I just passed the imperial examination, what the heck is this "Celestial Official System"?

I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

When I woke up the next day, the sun was already high in the sky.

Song Li slowly opened her eyes, and the sunlight from the window shone on the bed.

"Comfortable."

I stretched.

Since transmigrating to this world, he has rarely had the experience of sleeping until he naturally wakes up; these are among the very few moments of indulgence he has had.

Song Li got out of bed and quickly washed up.

I went out to the cafeteria for breakfast.

When they arrived at the farmhouse canteen, they found the door tightly closed and there was no one in sight.

Forget about breakfast, there's no lunch either.

"You're confused. It's already the 28th of the twelfth lunar month. According to the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, everyone should take leave on the first day of the new year."

The canteen cooks had already gone home to prepare for the New Year, so there was no one else around.

Song Li smiled and shook his head.

"Looks like I'll have to prepare my own meals."

Fortunately, he was an agricultural worker and would never let himself go hungry, otherwise he would have made a fool of himself.

But on her way back to the small house, Song Li was stopped by three men.

"But is it Song Li?"

Song Li immediately recognized that the three people in front of him, dressed in red robes, were not from the Ninth Branch, but rather from the County Magistrate's residence.

"Exactly."

He was still wondering why the county magistrate's men wanted to see him.

Then the leading official spoke up: "That's good. We are here on the orders of the county magistrate to invite Brother Song to the conferment banquet. We knocked on Brother Song's door earlier but there was no response, so we came to look for him. Please come into the city with me."

"A reward?"

......

......

When Song Li arrived at the imposing county magistrate's mansion located in the center of the city.

The courtyard was already filled with tables and people.

It was very lively.

Upon closer inspection, they were all acquaintances.

Or rather, they were all officials who participated in the arrest operation last night.

"Brother Song, over here."

Song Li was observing when he turned his head and saw Huo Zhun waving at him, signaling him to sit down together.

"They're here."

There were only a few people from the farmhouse who participated in the encirclement and suppression, and Huo Zhun was the only one who was somewhat familiar to them.

So he simply sat down next to Huo Zhun.

"I heard that we captured Rong Anbo's eldest son alive. He performed the best among the counties, which made Shannan County proud. The county magistrate was overjoyed and decided to hold a grand banquet to reward our merits."

Huo Zhun, being well-informed, explained the reason for the banquet.

"I see."

"This must be Song Li, Brother Song?"

Another burly man with a thick beard, sitting next to Huo Zhun, leaned forward and asked.

"Exactly."

"Brother Song, this is Zhu Ran from the workshop. Brother Zhu is a good friend of mine. He has heard of Brother Song's deeds and admires him greatly."

Huo Zhun spoke up to explain at the opportune moment.

The Huo family was a powerful local clan, and he could be considered a local tyrant. Many of his childhood playmates had ended up in government service, so he had acquaintances in all nine branches of the family.

"I dare not accept such praise. I have met Brother Zhu before and have long admired your name."

Song Li said modestly.

Although he had only met Zhu Ran twice and didn't know her at all, it never hurt to say nice things.

A smile appeared in his eyes.

This burly man with a thick beard was the same official who had come to supervise the farmhouses during the grain harvest assessment two months ago.

Zhu Ran laughed heartily: "Brother Song, I can't be your brother, I'm only twenty-three this year."

Upon hearing this...

Song Li's lips twitched.

Is this thing 23?

People would believe you if you said it was forty-three.

Huo Zhun coughed lightly: "My brother Zhu here is just growing up fast... mature beyond his years."

Zhu Ran glared at his friend from the same age, then excitedly said, "Brother Song, tell me how you became so amazing. Don't worry, I, Old Zhu, am tight-lipped and will definitely not tell anyone."

Who doesn't yearn for powerful combat strength?

Song Li was an agricultural engineer, while he was an industrial engineer.

He figured he should be even better at fighting, so he thought that if he could get the secrets, he might be able to become a craftsman comparable to a martial arts master.

Song Li was speechless: "Actually, it was Steward Zheng who taught me a combat spell."

"Master Zheng."

Zhu Ran suddenly realized.

If we were to name the most remarkable agricultural cultivator that night, it certainly wouldn't be Song Li, but Zheng Yue.

The method that could break the self-destruction amazed all the officials of the Nine Offices.

In no time, rumors about Manager Zheng spread like wildfire.

It has long been rumored to be incredibly powerful.

Perhaps it was because Zheng, the head of the department, was so dazzling that Song Li seemed less astonishing.

Zheng, the head of the department, has only been in Shannan County for a year. Song Lin must have some ability to be valued by Zheng. Zhu Ran can only be envious.

Moreover, he probably wouldn't be able to learn the magic of farming cultivation.

Night falls.

One dish after another of exquisite dishes were brought up by the servants and maids of the county magistrate's mansion in a continuous stream, with seven or eight dishes on each person's table, making it extremely lavish.

"A feast of ginkgo nuts?"

"The county magistrate is truly extravagant."

Song Li was slightly startled.

Despite the abundance of dishes, as an agricultural cultivator, he could tell at a glance that the most precious item was actually a bowl of simply steamed wheat kernels.

Tonight, we are hosting a banquet for over a hundred people, with each table having a bowl of barley.

It weighed a full forty pounds!

It is equivalent to the output of a year's agricultural repair.

Song Li couldn't find food in the cafeteria, but he made up for it here, with a meal that was more than a hundred times more plentiful.

What followed was naturally a flurry of toasts and drinks.

From beginning to end.

Neither the county magistrate nor the head of the nine branches of government showed up.

They naturally wouldn't eat and drink with the minor officials, but instead went to the main hall.

Just as the atmosphere of the banquet reached its peak.

An old man with a goatee walked out.

The main show begins.

Reward those who have made contributions!

"The magistrate said that suppressing the rebels is a matter of national importance, and all those present are meritorious officials. Each of them shall be awarded a spirit stone."

"Thank you, Magistrate."

Everyone was delighted and bowed in gratitude.

He earned a spirit stone just by going out once.

Moreover, there are hidden benefits, meaning that you won't get a "D" grade in the next county government assessment.

Make a fortune!

Immediately.

The goatee-bearded old man, who was acting as the advisor, continued loudly, "Those who perform exceptionally well in the encirclement and suppression will be credited with half a merit."

"Xiao Hong of the Martial Arts Department, hereby recorded a minor merit."

"The rites department is diligent; record half a minor merit."

......

Master Zhou read out four names in one breath.

Apart from the martial arts practitioner at the beginning, the rest of them were only at the half-level of minor skill, because only that martial arts practitioner was a deputy leader at the ninth level of Qi Gathering, who single-handedly killed a member of the Shi family's death squad. No one else had such a performance.

Every move that night was clearly remembered by the officials in charge of the battle from the county government.

"Song Li, record half a minor merit."

soon.

Song Li's name also appeared in Zhou Shiye's mouth.

It wasn't uncommon for people to steal credit in the county government, but the siege was a major event personally overseen by the county magistrate, so naturally no one dared to make a fuss at this time.

Successfully earned a small reward.

Although it wasn't that Song Li intentionally sought it out, he was still quite pleased.

Adding the half-piece of minor skill I acquired when I first bought it, I can now complete a full minor skill set.

Amidst envious glances, Song Li held up half a small jade pendant engraved with his name in both hands.

This is--

Lines of small text appeared before my eyes.

Name: Song Li

[Realm: Ninth Grade (Second Level of Juyuan Realm)]

[Exercise: Everlasting Spring Exercise]

[Spells: Sharp Metal Spell, Sweet Rain Spell, Flying Leaf Spell]

[Fortune: 48/100]