Clan Building System: I'm not the Protagonist?!
Chapter 63: Fang Yuan [2]

Chapter 63: Fang Yuan [2]

After Fang Jingyi took her seat, Fang Yuan swept his gaze across the assembly, his eyes calm, yet commanding.

"Does anyone have anything to add... before we turn our attention to the Gu family?"

Elder Sun rose from his seat.

He clasped his hands behind his back, voice calm but firm.

"There needs to be a reform in the patrol routines of our family guards," he said.

"And more hands should be stationed near the spirit mines."

As he spoke, his gaze shifted toward Elder Chen. The older man met his eyes and gave a small nod in agreement.

"For now, Elder Chen and I are managing it personally, watching it around the clock."

Fang Yuan gave a brief nod, acknowledging their diligence. His eyes then scanned the room and landed on a younger cultivator.

"You there," he said, gesturing with a subtle flick of his fingers. "What’s your name?"

The youth immediately stood and offered a respectful bow.

"Clan Head. My name is Fang Bo, second son of Fang Khaifu."

Fang Yuan gave a curt nod of approval.

"You’ll be stationed at the Eastern Ravine. Any objections?"

"None, Clan Head," Fang Bo replied, his voice steady. "It is an honor to serve the clan."

Fang Yuan’s lips curled slightly.

"Good. Though I warn you, you’ll likely be bored out of your mind from the constant lectures of the old geezers."

That drew a scoff from Elder Sun and a mock-grimace from Elder Chen.

"Hey now, Nephew," Fang Chen protested, narrowing his eyes with playful indignation.

Fang Yuan ignored him and turned to another youth, a slightly taller boy with a composed bearing.

With a beckoning motion, Fang Yuan said,

"You. Come here."

The boy stepped forward and gave a polite bow.

"Clan Head."

Fang Yuan leaned back slightly, putting on a deeper tone that mimicked something from his former life.

"What’s your name, boy?"

"Fang Yang," the youth replied clearly. "the only son of Fang Lily."

"Good, good," Fang Yuan mused, reaching for his chin in an attempt to stroke a goatee that quite clearly didn’t exist.

"You’ll also be assigned to the Eastern Ravine. Assist in guarding the spirit mine that houses the Spirit Pond. Any objections?"

"None, Clan Head."

Fang Yuan gave another nod of approval and turned toward the elders. "Elder Sun, train these two on the proper path. And you—" he gave Elder Chen a sidelong look, "try not to corrupt them."

That earned a laugh from Elder Sun.

"Don’t worry, Clan Head. I’ll train them properly, your uncle won’t have an influence."

Fang Yuan straightened his posture.

"Now then, if no one else has—"

Ahem.

Elder Yin stood up, brushing off her robes with a composed air as she prepared to speak.

Fang Yuan’s brow twitched ever so slightly as he stared at her.

"Anyone else?" he asked, voice cool and clipped. "Because I’d rather not be interrupted every few moments."

A round of silent glances circled the room. One by one, the elders shook their heads.

Fang Yuan exhaled slowly. "Good. Go ahead, Elder Yin."

She gave a polite bow before clearing her throat delicately.

"The village I currently oversee... is facing a rather serious issue, clan head."

She paused.

Fang Yuan’s expression didn’t change, but internally—

Here we go.

He waited. And waited.

She still didn’t continue.

His fingers twitched ever so slightly on the armrest.

Woman, speak already! What issues?

But outwardly, his voice remained smooth as jade.

"What happened?"

Elder Yin nodded, as if relieved to finally be nudged along.

"Well, clan head, it’s like this. And—well, it’s not really their fault. But you see... there’s this one river, and um, the thing is—uh—the river water doesn’t exactly flow into their fields, and so... because the water doesn’t reach the fields..."

Fang Yuan closed his eyes briefly.

So they can’t irrigate, which means they can’t farm—

He cut in, his tone still polite, but firm.

"So. They need help diverting the river toward their farmland. Is that it?"

Her eyes brightened instantly. "Exactly! That’s exactly it, clan head! I knew you’d understand me."

Fang Yuan offered a thin smile, leaning back slightly.

Ah. Now I understand why Father assigned her to a remote village.

She really did struggle to get to the point.

Fang Yuan tapped his fingers on the table in thought.

"A river that flows near the fields, but doesn’t enter them... huh."

He narrowed his eyes.

"Then why not dig narrow trenches—small canals—starting from upstream and guiding the water where it’s needed?"

Elder Yin blinked, confused. "Trenches...?"

Fang Yuan nodded calmly. "Yes. Carve shallow paths from the river and direct the water using the slope of the land. A system of channels—controlled paths. That way, even if the river itself doesn’t shift course, the water still reaches the fields."

Elder Yin’s jaw dropped slightly. "Clan head... that’s... that’s brilliant!"

She clapped her hands together, stunned. "Trenches... as water paths... I never thought of that! So simple, yet so... elegant! Even children can dig with proper tools. And we don’t have to rely on spirit beasts or formation stones!"

The other elders glanced at each other, some murmuring, clearly impressed.

Fang Yuan gave a lazy shrug, as if it were nothing.

"It’s a small idea. But if executed right, it’ll save your village a lot of effort. Assign a few cultivators to oversee it, and get the villagers to help dig."

Elder Yin’s eyes lit up with realization, and she spun toward Fang Ruì seated in the corner.

"Fang Ruì! Quick, write that down—this method! From this day forth, let it be known as the Flow Guidance Technique!"

Her voice practically sang with excitement as she gestured with both hands, as if envisioning flowing rivers across farmlands.

"If it works in my village, who’s to say it won’t work elsewhere? We could bring life to every dry patch of land the clan owns!"

Fang Ruì quietly nodded, scribbling the new term down.

Elder Yin bowed low, looking genuinely grateful. "Thank you, clan head. You’ve saved that village more than you know."

Fang Yuan remained composed, but a faint flicker of amusement glinted in his eyes.

A simple irrigation ditch suddenly became a legendary cultivation technique. Hah... so be it.

Fang Yuan gave a dismissive wave, but a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

Sometimes, the simplest knowledge from the old world... is worth more than a hundred spirit stones here.