Shennong Dao Master

"The Minor Heat examination has concluded, the content was 'Grain-eating Bird Disaster', and the results depend on the damage to the fields managed by each clerk."

"For Primordial Rice damage of less than ten percent, grade A is awarded."

"For damage of less than twenty percent, grade B is awarded."

"For damage of less than fifty percent, grade C is awarded."

"If damage exceeds fifty percent, there will be no rating for this examination, and replanting will be required with accelerated growth using cultivation techniques. If it can be made up, grade C will be awarded."

"The Minor Heat examination results are now posted. Clerks, please check your results yourselves. Regardless of the scores, you must remain diligent and cautious."

After Chen Shijie finished speaking, the Wenfang clerk on the Flying Boat waved his hand, causing a piece of yellow paper to float in the air and accurately stick to the nine bulletin boards of the public field.

The clerks bowed to the Flying Boat, and as soon as it drifted away, they swarmed over with a buzz.

"What? Only thirty people on the A list, and only five of them are grade A?!"

"That's terrible, only 214 names on the list, does this mean half of the clerks failed?"

"Brother in front, please help me check if my name, Liang Bai, is on it?"

"Yes, ninth on the C list, grade C. Congratulations, Mr. Liang."

"Ah, only grade C? Last time, I made it to the B list..."

"Minor Heat examination is already this hard, how about the Autumn Moon review? Only a few can be appointed official next spring anyway, what's the point! Let's go drink!"

"Yeah, you're right, if worst comes to worst, just quit!"

......

The Minor Heat examination was significantly more difficult than previous ones, so there was a cloud of bleakness around the bulletin board.

Few were happy, most felt they did poorly.

Among them, some didn't care.

Because, in a year, only three or five would be appointed officials, and the examination difficulty would only increase, weeding out those who were neither diligent nor gifted.

If there was no hope, why rush? Some decided not to bother, not even with retests.

What? You say they'll be expelled? Let them, there's not much pay anyway. In peaceful times, not being a clerk wouldn't mean starving to death, right?

Of course, the vast majority cared; otherwise, why choose this path in the first place? Having worked so hard, they'd naturally hold on to hope despite their sunk costs.

Chen Ziyu and Qian Dong were also squeezing forward desperately.

Soon, they emerged, dejected.

Both received a grade C-, just barely passing.

As they stepped away from the crowd, Chen Ziyu smacked his forehead: "Oh right, Qian Dong, how did our older brother do? Did you check?"

Qian Dong raised his drooping head, hesitating: "I didn't see our elder brother's name on the C list, could it be..."

"What do you mean? Are you saying he failed? Not even on the C list? He worked so hard before, if he didn't make the C list, how upset must he be? No wonder we haven't seen him, he must be devastated!"

Qian Dong shook his head hurriedly: "No, it can't be, our brother is usually so carefree, he wouldn't be so distraught over this... But, being disappointed is unavoidable."

Chen Ziyu, worried, said: "I'll go check the board again. Qian Dong, you search the area for him, we'll meet at the triangular field in fifteen minutes."

Fifteen minutes later, at the triangular field.

Qian Dong saw the disheartened Chen Ziyu. Judging by his expression, Qian Dong thought something bad had happened; his face looked even grimmer than before.

"I haven't found our elder brother yet, what's with you?"

Chen Ziyu raised his head blankly: "His name is not on the C list."

"So what if it's not there? Failing isn't unusual..."

Qian Dong trailed off: "On the B list?"

Seeing Chen Ziyu not answer, Qian Dong's mouth slowly opened wide: "Could it be..."

"Yes, he's on the A list, and ranked A. Tied with Wen Nanxing, Li Chengfeng, Zong Shichang, and Xiao Ze."

"..."

Qian Dong's expression mirrored Chen Ziyu's now.

........

Not far from the A list, Li Chengfeng was surrounded by people, leisurely sitting on a stone.

He didn't have to check the board himself, confident that he was on it.

He enjoyed not the moment the results were posted, but the current flattery.

"Congratulations Mr. Li, once again on the A list, and ranked grade A!"

"Mr. Li, as expected, your exceptional talent shows, how many times have you been awarded grade A?"

"The sixth time!"

"Next spring, you might be called Mr. Li officially."

Li Chengfeng smiled and cupped his hands: "Gentlemen, don't joke, what official title? We're all brothers here. Besides, I'm not the only one; there are others on the grade A list better than me... Mr. Zong, Mr. Zong! What are you looking at?"

The burly young man, Zong Shichang, hearing Li Chengfeng call him, curiously snapped back: "I'm looking at the list. Mr. Li, there are five grade A's; besides you, me, Wen Nanxing, and Xiao Ze, this fifth person is someone I've never heard of."

"Oh?" Li Chengfeng couldn't help but step forward to look. Seeing the unfamiliar name, Zhao Xing, he frowned: "Indeed, I've never heard of him. At the Seven Agricultural Colleges, I know almost everyone, where did this person come from?"

"Could he be under the Old Minister of Agriculture?" Zong Shichang speculated.

"No need to guess, we can visit him later to find out." Li Chengfeng squinted his eyes.

Meanwhile, Wen Nanxing, Xiao Ze, and others on the A list also noticed the name Zhao Xing.

The Minister of Agriculture Supervision appointed only three to five officials a year. While other lists didn't matter, those on the A list were competitors.

If someone else made it, it meant they couldn't, possibly becoming their superior, making them worthy of attention.

But Zhao Xing was usually so low-key and unnoticed; inquiring with friends revealed almost no one knew him, only that he was a clerk under the Old Minister, sparking even more curiosity.

........

Zhao Xing was unaware he had caught the attention of many clerks since he hadn't even looked at the board.

As soon as Chen Shijie announced the rules, Zhao Xing knew he was definitely on the A list. Why sweat it out in the heat? Better to go home early, take a bath, change clothes, and eat.

If he got home late, Mrs. Cai might hide the meat, she was the type to do that.

"This year's evaluations, including Minor Heat, add up to six. According to tradition, there are six more small examinations aligned with the seasons."

"In my previous five, one was grade B, two were grade C+, and two were grade C-. Fairly average."

"But it doesn't matter, rapid improvement is also a kind of outstanding performance. These small exams don't solely depend on grades, potential can also lead to recommendations."

"If I can make the A list in every small exam before the winter review, I can surely catch the higher-ups' eyes, including even the Old Minister. Who knows how much he will support me then," Zhao Xing thought.

"Old Minister Xue Wenzhong is famously a nice person, never greedy, never taking others' things. If I'm on par with others then, it'll depend on whether my superiors back me up."

"Hiss~" The smell of meat suddenly wafted into Zhao Xing's nose, interrupting his thoughts. He had arrived home, the aroma came from the kitchen.

"Hmm? It smells like ginseng black chicken soup... Heh, arriving early is indeed better than luck!"