Chapter 104: The Five-Drum Rule of the Qualified Craftsman

At the stroke of midnight, the village boys outside announced the changing of the watch.

Xie Ju leaned lazily against the desk to relieve the numbness in his legs and asked, “Do you know why the night is divided into five watches?”

Wang Ge actually knew the reason and replied, “The original meaning of ‘watch’ is to change; its extended meaning includes rotation, succession, and passage. The five watches, also called the five nights or five drum beats, are all based on the number five. The heavens begin anew at the first hour, the first month starts with the Tiger sign, and from Tiger to Noon, Noon to dusk, dusk back to Tiger, regardless of winter or summer, the duration between these periods is never more than six hours nor less than four, usually falling between five intervals. Thus, the five watches also symbolize the stages of life.”

“The five watches are also called the five drums. Since you know this, it seems the County Magistrate has already informed you about the rules of the apprentice craftsman exam.”

Wang Ge’s smile stiffened for a moment as she explained, “The County Magistrate only allowed me to take the apprentice craftsman exam in May but did not disclose the rules. I learned about the ‘five watches, five drums’ from a well-read young man in the village.” She had overheard Huan Zhen teaching Hu Tou and memorized it.

Moreover, what does the concept of the five watches and five drums have to do with the apprentice craftsman exam?

“The County Magistrate is very cautious; logically, he shouldn’t reveal the rules. But every noble family sends craftsmen to compete, and each year, at least a hundred craftsmen come to the Nanshan Academy. Year after year, to vie for those fifty apprentice craftsman slots, how could no information leak out?”

Wang Ge pondered silently: The straight ruler, square, and compass the County Magistrate asked her to make must be related to the exam content.

Misinterpreting her contemplation, Xie Ju reassured her, “Don’t worry. I’ll now tell you everything I know.”

The apprentice craftsman exam is by no means a local selection held independently by county officials in preparation for the grand craftsman competition. The rules are almost identical across all counties, including the prefectural seat.

Xie Ju’s question about the “five watches” was actually a hint toward the five drum beats during the exam: the fame drum, the inferior drum, the timing drum, the hometown drum, and the rattle drum.

Once all candidates enter the exam hall, the timing drum sounds first. With each beat, the drumstick strikes once. This drum is positioned at the four corners of each exam area to urge and distract candidates.

The first task: drawing lines with a giant straight ruler. The ruler is made of bamboo or wood and measures over ten feet. Attention: only the “foot” marks may be drawn! Marking “inch” or “fraction” segments is forbidden! Candidates may choose either end as the starting point and use a carving knife to make vertical lines at every foot interval. The task ends when the remaining length is less than one foot.

After marking, a craftsman official measures with a standard template. Upon passing, the drum official strikes the fame drum. Candidates then proceed to the second area; if eliminated, they exit on their own and the inferior drum is struck in the exit corridor. Unlike the craftsman exam, eliminated candidates only need to declare, “Skill not equal,” without reporting their origin or name.

The second task: drawing lines with a giant square ruler. The square ruler is wooden. Using the right-angle corner as the starting point, the longer side extends over ten feet and only “inch” marks may be drawn—no “fraction” or “foot” segments allowed; the shorter side extends over five feet and only “fraction” marks may be drawn—no “inch” or “foot” segments allowed. The task ends when the remaining length is less than the respective mark size.

The third task: making a “writing gu.” By now, Wang Ge already found the first two tasks difficult, but when Hu Zi explained the third, her scalp tingled. Guo Fuzi had said that wooden slips inscribed on all sides were called “gu” or “writing gu.” Wang Ge understood this as a multi-faceted wooden stick.

The craftsman officials provided wooden templates for inspection only—touching was forbidden. Candidates then adjusted the “gu” material, which had at least three and at most eight facets, to conform to the angles of the template. The total time allowed for observation and adjustment varied from fifteen to thirty minutes, depending on the number of facets.

The making of the “gu” was timed separately. From the official’s announcement to start, the drum official shook a rattle next to the candidate to disturb them. When the rattle stopped, the candidate ceased work.

These tasks were merely the opening round of the apprentice craftsman exam—a massive elimination designed to weed out candidates who were lax about rules and measurements.

The fourth task: candidates quickly entered the mold-making area to select molds. The faster the first three tasks were completed, the more advantageous this stage. This task tested the candidates’ overall grasp of rules and dimensions, sharing the same standards as the craftsman exam.

The fifth task: candidates entered the tools area, which contained various common and rare implements. They could choose tools based on their abilities and improve their functions. Each tool had a wooden placard indicating its name, use, and minimal required improvements. Illiterate candidates could beat the hometown drum to request help from officials.

“When the drum sounds, they must declare… ‘From [hometown], Wang Ge, illiterate.’” Xie Ju burst into laughter, his shoulders shaking. “That’s it. So, how difficult is it?”

Difficult! Much harder than the craftsman exam.

Wang Ge imagined herself banging the hometown drum because she couldn’t read or write—the scene would be so humiliating. “In five months, I must learn many characters.”

“Don’t underestimate it,” Xie Ju’s smile vanished as he warned her. “Those characters aren’t all simplified; some are even oracle bone script. When you go to Shanyin County for the grand craftsman competition in September, the hometown drum becomes the county drum. Then, the placards on all tools will be written in oracle bone and seal scripts!”

“So, if I know few characters, I not only embarrass myself but also shame my hometown and county.”

“Exactly. Especially at the Shanyin exam, the scene will be grand. The examiners, officials, and candidates won’t bother remembering others’ names—only ‘Duoyi County… illiterate,’ ‘Duoyi County… illiterate.’ Ha ha!” Xie Ju laughed heartily, picturing Wang Ge’s bewildered face repeatedly striking the wooden mallet and shouting her county’s name, laughing until he collapsed onto the desk.

“If you won’t help me, at least stop laughing, or else you’ll be giving away fish for free.”

“Burp!” The boy quickly sobered and said, “Since I’m your friend, there’s something else you should know: my father owns the Nanshan Academy.”

“Actually, I guessed as much when you dismissed the craftsman’s wife that day.”

“Hmm. Also, my father has two hobbies: raising cranes and fish.”

“So, the white crane is tamed by your father?”

“Yes.”

“Raising cranes and fish… wait, cranes eat fish, don’t they?”

“Cough!” Xie Ju nodded toward the small pile of scraps behind him.

Not good! Wang Ge turned and picked up the discolored, rotten fish head stuck to a wooden block, wanting to confirm again. “Hu Zi, what kind of fish does your father raise? How big?”

“You guessed right. They’re red carp.”

Meanwhile, in Jiashe Village, the sound of firecrackers had greatly diminished. Every household gathered around their elders, listening or sharing hopes for the coming year and plans for spring plowing, marking the New Year vigil.

Inside the Wang family’s main house, only Elder Wang, Lady Jia, the eldest son and his father, and Huan Zhen were present.

Huan Zhen’s words had brought both surprise and the need to reconsider plans. Although the family’s labor force had decreased, the addition of an ox still made it possible to reclaim several more acres of wasteland.

But Huan Zhen said, “In August, Qinghe Manor will recruit a batch of young children for primary school. Grandmother, I want to send A Xing there for formal schooling. Qinghe Manor is the estate of the Wang family of Langya. Their school was once slightly inferior to the Nanshan Academy where you study, but from August onward, they will invite famous scholars again. I hope Grandmother will consider… relocating.”

(End of chapter)