Chapter 00255: How Can One Cross the River Without Getting Their Shoes Wet
# How Can One Cross the River Without Getting Their Shoes Wet?
Chapter 255
Novel: Above Destiny
Chapter 255: How Can One Cross the River Without Getting Their Shoes Wet?
"Not allowed?"
"You should have said so earlier!"
"Teacher, you saw it for yourself. It's not that I don't want to take the exam; it's the association that won't let me!"
Hearing this, Ji Jue instinctively smiled, but then his brow furrowed again, and his expression gradually became serious.
— Why can't I?
It's like how ‘accepting a gift doesn’t mean I agree to it.’ I personally feel that I am unable to take the exam, and the fact that you all won’t let me is a different matter altogether!
Moreover, no matter how much I claim to lack confidence, Ji Jue had, in his heart, entertained the thought of ‘it’s just a craftsman exam, if I work hard, I can manage it.’
Just as Professor Ye had said.
At his core, he was a restless person.
He could neither tolerate falling into mediocrity nor could he endure the torment of doing nothing.
If the teacher believed he could obtain the license, then there was no reason for him to hesitate.
Setting aside the backing that the association provided, the records of the former master Tian Lu were right there before him.
If possible, who wouldn’t want to strive to surpass that?
Even if Tian Lu inexplicably spent three months busy with civil service exams, wasn’t he also attending night classes and correspondence courses?
No matter how many messy concerns and considerations he had, once a decision was made to start, they should all be cast aside, and he should forge ahead.
Where’s the logic in turning back and giving up at the slightest problem?
Ji Jue's expression changed slightly and grew solemn.
“Could you tell me the reason?”
Internal strife within the association? Restrictions set by those guys who had been beaten by the teacher? Or perhaps, was it related to the recent turmoil in Cliff City, where some people didn’t want students of Ye Xian to become craftsmen at this time?
There must be an explanation, right?
Behind the desk, the head of the association, Li Yun, was a middle-aged woman with meticulous makeup and a calm and friendly demeanor.
Though not a craftsman or a chosen one, she was the full representative of the association in Cliff City and was responsible for all matters related to the Circle of Tai Yi, as well as maintaining the contact between local craftsmen and the association.
Ji Jue had seen her both in the teacher's study and at Lei Wuye's funeral.
Although they hadn’t interacted much, her relationship with Professor Ye should not be bad.
Moreover, the teacher had accepted a task assigned by the association and had resolved the issues happening in Spring City.
It hadn’t even been two months, so it wouldn’t be so quick to backstab like that.
“Please don’t misunderstand, Mr. Ji. This isn’t a deliberate difficulty.”
Li Yun wanted to avoid any misunderstandings as they could interfere with her future work.
She immediately stood up and rummaged through a shelf behind her for a while before finding a file and pulling out Ji Jue's registration form.
She placed it in front of him.
With a complex sigh, she said, “It’s based on the records. Your training time is, indeed, a bit too short… You only registered a year ago, starting from last winter until today.”
“...”
Ji Jue froze, not expecting that the reason blocking his exam was actually the time.
“One year isn't enough?”
“Not just one year.”
Li Yun replied, “According to the usual regulations, the association does not accept apprentices whose training time is less than three years to register for the exam.”
In the end, if one wanted to place the blame, they would have to blame Tian Lu.
Not just Tian Lu.
There was also another contemporary master—Zhu Li Jiang!
The records of this master who became a craftsman in such a short time had always been no secret within the association, and for a long time, this talent had been admired by many successors.
Ever since, decades ago, when another craftsman who self-studied for just a year passed the exam and became a master, it seemed that the length of time an apprentice took to become a craftsman became a subtle benchmark for measuring talent and future potential.
There had never been a shortage of apprentices trying to shorten that time to stand out.
In the face of the temptation of instant fame and being on par with masters, everyone rushed to break those records.
It’s well known that competition has no end.
If it were merely competition, it would be fine, but the issue lies in the sheer number of fakes within!
Generally speaking, these fakes would be filtered out during the answering phase, but the embers were just simply too good at memorizing… Moreover, with various blessings and creations, producing a question-answering machine is not such a difficult task.
Each craftsman exam's evaluation stage requires several masters to form a panel for review; the more wasteful a person is, the more time and resources are wasted.
One must understand that to ensure fairness, all materials needed for the craftsman exam are provided by the association.
Even though the registration fee startled Ji Jue at a hefty four hundred thousand each time, it still resulted in a pure loss!
Moreover, according to subsequent statistics, such fast-track apprentices, even if they lucked into passing and becoming craftsmen, would only be undeveloped and deformed.
Their foundation would be severely lacking.
Just over a decade ago, there was a poor soul who received their craftsman certificate the day before and blew themselves up the next day…
More importantly, over time, this created a detrimental atmosphere.
After a brief flourishing period, the association seemed to enter an era of genii blooming all over, dazzling with beauty and prosperity.
Yet in the end, very few could actually attain a gold award!
Not a single one became a master.
Moreover, there were many cases of individuals lost to vanity and flattery, ultimately unwilling to awaken from their beautiful dreams, turning to despair in their quest for minor progress.
As a result, after an emergency meeting among the four directors and numerous schools within the association, this trend was finally put to a stop.
Not only that, but from that point on, the examinations for apprentices with insufficient training time would also be more cautious and strict.
On the same level of ambiguity, if an evaluation could be categorized into A or B, it would undoubtedly be B.
If barely qualified, it would definitely be marked as unqualified.
A mere point difference would be enough to eliminate unconceivable numbers of candidates.
Simultaneously, to prevent the occurrence of sham candidates again, certain large workshops, in their desperation to fill their craftsman ranks, shamelessly resorted to new regulations issued by the association—apprentices whose training time was not yet three years were required to have three craftsmen’s signatures and guarantees when taking the exam, to avoid wasting resources.
Of course, even if one failed, there wouldn’t be any overt problems or punishments, but the results would be prominently announced.
You guarantors wouldn’t mind losing face, but the association certainly would.
Moreover, with the intense power struggles between factions within the association, how could they miss such a good opportunity?
Could it be that the headlines would be out the next day?
Seizing the opportunity to attack your character, your abilities, and your discernment—how would you defend yourself against that?
From that moment onwards, no craftsman would allow themselves to be the apprentice who thought they were the chosen one and ran off to take the exam in foolish pride.
They simply couldn’t afford that humiliation.
Furthermore, the average apprentice was not like Lou Da Shao, who hailed from a rich family.
Who could find three craftsmen to vouch for them?
Just endure it!
“Of course, I don’t doubt Master Ye's vision or the expectations she has for her students. Her letting you come here means she must have confidence in you. However, rules are rules, and even if I pass you here, it will be sent back from above.”
Li Yun placed an old notification document pulled from the bottom of the box in front of Ji Jue.
She sincerely advised, “You are still so young; how about waiting for another two years?”
“...”
Ji Jue didn’t speak, only letting out a faint sigh.
There was no point in wasting breath pleading for favors.
The association is the association, and rules are the rules.
Over the years, after everyone had grown accustomed to it, the consensus became the consensus.
At a time when one’s own capabilities were insignificant, challenging the rules and subverting the consensus was an extremely irrational and unreasonable endeavor.
Only after reaching the west of the river could one be qualified to speak of thirty years east of the river.
With the Golden Core consumed, one’s fate rests in their own hands.
Before that...
“Three signatures?” Ji Jue asked.
“Yes.”
Li Yun nodded, as if she had anticipated this.
Not surprising at all.
“Sorry to disturb you.” Ji Jue slowly stood up and politely bid farewell, “I will come back tomorrow.”
“Always welcome.”
Li Yun nodded and watched him turn to leave.
In the silence, she returned to her paperwork.
Under the midday sun, Ji Jue sat on the steps of the plaza, letting out a sigh.
Three craftsmen’s signatures…
It was a bit challenging.
He didn’t know any craftsmen personally.
After all, since entering the field, he had seen countless craftsmen; unfortunately, there were very few alive, and far too many had passed away… If only he had known that, he should have left a few alive to sign for him.
He simply wasn’t sure if the signatures on the other side would be of any use.
This problem wasn’t difficult; it was just a hassle.
Since the teacher had him come for this license exam, it was impossible she didn’t know about this rule, which meant she completely didn’t see this as an obstacle for Ji Jue.
In reality, indeed…
After considering it clearly, he directly took out his phone and dialed a number.
In just a few seconds, the call was connected.
Ji Jue tentatively asked, “Hey? Are you there?”
“Get lost!”
On the other end, a curse was hurled without hesitation.
It was Lou Feng.
Ji Jue: “…”
Lou Feng: “…”
Silence suddenly fell.
Due to instinct, shadows, or perhaps, the PTSD being too strong, both parties fell into an awkward silence.
Until Ji Jue let out a long and bitter sigh.
“Ah, I see now.”
He smiled regretfully: “When I was in Spring City, I thought we were friends, but it seems... I thought we could be partners for life. I'm sorry, it was just my one-sided wishful thinking. Just knowing you’re doing well is enough.”
In the air, a refreshing aroma of tea suddenly filled the silence, choking Lou Feng to the point he could hardly breathe.
Suffocation.
After encountering this dog thing, all the upbringing and quality of the Lou family had gone to waste.
He could only roll his eyes up to the sky: “If you have something to say, just say it!”
“Am I bothering you?”
Ji Jue weakly asked, “I feel bad for bothering you. If someone finds out that the Lou family and a poor guy like me are in contact, it won’t be good, right?”
“Ji, you think you can keep this up? I…”
Lou Feng's forehead twitched with veins bulging, and a torrent of familiar curses sprang forth until he realized the shocked gazes from his parents and siblings seated across the dining table and it was already too late.
Smack!
At the head of the table, the old man sat dumbfounded, his chopsticks trembling as two grains of rice fell onto the table.
It seemed he wanted to say something but couldn't.
Deathly silence.
Lou Feng squeezed his eyes shut, suppressing his urge to hang himself right there, he put down his chopsticks and slowly stood up: “I’m full.”
Then he lowered his head, shrinking his neck as he made the swiftest exit from the dining room.
Like a fugitive.
It wasn’t until a long while later that he regained his composure, and the screen of the phone he clutched showed two cracks.
Damn it!!!
(End of Chapter)