Chapter 643 The First Investment Promotion Conference
The market in Dahe Town originally consisted of only one street. It was expanded once, and then when the town was rebuilt, the imperial court allocated funds for another expansion.
The shops that have been expanded this time are all very large and grand, starting with three floors. They are built next to the original market and look magnificent.
"There are twenty shops in total, all for big businesses," Magistrate Zhao explained. "This shop could be used as a money exchange, this one is suitable for a pawnshop, how about this one for a security escort agency, and this one would also be good as a teahouse..."
Since Dahe Town is going to develop, it can't just be small-scale businesses. Dahe Town must have the same shops that other towns have.
But there's a problem...
“No one in our village knows how to run a money exchange or pawnshop,” County Magistrate Zhao said, stroking his chin. “Aunt Dashan, you’re so smart, why don’t you take care of all these shops? Just pay some rent to the town every month.”
Cheng Wanwan blushed with embarrassment: "Uncle, you think too highly of me. I really don't know how to do these things."
She doesn't even understand modern banking systems, let alone the more complex operations of ancient money shops. I hope she doesn't cause any trouble.
Professional matters should be left to professionals.
She looked up at the rows of shops lining the street, and an idea slowly surfaced in her mind.
“Since no one in Dahe Town knows how to do this, let’s let someone who does run it.” She said with a smile, “Have Tiezhu write a notice and post it down saying that the third phase of the Dahe Town market has been completed and is open to business from all sectors of society.”
County Magistrate Zhao tilted his head: "What do you mean by 'attracting investment'?"
“The meaning of ‘attracting investment’ is to recruit merchants to operate these shops.” Cheng Wanwan’s smile widened. “After the canal in Dahe Town is completed, no one can predict how large the market here will become. If you can own a shop here, it will become a money tree when the canal opens. Not to mention making a fortune every day, earning a hundred taels of silver a day should be easy.”
County Magistrate Zhao was well aware that the market would continue to grow, which is why he kept the ownership of these shops in their own hands and refused to sell them.
Originally, the idea was to have one of their own people run it, but everyone was just a genuine farmer. They were good at selling things, but they really didn't know how to run a pawnshop or money exchange.
He swallowed hard. "I'll have Tiezhu post the notice right away."
"However, there is a prerequisite." Cheng Wanwan paused and said, "Everyone knows this is a good thing. If everyone rushes to Dahe Town to compete for the operating rights, we won't be able to accommodate them all. So we're raising the bar. Only merchants who have contributed to the canal in Dahe Town can obtain an investment promotion license in Dahe Town and enter the meeting with their investment promotion license number."
"Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!" County Magistrate Zhao couldn't help but give a thumbs up. "Big Mountain Mother, no one can match your brains."
The market raises funds for the canal, and the canal, in turn, promotes the prosperity and development of the market. The two complement each other, and the future of Dahe Town is likely to be transformed...
This matter cannot be delayed, so County Magistrate Zhao and Zhao Tiezhu immediately set about it.
Merchants come and go in Dahe Town every day. After the notice was posted, it sparked a huge discussion, and then these merchants spread the news to other places.
The investment promotion conference is scheduled for 21 days from now, enough for businessmen from far away to attend.
During these twenty-one days, Cheng Wanwan mainly focused on setting up the investment promotion venue, turning the largest high-ceilinged shop on the third floor into a conference room. She arranged the furnishings in a high-end and luxurious manner, and even contributed some imperial gifts such as vases, screens, corals, and potted plants to display. This made County Magistrate Zhao and Tiezhu very worried, fearing that the items would be damaged or broken.
If Dahe Town wants to grow bigger and stronger, it cannot afford to leave any room for criticism in the details.
At the same time, exquisite investment promotion number plates were also made, with a black background and gold and silver trim. Master Yu personally wrote the numbers, and the investment promotion rules were clearly written in small print on the back.
Merchants from Huzhou who had already donated silver came to collect their number plates.
Upon hearing the news, some merchants from nearby Nanyang and Qingzhou rushed over. After touring Dahe Town, they were convinced that it was a place with auspicious feng shui, so they did not hesitate to participate in the fundraising and exchange their donation certificates for meeting number plates.
Out-of-town businessmen who have been cooperating with Cheng Wanwan will also choose to stay in Dahe Town to join in the fun if they don't have anything important to do back home. After all, this is the first time they've heard of an investment promotion conference in all their years of life. It sounds very interesting. If they are lucky enough to obtain the operating rights of a shop, they might be able to build a family business empire in Dahe Town.
As a result, more and more merchants came to Dahe Town, and the small inn was completely full. The inns in Ping'an County were also full.
So, Magistrate Zhao made the decision to select one of the twenty shops to become a branch of the Dahe Inn. However, this branch was a three-story building with more exquisite decorations, so it was exclusively for the wealthy, while the original inn was for ordinary people.
Previously, there were twenty shops to compete for, but now, there are only nineteen left. The merchants sensed a crisis.
In mid-to-late June, the weather gradually got warmer.
In this sweltering season, the first investment promotion conference of Dahe Town officially began.
Early in the morning, people were constantly coming and going in the town. The village office arranged for people to guide the way at the entrance, some were responsible for arranging vehicles and horses, and others were responsible for leading the businessmen to their seats in the investment promotion center. The huge venue was already crowded with people.
Merchants who donate more than one thousand taels of silver can sit on the third floor, those who donate more than five hundred taels can sit on the second floor, and the rest can sit in the lobby on the first floor.
Fortunately, this shop is big enough to accommodate several hundred people; otherwise, we would have had to hold the meeting at the big locust tree.
The merchants gathered together, and they were all extremely shocked.
The main stage in front was temporarily covered by a screen. The screen was embroidered with a common pattern of flowers symbolizing wealth and prosperity, yet it somehow exuded an air of richness and luxury.
There were also coral bonsai on the shelves in the corner. These things are hard to buy even if you have money, but Dahe Town just puts them out so casually, without worrying about them being damaged.
The two large vases at the entrance are particularly eye-catching; they're clearly not cheap items...
After everyone had admired the decorations of the venue, they began to discuss it.
"This shop is really big, every floor is very grand, it would be great to open a brothel."
"Sui Gongren said that any kind of shop can be opened, except for brothels and gambling dens, otherwise she will never be allowed to enter Dahe Town again."
"I was just joking. Actually, it would be great to use it for money lending business. With so many merchants coming and going, money lending businesses would make a fortune."
"Everyone thinks the same way; it's just a matter of whether they're lucky enough to get the operating rights."
"This number plate says that you need to participate in an auction to compete for the operating rights. I would like to ask everyone here, what does the word 'auction' mean?"
Everyone looked completely bewildered.
They had never even heard of the word "auction" before, let alone "investment promotion."
Just as I was completely bewildered, a group of people walked in through the entrance.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
