Chapter 34

For those who performed too strongly or too weakly, there was no controversy in the grading.

But when it came to Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze, some controversy arose.

Both chose about fifty second-grade plants.

First, look at the basic score, which is the second-grade mid-grade and low-grade plants; the survival rate was only eighty percent, and thirty percent failed to reach maturity.

Although none were planted to death, this data was already somewhat weak for their performance.

Then look at the scoring points, which are the second-grade high-grade plants.

Among them, Wen Nanxing chose two types of second-grade high-grade plants: one was "Seven-Star Flower" and the other was "Li Fruit Small Tree."

The medicinal value of both was very high.

Wen Nanxing planted four of each, but only one of each was fully mature, with the medicinal value reaching its best.

Xiao Ze's second-grade mid-low grade data was also about the same as Wen Nanxing's.

The second-grade high-grade "Cold Ice Lotus" and "Bitter Earth Ginseng" he planted only matured one more than Wen Nanxing's.

For the two's performance, making the A-list was definitely no problem.

The disagreement lay in whether it was an A+.

There were 8 officials participating in the evaluation. Under the premise that Chen Shijie did not express an opinion, three felt that these two should not be rated A+, at most A-mid.

Because they didn't manage to fully ripen them, this performance didn't match their ability at the fourth stage of Qi-gathering.

The other four felt that the scoring standard should be unified and not vary from person to person. Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze had no dead seedlings, and they had mature second-grade low, mid, and high-grade plants, so they should be given an A+.

A disagreement arose, and the main decision-making power lay in Chen Shijie's hands.

"Lord Chen, how should we grade them?" The small clerk in the county office asked softly.

Xiao Ze and Wen Nanxing were also somewhat uneasy.

They really didn't expect that they would actually perform poorly. Look at Li Chengfeng; the difficulty he chose was also not small, so why did all of his mature?

In their current situation, the A-list could go either way. Since there was a disagreement, they had to look at the thoughts of Chen Shijie, the main official.

Chen Shijie pondered for a moment and looked at the two: "Let me ask you two, in these four days and three nights of the examination, did you discover anything wrong?"

Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze looked at each other and then shook their heads: "No."

Hearing this, Pang Yuan and Tang Wanchun sighed in their hearts, knowing that an A+ was impossible this time.

But this couldn't be blamed on them; Zhao Xing was too insidious.

To others, he took what he wanted, but to these two experts, he was like boiling a frog in warm water, stealing slowly.

It made Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze think that they had performed poorly, without thinking of other places.

Hearing this, Chen Shijie nodded: "What the two planted were all off-season plants with greater difficulty, so they can be rated A-grade. But their vigilance was too poor, leading to the inability to fully mature, so let's take an A-mid."

"Yes." The small clerk immediately registered it.

Hmm? Poor vigilance? What kind of evaluation is this?

Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze were somewhat confused.

But when Chen Shijie walked away, Tang Wanchun and Pang Yuan, who were lagging behind, told their students the truth: "You two are really too dull; you didn't even know you were being pitted by someone using Earth Vein Synthesis! Go back and reflect on it!"

Earth Vein Synthesis? Xiao Ze and Wen Nanxing looked at each other, their faces changing instantly.

Someone actually used a spell of the Earth Advantage faction, and stole their earth power and vital energy without anyone knowing?

"Who would use it on us... ah, could it be him?!" Xiao Ze and Wen Nanxing looked at that golden-yellow patch, suddenly realizing and feeling extremely annoyed.

"Zhao Xing, at the second stage of Qi-gathering, cultivated 100 mature second-grade plants of five types, including 20 second-grade high-grade Vajra Bamboo. Brave and resourceful, rated A+!"

This time, Chen Shijie didn't even ask the people beside him and spoke directly to the people in the county office.

The appreciation in his eyes was undisguised, and there was even a feeling of impatience.

Gao Linong felt somewhat unhappy because the evaluation of Zhao Xing being brave and resourceful was clearly referring to his performance when competing with Zong Shichang, and Zong Shichang happened to be his proud student.

Tang Wanchun and Pang Yuan also felt uncomfortable because Zhao Xing's "resourcefulness" was aimed at their two proud students, and these two hadn't discovered it until the end. Isn't that infuriating?

However, aside from personal feelings, the three also felt in their hearts that Zhao Xing deserved this evaluation, and they even hoped that Zhao Xing was under their command.

"Thank you, my lords." Zhao Xing bowed to the officials who came to inspect as usual.

It stands to reason that the inspection should continue, but Chen Shijie didn't leave. He let the other deputy officials determine the remaining B-list and C-list, and kept Zhao Xing behind with Xue Wenzhong.

Zhao Xing didn't know what it meant, but it would be a loss of face to let the leader speak voluntarily, so he had to ask himself: "Teacher, Lord Chen, are there any other instructions?"

Xue Wenzhong said: "The qualifications for the temple examination of the imperial court are reported by each county, and only after the commandery verifies them can one have the opportunity to participate."

"The quota for each commandery and county is not fixed. In order to allow the reserve officials to have a better hope of passing, the county office will pool funds every year to dispatch some resources from the treasury to provide to the officials who perform well in various departments. Not only my Agricultural Office, but the Heavenly Craft Workshop, Weaving Workshop, Martial Room, and Justice Office are all treated equally."

Zhao Xing nodded; he naturally knew this.

The Great Zhou Taizu's "all the talents of the world enter its urn" was not just talk, but was directly written into the laws.

The "Tribute Official Law" mentioned: "All students and officials of various departments, those with legal and artistic skills, will be selected for quotas, and will be given monthly ointment and paper money to reward them."

To put it plainly, there are "scholarships" and "poverty subsidies."

Law, industry, classics, and art refer to the multiple aspects of evaluation. Students and officials refer to the students in official academies and societies established by the imperial court, as well as officials like Zhao Xing.

The difference is that students can have both "poverty subsidies" and scholarships, while officials only have "scholarships" to take because officials have jobs; even if you are poor, you won't be unable to afford food, right?

The selection is relatively strict. It stands to reason that with his two A+ grades, he shouldn't be able to get this kind of resource, but looking at Xue Wenzhong's meaning now, is this Lord Chen going to help him fight for it?

Sure enough, Chen Shijie immediately said: "Old Xue said you gathered Qi relatively late. If you want to pass the winter evaluation and temple examination, your resource usage must keep up. I heard that your family is not very wealthy. If you can get a 'Tribute' quota, perhaps your cultivation can be faster."

Zhao Xing listened quietly.

"It stands to reason that you have only had two A+ grades and are not yet qualified to receive tribute. But I think you are a talent worth cultivating. If you fail to be selected, it would be a pity."

"So I decided to apply for a tribute quota for you. In addition, I will subsidize some of your cultivation expenses with your teacher until your temple examination ends."

Chen Shijie spoke very directly and didn't have any airs. He didn't even call himself "this official" to Zhao Xing, but said "I," which shows how much he appreciated him.

Zhao Xing heard that good things were coming, so how could he not accept them? Although he was calm in his heart, he did the surface work very well. After all, this Chen Shijie was his angel investor!

He immediately bowed deeply: "Thank you for the kindness of rebirth from Teacher and Lord Chen. Xing will never forget it for the rest of his life and will definitely repay it day and night!"

Hearing this, Chen Shijie smiled slightly and helped the bowing Zhao Xing up with both hands.

This investment is settled!