A rooster cried out in the early dawn, the sound echoing crisply across the valley like a reminder that no matter how hidden, a place still needed discipline. Yang Xu opened his eyes to a warm beam of light slipping through a thatched window. It was his third week in this hidden valley, and the place was beginning to look slightly less like abandoned wilderness and more like something that resembled a "developing village."
Yang Xu sat up slowly, scratching his head. His messy hair stuck out like a rebellious straw broom. "System, don't even think about staying quiet today. I need some serious help. Where's my beginner's construction pack?"
The familiar robotic voice chimed in with faint mockery, "Host has achieved 'Land Clearing Milestone I'—rewarding with Basic Infrastructure Blueprint, Timber Refinement Toolset, and Intermediate Farming Techniques (Tang-Adapted)."
A scroll appeared midair, fluttering open before folding itself neatly and falling right onto his lap.
He blinked. "Huh. Not bad. Wait—why farming?"
"Host has cultivated 0.3 mu of land with soybeans, rotated wild yam patches, and trained three villagers in basic irrigation—this reflects foundational agricultural reform. Agriculture and housing are inseparable. Reward calculated based on contribution to early survival infrastructure."
"Alright, alright. I get it. No need to lecture me, Professor System."
He stepped outside the wooden hut that Old Zhao insisted be called the 'Command Hall.' Though truthfully, it looked more like a fancier chicken coop with doors. The cool morning breeze hit his face as he scanned the surroundings.
Old Zhao, hunched but alert, was already barking orders at a few young lads sharpening bamboo poles. A makeshift watchtower, about two zhang tall, stood proudly at the entrance of the valley. It looked... a little drunk, like it would fall if someone sneezed too hard, but it worked.
"Old Zhao!" Yang Xu waved.
The old butler turned with a raised brow, eyes sharp despite his age. "Ah, Young Master. Did you sleep well? We've begun fencing the west edge. Wild boars have been pushing in."
"Didn't we already scare them off last week?"
Old Zhao chuckled dryly. "They brought friends. Big ones."
Yang Xu sighed. "Alright, double the fence. Use thornbushes if we're low on bamboo."
"Already ahead of you."
Yang Xu took a long breath, then opened the blueprint scroll the system gave him. Blue lines glowed on the surface, forming a simple but efficient village layout—roads, drainage, housing plots, and even waste disposal trenches.
It wasn't a palace, but it was enough.
He called over several villagers and began pointing at the diagram. "Alright, listen up! This here's going to be our main road. Two carts wide. We'll lay stones from the creek bed and compact it. The stream curves through here—so we'll channel a portion to run past every household for easy access."
One young man scratched his head. "What's a cart?"
"Uh... big wooden thing with wheels that carries stuff."
"Oooh!"
They got to work fast. Stones were dragged and stacked, logs were stripped of bark, and basic ditches were dug. A few men grumbled at first, but after a short break where Yang Xu cooked up some yam-and-soybean stew (sprinkled with salt Old Zhao somehow smuggled in from who-knows-where), even the laziest ones started swinging their tools like professionals.
**
By the third day of construction, something changed.
As Yang Xu hammered a wooden beam into place, the system voice rang again.
"Triggering Hidden Achievement: 'Community Catalyst'—You have successfully formed a working group of ten or more unskilled individuals and guided them into organized manual labor for mutual benefit. Reward: Village Notice Board (Blueprint), +1 to Local Morale Buffs, Minor Reputation Increase."
"Now that's more like it!" he laughed.
Of course, the so-called "Notice Board" was just a large wooden frame for announcements, rules, and schedules, but once installed, villagers started checking it every morning like it was sacred. Someone even drew a chicken with a crown on it and labeled it "Our Mayor." Yang Xu didn't have the heart to erase it.
That evening, the scent of roasted yam and sautéed greens wafted through the air. Families gathered around small fires, sharing stories, laughter, and the occasional exaggerated fish tale.
It was the first time the valley felt less like exile and more like home.
**
Days passed.
The drainage ditches were finally complete—carved carefully to curve with the land's natural incline, preventing flooding while still providing clean irrigation. Villagers began making simple bricks from mud, clay, and straw under Yang Xu's guidance. The first brick house stood by the end of the second week.
"A house made from dried dirt?" One villager raised a brow.
Yang Xu grinned. "Dried dirt that won't rot in the rain or collapse on your head. Trust me—it's luxury."
That same day, Old Zhao came with a serious face.
"Young Master. We've spotted unfamiliar tracks along the outer cliffs. Someone's been nearby."
Yang Xu stiffened. "Bandits?"
"Possibly scouts. Or just curious hunters. But the county may not stay hidden forever."
Yang Xu nodded solemnly. The system remained silent, but the tension in the air grew denser. For now, they had to work fast but stay invisible.
That night, while others slept, he sat by the newly built well and whispered, "System, don't hand me any flying cars or magic weapons. Just give me one quiet season. Let me build this place right."
The system buzzed faintly. "Acknowledged."
**
As the moon hung high and silver over the valley, a chicken strutted up to the newly built notice board and pecked at the drawing of "Mayor Chicken" with great dignity. In the distance, a flute sounded softly—off-key and a little squeaky.
A hidden voice in the wind muttered, "Ai ya, I transmigrated into the wrong background again? Where's my golden finger?" before vanishing into the night.
Yang Xu sneezed and muttered, "Who the hell's writing such nonsense outside my story?"