Chapter 21: The Harvest

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【Name: Zhao Xing】
【Realm: Unranked】
【Luck: Derivative II】
【Qi Condensation: Tier 2 (715/1000)】
【Spells: Basic Cultivation (Max Level)】
【Thriving Growth (Entry-level): 1st Turn (1101/9999)】
【Cloud Walking (Entry-level): 7th Turn (7546/9999)】
【Wind Rising (Entry-level): 4th Turn (4124/9999)】
【Thunder Calling (Entry-level): 5th Turn (5784/9999)】
【Rain Making (Entry-level): 3rd Turn (3541/9999)】
【Soldiers from Vegetation: 3rd Turn (3084/9999)】
【Willow Weaving Techniques · Fragment (Four Types)】
【Straw Man Resurrection (Entry-level): 3rd Turn (3084/9999)】
【Entangling Straw Man (Entry-level): 1st Turn (1201/9999)】
【Swift Straw Man (Entry-level): 1st Turn (1501/9999)】
【Thorn Straw Man (Entry-level): 475/9999】
【Night Vision (Entry-level): 322/9999】
【Five Elements Observation (Entry-level): 88/9999】
【Sub-profession: Talisman Maker】
【Soul-Pacifying Talisman (Basic): 321/1000】
【Guidance Talisman (Basic): 525/1000】
【Treasures: Almanac of Averting Misfortune (Tier 3, High-grade)】
【Thousand-Mile Transmission Token (Tier 3, High-grade)】
【Note: For entry-level spells, every 1,000 points of proficiency equals one "Turn"; points below 1,000 indicate basic mastery. Straw men are counted under the 'Soldiers from Vegetation' spell, but their proficiency levels are calculated independently. Qi Condensation and Talisman Making are not spells and are also calculated independently.】

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"There is truly a house of gold within books. Even though I haven't acquired new spells, just reading these standardized imperial classics for one night has granted me so much proficiency."
Zhao Xing felt his absorption efficiency for the official imperial legal codes was almost absurd. However, he was gradually getting used to this speed; his Cloud Walking spell had reached the 7th Turn, and his Thunder Calling spell had reached the 5th Turn, with none of the others lagging behind.
"The subtle transformation from the Dao Embryo Pill has only just begun. While my cultivation speed is exaggerated, it is only so when compared to my past self. Currently, this speed is merely excellent within a single county, not yet astonishing. Once I am completely reborn, I will be considered a genius even when looking across an entire prefecture."
He had stayed up all night, yet he felt increasingly energized. After washing his face, Zhao Xing walked out into the darkness. By the time he reached the Ministry of Agriculture, the sky was beginning to glow with a faint blue light.
"Brother Zhao, early as always."
"Oh? Isn't this Zhao 'First-Rank'?"
"After the Beginning of Autumn, perhaps he'll be Zhao 'Second-Rank'."
"Hahaha."
Colleagues who saw Zhao Xing on the way greeted him one after another.
Zhao 'First-Rank'? Since when did I have this nickname?
"I shall accept your kind words." Zhao Xing didn't take it to heart; he returned their salutes and accepted the nickname gracefully.
It was just past 5:00 AM, yet over a hundred people had already arrived at the Ministry of Agriculture. During Emperor Wen's reign, local officials were required to report for duty at the fifth quarter of the Chen hour (8:15 AM), with winter hours delayed until the second quarter of the Si hour (9:30 AM). Emperor Wen’s leniency extended not just to the people, but to his officials as well.
However, under the "workaholic" Emperor Jing, who led by example, the reporting time for officials had been significantly pushed forward. Summer hours began at the first quarter of the Mao hour (5:15 AM), and winter hours at the fourth quarter of the Mao hour (6:00 AM). Emperor Wen did not require attendance clock-ins, but Emperor Jing mandated a "Mao-hour roll call," forcing clerks who hadn't mastered "Night Vision" to carry lanterns to work.
"It seems there are quite a few people aiming for official promotion this year, likely preparing for the minor examination after the Beginning of Autumn." Looking around, Zhao Xing saw clerks everywhere carrying lanterns and clutching books, even eating while doing so. In times of peace, taxes were low, and as long as one wasn't lazy, no one would struggle to afford breakfast. These clerks were here to fight for their futures. Everyone ate quickly, wolfing down their food before rushing to work. Zhao Xing, who had intended to rest a bit after eating, felt a wave of guilt just watching them.

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"Damn, who doesn't know how to hustle? In my past life, I had dozens of 'livers'—I could pull all-nighters for seven days and nights without even blinking." Zhao Xing finished his meal in a flash and headed to the Huailiu Courtyard.
Xue Wenzhong had many subordinates, and while the miscellaneous tasks assigned were few, they were not non-existent. Since the Beginning of Summer, a key task had been to cooperate with the Heavenly Crafts Workshop to repair and monitor the "Thirteen Canals of Pinghu." Because summer and autumn were prone to flooding, Gucheng, located in the middle and lower reaches of the Canglan River, was frequently damaged by natural disasters.
Towards the end of the Taizu era, the Registrar of State Fields, Cao Xi, constructed the Thirteen Canals of Pinghu, connecting the tributaries of the Canglan River to East Lake, and installed Origin-Gathering Waterwheels. Over the years, the accumulated Vitality actually caused the mountains bordering East Lake to grow taller and taller. Since then, the East Lake mountains had become a place of spiritual beauty.
"The Ministry of Agriculture wants to install four new Origin-Gathering Waterwheels at East Lake. My Huailiu Courtyard is responsible for planning the location of the one at Si Shui Bay. The three ordered from the Heavenly Crafts Workshop have already arrived, so why is ours still missing?" Arriving at Xue Wenzhong's office, he found him handling matters.
The clerk responding to him, Ding Shan, who looked to be in his forties and was the longest-serving clerk in the Huailiu Courtyard, replied, "Old Master Xue, the Heavenly Crafts Workshop claims the materials from the prefecture haven't been sent, and they lack the manpower, so the project must be delayed."
"Delayed again?" Xue Wenzhong snorted. "Why is it that when it comes to me, there's always an excuse? Do they think I'm made of mud, with no temper at all?"
Noticing that Xue Wenzhong seemed vastly different from before, Ding Shan even changed his form of address. "My Lord, should I go and urge them again?"
Xue Wenzhong threw down the documents. "No need to urge them. I have written three petitions. Deliver them to Lord Chen Shijie, Lord Li Wenzheng at the County Office, and the third to Inspector Ji of Nanyang Prefecture. If my urging Gongsun Jin is useless, then I will have these three lords do the urging!"
After recovering from his illness, the old agricultural official seemed to have become much tougher. His words made Ding Shan tremble, and he nodded in agreement, immediately setting to work on stamping and sealing the documents.
After finishing, Xue Wenzhong saw Zhao Xing waiting outside. His expression instantly shifted from cloudy to sunny, and he waved him over with a smile. "Zhao Xing, come in."
"Teacher, I'm here for the roll call. Is there anything I can do to share your burden?" Zhao Xing asked.
Xue Wenzhong stroked his beard and laughed. "There are two hundred people in the Huailiu Courtyard; what would I need you to handle? Just prepare for your examination."
Ding Shan glanced at Zhao Xing in surprise. Seeing Xue Wenzhong pause his sentence, he tactfully excused himself. After stepping outside and seeing Xue Wenzhong actually let Zhao Xing sit in his chair, Ding Shan's jaw nearly hit the floor. The impartial old official was showing such favoritism? Could this transformation be related to him?
Zhao Xing didn't notice the change in attitude, assuming it was simply different now that he was a student. Since the old official had no chores for him, he could save time for cultivation. After reporting in, he ran straight to the backyard to practice his spells.
After his Basic Cultivation spell advanced, he had acquired the entry-level spell "Thriving Growth," but he had rarely practiced it recently, only reaching the 1st Turn. The old official had hinted that the Beginning of Autumn exam would include questions on cultivation, so he had to practice harder.
"Huh? Why is there an extra patch of seedlings in the backyard vegetable garden..." Just as Zhao Xing was looking for a target to practice on, he was drawn to a corner of the garden.