Chapter 13: Top Grade

The Minor Heat assessment has concluded. The content focused on “grain-eating birds and natural disasters,” and the results depend on the extent of damage to each official’s assigned farmland.”

“If the damage to the original rice crop is less than ten percent, the rating is Grade A.”

“If the damage is less than twenty percent, the rating is Grade B.”

“If the damage is less than half, the rating is Grade C.”

“If the damage exceeds half, no score will be given for this assessment, and the official will be penalized by having to replant with accelerated cultivation techniques. If they manage to make up for the loss, a Grade C may be awarded afterward.”

“The Minor Heat assessment results have been posted publicly. Officials should check the notice boards themselves. Regardless of the outcome, diligence and steady effort are required; avoid arrogance and impatience.”

With that, Chen Shijie finished speaking. A clerk aboard the flying boat waved his hand, and a yellow sheet of paper drifted through the air, landing precisely on nine public farmland notice boards.

The officials bowed respectfully toward the flying boat. Once the cloud-floating vessel drifted away, they all hurried over in a clamor.

“What? Only thirty people made the Grade A list, and only five reached the top tier of Grade A?!”

“This is terrible! There are only two hundred and fourteen names on the list; does that mean half the officials failed?”

“Brother in front, please help me check if my name, Liang Bai, is on the list?”

“Yes, you’re ninth on the Grade C list, lower tier. Congratulations, Brother Liang.”

“Sigh, only Grade C? Last time I was in Grade B...”

“The Minor Heat assessment is so tough; how will the Autumn Moon ranking be? Next spring, only a handful will be appointed officials. What’s the point of even bothering? Let’s go drink!”

“Yeah, I’m done with this too!”

...

The Minor Heat assessment was significantly more difficult than previous tests, casting a gloomy shadow over the rankings.

Few were happy; most felt they had underperformed.

Among them, a small number were indifferent.

Since only three to five officials were appointed each year, the difficulty only increased to weed out those who neither worked hard nor had talent.

If one had no chance from the start, why bother stressing? Some even gave up, not intending to retake the test.

What? Getting dismissed? Let them. The pay was low anyway. In a peaceful world, not being a petty official won’t starve anyone.

Of course, most still cared. Why else would they have chosen this path? Having invested so much effort, with sunk costs, hope still lingered.

Chen Ziyu and Qian Dong also struggled to push forward.

...

Soon, they emerged from the crowd, dejected.

Both had earned the lower tier of Grade C—just barely passing.

As they stepped out, Chen Ziyu smacked his head. “Hey, Qian Dong, how did elder brother do? Did you check just now?”

Qian Dong lifted his drooping head hesitantly. “I didn’t see his name on the Grade C list earlier. Could it be...?”

“What could it be? You mean elder brother failed? Didn’t even make Grade C? He worked so hard before—if he missed Grade C, how devastating! No wonder he disappeared. Could he be in despair?”

Qian Dong quickly shook his head. “No, no way. Elder brother is usually so carefree; he wouldn’t take it that hard... but sadness is inevitable.”

Chen Ziyu worried aloud, “I’ll go check the list again. Qian Dong, you search around for him. Let’s meet later at the triangular field.”

Fifteen minutes later, at the triangular field.

Qian Dong saw the forlorn Chen Ziyu. Judging by his expression, something worse must have happened since he looked even gloomier than before.

“I still haven’t found elder brother. What’s wrong with you now?”

Chen Ziyu looked up blankly. “Elder brother’s name isn’t on the Grade C list.”

“That’s not a big deal. Failing isn’t so unusual...”

Qian Dong’s voice trailed off, then he stopped. “Is he on the Grade B list?”

Seeing no response from Chen Ziyu, Qian Dong’s mouth slowly opened. “Could it be...?”

“Yes. Elder brother is on the Grade A list, ranked in the top tier. He’s alongside Wen Nanxing, Li Chengfeng, Zong Shichang, and Xiao Ze.”

“...”

Qian Dong’s expression shifted to match Chen Ziyu’s.

...

Not far from the Grade A list, Li Chengfeng was surrounded by admirers, lounging on a stone.

He had no need to check the list himself, confident that his name was well above.

He didn’t relish the moment of announcement but rather the praise from everyone now.

“Congratulations, Brother Li, once again ranked Grade A, top tier!”

“Brother Li truly lives up to his prodigious talent. How many times have you made top Grade A now?”

“Six times!”

“Next spring, you might be addressed as Lord Li.”

Li Chengfeng smiled and bowed to those around him. “Don’t joke, we’re all brothers here. Besides, I’m not the only one top-ranked; I’m nowhere near as good as Brother Zong... Brother Zong, hey! What are you looking at?”

The burly youth, Zong Shichang, looked up with curiosity. “I’m looking at the list, Brother Li. There are five top-tier Grade A names: you, me, Wen Nanxing, Xiao Ze, and this fifth person I’ve never heard of.”

“Oh?” Li Chengfeng stepped forward to see the unfamiliar name. His brow furrowed when he read Zhao Xing. “I’ve never heard of him. I know almost everyone at the Agricultural Supervisory Seventh Institute. Where did this person come from?”

“Could he be under the Old Agricultural Commissioner’s wing?” Zong Shichang asked.

“No need to speculate. I’ll pay a visit another day and find out.” Li Chengfeng narrowed his eyes.

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

Each year, the Agricultural Supervisory Bureau only appointed three to five officials. The others on the list could be disregarded, but those on the Grade A list were all serious competitors.

If others advanced, they couldn’t, and some might even become their immediate superiors. How could they not pay attention?

Yet Zhao Xing was usually too low-key and unremarkable. Asking around, almost no one had heard of him. At best, they only knew he was a minor official under the Old Agricultural Commissioner, which made him all the more curious.

...

Zhao Xing, unaware that many officials were watching him, hadn’t even checked the list.

After Chen Shijie announced the rules, he immediately knew he must be on the Grade A list. Why sweat it out in the heat and smell like a crowd? Better to go home early, take a bath, change clothes, and eat.

If he came home late, Lady Cai might hide the meat—she was truly capable of such a thing.

“This year’s assessments, including Minor Heat, have been six times. By tradition, there are six more small tests aligned with the solar terms.”

“My previous five assessments: once mid-tier Grade B, three times upper-tier Grade C, twice lower-tier Grade C. Quite mediocre.”

“But it doesn’t matter. Rapid improvement counts as outstanding. These small tests don’t solely judge by scores; potential is also considered for recommendations.”

“If I can make the Grade A list for every small test before the winter assessment, I will surely catch the attention of the higher-ups, especially the Old Agricultural Commissioner. I wonder how much support he’ll give me then.”

“The Old Agricultural Commissioner, Xue Wenzhong, is known as a good man—uncompetitive, honest, never accepting bribes. If I’m on par with others by then, it will depend on whether my superiors fight for me at the crucial moment.”

“Sniff sniff~” The aroma of meat suddenly wafted into his nostrils, breaking Zhao Xing’s thoughts. He had arrived home; the smell was coming from the kitchen.

“Hmm? Seems like they’re simmering ginseng black-bone chicken soup... Hey, better to come early than late!”