List

Chen Shijie's Gong quota promised to Zhao Xing would become available next month, with collection beginning at the White Dew solar term.

The allowance rewards came in several grades. For the first month, he could only receive the "Middle-Grade Official Allowance," but if Zhao Xing could still achieve Grade A next month, Chen Shijie could have him transferred to "High-Grade Official."

Middle-Grade Officials received a monthly allowance of five taels of silver, while High-Grade Officials received ten taels per month.

How long it would last depended on Zhao Xing's performance.

Of course, if Zhao Xing could receive a Formal Appointment next year, this reward would be gone. If he performed outstandingly then, there would be other rewards.

Five taels a month, ten taels a month—by the prices of the Emperor Jing's era, that was already an enormous reward for an official clerk!

One only had to consider those beaten by Young Master Zong. Upon hearing that he paid thirty taels of silver per punch, they immediately chose "being beaten in the street" over "reporting it to the authorities."

An ordinary person who took eighteen of his punches would instantly become rich, and later, quite a few people had actually begged Young Master Zong to beat them!

But for those aspiring to cultivate and ascend the path to greatness, such resources were not much. At this stage, they could only be called sufficient.

Chen Shijie's official rewards were merely a convenient favor, but the support he gave personally was enough to be called generous!

"I'll give you fifteen Heaven Yuan Pears every month. If you achieve Grade A again, I'll give you that Heaven Yuan Pear Tree. If it survives, it can serve as resources for your future cultivation." Chen Shijie pointed to the small tree in the Seedling Area.

Zhao Xing was somewhat surprised. Chen Shijie was truly willing to spend heavily. The Heaven Yuan Pear Tree was of third-grade quality; even a sapling was worth a great deal. If it could be raised to maturity, it would be a genuine money tree!

Though he dearly wanted it, he still had to put on an act. "This reward is far too generous. I feel unworthy to accept it."

But Chen Shijie did not care in the slightest. "I have considerable family wealth. In the three years since I came to take up my post in Nanyang County, I have grown an entire pear orchard. Giving you one sapling is nothing. Just accept it. Perhaps one day, you and I will advance side by side."

Even Xue Wenzhong could not help but be moved. Clearly, this had not been within his expectations.

What surprised him even more was Chen Shijie's attitude. This was hardly the way one treated a junior; he clearly regarded Zhao Xing as a fellow traveler who could fight at his side!

Xue Wenzhong thought to himself, Lord Chen truly is an odd one. He's impossible to read.

Still, this was a good thing. Although a Heaven Yuan Pear sapling was slightly less valuable than a Preaching Painting, it had the advantage of lasting. In the long run, its value would sooner or later surpass that of the Preaching Painting.

Hearing this, Zhao Xing immediately stopped refusing and accepted decisively. "Then thank you, Lord Chen."

Chen Shijie left with a smile. If he had not feared that Zhao Xing would draw others' envy, he would have wanted to give him a mature pear tree directly.

He possessed considerable wealth and had gained much from his time in the military. A Heaven Yuan Pear Tree was nothing to him.

In his three years in Nanyang County, all the colleagues Chen Shijie had seen were decadent mediocrities. Not a single one suited his taste. Zhao Xing's performance, however, was exactly to his liking.

Furthermore, Chen Shijie had not been joking when he spoke of advancing side by side.

He truly thought so in his heart. I won't remain in Nanyang County for long. The general will sooner or later call upon me again. When I return to the army, perhaps I can add him to the list as well.

After the Start of Autumn assessment, the results were posted. Only fifteen people had received Grade A.

That was half as many as last time.

The assessments were becoming increasingly strict, all to screen candidates for the final list to be submitted.

The moment Zhao Xing left Hundred Herbs Garden, he was surrounded by many people.

"Zhao Xing is out!"

"Brother Zhao, congratulations!"

"Congratulations, Zhao Second Rank!"

"Next year, when you receive your appointment, Brother Zhao's name will surely be on the list!" Qian Dong offered his congratulations with a grin.

Seeing this, Zhao Xing hooked an arm around Qian Dong's head and laughed. "Then why are you still calling me Brother Zhao? Shouldn't you call me Lord Zhao?"

"Ah, I misspoke. I'll apologize to Lord Zhao right away."

"Hahaha!" Everyone burst into laughter.

Not far away, Li Chengfeng and Zong Shichang stood together, their brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

Although people congratulated them as well, they had far fewer admirers this time.

"Hmph, that fellow certainly knows how to ingratiate himself." Zong Shichang looked toward the opposite side, his tone stiff. Though he had been beaten, he could not bring himself to hate Zhao Xing. It was only his pride holding him back; otherwise, Young Master Zong would have liked to go over and join the excitement too.

"Come on, Brother Zong. Let's go drink." Li Chengfeng gave Zhao Xing a deep look, then called his friends and left.

Compared to Li Chengfeng, Zhao Xing gave people the impression of being more easygoing and down-to-earth.

Though Li Chengfeng was known as a gentleman, he always seemed to carry himself with a faint, affected air. Anyone sensitive enough could feel it.

Of course, that was only secondary. The main reason Zhao Xing was so popular was his rating.

This time, only three people had achieved Grade A: Li Chengfeng, Zong Shichang, and Zhao Xing.

Xiao Ze and Wen Nanxing, who had always performed exceptionally well, had instead received only mid-Grade A ratings.

After finishing their assessments, Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze shut themselves away for three days. When they emerged, they had returned to normal, but neither mentioned being set up. When asked, they only said they had performed poorly.

Did they know who had set them up? Of course they had found out!

"I actually had my vital essence stolen without realizing it, and I didn't notice for four days and three nights?" After learning the truth, Wen Nanxing shut himself in and drank himself into a stupor.

Xiao Ze, seated opposite him, was drinking heavily as well. Whenever he recalled Chen Shijie's evaluation, his face burned with shame.

"Insufficient vigilance, insufficient vigilance..." Those five words kept echoing in his mind.

Xiao Ze remembered the disappointed look in his teacher's eyes. He took another fierce gulp, then slammed his wine cup onto the table with a smack.

"What a Zhao Second Rank. If there's a chance in the next assessment, I'll definitely pay him back in kind!"

"Brother Xiao, keep your voice down!" Wen Nanxing replaced his cup. "It's enough that we know it ourselves."

Their pride would not allow them to say it aloud. They merely placed Zhao Xing at the top of their list of rivals, waiting for the next opportunity to regain their lost face from him.

"Falcon Protector, the ratings for Gucheng's Start of Autumn assessment have been posted. This person has received Grade A twice in a row. There are even rumors that he defeated Zong Shichang in a spar. Should we add this Zhao Family boy to the capture list as well?"

In Three Bays Town, east of Valley County, three people were eating around a table inside an inconspicuous residence.

An old man, a man, and a woman—they looked like a family of three.

Yet their hidden identities were a Protector of the Profound Heaven Sect and two Hall Masters.

The old man was known as the Falcon Protector. He had a kindly face, a head full of white hair, and the appearance of someone near death.

The middle-aged man was the Three Bays Hall Master, ordinary in appearance with prominent cheekbones. The woman was the deputy Hall Master; her head was wrapped in cloth, her skin yellowish, her waist thick as a barrel. She was utterly unremarkable, even somewhat ugly.

It was the Three Bays Hall Master who spoke. A public notice from the Ministry of Agriculture lay spread across the table, and his finger rested on Zhao Xing's name.

The Falcon Protector opened his eyes, his gaze changing from clouded to clear. "Oh? Grade A twice, and he can even defeat Zong Shichang? Did he suddenly gain enlightenment, or has he been building up strength all along? Show me the detailed information first, then we'll decide whether to add him to the list."