Chapter 36: That Is Not a Name You Should Choose!

"Yes." The middle-aged man nodded and immediately handed over the information he had gathered.

"Born an orphan, and once adopted, he was mistreated by a jealous woman? It seems his daily life was far from comfortable. Our sect is meant to rescue such people from their sea of suffering. If he were brought into our fold for training, he could achieve even greater things!"

"Add him to the list!"

"Yes."

After the man finished speaking, the woman beside him produced another list: "Protector, there are also two new Grade-A recruits in the Weaving Workshop and the Heavenly Crafts Workshop, named 'Lin Baiwei' and 'Han Bi'."

Protector Falcon took a look, but this time, he did not agree. "Observe them for now. The East Lake Army and the County Martial Arts Bureau are investigating very strictly at the moment."

"However, we are biding our time; there is no need to rush. They cannot maintain such strict scrutiny forever. There will be a day when they grow lax, and that will be the moment for us to reap our rewards!"

...

"I achieved good results in the Start-of-Autumn assessment. Next month, I will officially become a tribute scholar and receive a monthly stipend of five taels for my cultivation expenses."

"Lord Chen, the chief official of the Bureau of Agriculture, holds me in high regard and has decided to personally fund my cultivation resources each month."

"Therefore, Foster Father, you no longer need to give me silver."

Zhao Xing had returned home, only to be called over by Zhao Ruide, who intended to secretly slip him some money for his cultivation. Zhao Ruide was not yet aware that Zhao Xing had achieved an A-plus rating again, and only understood after Zhao Xing explained.

"You became a tribute scholar? And you are being sponsored by Chen Shijie?" Zhao Ruide was stunned at first, then his face filled with joy. But upon hearing Zhao Xing refuse his money, he felt a sudden sense of emptiness.

"The imperial court and Lord Chen’s sponsorship are earmarked for specific purposes; they are meant to sustain your cultivation."

"When you socialize with your colleagues, build connections, or host dinners, they surely won't cover those costs for you, will they?"

"I don't have that many drinking buddies to spend money on," Zhao Xing replied.

"You may not now, but as your reputation grows, it will be out of your control. If you spend your own money, no one can say a word, but otherwise, how will Lord Chen and others view it?" Zhao Ruide pressed the banknote into Zhao Xing's hand. "I’ve already exchanged it; take it... surely your foster father's money isn't burning your hands?"

Given how things had reached this point, Zhao Xing could only accept, though the amount was surprisingly large—a full one hundred taels!

"Foster Father, this is so much. If Madam Cai finds out..."

Zhao Ruide snorted, "Do you really think she is the one who calls the shots in this house?"

Zhao Xing quickly shook his head, indicating that his foster father was indeed the head of the household. But Zhao Ruide then whispered, "If you don't say anything, it will be fine. I have always had a secret share in the master's escort agency, settled every few years. She doesn't know about it..."

So, it turned out he still didn't dare tell Madam Cai; this was his private stash.

However, this private stash was quite substantial, and Zhao Xing had no idea Zhao Ruide had been hiding so much. It was no wonder that whenever Madam Cai complained, Zhao Ruide never took it to heart—he could afford to eat meat every day without worrying about an extra mouth to feed!

It was understandable, after all. Madam Cai was a former songstress, and at under thirty years of age, she still possessed considerable charm even after giving birth to Zhao Zheng, while Zhao Ruide was nearly sixty. In a marriage between an older man and a young wife, Zhao Ruide feared that if he revealed all his assets, Madam Cai might just run off with the money. Had his foster son not shown promise for a bright future, Zhao Ruide would likely have taken this secret to his grave.

"Keep it safe yourself. Do not let Madam Cai know. If it is discovered, I will deny it, and you needn't expect to get any more money from me in the future," Zhao Ruide cautioned.

"Thank you, Foster Father."

"A doting mother spoils her child. You can handle Zheng'er; as his older brother, look after him more once I am gone..."

"Foster Father is strong and healthy; such talk is premature. Zheng'er is my brother, there is no need for you to give me special instructions."

Zhao Ruide also felt it was too early for such talk. He didn't know why he felt so sentimental today. Was it truly because he was getting old?

"Go and attend to your business. Madam Cai will be back from the market soon. Remember, hide the banknote well."

"Understood."

Zhao Xing turned to leave.

"Wait!" To his surprise, Zhao Ruide called him back.

Zhao Xing turned around, feeling puzzled.

Zhao Ruide said, "Next year you will have your capping ceremony. It is time to choose your courtesy name."

For a man, the capping ceremony occurs at age twenty; for a woman, the hairpin ceremony at fifteen. After this, it is considered impolite to address them by their given name. Thus, an alias—a courtesy name—is chosen to reflect the meaning of the original name and to manifest one's virtue. It was a significant part of the coming-of-age ritual, and to go without one would invite ridicule. Zhao Xing would be twenty after the spring, so it was not too early for Zhao Ruide to think about it.

"I asked around and thought 'Lichun' (Beginning of Spring) would suit you quite well. Since you want to be an agricultural official, and it is the first of the twenty-four solar terms, what do you think?" Zhao Ruide asked.

"Lichun? That is... wait, Zhao Lichun?" Zhao Xing's expression immediately turned strange.

"What, you don't like it?" Zhao Ruide was puzzled by such a strong reaction.

"Er... Foster Father, the name Lichun is fine, but it is far too common. In our Bureau of Agriculture alone, there must be eighty or a hundred people with the courtesy names 'Lichun' or 'Lidong.' I think you should reconsider," Zhao Xing declined.

"Fine. There's still half a year left; I'll ask around some more." Zhao Ruide was an unrefined martial artist and knew he lacked literary flair, so he decided he would need to consult others for advice.

"What would be a good one? I still think Lichun is quite nice..." Zhao Ruide muttered as he walked away.

Zhao Xing could not help but laugh and cry at the same time. Foster Father, that name really won't do.

...

The day after the Start-of-Autumn assessment, Chen Shijie sent someone over with a box. Inside were two dawn-colored fruits. As soon as it was opened, a rich fragrance wafted out, and the vital energy in the room grew three times denser.

[Heavenly Origin Pear (Tier 3, High-Grade)]
[Category: Edible Treasure]
[Effect: Contains abundant vital energy, protects the heart and strengthens muscles, calms the spirit, clears heat, and reduces physical strain caused by the circulation of blood and qi.]

"A Tier 3 High-Grade Heavenly Origin Pear. Its effects will be a significant help to me right now."

Zhao Xing took a bite, and the rich fragrance filled his mouth. The pear’s skin was thin, its flesh fine, crisp, and refreshing, with plenty of juice and little fiber. After eating it, he no longer felt the heat of the weather. Many martial artists who had entered the ranks favored these pears because cultivating martial arts and circulating qi over long periods often led to hidden injuries, and regular consumption of these pears greatly reduced internal organ damage. However, agricultural officials cared less about this effect and more about its ability to increase vital energy.

"Chen Shijie sends me fifteen of these every month. My rate of gathering vital energy will at least double compared to when I don't eat them." At his current second stage of Vital Gathering, the improvement would be substantial.

As soon as Zhao Xing took a bite, his interface responded immediately. A new record appeared.

[You consumed a Tier 3 High-Grade Heavenly Origin Pear. Vital energy increased by 25 points.]
[Vital Gathering Stage 2: 785/1000]

An increase of 25 points at once! The effect was immediate! Ordinarily, such a large gain would be impossible, but Zhao Xing had never before consumed treasures for increasing vital energy, and his body, having been refined by the Dao Embryo Pill, absorbed such treasures with significantly higher efficiency.

"There is a risk of vital energy dissipating; I mustn't waste any. I must eat it quickly!" Zhao Xing immediately took large bites.