"I actually got Grade B? All that studying finally wasn't for nothing." Chen Ziyu was delighted. Though he had only received Grade B, it was still the Grade B List! Improvement was a good thing. Last time, he had only gotten grade c!
"You're this excited over one Grade B?" Qian Dong could not understand why his good brother was so happy.
"If I can reliably get Grade B this year, then I might get Grade A next year. One step at a time, steadily improving—there'll always be a day when I succeed."
Qian Dong paused, then nodded. "That's true. Not everyone can improve as quickly as Big Brother."
Chen Ziyu clenched his fist. "Brother only had such a breakthrough after building up for a long time. Before his three Grade As, he did not get Grade B that often either. We'll accumulate bit by bit. If not this year, then next year; if not next year, then the year after... There'll always be a chance!"
The two chatted and laughed as they walked away.
Listening to the discussions around him, Li Chengfeng could not help furrowing his brow.
Others were delighted just to receive a Grade B, yet he could not bring himself to be happy despite receiving Grade B.
Because someone had done even better than him.
People like Ding Shan and Liang Bai were not even in the same league as him. It was nothing for them to receive Grade A; in any case, they could not enter officialdom.
But Zhao Xing had a chance.
"Zhao Xing, Zhao Xing... Everyone is talking about him now." Li Chengfeng felt a surge of irritation. This name kept ringing in his ears until his ears were practically callused.
Normally, he was the focus of everyone's discussion, the center of attention. But that was slowly changing.
"Brother Li, have you seen it?" Zong Shichang ran over to Li Chengfeng.
"Seen what?" Li Chengfeng asked absentmindedly.
"Zhao Sanjia's examination paper." Zong Shichang said, "Chen Shijie had people copy his answers and circulate them for everyone to study. He said Zhao Sanjia's answers were concise and forceful, directly hitting the point. They would not only be useful for the future Temple Examination, but for other examinations as well."
"And you know what? I took a look. He really is something. He absolutely deserved that Grade A."
Li Chengfeng watched Zong Shichang talk on without pause, his feelings a tangled mess. Why was even Brother Zong praising him so highly?
"Brother Zong, I have something to do. I'll be leaving first..."
"Huh? Where are you going, Brother Li?"
Zong Shichang called after him several times, but Li Chengfeng did not respond at all, leaving him puzzled.
What was wrong with Brother Li?
In the main hall of the County Office, Li Wenzheng was handling government affairs when a minor clerk ran over and presented the Ministry of Agriculture's assessment results.
"County Magistrate, the results of the Ministry of Agriculture's White Dew assessment are out."
"Oh? How many received Grade A? Are any of them this old man's outstanding disciples?" Li Wenzheng asked casually.
"There are three with Grade A: Zhao Xing, Ding Shan, and Liang Bai. None are under my father's command. The first two serve under Lord Xue Wenzhong, while the latter serves under Lord Tang Wanchun."
The minor clerk was named Pang Fei. He had previously delivered an approved document to Zhao Xing. He also had another identity: the son of Pang Yuan, a ninth-rank Agriculture Official.
Li Wenzheng pondered. "Hmm, Zhao Xing... That name sounds familiar. If I recall correctly, this is his third Grade A?"
"Yes." Pang Yuan nodded. "Last month, Lord Chen Shijie even applied for a Gong quota for him. You personally stamped the approval."
"Oh, so that's it." Li Wenzheng came to a realization. "The Winter Assessment is in about ten days. Have any new talents emerged from the Heavenly Craft Workshop or the Weaving Bureau?"
There was no need to ask about the temple or the civil and Military Offices of the County Office, since they were right under Li Wenzheng's nose.
"Yes. A Weaving Girl from the Weaving Bureau, Lin Baiwei, created the Heluo Dharma Garment and received Grade A in the last assessment. At the Heavenly Craft Workshop, a clerk named Han Bi solved the spell mechanism left behind by Lord Gongsun Jin, the Twelve Interlocking Rings. Both have made the Grade A List twice in a row, and both received Grade A last time."
"How old are they?" Li Wenzheng asked.
"Lin Baiwei is sixteen, and Han Bi is eighteen. Both are registered residents of Gucheng." Pang Fei paused before adding, "Both come from rather impoverished families."
Li Wenzheng nodded in satisfaction. He found Pang Fei very convenient to use. With only a slight inquiry, the clerk would automatically tell him everything he wanted to know.
"Zhao Xing has just received a Gong quota, so it would not be appropriate to subsidize him again. As for Lin Baiwei and Han Bi, go personally to their homes and verify their circumstances. If they truly are impoverished, withdraw twenty taels of silver from my wife and deliver it to them," Li Wenzheng said. "It can count as doing something for Gucheng."
"The County Magistrate is benevolent. This subordinate will certainly deliver the County Magistrate's goodwill."
In Three Bays Town, east of Valley County.
The two hall masters of Three Bays Hall also welcomed the arrival of the Falcon Protector.
"Greetings, Protector." A man and a woman both bowed.
The old man patted the dirt from his body, looking travel-worn. He had indeed just come from a journey.
He kept watch not only over Gucheng, but over the other county towns of Nanyang County as well.
"Any new information?" Falcon asked.
"Reporting to Protector, Lin Baiwei of the Weaving Bureau made the Heluo Dharma Garment and received Grade A in the assessment that just ended. Han Bi of the Heavenly Craft Workshop solved the mechanism lock, the Twelve Interlocking Rings, and received Grade A. Zhao Xing of the Ministry of Agriculture also received Grade A, but this subordinate cannot understand his answer sheet and does not know how it was graded."
Every profession had its own specialization. The two hall masters could not understand Zhao Xing's answer sheet at all, much less see what made him outstanding.
"Add Lin Baiwei and Han Bi to the capture list." The old man pondered. "As for Zhao Xing... Is there a copied version of his answer sheet?"
"Yes."
The old man took it and read it. Once he finished, the paper suddenly ignited on its own and quickly turned into a pile of ashes.
The Falcon Protector rubbed the ashes between two fingers, then gave them a light blow. "Move Zhao Xing up to fifth place."
"Also, gather information on this person. You may use a few believers to make contact with him and learn his habits and temperament."
"Remember, do not act on your own, and do not operate within the city. You only need to make incidental contact."
"Autumn Equinox will soon open East Lake Mountain. The authorities are at their most vigilant now. The slightest trace may be noticed. Do not be impatient for the sake of merit. Otherwise, if you ruin the greater plan, even ten thousand deaths will not absolve you of blame."
The two hall masters' expressions tightened, and they nodded solemnly. "Yes, Protector."
In the west of the city, within Chen Residence's pear orchard.
"This Heaven Yuan Pear Tree has been alive for six years. It took quite some effort to transplant it into this pot, so be careful when you take it home and plant it."
Before Chen Shijie stood a small tree as tall as a person. It was the Heaven Yuan Pear Tree he had promised to give Zhao Xing.
A Heaven Yuan Pear Tree took ten years to mature. It flowered one year and bore fruit the next. At six years old, it was still considered a sapling; only after entering its eighth year did it count as being in its growth stage.
Using Five Elements Observation, Zhao Xing saw that this sapling was already six years and ten months old. Chen Shijie had given him considerable leeway within the scope of his promise and had not tried to fob him off with a two- or three-year-old tree.
Moving people lets them live, but moving trees kills them. Old Chen must have put a great deal of thought into transplanting this pear tree. His character is truly impeccable, Zhao Xing thought.
"Then I won't stand on ceremony. Many thanks."
Rising Wind activated. Zhao Xing swept up the Heaven Yuan Pear Tree and headed home.
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