Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 47: Zhao Sanjia, Tianyuan Pear Tree

Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Zhao Sanjia, Tianyuan Pear Tree

"I actually got a B-minus? It wasn’t in vain to study hard after all." Chen Ziyu was very pleased. Even though he had only obtained a B-minus, it was still in the B ranking. Improvement was a good thing; last time, he was in the C ranking!

"You’re so excited over a B-minus?" Qian Dong couldn’t understand why his good friend was so happy.

"This year, I got a stable B. Next year, it might not be impossible to get an A. Step by step, gradual progress. There will always be a day of success."

Qian Dong was startled, then nodded. "That’s true, not everyone can progress as quickly as big brother."

Chen Ziyu clenched his fist. "Big brother also worked hard for his success. Before he got into the top three, he didn’t have many Bs either. We should accumulate slowly. If not this year, then next year. If not next year, then the year after. There will always be a chance!"

As they chatted, they walked away, laughing and talking.

Li Chengfeng listened to their conversation, frowning.

Others were very happy to get a B-minus, but he had received an A, and he couldn’t be happy.

Because someone had outshone him.

Ding Shan and Liang Bai were not in his league. Getting an A didn’t matter; they wouldn’t be able to enter the government anyway.

But Zhao Xing had a chance.

"Zhao Xing, Zhao Xing... Now everyone is talking about him." Li Chengfeng felt a wave of irritability. That name kept appearing in his ears, and he was tired of it.

Usually, he was the focus of these people’s discussions, the center of attention. Now, things were slowly changing.

"Mr. Li, did you see it?" Zong Shichang ran to Li Chengfeng’s side.

"See what?" Li Chengfeng asked absentmindedly.

"Zhao Sanjia’s examination paper," Zong Shichang said. "Chen Shijie ordered someone to copy and distribute it for everyone to study. He said Zhao’s answers were concise and powerful, straight to the point. They were not only useful for the Temple Examination but could be used for other exams in the future."

"You have to admit. I looked at it, and he’s really good. He deserved the top A ranking."

Li Chengfeng looked at Zong Shichang, who was talking non-stop, with complicated emotions. How could even his brother praise him so much?

"Mr. Zong, I have something to do. I’ll leave first..."

"Eh? Where are you going, Mr. Li?"

Zong Shichang called a few times, but he got no response from Li Chengfeng. He couldn’t help but feel a bit strange.

What’s wrong with Mr. Li?

.......

In the main hall of the county government, Li Wenzheng was handling governmental affairs. At this time, a clerk ran over, presenting the Minister of Agriculture Supervision’s assessment results.

"County Venerable, the results of the White Dew assessment from the Minister of Agriculture Supervision are out."

"Oh? How many got an A? Are my top students among them?" Li Wenzheng asked casually.

"Three people got an A: Zhao Xing, Ding Shan, and Liang Bai. They are not under your command. The first two are under Lord Xue Wenzhong, and the latter under Lord Tang Wanchun."

The clerk, Pang Fei, had previously submitted a document to Zhao Xing. He had another identity: he was the son of Secondary Ninth-Rank Minister of Agriculture Official Pang Yuan.

Li Wenzheng pondered, "Hmm, Zhao Xing... This name sounds familiar. If I remember correctly, this is his third time getting an A?"

"Yes." Pang Yuan nodded. "Last month, Lord Chen Shijie even applied for a tribute officer quota for him, with your personal stamp."

"Oh, I see." Li Wenzheng suddenly realized. "In about ten days, it will be the year-end evaluation. Are there any newcomers in the Heavenly Workshop or Weaving Supervision?"

He didn’t need to ask about the divine temple and the Military Class Room of the county government because they were right under his watchful eyes.

"Yes, in the Weaving Supervision, there is a weaver named Lin Baiwei, who made a Heluo Robe and got an A in the last assessment. In the Heavenly Workshop, there is a clerk named Han Bi, who solved the spell mechanism ’Twelve Locks’ left by Lord Gongsun Jin, and also received an A. Both have gotten an A twice in a row, and both were top A last time."

"How old are they?" Li Wenzheng asked.

"Lin Baiwei is sixteen, Han Bi is eighteen; both are local residents of Gucheng." Pang Fei paused and added, "Both come from very poor families."

Li Wenzheng nodded in satisfaction. He found Pang Fei very useful; he could answer exactly what he wanted to know with just a few questions.

"Since Zhao Xing has just been made a tribute officer, it’s not good to support him further. Go to the homes of Lin Baiwei and Han Bi to verify their poor condition. If it’s true, take twenty taels of silver from my wife and send it to them," Li Wenzheng said. "Consider it a contribution to Gucheng."

"County Venerable, you are benevolent. I will certainly deliver your good intentions."

........

In Sanwan Town, east of Gu County.

The two hall masters of Sanwan Hall also welcomed the arrival of the Falcon Guardian.

"Greetings, Guardian." Both a man and a woman saluted.

The elderly man patted the dust off his clothes, looking travel-worn. He had just rushed over.

He monitored not only Gucheng but also other counties in Nanyang County.

"Any new information?" the Falcon Guardian asked.

"Reporting to the Guardian, Lin Baiwei from the Weaving Supervision made a Heluo Robe and got an A in the recent assessment. Han Bi from the Heavenly Workshop solved the mechanism trick ’Twelve Locks’ and got an A. Zhao Xing from the Minister of Agriculture Supervision also got an A, but I couldn’t understand his essay, so I don’t know how he was evaluated."

Different fields had different criteria. The two hall masters couldn’t understand Zhao Xing’s paper, nor did they know why he was outstanding.

"Add Lin Baiwei and Han Bi to the capture list." The elderly man pondered. "As for Zhao Xing... Do you have a copy of his paper?"

"Yes."

The elderly man took it and read it. After finishing, the paper suddenly ignited and quickly turned into ashes.

The Falcon Guardian rubbed the ashes with his fingers and then blew lightly. "Put Zhao Xing in fifth place."

"Also, gather information about this man. Use a few followers to get in touch with him and understand his habits and character."

"Remember, don’t act rashly and don’t act within the city. Just make inadvertent contact."

"East Lake Mountain is about to open for the autumnal equinox, and the government is on high alert. Any slight clue could lead to detection. Don’t rush for success and ruin the major event. Otherwise, even if you die a thousand times, you won’t be forgiven."

The two hall masters nodded heavily. "Yes, Guardian."

........

In the west of the city, at the Chen Mansion, in a pear orchard.

"This Tianyuan pear tree is in its sixth year of growth. I put a lot of effort into transplanting it into a pot. Be careful when you plant it back home."

In front of Chen Shijie was a small tree, about the height of a person. It was the Tianyuan pear tree he had promised to give to Zhao Xing.

The Tianyuan pear tree matures in ten years, flowers one year, and bears fruit the next. Six years was still considered a young tree. Only after the seventh year would it enter the growth phase.

Zhao Xing used the Five Elements Observing Technique and saw that the young tree was six years and ten months old. Chen Shijie had given him a great convenience within the promised range. He didn’t try to fool him with a two- or three-year-old tree.

"A person thrives when moved, but a tree dies when moved. Chen invested quite some effort in moving this pear tree. His character is really dependable," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

"Then I won’t be polite. Thank you."

He activated the Wind Summoning Technique, rolling up the Tianyuan pear tree and heading home.