"I actually got a Yi Xia? Finally, my hard work wasn't in vain." Chen Ziyu was very happy. Although he only received a Yi Xia, it was still on the Yi list! Progress is a good thing; last time he was still on the Bing Zhong!
"You're so excited over a Yi Xia?" Qian Dong didn't understand why his good brother was so happy.
"This year I stabilized at Yi, next year I might not be unable to get Jia. Step by step, gradually, there will always be a day of success."
Qian Dong was taken aback, then nodded, "That's true. Not everyone can progress as quickly as Big Brother."
Chen Ziyu clenched his fist, "My brother also accumulated over time. Before he got San Jia, he didn't have many Yi either. We will slowly accumulate; if it doesn't work this year, then next year, if not next year, then the year after... There will always be opportunities!"
The two chatted and laughed as they left.
Li Chengfeng listened to the discussions around him, and couldn't help but frown.
Others were happy to get a Yi Xia, but he couldn't be happy about getting a Jia Zhong.
Because someone was better than him.
Ding Shan and Liang Bai were not even in the same league as him; getting a Jia Shang meant nothing since they couldn't hold an official position anyway.
But Zhao Xing had the opportunity.
"Zhao Xing, Zhao Xing... now everyone is discussing him." Li Chengfeng felt a wave of irritation; this name kept appearing in his ears, and his ears were getting calloused.
Usually, he was the focus of everyone's discussions, the center of attention, but now it was slowly changing.
"Li Brother, have you seen it?" Zong Shichang ran over to Li Chengfeng.
"Seen what?" Li Chengfeng replied absentmindedly.
"Zhao Sanjia's answer sheet." Zong Shichang said, "Chen Shijie ordered someone to transcribe his answer sheet for circulation, letting everyone learn from it. He said his answers were concise and powerful, hitting the nail on the head, not only useful for future temple examinations but also applicable for other tests."
"You don't say, I took a look, and he really has some skills. His Jia Shang is well-deserved."
Li Chengfeng looked at the talkative Zong Shichang, feeling mixed emotions. How could even Brother Zong praise him so much?
"Brother Zong, I have something to attend to, so I'll take my leave first..."
"Eh? Where are you going, Li Brother?"
Zong Shichang called out a few times, but when he saw Li Chengfeng not responding, he couldn't help but feel a bit strange.
What's wrong with Li Brother?
In the county office's main hall, Minister Li was handling official matters when a small clerk ran over, presenting the assessment results from the Agricultural Affairs Bureau.
"County Lord, the results of the Bai Lu assessment from the Agricultural Affairs Bureau have come out."
"Oh? How many people are on the Jia list? Are there any of Lord Nai's esteemed disciples?" Minister Li casually asked.
"There are three on the Jia list, named Zhao Xing, Ding Shan, and Liang Bai. They are not under my father; the first two are under Lord Xue Wenzhong, and the latter is under Lord Tang Wanchun."
The small clerk, named Pang Fei, had previously delivered a reply document to Zhao Xing. He also had another identity, being the son of the Ninth-Rank Agricultural Officer Pang Yuan.
Minister Li pondered, "Hmm, Zhao Xing... this name seems somewhat familiar. If I remember correctly, this is his third time on the Jia list?"
"Yes." Pang Yuan nodded, "Last month, Lord Chen Shijie even applied for a tribute student quota for him, which you personally stamped."
"Oh, I see." Minister Li suddenly realized, "In about a fortnight, it will be the winter assessment. Are there any new talents from the Heavenly Crafts Workshop or the Weaving Bureau?"
There was no need to ask about the Temple of Divinity and the county office's civil and military departments, as they were right under Minister Li's nose.
"There are. The Weaving Bureau has a weaver named Lin Baiwei, who produced a Harmonious Robe and received a Jia on the last assessment. The Heavenly Crafts Workshop has a clerk named Han Bi, who unlocked the magical mechanism 'Twelve Locking Chains' left by Lord Gongsun Jin, and both have been on the Jia list for two consecutive times, with the last time also being Jia."
"What are their ages?" Minister Li asked.
"Lin Baiwei is sixteen, and Han Bi is eighteen, both local residents of Grain City." Pang Fei paused and added, "Both come from rather poor families."
Minister Li nodded in satisfaction. He found Pang Fei to be quite handy; just a few questions and he automatically provided all the information he wanted to know.
"Since Zhao Xing just got the tribute student position, it's not appropriate to support him further. As for Lin Baiwei and Han Bi, you should personally go to their homes to verify. If they are indeed poor, then have twenty taels of silver sent from my wife." Minister Li said. "It can be considered a contribution to Grain City."
"The County Lord is benevolent; I will definitely deliver your intentions."
East of Grain County, in Sanwan Town.
The two hall masters of Sanwan Hall also welcomed the arrival of the Falcon Guardian.
"Greetings, Guardian." A man and a woman both bowed.
The old man brushed off the dirt from his clothes, appearing quite travel-worn, as he indeed had just rushed over.
He was not only watching Grain City but also the other counties in Nanyang County.
"Is there any new information?" the Falcon asked.
"Reporting to the Guardian, the Weaving Bureau's Lin Baiwei produced a Harmonious Robe and received a Jia in the recent assessment. The Heavenly Crafts Workshop's Han Bi unlocked the mechanism, Twelve Locking Chains, and also received a Jia. Zhao Xing from the Agricultural Affairs Bureau also got a Jia, but I couldn't understand his answer sheet and don't know how he was graded."
The two hall masters couldn't comprehend Zhao Xing's answer sheet at all, so they had no idea where Zhao Xing excelled.
"Add Lin Baiwei and Han Bi to the capture list." The old man pondered, "As for Zhao Xing... is there a copy of his answer sheet?"
"There is."
The old man took it and, after reading it, the paper suddenly ignited spontaneously, quickly turning to ashes.
The Falcon Guardian pinched the ashes with his fingers, then gently blew: "Rank Zhao Xing fifth."
"Additionally, you all go collect some information about this person. You can use a few followers to contact him and get a clear understanding of his living habits and personality."
"Remember, do not act rashly, and especially do not act within the city. Just make sure to contact him casually."
"East Lake Mountain is about to open for autumn, and the government is on high alert. Even the slightest clue could be detected, so do not rush to achieve results. Otherwise, if something goes wrong, you will be held accountable, no matter how many times you die."
The two hall masters' expressions stiffened, and they nodded heavily: "Yes, Guardian."
West of the city, at the Chen residence, in a pear orchard.
"This Heavenly Origin Pear Tree is in its sixth year of life. I spent quite a bit of effort moving it into a pot. You need to be careful when you plant it back."
In front of Chen Shijie stood a small tree about a person's height, which was the Heavenly Origin Pear Tree he promised to give to Zhao Xing.
The Heavenly Origin Pear Tree matures in ten years, blooms in one year, and bears fruit in the next. At six years, it is still considered a young tree, only entering the growth phase after surpassing the seventh year.
Zhao Xing used the Five Elements to observe the tree and found that it had been six years and ten months. Chen Shijie had given him great convenience within the promised range; he didn’t just bring a two or three-year-old tree to brush him off.
"People thrive when moved, but trees die when moved. Old Chen must have put in a lot of thought to move this pear tree; his character is truly commendable." Zhao Xing thought to himself.
"Then I won't be polite. Thank you very much."
As the Wind Summoning Technique activated, Zhao Xing lifted the Heavenly Origin Pear Tree and walked home.
(End of Chapter)