Zhang the Hufflepuff Auspicious Beast the Third

Gryffindor had two classes on Monday, and that afternoon they also had Herbology with the Hufflepuffs, taught by Professor Pomona Sprout.

As a true old Chinese man, Zhang San was deeply interested in the only subject at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry that had anything to do with farming.

Back on Mount Longhu, Zhang San's daily routine had consisted of martial arts practice and growing flowers. He had forcibly turned the originally desolate and dilapidated Celestial Masters' Mansion into a subtropical botanical garden, which showed just how pure his old Chinese bloodline was.

Herbology at Hogwarts taught students how to grow magical plants. It suited Zhang San perfectly. Before he had even entered the Potions greenhouse, he already felt refreshed and invigorated.

This was the scent of soil, the scent of plants, and... the scent of farm manure?

Ugh!

Did Hogwarts not ferment its dragon dung before using it as fertilizer? The smell was so strong it could fumigate a ghost to death!

Don't think that just because Zhang San was a ghost, he could not sense the outside environment. In fact, after dying, his spiritual perception had become even sharper than that of the living.

Living people observed the world through their physical senses, with a natural barrier separating them from their souls. Zhang San, however, directly perceived the world with his soul, and all kinds of information charged straight into it.

Professor Sprout, wearing a patch-covered wizard's hat and sporting an impressive mass of gray-white woolly curls, was already waiting for the students inside the greenhouse.

Last week, they had learned the theoretical basics of plant care outside the greenhouse. This week, they were finally allowed into Greenhouse One for practical lessons. The young wizards had all put on dragonhide gloves and eagerly waited for Professor Sprout's instructions with trowels, hoes, and rakes in hand.

"Last lesson, we learned the basic elements required for plant growth: sunlight, water, and soil. Today's task is to repot Dittany," Professor Sprout said kindly.

The young wizards were practically blank slates when it came to farming. The closest thing they had probably ever done to gardening was weeding the lawn at home.

Professor Sprout first demonstrated for them. "First, pull the plant out of the small pot, roots and soil together, once its roots have filled the pot. Then, use a pointed three-pronged rake to gently comb through the roots and remove as much of the old soil as possible."

"Next, fill a new, larger pot one-third full with base soil mixed with fertilizer. Gently place the plant inside, then cover it with soil... Look, like this..." Professor Sprout explained as she demonstrated. The young wizards gathered around her stared fixedly at the flowerpot, afraid of missing even the slightest detail.

Professor Sprout patted the dirt from her gloves. "Finally, we only need to water the new pot thoroughly, and the repotting is complete. Your task is to repot the Dittany in front of you. If you have any questions, raise your hand. I'll be nearby."

Zhang San found that what Professor Sprout taught was no different from his own experience growing flowers in the mountains. The only difference was that Hogwarts grew magical plants in its greenhouses, while he grew ornamental plants in his courtyard.

The young wizards began practicing in pairs. Harry and Ron teamed up again, while Zhang San, having no physical form, could only float lonely nearby and act as an armchair commander.

"Why are you yanking it that hard? Gently! You're going to snap the Dittany!"

"The roots! Protect the roots! Carefully loosen the soil!"

"Oh, heavens... You need to firm the soil after filling it in! Press down the soil with your fingers, not the seedling!"

Zhang San felt as though his nonexistent blood pressure was about to shoot up to one hundred eighty. How could people be this clumsy? What terrible sin had this Dittany committed to end up being tortured in Harry and Ron's hands?

"Heaven cherishes all living things..." Zhang San loved flowers. He could not bear to watch a perfectly healthy plant die in the hands of these two Gryffindor brutes.

Other things might have been difficult for Zhang San, but saving a plant at Hogwarts was far too easy for him, a genuine Earth God.

He casually drew upon the spiritual energy within the earth veins and flicked it at the battered Dittany. The plant, which had been drooping listlessly, immediately perked up with renewed vigor.

"Whoa, that's so cool!" Harry Potter cried, drawing glances from the students around them.

Professor Sprout also noticed Harry and Ron's group. She made her way around the other students and came before them, immediately noticing the Dittany that had just been repotted.

"A perfect repotting. Five points to Gryffindor," Professor Sprout said encouragingly as she looked at the thriving Dittany.

Harry and Ron immediately explained, "Professor, we actually did terribly. This Dittany was almost dead. Sry was the one who saved it."

Only then did Professor Sprout notice that there was a special student in the classroom—mainly because Zhang San had been floating in midair since entering the greenhouse, and the professor, who liked to look down at students and potted plants, had not noticed there was something floating overhead.

"Oh... so it's poor student Sild. I'm sorry for what happened to you," Professor Sprout said with feeling.

She was an optimistic and kindly witch, and Zhang San's death filled her with sympathy.

"Thank you, Professor. I'm doing very well now," Zhang San replied with a smile.

Professor Sprout pointed at the Dittany before them and asked, "Child, how did you do all this?"

"Professor Dumbledore invited me to become Hogwarts's God of the Land. Promoting crop growth is within my divine authority. As long as Hogwarts students continue to worship me, I will have enough power to ensure abundant harvests and favorable weather here, and I can even make the precious magical plants in the greenhouse grow faster," Zhang San explained.

Professor Sprout's eyes grew brighter the more she listened. She had worked with magical plants for half her life and knew full well how important Zhang San's ability was for magical plant cultivation.

She had no need for abundant harvests or favorable weather. The school did not lack food, and magical plants were all grown in greenhouses. But accelerating the growth of magical plants was simply wonderful. The more precious a magical plant was, the slower it grew. Being able to speed up their growth would be of great significance for increasing yields and cultivating new generations of improved varieties.

Professor Sprout asked eagerly, "Child, would you like to change houses? I think Hufflepuff would suit you better! You are a God of the Land, and of all Hogwarts, only Hufflepuff is closely connected to the earth."

Zhang San smiled and politely declined. "Sorry, Professor. I'm very happy in Gryffindor, and Professor McGonagall thinks highly of me too. She even invited me to join the Transfiguration Club."

Professor Sprout sighed in disappointment, then asked, "What must I do for you to increase the growth rate of magical plants?"

Like performing a magic trick, Zhang San pulled out a tiny idol and handed it to Professor Sprout. "You can place my Earth God idol in the Hufflepuff common room. Students can pray to me during their free time. Once I receive their prayers, I can use my abilities to bless the plants."

"It's that simple?" Professor Sprout asked.

Zhang San nodded in confirmation. That was right. Promoting plant growth was that simple.

Promoting plant growth truly was the duty of an Earth God. After believers prayed for abundant harvests, the Earth God could bring down timely rain and draw upon the strength of the land to increase production.

Once the Earth God fulfilled a believer's prayer, he could obtain incense and the power of wishes. Incense and wish-power were the measure of an Earth God's achievements.

Zhang San was getting the best of both worlds—he gained Hufflepuff's incense offerings while also earning Professor Sprout's favor.

A workplace with no competing colleagues was simply wonderful. He was the only Hufflepuff auspicious beast.