Chapter 34: Angel Investor Chen Shijie

Those who performed too strongly or too weakly had ratings that were uncontroversial.

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

Both had chosen roughly fifty second-tier plants.

Looking first at the base score—second-tier middle-grade and lower-grade plants—the survival rate was only eighty percent, and thirty percent failed to reach maturity.

None had died outright, but for their level of performance, these numbers were already somewhat weak.

Looking next at the score-boosting points—second-tier upper-grade plants.

Among them, Wen Nanxing chose two types of second-tier upper-grade: one was 'Seven Star Flower,' the other was 'Departure Fruit Sapling.'

Both had very high medicinal value.

Wen Nanxing planted four of each, but only one of each fully matured, reaching peak medicinal value.

Xiao Ze's second-tier middle-lower grade numbers were about the same as Wen Nanxing's.

The second-tier upper-grade 'Han Bing Lotus' and 'Bitter Earth Ginseng' he planted had only one more fully matured than Wen Nanxing's.

Both of their performances were certainly worthy of an A-rank rating.

The disagreement was over whether it should be A-Upper.

There were eight officials on the evaluation panel; assuming Chen Shijie offered no opinion, three felt these two should not be rated A-Upper—at most A-Middle.

Because they had not achieved full ripening, their performance this time did not match their ability at the fourth stage of Qi Gathering.

The other four felt the grading standard should be uniform and not vary from person to person—Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze had no dead seedlings, and had mature specimens among second-tier lower, middle, and upper grades, so they should be given A-Upper.

With the disagreement, the deciding vote fell to Chen Shijie.

"Lord Chen, how should they be graded?" the county government office's scribe asked softly.

Xiao Ze and Wen Nanxing were also somewhat anxious.

They truly hadn't expected themselves to underperform—look at Li Chengfeng, whose chosen difficulty was no less, yet how did he manage to get everything to full maturity?

With their current situation, the A-rank could go either way; since objections had arisen, it would depend on what Chen Shijie, the chief official, thought.

Chen Shijie thought for a moment, then looked at the two: "Let me ask you both—during these four days and three nights of the examination, did you notice anything amiss?"

Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze exchanged a glance, then shook their heads: "No."

Pang Yuan and Tang Wanchun, hearing this, inwardly sighed in dismay, knowing A-Upper was now impossible this time.

But they couldn't really blame them—Zhao Xing had been too cunning.

With others he took whatever he wanted; with these two top students, he boiled the frog in warm water, stealing from them slowly.

He'd made Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze both think they'd merely underperformed, without suspecting anything else.

Chen Shijie heard this and nodded: "What you two planted were all difficult off-season specimens, so an A-rank is warranted. But your vigilance was too poor, preventing full maturity—let's call it A-Middle."

"Yes." The scribe immediately recorded it.

Hmm? Poor vigilance? What kind of evaluation was that?

Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze were somewhat baffled.

But once Chen Shijie had walked far away, Tang Wanchun and Pang Yuan, who had fallen behind, finally revealed the truth to their students: "You two are far too dull—you didn't even realize you'd been sabotaged with the Earth Vein Qi-Draining technique! Go back and reflect on this properly!"

Earth Vein Qi-Draining? Xiao Ze and Wen Nanxing exchanged a glance, and their faces immediately changed.

Someone had actually used a Dili Sect technique, and stolen their earth power and primordial Qi without them noticing?

"Who would use it on us… ah, could it be him?!" Xiao Ze and Wen Nanxing looked at that patch of golden-yellow, suddenly enlightened, and deeply vexed.

"Zhao Xing, at the second stage of Qi Gathering, cultivated five types of second-tier plants to maturity, one hundred specimens in total, including twenty second-tier upper-grade Diamond Bamboo—brave and resourceful, rated A-Upper!"

This time Chen Shijie didn't even consult those beside him, directly addressing the county government office staff.

The admiration in his eyes was undisguised, even with a hint of impatience.

Gao Li was somewhat displeased, because the 'brave' part of Zhao Xing's evaluation clearly referred to his performance when contending with Zong Zong Shichang, and Zong Zong Shichang happened to be his prized student.

Tang Wanchun and Pang Yuan also felt a sting, because the 'resourceful' part of Zhao Xing's evaluation was at the expense of their two prized students—these two hadn't even noticed by the end. Wasn't that infuriating?

But setting aside personal feelings, all three genuinely felt Zhao Xing deserved the evaluation, and even wished Zhao Xing were under their own command.

"Thank you for your efforts, my lords." Zhao Xing, as usual, cupped his hands in greeting to the officials who had come for inspection.

Normally the inspection would continue, but Chen Shijie didn't leave; he sent the other deputy officials to determine the remaining B-rank and C-rank ratings, and together with Xue Wenzhong, kept Zhao Xing behind.

Zhao Xing didn't know what it meant, but letting the superior speak first would be too undignified—he had to be the one to ask: "Teacher, Lord Chen, do you have further instructions?"

Xue Wenzhong spoke: "The imperial court's Temple Examination qualifications are reported by each county, and only after the commandery reviews and approves them does one have a chance to participate."

"Each commandery and county has an unfixed quota. To give preparatory clerks a better chance of passing, each year the county government office pools funds and allocates resources from the storehouse to provide to outstanding clerks in each department. This applies not only to my Agricultural Bureau, but equally to the workshop, Weaving Workshop, Martial Training Hall, Judicial Bureau, and other departments."

Zhao Xing nodded—he naturally knew this.

The Great Zhou founder's 'All the Talents of the World Enter My Jar' was not mere lip service, but written directly into the statutes.

The 'Tribute Selection Law' states: "For all clerks and students of each department, those excelling in law, duties, classics, and arts shall be selected by fixed quota, and given monthly stipends of lamp oil and writing materials as reward."

Put plainly, there were 'scholarships' and 'poverty subsidies.'

Law, duties, classics, and arts referred to the multiple aspects of evaluation; clerks and students referred to scholars in official academies and study societies established by the imperial court, as well as clerks like Zhao Xing.

The difference was that scholars could receive both 'poverty subsidies' and scholarships, while clerks only received 'scholarships'—because clerks had jobs, so even if poor, they wouldn't starve, would they?

The selection was relatively strict; by rights, with only two A-Upper ratings, he shouldn't qualify for such resources, but from Xue Wenzhong's meaning, wasn't Lord Chen going to fight for him?

Sure enough, Chen Shijie immediately continued: "Xue Lao says you began Qi Gathering late. If you want to pass the Winter Assessment and Temple Examination, your resource consumption must keep up. I've heard your family isn't particularly wealthy—if you could obtain a 'Tribute Recipient' quota, perhaps your cultivation could progress faster."

Zhao Xing listened quietly.

"By rights, with only two A-Upper ratings, you don't yet qualify for Tribute Recipient status. But I believe you are a promising talent; it would be a pity if you were passed over."

"Therefore, I've decided to apply for a Tribute Recipient quota on your behalf. Beyond that, I and your teacher will jointly provide you with additional cultivation resources until your Temple Examination concludes."

Chen Shijie spoke very directly, without putting on airs; with Zhao Xing he didn't even refer to himself as 'this official,' but said 'I'—showing just how much he appreciated him.

Zhao Xing, hearing good fortune knock at his door, had no reason to refuse. Though calm inside, he put on a thoroughly grateful exterior—after all, this Chen Shijie was his angel investor!

He immediately performed a grand ceremonial bow: "I thank Teacher and Lord Chen for your grace of rebirth; Xing shall never forget it for life, and shall think day and night of how to repay you!"

Chen Shijie smiled faintly at his words and reached out with both hands to help Zhao Xing up from his bow.

This investment was a sure thing!