Shennong Daojun

There are four seasons and eight festivals, of which eight solar terms are compulsory, namely, the Beginning of Spring, Spring Equinox, Beginning of Summer, Summer Solstice, Beginning of Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Beginning of Winter, and Winter Solstice.

According to the different situations of each county, at least twelve solar terms are tested, and the most stringent upper counties or upper counties will test all 24 solar terms.

The three hurdles for becoming a regular official are the combination of "harvest in the jurisdiction", "morality assessment", and "ability assessment", collectively known as "winter assessment".

After that, you will experience another "temple examination", and if you pass it, you can "take office" and enter the system of the Qiyun Dynasty.

The "ability assessment" in the winter assessment, that is, the examination based on the 24 solar terms, accounts for a large proportion.

If you fail this hurdle, you will not be recommended and cannot participate in the temple examination.

Officials who are interested in becoming a regular official will basically not miss any ability assessment.

Xue Wenzhong's first lecture after returning to Huailiuyuan attracted a large number of officials to visit.

"Mr. Xue, are you well?"

The old Si Nong smiled and said, "Nothing serious has happened."

"Teacher, I have a hundred-year-old Rehmannia root here, please accept it."

"I appreciate your kindness, take it back."

"Mr. Xue..."

Not only the clerks under Xue Wenzhong, but also the clerks from other courtyards came to visit.

They were not out of kindness, but to listen to the class.

Because the last two Xiaoshu exams were given by Chen Shijie, this time, the Beginning of Autumn and the next one will be Xue Wenzhong's turn.

"Mr. Xue, Si Nong, you won't give us tricky questions like Mr. Chen in the Beginning of Autumn exam, right? If there is another 'grain-eating bird disaster', I'm afraid no one in Gu County will pass this year."

"Yes, how can there be doves in my south?"

A bold clerk asked this question, which caused a burst of laughter.

If it were any other Si Nong, basically no clerk would dare to joke like this, but Xue Wenzhong was a well-known good man with a gentle personality. The atmosphere of the lecture was quite good, so the clerks dared to joke boldly.

The old Sinong said, "You all want to know what the test is for the Beginning of Autumn?"

"Yes, old Sinong, can you tell me?" Everyone stretched their necks and pricked up their ears.

Xue Wenzhong smiled slightly: "On the day of the Beginning of Autumn, we will know."

"Oh..."

There was another round of laughter from the audience.

Although it was nonsense literature, Zhao Xing liked this atmosphere. He had also attended other academies, but some of them were serious and solemn, or difficult to understand. Only the few people who could understand at the highest level were talking, which was very unfriendly.

Seeing Xue Wenzhong's ruddy complexion, it seemed that he was not affected by the illness a while ago. He was relieved, but there was still a trace of sadness between his eyebrows, as if he was worried.

After the explanation in the front yard, Zhao Xing went to the back yard to practice alone as usual.

Xue Wenzhong saw that he was still holding something in his hand, and his face immediately became unhappy: "Why do you also want to learn to give gifts?"

Zhao Xing put the three tied ducks in the poultry warehouse in the backyard: "This is not a gift, teacher, you forgot that I was practicing the grass man before and chased one of your ducks away. I caught it for you."

Xue Wenzhong pointed and said: "Why are there three?"

Zhao Xing said seriously: "Since this duck went out for a few days, found a companion, and gave birth to another one. The student is kind and can't bear to break up the family. After asking the duck's opinion, I brought it back together."

Xue Wenzhong couldn't help but laugh when he heard his serious nonsense, and scolded with a smile: "Nonsense!"

This smile was tacit approval. He could see that Zhao Xing was trying to please him. It was not the kind of flattery between superiors and subordinates, but the kind of care between teachers and students.

Zhao Xing could also feel that Xue Wenzhong's attitude had changed after he came back this time.

Whether chatting or teaching, he felt that he was a teacher rather than a superior.

This was a good sign. As for what happened before, he would not ask if the old Sinong did not tell him, so as not to touch other people's sad things.

"Liqiu is the beginning of autumn. Although it is still hot, the yang energy is gradually withdrawn and the yin energy is gradually growing. It is a transition from yang abundance to yin abundance, and crops are moving from lush growth to maturity."

"The rainfall and climate will begin to turn downward, and crops will also be affected."

"The Four Agricultural Books once said: 'In autumn, the yin energy begins to descend, so all things are harvested.'"

When the practice was about to end, the old Sinong suddenly said this.

Zhao Xing was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said goodbye.

On the way home, he savored the words of the old Sinong.

"Xue Wenzhong mentioned the maturity of crops in all three sentences. It seems that the Liqiu assessment is related to plant cultivation."

"It seems that I have to practice cultivation spells more in the next few days."

When I got home, it was past dinner time. Zhao Ruide was nowhere to be seen. When Mrs. Cai saw this digestive ghost coming back, she naturally had a bad face again and went straight into the house.

Zhao Xing didn't care and went to the kitchen to find food. Instead, Zhao Zheng ran out of his mother's room again and excitedly helped his elder brother to serve rice and dishes.

"Brother, I practiced martial arts today for two hours, and my father praised me!" Zhao Zheng looked at Zhao Xing eagerly, with some expectation.

"Not bad, keep working hard." Zhao Xing perfunctorily said and started eating.

After eating a few bites, he found that the taste was a little wrong: "Why is this food not as delicious as last night."

Zhao Zheng said: "How could it be, brother, this is what was served last night."

Zhao Xing: "..."

Zhao Zheng continued: "Mom said that you are a digestive ghost, you can eat everything, and you have a big appetite, so I saved some for you... She hasn't praised me like this before."

"..."

OK, OK, thank your mother for me.

Zhao Xing smelled it and found that it was not spoiled in the hot weather. It just tasted a little strange. So he didn't care and ate it with his eyes closed.

"Brother, what is a digestive ghost? Have you seen a ghost? I heard that people who know magic can see ghosts and call gods, just like the emcees in the temple."

Zhao Zheng kept chattering around like he had a hundred thousand questions.

"You will understand when you grow up. Okay, clean up the dishes and go play."

"Oh..."

After sending away his cheap brother, Zhao Xing returned to his room to draw talismans, guiding talismans and soul-soothing talismans. In the past month, his proficiency has improved a lot, but there is still no movement in the Great Dream Academy.

"It seems that I have to make great progress before I can benefit from it." Although he returned empty-handed after entering the treasure mountain again, Zhao Xing was not in a hurry. There were still hundreds of years waiting for him to dig.

Remembering the reminder of the old Si Nong during the day, Zhao Xing took out three books from the cabinet.

"Compendium of Materia Medica, Daguanmu, and Baiwu Gang are all books for identifying plants. They may be useful in the Beginning of Autumn exam, so I still need to review them."

"The court has passed down the law, and all kinds of classics have magical effects. Although they are not as strong as the effects of the temple, they can also be used to comprehend spells."

"I hope to get a few useful passive spells."

Lighting the oil lamp, Zhao Xing began to read carefully.