The playboy county magistrate

"Third Uncle, you have great foresight." Li Xuanzhi cupped his hands, extremely excited. "Within Pingzhou, the government will fully support and protect anyone who operates in accordance with regulations and establishes a business with integrity."

The third uncle was overjoyed upon hearing this, and the smile in his eyes deepened.

"With these words from my good nephew, I am completely relieved! This time, I brought dozens of cartloads of rare goods from both the north and south."

"The finest silks from Jiangnan, and the newest furs from the northern frontier. We also have Western spices and grains and teas from various regions that we've brought back from the seaside, all of which are rare in Pingzhou."

"In addition, I have prepared a million taels of silver notes, intending to open a silk shop, a grain shop, a general store and a carriage and horse shop here."

Li Xuanzhi also realized that his third uncle clearly had a complete plan, obviously conceived long ago. The layout was so clear that it was definitely not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

"I know that your new policies are newly implemented, the local treasury is empty, and the people's livelihood needs to be improved."

"I, your third uncle, have come here for two reasons. First, to establish my own business and make money, and to expand my commercial empire. Second, I also want to help you stabilize the economy of Pingzhou."

"Although all dynasties have emphasized agriculture and suppressed commerce, in reality, prosperous merchants lead to bustling markets. Bustling markets lead to abundant tax revenue. Only when commerce develops can your new policies have a solid foundation and lasting impact."

Li Xuanzhi naturally understood the importance of business development.

The reason for prioritizing agriculture and suppressing commerce is simply that those in power are worried about the instability of their position.

In addition, since there were no high-yield crops through hybridization in ancient times, and production was limited, if agricultural production was not increased, most of the population would likely starve to death.

Li Xuanzhi could also understand his third uncle's intentions.

If it weren't for my presence here, why would my third uncle have planned to come here so early?

Before all of this was planned, when Li Xuanzhi first arrived here, no one could have imagined that Pingzhou would be in such a state.

Family members did not seek empty fame or curry favor; they simply provided silent assistance to solidify the foundation of the new policies that Li Xuanzhi had painstakingly laid.

This kind of help, compared to the Chengen Earl's Mansion and even his own half-brother, is what real relatives should be.

Zhang Wanqing, who was standing to the side, finally couldn't help but speak up. Her voice was sweet and soft, carrying the charm and sincerity of a young girl.

"Cousin, my father and I have been wanting to see you for a long time! Wherever you go, everyone praises you as a rare and excellent official. I came here with my father this time, firstly to see you, and secondly to see what Pingzhou, which you have personally governed, looks like, and to see what this enlightened world that everyone praises looks like!"

Her eyes sparkled as she gazed directly at Li Xuanzhi, her gaze filled with affection and admiration, pure and vibrant.

Liu Yunrou stood quietly behind Li Xuanzhi, a faint smile playing on her lips.

She could tell that her cousin was pure-hearted and innocent. She simply admired her brother and had come from afar to visit him.

Gu Pan'er's gaze sharpened slightly, indicating that she was thinking more deeply than Liu Yunrou.

The entry of major merchants into Pingzhou is no small matter.

Firstly, it can quickly revitalize commerce within Pingzhou, making the city prosperous, filling the treasury, and making up for the economic shortcomings of the new policy.

Secondly, it can open up trade routes between the north and south, allowing for the unimpeded flow of goods in Pingzhou and further stabilizing people's livelihoods.

Thirdly, it can attract more legitimate merchants from other places to join the market, which seems to be entirely beneficial.

But Li Xuanzhi's attitude made Gu Pan'er slightly uneasy.

Is this not?

Li Xuanzhi smiled as he looked at Su Wanqing, his gaze gentle and tender.

"Since my cousin has come with her uncle, let her stay a few more days and look around."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wanqing's eyes crinkled into a smile, and she nodded happily, "Thank you, cousin!"

Third Uncle, recalling the rumors he'd heard on the way here, asked directly:

"My dear nephew, I heard you're setting off back to the capital in a few days?"

"Indeed," Li Xuanzhi replied frankly. "News has come from the capital that former officials of the court and the vassal kings have joined forces to obstruct the new policies. I need to return to the capital immediately."

Although my third uncle was a businessman through and through, his keen sense of the political situation was no less than that of any official.

"You can just go back to the capital with peace of mind. I, your third uncle, will take care of all the trade in Pingzhou."

"I will immediately resume business to stabilize market prices. Supplies will also be replenished as soon as possible through various means, and I will ensure that Pingzhou is not destabilized because of your departure."

"We, uncle and nephew, are of one mind, supporting each other both internally and externally, and helping one another."

Li Xuanzhi's biggest concern was that after he went to the capital, there would be no one to support the people's livelihood and economy.

Now, my third uncle has settled down with a large sum of money, which has just made up for this last shortcoming.

"Alright, let's take a look at the map now and discuss the precautions for each shop. Tomorrow, I'll personally accompany my third uncle to inspect the site carefully."

There are many vacant shops on both sides, and if all else fails, there is still open space, so building a new one is not out of the question.

My third uncle was very methodical in choosing locations. First, he specifically chose a prime location at the crossroads of the main street in Pingzhou City for his silk and cloth shop.

This place is the core convergence point of the city's flow of people, customers, and commerce.

It connects to government offices and residences to the north, to ordinary people's homes to the south, to the market and wharf to the east, and to schools and neighborhoods to the west.

It was a place that officials and their families had to pass through when traveling, and also the most convenient place for ordinary people to make purchases.

The storefront is well-organized and grand, with three bays facing the street, making it bright and airy.

The front shop faces the street for sales and display, the middle floor is suitable for garment making, and the back yard is for storage and stocking.

The area is clearly divided into zones, with separate clean tailoring workshops and ironing and drying areas. This eliminates the problems of the old-fashioned workshops that were dirty and chaotic.

For the previous century, the silk and cloth business in Pingzhou was monopolized by powerful families.

Private workshops produced shoddy goods and passed off inferior products as superior ones. Ordinary people could only wear stiff and faded coarse cloth all year round, while the finer silks and satins were all intercepted by aristocratic families and reserved for their own weddings, festivals, and daily wear.

The exorbitant prices set by foreign buyers have created a situation where there are prices but no market, completely jeopardizing the vitality of Pingzhou's garment trade.

Li Xuanzhi's third uncle assured that the silk shop would completely break this constraint, with embroiderers and raw materials sourced from top-tier weaving workshops in Suzhou and Hangzhou and long-established brocade workshops in Shandong.

Dedicated personnel are stationed at the production site year-round to select and inspect materials, and oversee the manufacturing process. Each piece of fabric is imprinted with a unique merchant logo, ensuring authenticity, quality, and traceability, and eliminating substandard, counterfeit, and inferior goods.

The goods are strictly categorized by social class to meet the needs of all people in the city.

The superior varieties include Hangzhou silk, Ningbo silk, Huzhou crepe, Shu brocade, brocade satin with gold brocade and Yunfei yarn, which are delicate and soft in texture and have a rich and lasting color. They are exclusively supplied to the families of local officials and gentry.

The medium-grade items include colorful floral silk, plain silk brocade, finely textured soft cotton, and light-colored gauze, all with a warm and elegant feel, suitable for the daily wear of wealthy families, merchants' families, and scholars in the city.

The affordable clothing categories include refined soft cotton, durable linen yarn, and thickened homespun cloth. These garments undergo a softening process, making them gentle on the skin, washable, and durable, all at extremely low prices. They are specifically designed for rural farmers and urban laborers, ensuring everyone has access to new clothes.

The store displays prices clearly on the front, with no hidden fees, no price gouging, and no discriminatory pricing practices. Children, elderly farmers, and homeless people are all treated equally.

In addition to retail sales, we also offer custom-made services, which can meticulously produce court dress linings, scholar's long gowns, elegant ladies' skirts, and complete wedding brocade sets.

We accept custom orders from both public and private companies throughout the city, with on-time delivery and no delays.

At the same time, a new policy was established to benefit the people: every year at the end of winter, unsold cloth and surplus cotton materials will be sold at half price to provide poor people with warmth.

Those celebrating weddings or taking exams can enjoy exclusive discounts by presenting their local guarantee.

In addition to bringing in embroiderers, it can also boost employment for local tailors, standardize the garment manufacturing industry, and lead a new look for urban fashion.