We entered the city and it was safe.

The two sculptors were the first to speak: "Third Master, the two of us plan to go to the market for a walk."

"Well, go ahead. Let's meet at the city gate early tomorrow morning. Let's go back together. Don't go back alone. You can see how dangerous the road is."

The two sculptors nodded quickly. They were almost hacked to death by thieves on the way here, so they dared to go back by themselves.

The two of them complained and went straight to the market carrying the small package.

At this time, there was a severe drought, people's livelihood was in decline, and there were not many merchants in the market. There were some selling random daily necessities, but there were very few people selling food, especially various supplementary foods and seasonings.

The two sculptors spread out the parcels in the corner of the market, took out some of the good goods gifted by Heaven, and laid them out.

This move was so impressive that a large group of people surrounded him with a roar.

"This...this is sugar! Snow-white and transparent sugar."

The white sugar given by Tianzun was very big, like a crystal-like lump of good stuff, but the two sculptors were not fools. They had already crushed the large pieces of white sugar into powder at home, but the "modern technology" made it

The white sugar that comes out is much whiter than the sugar from traditional craftsmanship, and it doesn’t look like the same thing.

The two sculptors looked up and smiled: "Good stuff, right?"

"Give me some money."

"I want two dollars."

"I'll give you some money too."

People in the city are much richer than those in the countryside, but they don't dare to buy too much, not to mention a pound, not even a pound. They can only buy a piece for one or two yuan to satisfy their greed.

This sculptor was selling candies in full swing, and a circle of people gathered around the other sculptor: "Is this... lard?"

Sculptor: "Yes, good lard. Smell it. Does it smell good?"

"How old is it, and you still still have lard?"

"No one has anything to eat, but your family can still afford to raise pigs? What kind of family is that?"

Of course, it is impossible for people living in the city to raise pigs. The lard they usually eat is sold into the city by people in the countryside. However, since the drought, there have been fewer and fewer farmers raising pigs.

Less and less, until almost out of stock.

These people haven't tasted lard for who knows how long.

"This... I want three dollars."

"Give me five dollars."

Everyone didn't buy much, after all, this thing was too expensive, but there were so many people who couldn't bear to buy it. In a short time, all the goods brought by the two sculptors were sold out, turning into two large bags of broken silver.

The two sculptors looked at the silver in their wallets and were overjoyed. Then they looked at each other and said, "Now you can afford the 'craftsman's silver'."

It turned out that these two sculptors were craftsmen just like Li Da.

The difference is that Li Da is called the "sitting craftsman", while the two sculptors are called "shift craftsmen".

To live as a craftsman, you must implement the "sitting system" like modern day laborers and go to work in government workshops on time. Your personal freedom is severely restricted, so Li Da was eager to get rid of his craftsmanship.

Shift craftsmen, on the other hand, have more freedom. Every three to five years, they take turns to work in government workshops. They usually work for three consecutive months and can get three to five years of rest, which is relatively free.

In the 41st year of Jiajing's reign, the imperial court reformed the craftsman service system, allowing shift craftsmen to not come to work at all, but they were required to pay "carpenter's shift silver" of four cents and five cents every year. The court would use this money to hire other people to work.

.

In the past, the two sculptors couldn't afford the money, so they had to work shifts. But recently, they received a gift from the Heavenly Lord and had many valuable things at home, so they came up with the idea of ​​exchanging them for money, and then using the money to pay the "craftsmen's silver".

.

That's why the two of them risked their lives to follow Thirty-Two on a trip to the county town.

Now that the money has been exchanged, their pockets are bulging, and they are confident enough to pay for their freedom.

The two of them held their chests straight and walked with wind in their eyes. They walked towards the official residence with their heads held high and their chests held high.

Walking into the workshop and walking through the hall, what I saw along the way were all kinds of craftsmen, including carpenters, sawmakers, bricklayers, blacksmiths, tailors, painters, bamboo workers, tinsmiths, lettermakers, casters, and curtain makers.

Craftsman, gardener, two-turner, stonemason, silversmith, drummer, armourer, potter, cooper, inksmith, carver, cobbler, cobbler, molder, papermaker,

Glacier...

(PS: Of course it is impossible for so many craftsmen to be in the workshop. This is just to make a list so that everyone can see what types of craftsmen there were in the Ming Dynasty.)

There are countless talented people in the officialdom, all of them are ruthless and clever characters.

Most of these people knew each other without looking up. When they saw the two sculptors, they all waved and said hello: "Ah, it's you two? I remember you two took turns last year, so you don't need to come this year. Why?"

Are you here too?"

The two sculptors smiled proudly: "The two of us have made money, let's pay the 'craftsman's silver', hehehehe."

As soon as these words came out of his mouth, he attracted a burst of jealous, envious and hateful looks.

Who doesn’t want to exchange money for freedom?

However, few people can afford it.

Each craftsman is poorer than the other, and his life is more miserable than the last. Not to mention giving money to the craftsman class, most of them have to pledge their children in order to survive.

Hearing that two sculptors actually made money to pay "craftsmen's silver", a group of people couldn't help but gathered around: "Where did you two get rich? If you have any way, tell us, we also want to pay."

The craftsman said, then he patted his butt and walked away."

The two sculptors are not stupid. It's okay to say this kind of thing in private, but they can't just yell in front of a group of people and just laugh: "We have received the protection of Daoxuan Tianzun."

After finishing speaking, without explaining anything, he walked straight into the inner hall and met the craftsman in charge.

"Master Craftsman, we are here to hand over the 'Craftsman's Class Silver'."

The craftsman was an old man, and snorted in his nostrils: "Are you planning to have sex for several years at a time? I have to remind you that you are all shift craftsmen who work every three years. If you want to skip the shift next time,

, you have to pay three years' worth of craftsmen's money at once, which is thirteen cents and five cents, which is not a small amount."

The old man just finished speaking.

The two sculptors said at the same time: "We have been working together for thirty years. In the future, Class 10 will no longer use it. Master craftsman, maybe you will never see us again in this life."

"puff!"

The old man almost spit out his tea: "Thirty years? That's eight taels and five cents of silver. How can you two poor people get eight taels and five cents of silver?"

The two sculptors stood straight with their backs straight, with charmingly confident smiles on their faces. They reached into their arms, took out two large money bags, and threw them on the table, making a clatter of money.

The old man knew there was something in the purse just by hearing the sound.

I opened the bag and took a look. Sure enough, there were two bags full of broken silver. After measuring it with my hands, I realized that there was only a lot more, and I could still get some kickbacks from it.

The old man was convinced. He took out a thick book, turned to the page of "Kneaders", found the names of the two men, and wrote at the end: "I have paid the craftsmen's silver for thirty years."

Then mark the time and draw a circle.

The two sculptors proudly said: "Master craftsman, let's say goodbye and never see each other again in this life."
Chapter completed!