Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

The guard was standing there bored when he suddenly saw a few people desperately trying to push forward. His brow furrowed, his expression darkening. He reached out and shoved those trying to get closer, shouting, "Why are you pushing? This isn't a market! What's there to push for? Who are you? How dare you push forward so boldly? Don't you know this is the solemn and august government office?"

Wang Wu saw the guard's bad attitude and was instantly filled with rage. However, he suppressed his dissatisfaction and hurried forward. With a broad smile on his face, he bowed to the guard and said respectfully, "Brother Ya Chai, Brother Ya Chai, please calm down! Please listen to my explanation. We have come here specifically to apply for the job. This old man is my father-in-law. He has lived in the Northeast for many years and is very proficient in tile-laying work like kangs."

When the short soldier heard Wang Wu's words, he turned and looked at Old Man Liu. He was skinny and haggard, and didn't look like a skilled craftsman. Unable to help but show a hint of suspicion, the soldier asked, "This skinny old man? You actually said he can make a kang? Are you kidding me?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Wu hurriedly waved his hands and shook his head, swearing, "No, no, how dare I lie to you, Master Guan! It's absolutely true. My father-in-law has indeed spent many years in the Northeast, and his skills in this area are absolutely flawless. If you don't believe me, you can find someone to verify it on the spot."

Seeing Wang Wu's earnest words, the guard, though still somewhat skeptical, ultimately decided to take the two men inside the yamen. He then turned and walked inside, shouting, "Come on, call a few knowledgeable officers and interrogate these two to see if they're trying to sneak in here and get away with it!"

Not long after, several masters who looked quite old came out of the room one after another. The yamen runner pointed at them and said, "See? These are Pan Kang's masters. Hurry up and let them question you. Don't even think you can get away with it. This is a government office. You can't do whatever you want here!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Wu and Old Man Liu approached the master craftsmen with solemn and cautious expressions. Then, they bowed respectfully and said in unison, "Master craftsmen, I, Wang Wu, have come here with my father-in-law to apply for a job here. He previously spent several years in the Northeast, where he learned some of the craftsmanship."

At this moment, one of the masters, who was obviously older, slowly raised his head and looked Wang Wu and Old Man Liu up and down with a sharp gaze. After a brief pause, the master asked in a calm and unhurried tone, "I wonder how old this old man is?"

Old Man Liu hurriedly bowed again. His body trembled slightly from nervousness, and he stammered, "To answer the master's question, I'm already 48 years old this year!"

It turned out that the older master was named Fang Laosan, so named because he was the third child in his family. Then, Fang Laosan asked, "Master, where exactly did you work in Northeast China?"

When Old Man Liu heard this, he couldn't help but feel delighted, because the other party was speaking pure Northeastern dialect. So, he immediately responded with an authentic Northeastern accent: "We have been digging for old ginseng in those deep mountains and forests for many years!"

Fang Laosan and Old Man Liu engaged in a long conversation, their topic revolving around the customs and habits of the Northeast. Through their questions and responses, Fang Laosan became increasingly convinced that the old man had lived there for a time. He then enthusiastically led Old Man Liu into a nearby room, which was filled with bricks, adobe bricks, and various tools.

Fang Laosan walked into the house, pointing at the tools. He said to Old Man Liu expectantly, "Could you pick these up and show me?" Old Man Liu looked at the objects without a trace of shyness. He pondered for a moment, recalling his own experiences building a kang in Northeast China. Then, without hesitation, he set to work.

Once the skills of the older generation are learned and mastered, they are unforgettable. Old Man Liu's movements were skillful and his techniques were sophisticated, with each step appearing methodical. Fang Lao San, who was quietly observing from the side, saw Old Man Liu's smooth and natural operation and understood that there was nothing fake or artificial about him. So, he smiled with satisfaction, nodded gently, turned around and said to the others around him, "Look, what did I say! This old man is indeed capable of doing this job. Just looking at his superb skills, you can tell that he is an experienced craftsman!"

The two people who came with Fang Lao San also expressed their approval of the superb craftsmanship that Old Man Liu had just displayed. They nodded in unison, their faces showing satisfaction.

At this moment, Fang Lao San said to Old Man Liu, "Brother, put down your tools! We've done it, just follow me out." Hearing this, Old Man Liu's heart finally settled. He breathed a sigh of relief, then slowly set his tools aside and stood up, his movements slow and cautious.

Lao Wu, who had been quietly observing all this from inside the house, couldn't help but feel genuinely happy for his father-in-law, seeing him pass the interview so smoothly. He thought, "Great! My father-in-law passed the interview, so he and his brother-in-law can continue to survive. There'll be at least some food left at home, and he and his wife will have something to rely on during this cold winter." Thinking of this, Lao Wu's previously heavy heart suddenly lightened.

Then, Old Man Liu, with a slightly unsteady gait, followed the others out of the house. When they arrived in the courtyard, they immediately saw the yamen runner who had led them in standing there. Fang Lao San stepped forward, bowed to the yamen runner, and said respectfully, "Sir, this old man's craftsmanship is absolutely flawless!"

After hearing Old Man Fang's answer, the officer nodded slightly, then waved his hand casually, signaling them to withdraw. He then led Wang Wu and Old Man Liu through the spacious courtyard and toward the other side. All along the way, none of the three spoke, only the sound of footsteps echoing in the empty courtyard.

Soon, they arrived at a somewhat shabby but tidy room. Inside, they saw an old desk piled high with documents and account books. A clerk sat at the desk, buried in his notes. Beside him stood a majestic yamen runner.

"Master Kang, I've brought the man here," the yamen runner said respectfully to the clerk. Upon hearing this, Master Kang slowly raised his head, his gaze first sweeping over the yamen runners, then settling on Old Man Liu and Wang Wu. He looked them both up and down, paying particular attention to Old Man Liu, as if trying to determine if he was truly a skilled craftsman as he claimed.

After confirming everything was correct, Master Kang lowered his head again, his brush rustling across the account book as he wrote, "Come on! Since you're a skilled craftsman, let me register you first." He nodded to the yamen runner, who immediately turned and walked out of the room, quietly closing the door behind him.

At this time, only Master Kang, Wang Wu, and Old Man Liu were left in the room. Master Kang was still concentrating on writing and didn't look up at them. Seeing this, Wang Wu hurriedly pulled Old Man Liu forward a few steps, and with a smile on his face, he nodded and said to Master Kang: "Master, this is my father-in-law. He is a true master chef!"

Upon hearing this, Master Kang paused his writing again, looked up at Old Man Liu and Wang Wu, his eyes revealing a subtle scrutiny. However, he quickly regained his composure and said calmly, "Well, I'm sure you've all heard the rules of the job application process. Working here, you'll be provided with two full meals a day, plus two kilograms of grain per person. Furthermore, each master chef can take one apprentice, but this apprentice doesn't receive any grain, just two full meals. So, have you decided who you'd like to choose as your apprentice?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Wu and Old Man Liu were as excited as the vast ocean. This solved their food problem in one fell swoop. This was simply a matter of great significance! Looking at the two men's excited expressions, Master Kang showed displeasure and said impatiently, "Have you decided? Hurry up, I still have a lot of things to deal with!" When Wang Wu and Old Man Liu heard this, they felt like being poured with a basin of cold water, and they regained their rationality.

Wang Wu said to his father-in-law: "Father-in-law, just let my brother-in-law follow you!" When the old man heard this, his mood was as if hit by a heavy hammer, and he couldn't help feeling sad. He murmured to himself: "What about you and Ni'er?" Wang Wu lowered his head in frustration like a deflated ball. When Old Man Liu saw Wang Wu's look, how could he not understand his thoughts? The palms and backs of his hands are all flesh, what can he do? Then he said to Wang Wu: "Son-in-law, how about this? I will give you the two taels of grain and noodles you earn from working every day. You take it back and your whole family will eat it. In this way, both of our two families can survive this cold winter." When Wang Wu heard this decision, he felt as happy as if the rain had cleared up, and he quickly said: "Then listen to my father-in-law!"