Chapter 36

"Yes." The middle-aged man nodded and immediately handed over the news he had gathered.

"Born an orphan, and then abused by a jealous woman after being adopted? It seems that his daily food and clothing were not good. My sect should save such people from the sea of misery. If he is trained by my sect, he can have better performance!"

"Include him in the list!"

"Yes."

After the man finished speaking, the woman beside him took out another list: "Protector, the Weaving Workshop and Heavenly Crafts Workshop also have two new A-grades, namely 'Lin Baiwei' and 'Han Bi'."

The Hunting Eagle Protector looked at them, but this time he did not agree, "Observe for now. Currently, the East Lake Army and the County Martial Arts Hall are checking very strictly."

"However, we are waiting for work, so there is no need to rush. They can't keep checking so strictly forever; there will always be a day of slack, and that will be the time for us to harvest!"

"I gained something in the Beginning of Autumn assessment, and I can become a contributor next month, receiving five taels of stipend every month."

"Lord Chen, the chief official of the Agricultural Department, appreciates me quite a bit and decided to fund my cultivation resources every month."

"So, Foster Father, you don't need to give me silver anymore."

Zhao Xing returned home, but heard Zhao Ruide call him over, intending to secretly stuff Zhao Xing with money for cultivation.

At this time, Zhao Ruide didn't know that Zhao Xing had gotten an A-plus again, until Zhao Xing explained it.

"You became a contributor? And are funded by Chen Shijie?" Zhao Ruide was stunned at first, and then showed joy.

But hearing Zhao Xing refuse his money, his heart felt empty again.

"The imperial court and Lord Chen's funding are for specific purposes, to support your cultivation."

"You have to interact with colleagues, build relationships, eat and treat guests—they can't fund you for these, right?"

"I don't have that many drinking buddies to spend money on," Zhao Xing said.

"You don't have them now, but later when you become famous, it won't be up to you. Spending your own money to be carefree, others have nothing to say; otherwise, what would Lord Chen and others think?" Zhao Ruide stuffed the silver note in his hand into Zhao Xing's hand. "I've already exchanged it, take it... could it be that your foster father's money is hot to the touch?"

Since it had come to this, Zhao Xing could only accept it, but the amount was a bit large, actually one hundred taels!

"Foster Father, so much, if Madam Cai finds out..."

Zhao Ruide snorted: "Do you really think she is the one in charge of the family?"

Zhao Xing shook his head quickly, indicating that Foster Father, you are the one in charge.

But Zhao Ruide immediately whispered: "If you don't tell her, won't that be fine? I have always had a secret share in the master's dart agency, settled every few years; she doesn't know..."

Forget it, it turns out you still didn't dare to tell Madam Cai; this is private money.

But this private money is a bit much; Zhao Xing didn't know Zhao Ruide hid it so tightly.

No wonder every time Madam Cai complained, Zhao Ruide didn't take it to heart at all; even if there was more meat every day, he wouldn't be eaten poor!

Thinking about it, it's human nature.

Madam Cai was born a songstress, and she hadn't passed 30 yet; after giving birth to Zhao Zheng, she still had quite a bit of charm, but Zhao Ruide was already nearly 60.

With an old husband and a young wife, if he handed over everything, Zhao Ruide was also afraid that Madam Cai would roll up the money and run away.

If it weren't for the fact that his foster son had hope for a future, Zhao Ruide would have planned to say this before he died.

"Keep it well yourself, don't let Madam Cai know. If it is discovered, I won't admit it, and don't think about getting money from me in the future," Zhao Ruide warned.

"Thank you, Foster Father."

"A doting mother spoils her son; you can manage Zheng'er. As the big brother, you should pay more attention in the future. After I leave..."

"Foster Father is in his prime; it's too early to say this. Zheng'er is my brother, so why would Foster Father need to give extra instructions?"

Zhao Ruide also felt that it was too early to say these things; he didn't know why he was so sentimental today. Could it be that he is really old?

"Go do your work; Madam Cai will be back from the market in a while. Remember, hide the silver note."

"I know."

Zhao Xing turned to leave.

"Wait!" Zhao Ruide called him back.

Zhao Xing turned back, somewhat puzzled.

Zhao Ruide said: "You will have your capping ceremony next year; it's time to give you a courtesy name."

After a man's capping ceremony at twenty and a woman's hair-pinning ceremony at fifteen, it is not convenient to call them by their names directly, so another alias related to the meaning of their original name is taken, called a courtesy name, to show their virtue.

This is a relatively important part of the coming-of-age ceremony; if you don't have one, you will be laughed at.

Zhao Xing will be twenty after spring, so Zhao Ruide thinking about it in advance is not too early.

"I asked someone, and I think 'Lichun' (Beginning of Spring) is quite suitable for you. Since you want to be an agricultural official, this is the first of the twenty-four solar terms. What do you think?" Zhao Ruide asked.

"Lichun? That's... wait, Zhao Lichun?" Zhao Xing's expression immediately became strange.

"Why, don't you like it?" Zhao Ruide was somewhat puzzled; why such a big reaction?

"Uh... Foster Father, the two words Lichun, while good, are too common. In my Agricultural Department, there are at least eighty or ninety people with the courtesy name Lichun or Lidong. I think you should think about it again," Zhao Xing refused.

"Okay, anyway, there is still half a year left, I will ask again." Zhao Ruide is a rough martial artist; he also knows that he has no culture, so he has to ask more people about this matter and refer to it.

"What should I take? I think Lichun is quite good..." Zhao Ruide muttered and walked away.

Zhao Xing couldn't help but laugh and cry; Foster Father, this name really shouldn't be taken.

The day after the Beginning of Autumn assessment, Chen Shijie sent someone to deliver a box.

The box contained two dawn-colored fruits. As soon as it was opened, the fragrance was pungent.

The spiritual energy in the room became three times richer.

[Heavenly Origin Pear (Third-tier High-grade)]

[Category: Edible Treasure]

[Effect: Contains rich spiritual energy, protects the heart and strengthens muscles, calms the mind and clears heat, reduces physical consumption caused by blood circulation.]

"Heavenly Origin Pear, third-tier high-grade; its effect is quite helpful to me now."

Zhao Xing took a bite, and the fragrance was rich between his lips and teeth.

The Heavenly Origin Pear has thin skin and fine flesh, is crispy and refreshing, and has a lot of juice and little residue. After eating it, he didn't feel the weather was so hot anymore.

Many martial artists who have entered the grade like to eat Heavenly Origin Pears because when practicing martial arts, blood surges, and it is easy to accumulate hidden injuries over the years. But eating Heavenly Origin Pears for a long time can greatly reduce organ damage.

However, agricultural officials don't have much demand for this effect; they value its spiritual energy growth effect.

"Chen Shijie gives me 15 a month; my Qi gathering speed will at least double compared to not eating them." At the current stage of second-tier Qi gathering, the improvement is quite large.

Zhao Xing just took a bite, and the panel immediately reacted.

A record was refreshed.

[You consumed a third-tier high-grade Heavenly Origin Pear, spiritual energy increased by 25 points.]

[Second-tier Qi Gathering: 785/1000]

Increased by 25 points at once!

The effect is simply immediate!

According to common sense, the increase effect cannot be so large; it is really because Zhao Xing's body has not eaten any treasures that increase Qi, and after the transformation of the Dao Embryo Pill, the body's absorption efficiency of such treasures has also greatly increased.

"Spiritual energy has a risk of dissipation, can't waste it, must eat it quickly!" Zhao Xing immediately bit it mouthful by mouthful.