Chapter 35: The List

The tribute quota that Chen Shijie promised Zhao Xing would be in place next month, to be received starting from the Bai Lu solar term.

The stipend reward was divided into several grades; the first month he could only receive a 'Mid-grade Clerk Stipend,' but if Zhao Xing could again earn a Top-Class next month, Chen Shijie could apply to transfer him to an 'Upper-grade Clerk.'

A mid-grade clerk received a monthly stipend of 'five taels' of silver; an upper-grade clerk received ten taels per month.

How long it lasted depended on Zhao Xing's performance.

Of course, if Zhao Xing could formally take up an official post next year, this reward would end; if his performance was outstanding at that point, there would be other awards.

Five taels a month, ten taels a month — calculated by the prices of Emperor Jing's reign, this was already an enormous reward for a clerk!

One need only know that the people Zong the Young Master had beaten, upon hearing ten taels of silver per punch, immediately chose 'being beaten in the street' over 'reporting to the authorities.'

An ordinary person took eighteen punches from him and instantly grew rich, which led many people later to beg Zong the Young Master to hit them!

But for those with ambition to cultivate, to climb the azure cloud road, this bit of resources was not much; at this stage it could only be called sufficient.

The reward on the official side was merely Chen Shijie doing a favor that rode the current, but the support he gave privately was rich enough to be called generous!

"I will give you fifteen Celestial Origin Pears each month. If you again earn Top-Class, I will give you that Celestial Origin Pear tree. If it can survive, it can also serve as a resource for your future cultivation." Chen Shijie pointed at a small tree in the seedling area.

Zhao Xing was somewhat surprised; Chen Shijie really was willing to put down serious capital. The Celestial Origin Pear tree was of third-grade quality; even a sapling was worth no small sum. One need only know that if it could be cultivated to maturity, it would be a proper money tree!

Although he very much wanted it, he still had to put on a show: "Such a generous reward, Zhao Xing feels unworthy to accept it."

Chen Shijie, however, said with complete indifference: "I have considerable family wealth. I came to Nanyang Commandery to take up my post three years ago and cultivated an entire pear orchard alive. Giving you a sapling is but a trifle. Accept it without hesitation. Perhaps in the future there will come a day when you and I advance side by side."

Even Xue Wenzhong could not help but be moved; clearly this was not within his expectations.

What was even more surprising was Chen Shijie's attitude. This was no way to treat a junior; it was clearly treating Zhao Xing as a fellow traveler who could fight shoulder to shoulder!

Xue Wenzhong said to himself: "This Lord Chen truly is an odd one; I really cannot fathom him."

But this was a good thing. Although the Celestial Origin Pear sapling was slightly inferior in value to the Dao-propagating painting, it had the advantage of lasting; looking at the long term, its value would sooner or later surpass that of the painting.

Hearing this, Zhao Xing immediately stopped declining and accepted cleanly and crisply: "Then I thank you greatly, my lord Chen."

Chen Shijie walked away with a beaming smile. If not for fear of arousing others' jealousy toward Zhao Xing, he would have wanted to give him a mature pear tree directly.

He had considerable wealth, and his military campaigns had yielded no small gains; a single Celestial Origin Pear tree was nothing to him.

Having come to Nanyang Commandery three years ago, every colleague he had seen was a degenerate sort, not a single one to his taste. Zhao Xing's performance happened to catch his eye.

Besides, the "advancing side by side" Chen Shijie spoke of was no joke.

He truly thought so in his heart: "I will not stay in Nanyang Commandery for long. The General will eventually employ me again. When I return to the army then, perhaps I can also include him on the list."

After the Start of Autumn assessment, the posted notice showed that only fifteen people had been graded Class A.

Half as many as last time.

The assessments were growing stricter and stricter, all in preparation for the final submitted list.

After Zhao Xing came out of the Hundred Herbs Garden, he was immediately surrounded by a crowd of people.

"Zhao Xing is out!"

"Brother Zhao, congratulations!"

"Congratulations, Zhao the Second Top-Class!"

"When you take up an official post next year, the name list will surely have Brother Zhao's name on it!" Qian Dong said with a grin, offering his congratulations.

Seeing this, Zhao Xing grabbed Qian Dong's dog-head in a headlock and laughed: "Then why are you still calling me Brother Zhao? Why not call me Lord Zhao!"

"Ah, that was my mistake in speech; I shall apologize to Lord Zhao at once."

"Hahahaha." The crowd could not help bursting into laughter.

Not far off, Li Chengfeng and Zong Zong Shichang stood together, their brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

Although there were also people congratulating him, the popularity this time was far less.

"Hmph, this fellow does know how to make a scene." Zong Zong Shichang looked across, his tone stiff. Although he had been beaten, he could not bring himself to hate Zhao Xing; it was only a matter of face. Otherwise, Zong the Young Master would also have wanted to go over and join the fun.

"Let's go, Brother Zong, off to drink." Li Chengfeng gave Zhao Xing a deep look, then called his friends and left.

Compared with Li Chengfeng, Zhao Xing gave people the feeling of being more easygoing, more down to earth.

Although Li Chengfeng bore the reputation of a gentleman, there was always a faint, elusive air of putting on airs; anyone sensitive could feel it.

Of course, this was secondary; the main reason Zhao Xing was so popular was his rating.

This time only three people received Top-Class: Li Chengfeng, Zong Zong Shichang, and Zhao Xing.

Xiao Ze and Wen Nanxing, who had always performed outstandingly, instead received only Upper-Middle.

After the assessment, Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze shut themselves in for three whole days. When they came out they returned to normal, but they absolutely refused to mention having been set up. When asked, they only said they had performed poorly.

Did they know who had set them up? Of course they had figured it out!

"I was unknowingly robbed of my vitality, and I didn't notice for four days and three nights?" Upon learning this, Wen Nanxing shut his door and drank his sorrows away.

Xiao Ze, sitting across from him, was also pouring wine down. When he recalled Chen Shijie's comment, his face burned with shame.

"Insufficient vigilance, insufficient vigilance…" These five words kept echoing in his mind.

Xiao Ze recalled the disappointed look in his teacher's eyes and took a fierce gulp of wine, then with a sharp crack slammed his cup onto the table.

"What a Zhao the Second Top-Class. If there is a chance in the next assessment, I will certainly repay the favor!"

"Brother Xiao, keep your voice down!" Wen Nanxing swapped him a fresh cup. "Keep it to yourself."

Their dignity would not allow them to speak of it, but in their hearts they placed Zhao Xing at the top of their rivalry list, waiting only for the next chance to recover their face from him.

"Falcon Guardian, the Start of Autumn assessment ratings in Gucheng have been posted publicly. This person has received Top-Class two times in a row, and there are even rumors that he bested Zong Zong Shichang in a sparring match. Should we also include this son of the Zhao clan on the capture list?"

East of Gucheng, in Sanwan Town, in an unremarkable civilian house, three people were currently gathered around a table eating.

One old, one male, one female; they looked just like a family of three.

Yet the true identities of these three were, in fact, a Guardian of the Xuantian Sect and two Hall Masters.

The old man was known as 'Falcon Guardian,' with a benevolent face, a head full of white hair, looking as though he had one foot in the grave.

The middle-aged man was the 'Sanwan Hall Master,' of plain appearance with prominent cheekbones. The woman was the Vice Hall Master, her head wrapped in a cloth kerchief, sallow-skinned and thick-waisted, utterly unremarkable, even somewhat ugly.

It was the Sanwan Hall Master who spoke. Spread out on the table was a public notice list from the Agricultural Monitor, and his finger was resting on Zhao Xing's name.

The Falcon Protector opened his eyes, his gaze shifting from murky to clear: "Oh? Two top grades, and he even defeated Zong Zichang? Is this a sudden enlightenment, or the result of long accumulation? Show me the detailed records, and I'll decide whether to add him to the list."