Chapter 10: Extra Practice and Testing During Minor Heat
Xue Wenzhong returned from a circuit around the front yard and was startled to see in the backyard one strawman puppet striding vigorously; the second leaped between stacks of hay; the third swung on a locust tree swing; the fourth was flipping over a grain basket; the fifth was weeding in the vegetable garden. Despite several 'failures'—one knocked over a vegetable basket, another knocked down a clothes post, and another startled the chickens and ducks—Xue Wenzhong paid them no mind.
He focused on the few strawman puppets that showed some flair and quickly walked over to Zhao Xing, who was tidying up a clothes rack and collecting a vegetable basket: "I was only gone for half an hour, and you've done all this?"
Zhao Xing looked around the somewhat messy backyard and apologized: "Sorry, Master Xue, I'll clean up quickly. There's also a duck that flew over the hedge... I'll compensate you with another!"
Xue Wenzhong's face creased with a smile as he grabbed Zhao Xing: "What does one duck matter? Forget about it!"
He patted Zhao Xing's shoulder: "Keep up the good work, aim for the top rank in the winter evaluation, and after the spring temple exam, a formal position will surely be yours."
Zhao Xing, realizing that the old Minister of Agriculture wasn't blaming him, bowed with a smile: "Thank you, teacher."
"It's just that the Agricultural Bureau is full of talents, and I, being of low status, may not be able to compete..."
Xue Wenzhong caught the part that Zhao Xing hesitated to mention—other officials in the bureau accepting bribes to give certain subordinates undue help.
"You have such talent; I have overlooked you in the past, which was indeed my mistake. From now on, you can come to the backyard every day and study an extra hour."
This was exactly the response Zhao Xing had hoped for, and understanding the hint, he immediately changed his address and bowed deeply: "Disciple thanks the teacher for his nurturing grace."
Xue Wenzhong, too, was struck by a sudden impulse. Although he had never been one to push for things, seeing a promising young man made him think differently, and he formally accepted the bow: "Maintain your diligence, do not waste your talent. As for others, I don't care, but if you still can't advance next year, then I will step down in your favor, leaving my position to you!"
Such words from another leader might have been taken by Zhao Xing as empty promises.
But coming from Xue Wenzhong, they carried much credibility, as he was known for his integrity and was also of an age where he could have retired.
Should the quota not suffice and Zhao Xing's rank be on the cusp, he might indeed step down in his favor.
"Thank you, teacher. I will work hard and not let you down."
In the following three days, Zhao Xing learned a fourth method of strawman puppetry from Xue Wenzhong.
Even Xue Wenzhong was amazed by Zhao Xing's progress, considering that Zhao Xing practiced the Willow Transmission Method during just an extra hour of practice!
Zhao Xing felt deeply grateful: "With the dual blessings of destiny and treasures, not only has my cultivation speed increased, but I've also earned the old Minister's regard. The Great Dream Academy truly is a place of opportunity; even a tiny bit of good fortune that came my way has brought such a significant change."
However, in the last few evenings, when he tried to enter the Great Dream Academy, he found even the Platform of Reflection had hidden itself, perhaps because he was too weak for the challenges there.
At that moment, Zhao Xing was walking on the fields in the eastern suburbs.
Officials in the Agricultural Bureau typically studied in the mornings and labored in the afternoons.
Apart from promoting agriculture and supervising harvests, they were also responsible for various tasks, depending on their superiors.
Having many subordinates could be a disadvantage but also an advantage under Xue Wenzhong because with more people, the less petty tasks were distributed, leaving more time for study and preparation for evaluations.
The official transformation process in the Agricultural Bureau involved several aspects.
One was responsible for the harvest in their assigned towns and villages, which was recorded by the county office and not managed by the Agricultural Bureau.
Most towns and villages were roughly the same, but there were distinctions between top, middle, and lower grade lands, and having a good area naturally made things easier, though Xue Wenzhong never competed for them.
The second was a moral evaluation, covering a range of things like how well one handled tasks assigned by superiors, attitudes towards learning, and reputation, all of which had no specific standards since they were at the discretion of the superiors.
The third was a capability evaluation based on the twenty-four solar terms, with the eight major terms being mandatory: the Beginning of Spring, the Spring Equinox, the Beginning of Summer, the Summer Solstice, the Beginning of Autumn, the Autumn Equinox, the Beginning of Winter, and the Winter Solstice. Other critical planting and harvesting terms were also part of the evaluation.
For example, a month ago, the Grain in Ear solar term tested whether the final batch of Yuan rice planting was completed and its survival rate.
The people setting and marking these exams were typically ninth-rank officials from the Agricultural Bureau, like Chen Shijie.
These three aspects combined were part of the 'regular score,' and those who ranked highly at the end of the year were recommended by the Agricultural Bureau for official positions in Nanyang County Office.
The winter evaluation sometimes included additional tests, depending on the overall performance of Nanyang County the previous year. If it outperformed other counties and the court allocated enough quotas, further testing might not be necessary.
In the following spring, another temple exam issued by the court would further narrow down the candidates.
Passing the temple exam was the final step.
Afterwards, one would 'officially join the government,' receiving formal appointment documents at a temple and being inducted into the fortune system of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
In essence, it was a series of promotional tasks.
Zhao Xing, who had undergone this process during Emperor Jing's reign in his past life, was very familiar with it. This period was still quite challenging.
It would become much easier in the "Revival" version of the process.
However, difficulty had its advantages; many things would later become rare or even obsolete.
"With the blessings of destiny and treasures, securing a promotion should not be difficult," Zhao Xing thought confidently, his steps light as he headed towards the public fields.
The Summer Solstice had passed, and the Minor Heat was approaching.
The county office's public fields already had Yuan rice ripening.
This year's winter evaluation for capability did not include the 'Summer Solstice,' so the 'Minor Heat' would definitely not be 'passed over,' otherwise it would not meet the basic requirements of the winter evaluation.
At this time, most of the minor officials in the Agricultural Bureau were frequently heading to the public fields, as the exams waited for no one, making the fields of Gu City a gathering place for many minor officials.
"It's like a scene from my past life at university, scrambling for elective courses," Zhao Xing thought, finding the situation somewhat familiar.
It was quite normal, though; missing one evaluation, while not disqualifying, could greatly impact one's chances. No one could afford to take that risk.
As Zhao Xing entered the public fields, he immediately felt the stifling heat, and his body began to sweat, even though he cast the 【Moving Clouds】 spell for shade, it was hardly effective.
After a while, he spotted Chen Ziyu and Qian Dong, as well as Li Chengfeng and Wen Nanxing, who had also come to stake out the upcoming exam.
Everyone was panting and sweating by the field, truly as hot as dogs.
"It's only Minor Heat, but the sun feels as scorching as the Major Heat. Minister Chen really does have a bit of a wicked sense of humor. Brother, what tricky question do you think he'll pose this time?" Chen Ziyu asked.
"How would I know? Aren't you also a Chen?" Qian Dong replied, listlessly waving his straw hat.
"Just save your energy and wait," Chen Ziyu replied, pouting.
As everyone was languishing in the heat, a shout suddenly came from the south.
"Look, what is that?!"
"It's the exam question, the exam question is coming!"
"Oh my, it's actually..."
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