The next two weeks I repaired broken tools. Old man didn't keep any secrets from me, teaching every crafting trick he knew although he was stingy with cash. He didn't pay me much. I didn't ask. I was happy to learn the craft's secrets. That is more important for me.
When I started in blacksmith Tim started to work as a farmhand in the neighboring farm. He was hoping to earn money, clear some woods and start his own farm. I was happy with my work. I had plans, but first I needed to learn the job.
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Next day the master showed me his last secret. There was a small ore vein near the village. He secretly mined there. With him I go there. Mine entrance was truly hidden with various thorny bushes. In the mine there was iron, not even very deep. We mined two buckets. And returned to the shop.
After a long time of blacksmith not working properly I worked hard for a month while my master helped me little. He wasn't all that knowledgeable. He did teach me every trick he knew, but he only knew how to make wrought iron, so he could only make soft iron tools. But not surprisingly after the month of hard work our village's smiting needs was reduced a lot. So my old master left the shop and said to me whatever I earn from an odd customer bring him the half every week.
After he left I started to implement my plans for the shop.