Chapter 47: Zhao Sanjia, Tianyuan Pear Tree

"I actually got a B-minus? All my hard work wasn't in vain after all." Chen Ziyu was overjoyed. Although he only received a B-minus, it was still on the B-grade roster! Progress is a good thing, especially since he got a C-plus last time!

"You're this excited over a single B-minus?" Qian Dong couldn't understand why his good brother was so thrilled.

"If I can steadily get a B this year, getting an A next year isn't out of the question. Step by step, steady and gradual, and success will come one day."

Qian Dong paused for a moment, then nodded. "True enough. Not everyone can progress as fast as big brother."

Chen Ziyu clenched his fist. "Our elder brother's success comes from accumulated efforts. Before he reached the top three A-grades, he didn't have many Bs either. We'll accumulate experience slowly—if not this year, then next year; if not next year, the year after... We'll get our chance!"

Chatting and laughing, the two men walked away.

Listening to the discussion nearby, Li Chengfeng couldn't help but frown deeply.

Others were thrilled just to get a B-minus, but even though he had earned an A-middle, he couldn't bring himself to be happy.

Because someone had outperformed him.

People like Ding Shan and Liang Bao were simply in a completely different league from him; getting an A-plus meant nothing for them since they weren't eligible for official appointments anyway.

But Zhao Xing was.

"Zhao Xing, Zhao Xing... Everyone is talking about him now." A wave of irritation washed over Li Chengfeng. This name kept cropping up around him until his ears were ringing with it.

Usually, he was the focal point of their discussions, the center of attention, but now things were slowly changing.

"Brother Li, have you seen it?" Zong Shichang rushed over to Li Chengfeng's side at that moment.

"Seen what?" Li Chengfeng asked distractedly.

"Zhao the Top-Three-A's answer sheet, of course," Zong Shichang said. "Chen Shijie had his exam paper copied and circulated for everyone to study, saying his answering style was concise, powerful, and hit the nail right on the head. He said it's useful not just for the upcoming metropolitan examinations, but for other exams down the line as well."

"And you know what? I took a look, and he really knows his stuff. There's no disputing his A-plus."

Looking at the endlessly chattering Zong Shichang, Li Chengfeng felt a complex mix of emotions. Why was even Brother Zong praising him like this?

"Brother Zong, I have matters to attend to, I must take my leave..."

"Huh? Where are you going, Brother Li?"

Zong Shichang called out a few times, but finding that Li Chengfeng didn't even respond, he couldn't help feeling puzzled.

What on earth is wrong with Brother Li?

..........

In the main hall of the county yamen, Li Wenzheng was handling official business when a minor official hurried over to present the evaluation results from the Ministry of Agriculture.

"County Magistrate, the results for the White Dew evaluation by the Ministry of Agriculture are out."

"Oh? How many A-pluses, and are there any of my worthy disciples among them?" Li Wenzheng asked casually.

"There are three A-pluses, named Zhao Xing, Ding Shan, and Liang Bao. None of them are under your lordship's command; the first two belong to Lord Xue Wenzhong, and the latter to Lord Tang Wangchun."

The minor official was named Pang Fei, who had previously delivered the approval documents to Zhao Xing. He had another identity as well—he was the son of Pang Yuan, a ninth-rank lower agricultural official.

Li Wenzheng mused, "Hmm, Zhao Xing... The name sounds somewhat familiar. If I recall correctly, this is his third time getting an A-plus?"

"Yes," Pang Yuan nodded. "Last month, Lord Chen Shijie even applied for a tribute scholar quota for him, which your lordship personally stamped."

"Ah, I see," Li Wenzheng realization dawned upon him. "In about ten days, it will be the winter appraisals. Are there any emerging talents in the Artisan Workshop or the Weaving Bureau?"

The temple and the civil-military offices of the county yamen didn't need to be asked about, as they were right under Li Wenzheng's nose.

"Yes. In the Weaving Bureau, a weaver named Lin Baiwei crafted the Haluo Dharma Robe and received an A-plus in the last evaluation. In the Artisan Workshop, an official named Han Bi unraveled the magical mechanism left behind by Lord Gongsun Jin known as the 'Twelve Interlocking Rings.' Both have made the A-grade roster twice consecutively, and both achieved A-plus last time."

"How old are they?" Li Wenzheng asked.

"Lin Baiwei is sixteen, and Han Bi is eighteen. Both are registered residents of Gucheng," Pang Yuan paused before adding, "And both come from rather impoverished backgrounds."

Li Wenzheng nodded with satisfaction. Pang Fei was a minor official whose efficiency he truly appreciated; with just a slight inquiry, he automatically provided everything the magistrate wanted to know.

"That Zhao Xing has just been granted the tribute scholar status, so it wouldn't be appropriate to provide him with further financial aid. As for Lin Baiwei and Han Bi, you should personally visit their homes to verify their circumstances. If they are indeed impoverished, draw twenty taels of silver from my wife's accounts to send to them," Li Wenzheng instructed. "Consider it a contribution to Gucheng."

"Your lordship is merciful. This subordinate will ensure your lordship's kindness is delivered."

...............

East of Gu County, in Sanwan Town.

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

"Greetings, Protector," a man and a woman saluted in unison.

The old man dusted the dirt off his clothes, looking travel-worn—and indeed, he had just made a long journey.

He kept his eyes not only on Gucheng, but also on the other counties of Nanyang Commandery.

"Any new news?" the Falcon asked.

"Reporting to the Protector, Lin Baiwei of the Weaving Bureau has crafted the Haluo Dharma Robe and earned an A-plus in the recent evaluation. Han Bi of the Artisan Workshop unraveled the Twelve Interlocking Rings mechanism and also received an A-plus. Zhao Xing of the Ministry of Agriculture likewise got an A-plus, though this subordinate cannot comprehend his exam paper and does not understand how it was graded."

Trades are like separate mountains; the two hall masters couldn't understand Zhao Xing's exam paper at all, and thus had no idea what made his work so exceptional.

"Add Lin Baiwei and Han Bi to the capture list," the old man pondered. "As for this Zhao Xing... has his answer sheet been copied?"

"Yes."

The old man took it and began to read. Halfway through, the paper suddenly burst into spontaneous combustion, quickly reducing to a pile of ashes.

The Falcon Protector rubbed the ashes between two fingers, then gently blew them away. "Place Zhao Xing fifth on the ranking."

"Furthermore, gather intelligence on this person. You may deploy a few believers to make contact with him and probe his lifestyle habits and personality."

"Remember, do not act rashly, and especially do not act within the city walls. Keep contacts strictly casual and inadvertent."

"The East Lake Mountain Autumn Mountain-Opening is right around the corner, and the government is on high alert. The slightest trace of evidence could expose us. Do not ruin the big picture out of eagerness to achieve merit, or your ten thousand deaths will not suffice to atone for it."

The two hall masters wore stern expressions and nodded heavily. "Understood, Protector."

..............

West of the city, in the Chen residence's pear orchard.

"This Tianyuan pear tree is in its sixth year of survival. I went to a lot of trouble to transplant it into a pot, so you must be careful when you take it back to plant."

Before Chen Shijie stood a dwarf tree about the height of a man—the very Tianyuan pear tree he had promised to gift Zhao Xing.

Tianyuan pear trees matured in ten years, flowering in the first year and fruiting in the next. Six years still counted as a sapling stage, and only after surpassing the seventh year would it enter its growth period.

Using his Five Elements Observation Technique, Zhao Xing checked that the sapling was six years and ten months old. Chen Shijie had given him the utmost convenience within his promised limits, without fobbing him off with a two- or three-year-old tree.

"Trees die when moved, men live when moved—Old Chen must have put a great deal of effort into moving this pear tree. His character is truly top-notch," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony. Many thanks."

Activating the Wind-Raising Spell, Zhao Xing lifted the Tianyuan pear tree and walked toward his home.