"Teacher Lin has a special powder. You can just ask him for it and sprinkle it. The roots will rot away," Gu Jun said.
Zhu Yanyi shook her head. "I will pull these roots out and put them aside. Then I will add my special powder. When they rot, they make good fertilizer. If the roots rot right here in the field, the soil gets dirty. Some herbs cannot grow in dirty soil."
Zhu Yanyi knew the easy way. But she wanted to do things right. Many people thought rotting roots were good fertilizer. But no one knew that some roots release poison when they rot. This poison hurts the herbs.
So Zhu Yanyi collected the roots. She put them in one place to rot. This made good fertilizer for the right herbs. It did not waste anything. It did not hurt the field.
Gu Jun had never heard this. "Really? Rotting roots are not good fertilizer?"
Zhu Yanyi rolled her eyes. "Are you sure you know how to farm?"
"Farming has many rules. Some roots never rot. Some roots release poison. This poison changes the soil. It hurts the crops.
So farmers usually remove the roots. They do not use medicine to rot them in the ground. My way is slow. But it is the best. I do not worry about leaving any roots behind."
Gu Jun looked stunned. "So, my field could not grow some herbs because of this?"
"Herbs need the right environment," Zhu Yanyi looked at Gu Jun.
"I do not know how you farmed before. But I do not like shortcuts. If I used shortcuts, you would know. I have enough powder to turn these weeds into juice. But that would hurt the field’s natural power."
Zhu Yanyi looked at Gu Jun seriously. "Did you really hurt the field’s natural power?"
Gu Jun shook his head, confused. "I am not sure. I just asked Teacher Lin for the powder. The weeds disappeared quickly."
Zhu Yanyi looked at her, speechless. "I am actually impressed your herbs could still grow."
"Everyone here does it this way," Gu Jun said seriously.
Zhu Yanyi thought for a moment. "Can I see your field?"
"Of course," Gu Jun smiled. "We are all brothers and sisters. No need to be polite." He led the way.
Zhu Yanyi followed Gu Jun to her field.
She was growing a herb called Thousand-Face Red. The useful part was the large, bowl-sized flower. Specifically, the petals. The flower center was useless. The petals could be used for medicine or alchemy.
Zhu Yanyi looked at the herbs. Then she squatted down. She picked up some soil. She smelled it. Then she looked at Gu Jun strangely.
Gu Jun felt nervous. "Fifteen, why are you looking at me like that?"
Zhu Yanyi sighed. "Come with me."
She took a handkerchief. She wrapped some of Gu Jun’s soil in it. She led Gu Jun away. They went to Teacher Lin’s place in the herb garden.
Teacher Lin was surprised to see them. "What is the matter?"
Gu Jun shrugged. "I followed Fifteen. Ask her."
Zhu Yanyi took out her handkerchief. She opened it and gave the soil to Teacher Lin. "Teacher Lin, smell this soil."
Teacher Lin looked at Zhu Yanyi and Gu Jun. She picked up the soil and smelled it. She shook her head. "Nothing special. Just smells like dirt."
Zhu Yanyi rubbed her forehead. "I guess the Heavenly Dao is helping us stay alive."
She took a bowl from nearby. She poured a cup of clear water into it. Just water. Then she used a small jade thumb shovel. She put a little soil into the water. She took a silver needle and stirred it.
The silver needle turned completely black.
"Poison! There is poison!" Gu Jun was stunned. Teacher Lin was stunned too.
Zhu Yanyi said calmly, "You used a powder to corrode the weed roots. The roots are mixed together. They formed a hidden poison. So, toxic herbs grow very well here.
But other herbs cannot grow. Over time, the poison erodes the soil. If this continues, this field can only grow toxic herbs in the future."
Teacher Lin hurriedly said, "I will report to the Dean. This must be handled." He rushed to notify the Dean.
Xi Muzheng saw Zhu Yanyi. She was not surprised. This girl always found something. And it was always a good thing.
After hearing Teacher Lin’s report, Xi Muzheng looked at Zhu Yanyi. "Zhu Yanyi, is all the field toxic?"
"I do not know. I only took soil from Third Brother’s field. I know the fields with weeds are safe. But I do not know about the others you opened. This was just an accident," Zhu Yanyi shrugged. She did not expect to find this.
Xi Muzheng nodded slightly. He understood. Then he said, "Can you help everyone identify the toxic fields?"
"I do not need to do it. Everyone can take some water and a silver needle. Put the soil in the water. Stir with the silver needle. It is very simple," Zhu Yanyi said calmly.
If she had to do all this simple work, she would be too busy.
The fields in the Sage Academy had owners. So they could verify it themselves. It was very simple.
Xi Muzheng nodded. He immediately ordered everyone in the academy to check their fields.
Soon, the results came out. Basically, all the fields had some poison. It was just a matter of how deep or shallow it was.
After knowing the results, Zhu Yanyi looked at Xi Muzheng. "Dean, who made the powder we use in the fields?"
Xi Muzheng looked at Teacher Lin. He pointed at him. "Teacher Lin made it."
Zhu Yanyi hummed. Then she looked at Teacher Lin. "Teacher Lin, did you not think about this problem when you made the powder?"