There was little dispute over the ratings of those who had performed exceptionally well or exceptionally poorly.
But when it came to Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze, some disagreements arose.
Both had chosen roughly fifty second order plants.
First, looking at the base score—the second order low- and mid-grade plants—the survival rate was surprisingly only eighty percent, and thirty percent had failed to reach maturity.
None had died, but for them, these results were already somewhat weak.
Then there were the score-boosting plants: the second order high-grade varieties.
Wen Nanxing had chosen two second order high-grade plants: the Seven Star Flower and the Liguo Sapling.
Both had extremely high medicinal value.
He had planted four of each, but only one of each had fully matured and reached peak medicinal value.
Xiao Ze's results with the second order low- and mid-grade plants were similarly close to Wen Nanxing's.
The second order high-grade Icy Lotus and Bitter Earth Ginseng he had planted had only produced one more mature plant than Wen Nanxing's.
Neither of them had any problem making the Grade A List.
The disagreement was over whether they deserved Grade A.
There were eight officials participating in the assessment. Before Chen Shijie voiced an opinion, three believed the two should not receive Grade A and deserved, at most, Grade B.
Because they had failed to fully ripen all their plants, their performance did not match the abilities expected of Gathering Yuan Fourth Level cultivators.
The other four believed the grading standards should be uniform and not vary from person to person. Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze had not lost a single seedling, and they had mature plants among the second order low-, mid-, and high-grade varieties, so they should receive Grade A.
With the disagreement unresolved, the deciding authority rested mainly in Chen Shijie's hands.
"Lord Chen, how should they be rated?" a clerk from the County Office's Literary Office asked softly.
Xiao Ze and Wen Nanxing were both somewhat uneasy.
They truly had not expected to perform so poorly. Look at Li Chengfeng—his choices had been no less difficult, so how had all of his plants matured?
Their Grade A List placement could go either way now. Since objections had arisen, it depended on what Chen Shijie, the chief official, thought.
Chen Shijie pondered for a moment before looking at them. "Let me ask you both: during these four days and three nights of assessment, did you notice anything unusual?"
Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze exchanged a glance, then shook their heads. "No."
Upon hearing this, Pang Yuan and Tang Wanchun sighed inwardly. They knew Grade A was impossible this time.
But it was not their fault either. Zhao Xing had been too insidious.
He took whatever he pleased from others, but when dealing with these two experts, he had boiled the frog slowly, stealing bit by bit.
As a result, Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze still believed they had merely performed poorly, never considering any other possibility.
Chen Shijie nodded. "The plants you two chose were all difficult off-season varieties, so you may be rated Grade A. But your vigilance was far too poor, which prevented full maturity. Grade B, then."
"Yes." The Literary Office clerk immediately recorded it.
Huh? Poor vigilance? What kind of evaluation was that?
Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze were utterly baffled.
But after Chen Shijie walked away, Tang Wanchun and Pang Yuan, who had fallen behind, finally told their students the truth. "You two are truly far too dull-witted. You were cheated by Earth Veins Synthesis and did not even realize it! Go back and reflect on yourselves properly!"
Earth Veins Synthesis? Xiao Ze and Wen Nanxing looked at each other, their expressions changing at once.
Someone had used an Earthly Advantage Faction spell to silently steal away their earth force and yuan energy?
"Who would use that on us... Ah, could it have been him?!" Xiao Ze and Wen Nanxing stared at that expanse of gold, suddenly understanding. They were filled with regret.
"Zhao Xing, at Gathering Yuan Second Level, successfully cultivated one hundred second order plants across five varieties, including twenty second order high-grade Adamantine Bamboo. He possesses both courage and strategy. Rated Grade A!"
This time, Chen Shijie did not even ask those beside him before directly addressing the County Office staff.
The admiration in his eyes was undisguised, and he even seemed somewhat impatient.
Gao Linong felt a little displeased, because the "courage" in Zhao Xing's evaluation clearly referred to his performance in competing against Zong Shichang—and Zong Shichang happened to be Gao Linong's prized student.
Tang Wanchun and Pang Yuan did not feel much better either, because Zhao Xing's "strategy" had been used against their prized students. The two had not even realized it by the end. Was that not infuriating?
But setting aside their personal feelings, all three genuinely believed Zhao Xing deserved this assessment. They even wished Zhao Xing served under them.
"Thank you for your hard work, gentlemen." As usual, Zhao Xing cupped his hands toward the officials who had come to inspect the results.
Logically, the inspection should have continued, but Chen Shijie did not leave. He had the other deputy officials determine the remaining Grade B List and Grade C List placements, while he and Xue Wenzhong kept Zhao Xing behind.
Zhao Xing did not know what this meant, but it would be embarrassing to make the leaders speak first. He had to ask himself. "Teacher, Lord Chen, do you have any further instructions?"
Xue Wenzhong said, "Qualifications for the court's Temple Examination are reported by each county, and only after approval by the commandery does one have a chance to participate."
"The number of slots in each commandery and county is not fixed. To give prospective clerks a better chance of passing, every year the County Office jointly funds resources from the treasury and provides them to outstanding clerks in every department. It is not limited to our Ministry of Agriculture; the Heavenly Craft Workshop, Weaving Workshop, Military Office, Ministry of Justice, and other departments are all treated equally."
Zhao Xing nodded. Of course he knew this.
The Great Zhou Emperor's declaration that "all talents under heaven shall enter my urn" was not merely empty rhetoric. It had been directly written into the laws.
The Tribute Official Law stated: "Among students and clerks of all departments, those outstanding in law, profession, classics, and arts shall be selected by quota and granted monthly funds for lamp oil, firewood, and writing materials as encouragement."
Put simply, there were scholarships and poverty assistance grants.
Law, profession, classics, and arts referred to the various aspects being evaluated. Students and clerks referred to pupils in official academies, learning societies, and similar institutions established by the court, as well as clerks like Zhao Xing.
The difference was that students could receive both poverty assistance and scholarships, while clerks could only receive scholarships. Clerks had jobs, after all. No matter how poor you were, surely you could still afford food?
The selection process was relatively stringent. Normally, two Grade A ratings would not be enough for him to receive such resources, but judging by Xue Wenzhong's meaning, could it be that Lord Chen wanted to help him fight for one?
Sure enough, Chen Shijie immediately said, "Old Xue told me you began Gathering Yuan rather late. If you wish to pass the Winter Assessment and the Temple Examination, your resource expenses must keep up. I also heard your family is not especially wealthy. If you can obtain a Tribute Recipient slot, perhaps your cultivation can progress faster."
Zhao Xing listened quietly.
"Ordinarily, you have only received Grade A twice, so you are not yet qualified to receive tribute. But I believe you are a promising talent. It would be a pity if you were passed over."
"So I have decided to apply for a Tribute Recipient slot for you. Beyond that, your teacher and I will provide you with additional cultivation resources until your Temple Examination is over."
Chen Shijie spoke very directly and without airs. When speaking to Zhao Xing, he did not refer to himself as "this official," but simply said "I." It showed just how much he appreciated him.
Upon hearing that good fortune had come knocking, how could Zhao Xing possibly refuse? Though calm inside, he put on a proper display. After all, Chen Shijie was his angel investor!
He immediately performed a deep bow. "Thank you, Teacher and Lord Chen, for your life-changing kindness. Xing will never forget it and will surely repay it day and night!"
Chen Shijie smiled faintly and used both hands to help Zhao Xing straighten up.
This investment was secured!
Before you continue