aim.

Next to them stood three children, almost five or six years old, covered in mud. Of course, even on Lin Lin's skirt.

Even when Lin Lin aimed, the three children were a little nervous.

According to the rules of the game, the next house can start from the position where the game failed, and the kid on the top almost succeeded, and now there is only five inches left, and the game is of course much simpler.

Even Lin Lin aimed and aimed, and finally, she bent her fingers and bounced out!

Muzhu drew a straight line and went straight to the pit, then passed by the pit and flew farther away.

"None of this!" said one of the three children in disbelief, who had been separated from Lian Linlin before, and now felt that he had been pitted miserably.

"Ahh......h

Then it was the turn of the other two children, who grinned and drove all the remaining beads into the hole, and grinned and picked them back and put them in their arms.

Lian Jiajun was defeated, and Lian Linlin still wanted to turn the tables, but no one wanted to be in a group with her again.

So the game ended, and the children left one after another, two happy, one crying and mourning, and glared at Lian Linlin before leaving.

"I was obviously very powerful ......when I was a child" Lian Linlin turned around and looked at her hands a little frustrated when she saw Xu Wen and her father.

"I still have the impression that as soon as my finger pops out, the beads go into the hole. She taught me and I learned very well......"

"She?, who?" asked Xu Wen who had never heard of this, and asked suspiciously.

“...... I don't remember. Lian Linlin thought about it seriously, but he could only shake his head.

"People who don't matter. Lian Tianqing said indifferently, passing by the two of them.