Grade A

"Lesser Heat Assessment has concluded. The subject was 'Grain Eating Bird Calamity.' Results will be determined by the damage sustained by the farmland each clerk was responsible for."

"Those whose Yuan rice suffered less than ten percent damage shall receive a Grade A rating."

"Those whose damage remained below twenty percent shall receive a Grade B rating."

"Those whose damage was less than half shall receive a grade C rating."

"If damage exceeds half, this assessment will receive no rating. The offender shall be penalized by being made to replant, using Nurturing Art to hasten growth. If they can make up for the loss, they may receive a supplementary grade C rating."

"The Lesser Heat Assessment results have been posted for public viewing. Clerks, please check them yourselves. Regardless of your results, remain diligent and hardworking. Guard against arrogance and impatience."

After Chen Shijie finished speaking, a junior clerk from the Literary Office aboard the flying boat waved his hand. A sheet of Yellow Paper drifted through the air and landed precisely on each of the nine notice boards in the public field's grassland.

The clerks cupped their hands toward the flying boat in salute. Once the Flowing Cloud Flying Boat drifted away, they swarmed forward with a roar.

"What? There are only thirty people on the Grade A List, and only five received Grade A?!"

"It's over, it's over! There are only two hundred and fourteen names on the list. Doesn't that mean half the clerks failed?"

"Brother up front, please help me check. Is Liang Bai's name there?"

"Yes. Ninth on the Grade C List, grade C Upper. Congratulations, Brother Liang."

"Ugh, only the Grade C List? I made the Grade B List last time..."

"The Lesser Heat Assessment is already this difficult. How are we supposed to survive the Autumn Moon Assessment? Only a few people will be admitted as officials next spring anyway. To hell with making up the assessment! Let's go drink!"

"Hey, you're right. At worst, I'll just quit!"

The Lesser Heat Assessment had been far more difficult than the previous ones, and the area before the list was filled with gloom.

Very few were happy. Everyone felt they had done poorly.

Among them, a small portion simply did not care.

Only three to five people were admitted as officials each year to begin with. The later assessments would only grow harder, weeding out junior clerks who lacked diligence or talent.

They had never had a chance to begin with, so what was there to worry about? They might as well give up. They did not even plan to take the supplementary assessment.

What? They might be dismissed? So be it. The pay was meager anyway. In these peaceful times, would they starve to death just because they were no longer junior clerks?

Of course, the vast majority still cared. Otherwise, why had they chosen this path in the first place? Besides, they had worked so hard for so long already. With so much invested, they naturally still held onto hope.

Chen Ziyu and Qian Dong were also desperately squeezing their way forward.

Before long, they pushed their way back out, looking utterly dejected.

The two had received grade C Lower, barely passing.

As soon as they left the crowd, Chen Ziyu slapped his forehead. "Right, Qian Dong, how did Brother do? Did you check for him just now?"

Qian Dong raised his hanging head, looking hesitant. "I didn't see Big Brother's name on the Grade C List just now. Could it be..."

"What do you mean, could it be? You mean Big Brother failed? He didn't even make the Grade C List? He worked so hard before. If he couldn't even make the Grade C List, how devastated would he be? No wonder we can't find him. He couldn't have done something rash, could he?"

Qian Dong hurriedly shook his head. "No, no, it wouldn't come to that. Big Brother is usually so carefree. How could something like this... Still, he's bound to be upset."

Chen Ziyu said worriedly, "I'll take another look at the list. Qian Dong, you search around for Brother first. We'll meet at Triangle Field in a while."

A quarter hour later, at Triangle Field.

Qian Dong saw Chen Ziyu looking utterly lost. Seeing his expression, he thought something terrible had happened. Why did he look even gloomier than before?

"I still haven't found Big Brother. What happened to you?"

Chen Ziyu raised his head blankly. "Brother's name isn't on the Grade C List."

"Then it isn't. Failing the list isn't anything unusual..."

As Qian Dong spoke, he gradually stopped. "He's on the Grade B List?"

When Chen Ziyu did not answer, Qian Dong's mouth slowly fell open. "Could he be..."

"Yes. Brother is on the Grade A List, and he received Grade A. He is tied with Wen Nanxing, Li Chengfeng, Zong Shichang, and Xiao Ze."

"..."

Qian Dong's expression became just like Chen Ziyu's.

Not far from the Grade A List, Li Chengfeng was surrounded by people as he rested in the shade atop a stone.

Naturally, he did not need to check the list himself. He had more than enough confidence that he would rank near the top.

What he enjoyed was not the moment the results were posted, but the praise from everyone now.

"Congratulations, Brother Li! You've made the Grade A List again and received Grade A!"

"Brother Li truly lives up to his extraordinary talent. Which time is this that you've received Grade A?"

"The sixth time!"

"Come next spring, we may have to call you Lord Li."

Li Chengfeng smiled and cupped his hands toward those around him. "Don't joke around, everyone. What lord? We're all brothers here. Besides, I'm not the only one to receive Grade A. I'm far inferior to Brother Zong... Brother Zong, Brother Zong! What are you looking at?"

The brawny young man beside him, Zong Shichang, snapped back to his senses at Li Chengfeng's call, looking somewhat curious. "I'm looking at the list. Brother Li, there are five people with Grade A. Aside from you and me, Wen Nanxing, and Xiao Ze, I've never even heard of this fifth person."

"Oh?" Li Chengfeng could not help stepping closer as well. When he saw the unfamiliar name Zhao Xing, he frowned. "I really haven't heard of him. I know most people in the Agricultural Supervision Seventh Institute. Where did this fellow come from?"

"Could he be one of Old Sima Nong's men?" Zong Shichang asked.

"No need to overthink it. We'll pay him a visit some other day and find out." Li Chengfeng narrowed his eyes.

At the same time, Wen Nanxing, Xiao Ze, and the others on the Grade A List also noticed Zhao Xing's name.

The Ministry of Agriculture only admitted three to five officials each year. The other lists were one thing, but everyone on the Grade A List was a competitor.

If someone else got in, they would not. That person might even become their direct superior. How could they not pay attention?

Yet Zhao Xing had kept too low a profile in ordinary times and had never stood out. When they asked around among their friends, almost no one had heard of him. At most, they knew he was a junior clerk under Old Sima Nong, which made them even more curious.

Zhao Xing did not yet know that he had drawn the attention of so many clerks. He had not gone to see the list at all.

After Chen Shijie announced the rules, he immediately knew he would surely make the Grade A List. Why squeeze through the crowd and stink of sweat in this heat? He might as well go home early, take a bath, change clothes, and eat.

If he returned too late, Madam Cai might hide the meat. She really was the sort of person who would do that.

"This year's evaluations have already been held six times, including Lesser Heat. By convention, there will be six more minor assessments following the solar terms."

"My previous five results were one Grade B Middle, three grade C Upper, and two grade C Lower. Thoroughly ordinary."

"But it doesn't matter. Rapid improvement is also a way to stand out. These minor assessments do not judge solely by results. Those with good potential also have a chance to be recommended."

"If I can make the Grade A List in every minor assessment before the Winter Assessment, I'll definitely catch the higher-ups' eye. I just don't know how much Old Sima Nong will be able to help me then," Zhao Xing thought.

"Old Sima Nong, Xue Wenzhong, is famously a good old man. He neither fights nor competes, and he is very incorruptible. He never accepts gifts from anyone. If I'm about equal to the others by then, the crucial moment will depend on whether my superior is willing to fight for me."

The scent of meat suddenly wafted into his nose, interrupting Zhao Xing's thoughts. He had arrived home, and the aroma was drifting out from the kitchen.

"Hmm? It smells like Ginseng Black Chicken Soup... Heh, perfect timing!"