Free Web NovelChapter 416: Chapter 416: Ashamed
The technician the Chandler family poached from the Hawthorne family had been a bit lazy, so his salary was slightly lower than that of his more diligent colleague. Over time, he grew resentful, so when the Chandlers made an offer, he took the bait immediately.
His father also taught him that employee salaries and bonuses are a major company secret. Staff in key positions, especially, must never be allowed to discuss their pay privately, or the consequences would be endless.
Aston Marsh nodded with every word Adrian Hawthorne spoke. He was now completely won over by the boy and no longer dared to treat him like a child. He felt that even if he lived another forty years, he could never match this level of insight and intellect.
"So, how old are you?" Aston Marsh couldn’t help but ask.
"Mr. Hawthorne is twelve," Xiaonan Thorne chimed in. Although she was once again stunned by Adrian Hawthorne’s business acumen, it wasn’t entirely unexpected. ’He’s a future tycoon, after all. It’s only normal for him to be this amazing.’
Aston Marsh blinked, suddenly feeling a bit ashamed. ’What was I doing when I was twelve? I think I was just messing around with a bad crowd every day, not even bothering to study. I was just drifting through life.’
He glanced over at the tall and sturdy Jim Thorne. ’Though the boy isn’t as smart as Adrian Hawthorne, it’s still impressive that he’s out doing business at such a young age. And this chubby little girl—she’s so articulate and logical. She’s not ordinary either. Kids these days are really something else!’
Overcome with emotion, Aston Marsh felt a brief, three-second pang of shame before clapping Adrian Hawthorne heavily on the shoulder. He said cheerfully, "Come on, dinner’s on me tonight! Let’s go have a feast!"
"We can’t keep letting you treat us. It doesn’t feel right," Goldie Thorne said, a little embarrassed.
"It’s on the company. I don’t have this kind of money myself! HA HA! Don’t worry, just eat. If my factory gets back on its feet, I’ll have no problem treating you to a feast every day," Aston Marsh boomed with laughter. It was just one meal—no big deal!
"As long as you can poach a technician and find a good manager, expanding the factory won’t be difficult."
Adrian Hawthorne’s words made Aston Marsh’s smile freeze. He asked in confusion, "Are you saying the current factory director isn’t managing things well?"
"If he were any good at managing, how could your factory be barely staying afloat?" Adrian Hawthorne retorted.
Even though he had never been to Aston Marsh’s towel factory, he could guess its current state. It was a typical product of the "iron rice bowl" economic system. Vessaria had many similar small factories, all in roughly the same condition as the towel factory—just hanging on by a thread. Everyone from the top down was lazy, just counting the days and drifting along.
Aston Marsh gave a dry laugh, rendered speechless. He actually had a pretty good relationship with the current factory director, who looked out for him. But in all honesty, the director truly had no management talent. He was an uncultured boor who was practically illiterate.
The only words he could write with any semblance of neatness were his own name, "Approved," and "Denied." His signature was a flamboyant scrawl, honed from signing documents every single day.
The director was a veteran who had been given the position upon his discharge from the army. Because of his distinguished service, he was appointed directly as the head of the towel factory. In less than ten years on the job, he had managed to run the factory into the ground, and he bore a great deal of the responsibility for it.
Adrian Hawthorne understood at a glance. He reminded him, "Bringing in new technology is just a temporary fix. To solve the root problem, you need a complete overhaul. Without a good manager, even the most advanced technology will only be a flash in the pan."
Aston Marsh’s expression turned serious. He had taken Adrian Hawthorne’s words to heart and knew this wasn’t just alarmist talk. A manager was indeed crucial, but...
"It’s not my call who gets to be the director. That’s decided by the higher-ups."
