Chapter 19: Preparing for the Minor Exam

The four seasons and eight solar terms — among them, eight of the solar terms are mandatory exams: Start of Spring, Spring Equinox, Start of Summer, Summer Solstice, Start of Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Start of Winter, Winter Solstice.

Depending on the circumstances of each commandery and county, the minimum exam covers twelve solar terms; the strictest upper-grade counties or upper-grade commanderies test all twenty-four.

The three hurdles for becoming a full official — "District Harvest," "Virtue Assessment," and "Ability Assessment" — combined, are collectively called the "Winter Assessment."

After that comes one more "Temple Examination"; pass it and you can be "Enrolled as an Official," entering the dynasty's Fate system.

The "Ability Assessment" within the Winter Assessment — that is, the exam based on the twenty-four solar terms — carries a relatively large weight.

Fail this hurdle, and you won't be recommended; you can't even sit for the Temple Examination.

Any clerk with ambitions to become a full official basically won't miss a single Ability Assessment.

Xue Wenzhong's first lecture after returning to the Sophora Courtyard drew a large crowd of clerks to visit.

"Xue Lao, are you in good health?"

The old Minister of Agriculture smiled and said: "Already no major ailment."

"Teacher, I have here a hundred-year Rehmannia essence — please accept it, Teacher."

"I appreciate the kind thought; take it back."

"Xue Lao…"

Not only the clerks under Xue Wenzhong's command, but clerks from other courtyards also came in droves to visit.

It wasn't out of kindness — they came to attend the lecture.

Because the previous two Lesser Heat exams were set by Chen Zhijie, this Start of Autumn and the next one should be Xue Wenzhong's turn.

"Minister Xue, for the Start of Autumn exam, you won't be like Lord Chen and set some tricky questions to make things hard for us, will you? Another 'Grain-Eating Bird Calamity,' and this year probably no one in Grain County will pass."

"Exactly — where in my south are there turtledoves?"

A bold clerk posed such a question, drawing a burst of laughter.

With any other Minister of Agriculture, clerks basically wouldn't dare joke around like this. But Xue Wenzhong was famously a good-natured old man, with a gentle temperament; the lecture atmosphere was quite pleasant, and clerks dared to be bold in their joking.

The old Minister of Agriculture said: "You all want to know what the Start of Autumn exam will cover?"

"Yes, old Minister — please tell us?" The crowd craned their necks and pricked up their ears.

Xue Wenzhong smiled slightly: "On the day of Start of Autumn, you shall naturally know."

"Aww…"

Another burst of laughter rose from below.

Though it was empty-talk literature, Zhao Xing liked this kind of atmosphere. He had also sat in on lectures at other courtyards — either stiff and solemn, or so profound and obscure that only the few at the highest level could understand; very unfriendly.

Looking again, Xue Wenzhong's complexion was rosy; he seemed completely unaffected by his recent illness. Zhao Xing was considerably relieved, though a trace of worry still lingered between his brows, as if something weighed on his mind.

After the front-courtyard lecture, Zhao Xing as usual went to the back courtyard for solo extra practice.

Xue Wenzhong saw he was still carrying something in his hand, and his face immediately darkened: "What — you're going to learn to give gifts too?"

Zhao Xing set the three tied-up ducks into the back courtyard's poultry pen: "This isn't a gift, Teacher. Did you forget — when I was practicing the Returning-Row Grass Man earlier, I chased one of your ducks away. I'm bringing them back for you."

Xue Wenzhong pointed and asked: "Then why three?"

Zhao Xing said solemnly: "Naturally, this duck went out wandering for a few days, found a companion, and had another. Your student is kind-hearted and couldn't bear to split up a family. After consulting the duck's opinion, I brought them all back together."

Xue Wenzhong, seeing him spout nonsense with such a serious face, couldn't help but be amused, and laughed as he scolded: "Nonsense!"

That laugh was tacit approval. He could tell Zhao Xing was trying to cheer him up — not the fawning of superior and subordinate, but the care between teacher and student.

Zhao Xing could also sense that since this return, Xue Wenzhong's attitude had undergone some kind of change.

Whether in casual chat or in teaching, the feeling he gave was that the teacher's identity outweighed the superior's.

This was a good sign. As for what exactly had happened before, since the old Minister of Agriculture didn't say, he wouldn't press the matter, lest he touch on someone's painful memories.

"Start of Autumn — the beginning of autumn. Though the heat is still fierce, the Yang energy gradually withdraws and the Yin energy gradually grows; it is the turning point from Yang's dominance gradually shifting to Yin's dominance. Crops move from lush growth toward ripening."

"Rainfall and climate will both begin to turn downward, and crops will be affected accordingly."

"The Four Agronomy Texts once said: 'Autumn is when Yin energy first descends, therefore all things are gathered in.'"

As practice was about to end, the old Minister of Agriculture suddenly spoke these words.

Zhao Xing was first taken aback, then nodded and took his leave.

On the road home, he savored the old Minister of Agriculture's words.

"Xue Wenzhong mentioned crop ripening in all three sentences — looks like the Start of Autumn exam is related to cultivating plants."

"Looks like I'll need to practice my cultivation spells more these next few days."

By the time he got home, it was already past mealtime. Zhao Ruide was nowhere to be seen. Lady Cai, seeing this bottomless pit return, naturally had no pleasant look on her face and went straight inside.

Zhao Xing didn't mind; he went to the kitchen himself to find something to eat. But Zhao Zheng ran out of his mother's room again, eagerly helping his big brother serve rice and dishes.

"Big Brother, I practiced martial arts today — two full hours! Father even praised me!" Zhao Zheng looked at Zhao Xing eagerly, somewhat expectant.

"Not bad, keep at it." Zhao Xing gave a perfunctory reply and went on eating.

After only a few bites, he noticed the taste was off: "Why doesn't this food taste as good as last night's?"

Zhao Zheng said: "How could it, Big Brother? This is last night's."

Zhao Xing: "……"

Zhao Zheng went on: "Mother said you're a bottomless pit, Big Brother — you can eat anything, and your appetite is huge, so she saved some for you… She's never praised me like that."

"……"

Fine, fine, fine — thank your mother for me.

Zhao Xing took a sniff. Despite the hot weather, it hadn't gone sour — just the taste was a bit off. So he didn't care, closed his eyes, and wolfed it down.

"Big Brother, what's a bottomless pit — have you ever seen a ghost? I heard people who know spells can see ghosts, and even summon gods, like the officiants at the divine temples."

Zhao Zheng, like a walking "why why why," kept chattering around him.

"You'll understand when you grow up. Alright, clear these bowls and chopsticks, and go play somewhere else."

"Oh……"

After sending off his cheap little brother, Zhao Xing returned to his room to draw talismans—Guidance Talismans and Soul-Calming Talismans. Over the past month or so, his proficiency had improved considerably, but there was still no movement from the Great Dream Academy.

"Looks like I'll need a major breakthrough before I can fish out any benefits from it." Though once again he had sat down before a treasure mountain and come away empty-handed, Zhao Xing wasn't anxious—there were still several hundred years ahead of him to dig into.

Recalling the old Agricultural Officer's reminder during the day, Zhao Xing pulled three books from the cabinet.

"The *Materia Medica Classic*, the *Grand View of Trees*, and the *Compendium of a Hundred Things*—these are all books on identifying plants. The Start of Autumn examination might require them, so I should review them."

"The imperial court transmits the Dao; all kinds of canonical texts contain wondrous effects. Though not as strong as those of the divine temples, they can still let one comprehend spells."

"Hope I can pick up a few useful passive spells."

Lighting the oil lamp, Zhao Xing began to read them carefully.