Chapter 10: Taking a Master and Extra Practice, the Slight Heat Assessment

The first walking straw figure staggered and swayed, unable to stand steady.

The second walking straw figure, though stumbling with each step, had a steadier form.

The third walking straw figure gradually moved faster.

……

By the time Xue Wenzhong returned from a walk around the front courtyard, he was astonished to see in the back courtyard one straw figure striding as if on wings; a second leaping between haystacks; a third swinging beneath the locust tree; a fourth winnowing grain nearby; and a fifth pulling weeds in the vegetable garden.

Although there were still several "failed products" that had knocked over the vegetable basket, toppled the clothes rack, and startled the chickens and ducks into flight, Xue Wenzhong simply ignored them.

He stared at those walking straw figures that had just begun to show a hint of spirit, then strode to Zhao Xing, who was righting the clothes rack and gathering the vegetable basket: "I've only been gone half a shichen, and you've already made all these?"

Zhao Xing glanced at the somewhat chaotic back courtyard and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Xue Lao, I'll have it cleaned up in no time. It's just that one duck has already flown over the fence… I'll compensate you for one!"

The wrinkles on Xue Wenzhong's face bunched together from his smile as he grabbed Zhao Xing: "What is one mere duck? Don't bother with it!"

He patted Zhao Xing's shoulder: "Keep working hard. Strive for a top grade in the Winter Assessment, then pass the Temple Examination in early spring, and when you're formally appointed to office, there will surely be a place for you."

Zhao Xing was momentarily stunned, then, realizing the old Agricultural Officer wasn't blaming him, smiled and cupped his hands: "Thank you, Teacher."

"It's just that the Agricultural Bureau is full of experts, and my status is humble—I may not be able to compete…"

Xue Wenzhong understood the part Zhao Xing had left unsaid: it referred to the phenomenon of the other Agricultural Officers accepting favors from their subordinates and privately giving them extra tutoring and strong support.

"With such talent, I actually overlooked you in the past—that was truly my oversight. From now on, you may come to the back courtyard every day and learn for one extra shichen."

What Zhao Xing had just left unsaid was precisely aimed at this outcome. Since Xue Wenzhong's words already carried the meaning of treating him as a disciple, how could he not seize the chance to climb higher?

His form of address changed instantly as he bowed with joined hands: "This disciple thanks Teacher for your grace in cultivating me."

Xue Wenzhong, too, was seized by a sudden impulse. In the past he had never competed or fought for anything, but now in his twilight years, seeing such a fine seedling, some thoughts stirred in him as well, so he formally accepted the bow:

"Keep up your diligence, don't waste your talent, do your work well, and sooner or later your day will come. I don't care what others do—if you still can't get in next year, I'll step down and yield my place to you!"

If any other superior had said this, Zhao Xing would have taken it as empty promises.

But coming from Xue Wenzhong, the credibility was quite high. First, his character was one of keeping faith and honoring promises; second, he was already advanced in years and could long ago have chosen to retire.

If, when the time came, there weren't enough slots and Zhao Xing's ranking happened to fall right on the edge, he might very well actually carry out the act of stepping aside for a more worthy person.

. ttk

"Thank you, Teacher. I will work hard and study diligently, and I will not disappoint your expectations."

Over the next three days, Zhao Xing learned a fourth method of straw-figure weaving from Xue Wenzhong.

Even Xue Wenzhong was astonished at Zhao Xing's progress—one must remember that Zhao Xing was practicing the Willow Transmission Weaving Method only during that one extra shichen!

Zhao Xing was also quite moved in his heart:

"With the dual blessing of fortune and treasures, not only has my cultivation speed increased, I've also gained the old Agricultural Officer's favor. The Great Dream Academy is truly a wonderful place—just a tiny bit of benefit that slipped my way has already brought such a great change."

However, over the past few nights, when he tried again to enter the Great Dream Academy, he found that even the Heart-Questioning Platform had hidden itself. He didn't know if it was because he was too weak and there was no suitable stage for him to challenge.

At this moment, Zhao Xing was walking through the eastern fields outside the city.

Agricultural clerks typically studied in the morning and worked in the afternoon.

Apart from miscellaneous tasks like encouraging farming and conducting inspections, there was also being assigned to oversee land—but this all depended on which area one's superior was responsible for.

Having many people had its drawbacks, but also its benefits. Under Xue Wenzhong, things were relatively easy. Because with more people, the miscellaneous chores assigned by superiors were fewer, and so there wasn't as much to be busy with.

One could set aside more time to study and prepare for assessments.

The promotion of Agricultural Officers had several components.

First was the harvest of the townships under one's jurisdiction—this part was tallied by the county office and not overseen by the Agricultural Bureau.

The vast majority of townships were more or less the same, but there was still a division into upper, middle, and lower grade fields. Naturally, being assigned to a good jurisdiction was better, but Xue Wenzhong didn't compete, so all the good ones had been divided up by the other Agricultural Officers.

Second was the virtue assessment, which covered many things, including the completion of miscellaneous tasks assigned by superiors, learning attitude, reputation, and so on. There was no specific standard, because the authority all rested in the hands of superiors.

Third was the ability assessment, which was examined according to the content of the twenty-four solar terms. Among them, the four seasons and eight nodes—namely: Start of Spring, Spring Equinox, Start of Summer, Summer Solstice, Start of Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Start of Winter, and Winter Solstice—were mandatory. The other key planting and harvesting solar terms were also within the scope of examination.

For example, the Mangzhong assessment a month ago tested whether the final wave of primordial rice planting had been completed, as well as the survival rate.

The person who set the questions and conducted the assessment was an official Ninth Rank Agricultural Officer, Chen Shijie.

The above three counts as the "regular score." Those at the top would be recommended by the Agricultural Bureau at year's end to Nanyang Prefecture, where the three were combined into the "Winter Assessment."

The Winter Assessment sometimes included another round of testing, but it depended on the situation—mainly on how Nanyang Prefecture as a whole had performed the previous year. If it could outcompete other prefectures and the imperial court allocated enough slots, then further testing might not be necessary.

In early spring of the following year, one still had to undergo a Temple Examination.

Questions were set by the imperial court, further screening the quotas submitted by each prefecture.

Passing the Temple Examination meant the matter was truly settled.

After that came "formal appointment to office"—the imperial court issued the official appointment document, and one received the blessing of fortune in the temple, becoming a part of the fortune dynasty system of Great Zhou.

To put it plainly, this was a chain of promotion quests.

Zhao Xing had also gone through this promotion in his past life during Emperor Jing's reign, so he was very familiar with the process. At this period, it was still a bit difficult.

It was only in the Revival version that things became much simpler.

But difficulty had its benefits—many things were simply discontinued in later versions.

"With the blessing of fortune and treasures, getting through the promotion shouldn't be hard." Zhao Xing was full of confidence, his steps light as he headed toward the public fields.

The Summer Solstice had passed, and Slight Heat was about to arrive.

In the county's public fields, some of the primordial rice had already begun to ripen.

This year's Winter Assessment ability test had not covered "Summer Solstice," so Slight Heat certainly wouldn't be "skipped" again—otherwise the basic quota of Winter Assessment tests couldn't be filled.

At this time, most Agricultural Bureau clerks were basically spending the majority of their time at the public fields. The exam didn't wait for latecomers, so Gucheng's public fields already had many clerks waiting there.

"Everyone's camping out for the Slight Heat exam—it's a bit like a scene from my past life." Zhao Xing looked around and felt it was rather like scrambling for popular elective courses during his past life's university days.

But it was only natural—missing one assessment, though not enough to get one eliminated, would still have a very large impact. No one dared guarantee they could pass while missing the score from one subject.

As Zhao Xing entered the public fields, he clearly felt the heat rising, his body beginning to sweat. Even after casting the 【Moving Clouds】 spell for shade, it was still a bit hard to withstand.

After waiting a while, he saw Chen Ziyu and Qian Dong, who had also come to camp out for the exam, as well as Li Chengfeng, Wen Nanxing, and others.

Without exception, everyone was panting and sweating at the field's edge—truly hot as dogs.

"It's clearly only Minor Heat, but the sun's as vicious as Major Heat—Chen the Agricultural Commissioner really does have a twisted sense of humor. Brother, what tricky exam question do you think he'll come up with this time?" Chen Ziyu asked.

"How would I know? Aren't you surnamed Chen?"

"Same surname, sure, but he's an appointed official—his hometown is Xishan Commandery, nothing to do with me." Chen Ziyu said with a dismissive curl of his lip.

"Save your energy and just wait." Qian Dong fanned himself weakly with a straw hat.

Just as everyone was wilting in the heat, a sudden burst of exclamations rang out from the south.

"Look, what is that?!"

"It's the exam question—the exam question is here!"

"Heavens, it's actually…"