The Winter Exam for the Minister of Agriculture Supervision began on the afternoon of November 7th.
The assessment schedules for the other departments were also unified.
Although it was called a joint assessment, in reality, it was just throwing the staff into one area, with completely different content for each department.
There was no competition across different professions; the main competition was within the same profession.
The Minister of Agriculture Supervision’s assessment required at least ten different types of plants to be grown on this scorched earth.
The Heavenly Workshop’s assessment required the staff to forge a new furnace here and reignite the Earth Vein Fire.
The Weaving Bureau’s assessment involved crafting robes for martial artists, mechanical masters, agricultural ministers, and emcees. Only four types of robes were allowed: Heluo Robe, Fire Protection Robe, Soul Protecting Robe, and True Essence Robe.
The Military Department’s assessment was centered around "capturing demons." Outside this abandoned factory area, some soldiers would pose as "sect demons" and launch sneak attacks from the periphery to cause destruction here.
The rating was based on the number of "demons" caught.
The temple’s assessment was similar to that of the martial artists, except the targets were the ghosts that had burned to death in this factory.
"The start and end times for the five occupations are different."
"The Weaver’s assessment started the earliest, beginning at Mao Hour on the 7th, and ending at Mao Hour the next day, lasting only twelve hours. All the materials for the robes were prepared, and whether they were finished or not, they had to leave after a day."
"The Mechanical Master’s assessment lasted for two days, starting at noon on the 7th and ending at noon on the 9th."
"The temple and the martial artists started the latest, from the start of You Hour on the 7th to Chen Hour on the 10th, lasting two and a half days."
"The Minister of Agriculture Supervision started at 13:00 on the 7th and ended at Mao Hour on the 11th, lasting three days and four nights."
Zhao Xing stepped out of the carriage, gazing thoughtfully at the entrance to the ruined factory: "Old Chen trusted my judgment, but not entirely. That’s fine too."
At 13:00, the Minister of Agriculture Supervision began organizing the participating officials to enter the designated area.
Zhao Xing, carrying a much larger bamboo box than last time, walked into the abandoned factory.
This time, the number of officials participating in the Minister of Agriculture Supervision’s assessment was not many, because this was not a lucrative position. Unless aiming for an official title, no matter how well they performed, they wouldn’t receive much money at the end of the year.
It was different for the other departments; the number of participants was quite large.
"Zhao Xing, let’s go together." Zong Shichang eagerly approached, "Where do you plan to plant?"
"Do you trust my judgment?" Zhao Xing pointed to a piece of land not far from the entrance, "You should plant here; I believe this is a good spot."
"Really?" Zong Shichang looked, and it was just a piece of scorched earth.
"I’ve learned quite a bit of Earth Advantage Sect Magic, don’t you trust it?"
"I trust you, but where are you going?" Zong Shichang asked.
"Are you out of your mind?" Zhao Xing said, "This small piece of land can’t possibly accommodate two people planting."
"Let’s do it together; I think it’s quite boring alone..."
"Get lost! Don’t affect my score." Zhao Xing said coldly, "Don’t you understand? I don’t want to be with you."
"You..." Zong Shichang was stunned. He didn’t understand why Zhao Xing’s attitude changed so drastically and stood there in shock.
Zhao Xing ignored him and walked directly to a specific area inside the abandoned factory.
It was said that keeping things secret was essential. Zhao Xing knew some of Chen Shijie’s plans but not the whole picture, and he certainly couldn’t reveal it to Zong Shichang.
Besides, if there really were demons involved this time, having Zong Shichang with him wouldn’t be a good thing.
The abandoned factory covered a large area, as it was originally an approved project by the county government.
Zhao Xing carried the bamboo box, walking through, as if looking for something.
After about fifteen minutes, he came to a relatively intact house, which had been the worker’s accommodation area.
"This is the place." Zhao Xing pushed the door open and entered.
"Meow~" The Mountain Cat, seeing its owner, jumped over happily.
"Shh~" Zhao Xing signaled the Mountain Cat to be quiet, "Stay here quietly, don’t make a sound."
The little Mountain Cat nodded.
Zhao Xing then looked around the room.
This room had been prepared for him by Chen Shijie.
Besides the Exotic Beast Mountain Cat, there were many other things prepared inside. The room was filled with many dark red bamboo tubes, about the thickness of a calf.
In the center of the room, there was a table, an oil lamp, a piece of paper, and a set of brushes and ink.
On the front long table, there was a wooden carving of Duke Donghu.
In the southeast corner stood a Grassman wearing a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat, the same Guardian Grassman that had previously followed Zhao Xing out of the city.
"Not a single thing missing." Zhao Xing checked everything and then took out the Calendar of Evil, hanging it behind the door. He also tied the Thousand-Mile Token to his wrist.
Then he sat at the table, picked up the paper and brush, and signed his name on the yellow paper.
This was a land deed.
From the moment he signed his name, Zhao Xing became the owner of this house.
He then took out the Sandalwood Soul Box from the bamboo box and began moving the dark red bamboo tubes from the corner, burying them one by one around the fence outside the house.
After finishing all this, Zhao Xing clapped his hands and rested on the steps.
He was not just a regular candidate; as one of the insiders in Chen Shijie’s plan and also a key figure wanted by the Xuantian Sect, he naturally enjoyed extra privileges.
After resting for a while, Zhao Xing began planting inside the fence.
Besides the ten types required for the assessment, Zhao Xing had brought three additional types of seeds in the bamboo box.
"For the assessment task, I just need to plant ten different types of herbal seeds to fill this fence area."