Free Web NovelChapter 453: Chapter 453: Go All Out
Tang Xiaonan didn’t know how Adrian Hawthorne had managed to persuade the three patriarchs of the Thorne family. In any case, by evening, an excited Phoebe Huxley was directing the father-son duo of Felix and Jim Thorne as they carried a sewing machine over to the Hawthorne residence. The families of Preston Thorne and Shane Thorne had already arrived. Three sewing machines were now set up in the Hawthornes’ living room.
The house was packed. Preston Thorne and Shane Thorne were there, as were Byron Thorne and Raina. Also present were Preston Thorne’s youngest daughter-in-law, Fiona Rhodes, and Shane Thorne’s second daughter-in-law, Sylvia Swann. They had been sent as their families’ representatives because they were the most skilled at sewing.
"Kenneth, can you explain the details again?" Preston Thorne said. "I’m still not quite clear on it."
Byron Thorne nodded. "I don’t get it either. Where are we going to get all that fabric to make clothes?"
Adrian Hawthorne smiled. "Don’t worry about the fabric. I can guarantee a steady supply. A relative of mine is in the management at a textile mill."
Byron Thorne’s eyes flickered. He finally understood. ’So that’s where my youngest son and the others got all that fabric. No wonder there was so much! It turns out his relative is a manager at a textile mill.’
Adrian Hawthorne continued, "The reason I’ve asked you aunties to come work here at my house is to save time. This way, you’ll earn more money. My mother will be in charge of cutting the fabric, and the three of you will be responsible for assembly. The pay is sixty cents per finished garment, settled at the end of each day."
’He actually would have preferred an assembly line, since it’s more efficient. Phoebe Huxley and the others would have definitely earned more that way. But there was a problem: assembly line wages would be egalitarian. He had set the rate at sixty cents per garment, which would mean twenty cents per person for a three-person line. Over time, conflicts would inevitably arise.’
’Each of the three women would likely start to feel she was doing more work and deserved a larger share of the money. As days turned into months, the friction would only intensify, possibly even damaging their relationships as relatives. And he would be caught in the middle, unable to please anyone.’
So, Adrian Hawthorne had come up with a different method: Rosalind Green would be responsible for cutting the fabric, and the others would each complete a full garment individually. This way, those who worked more earned more, and no one would have any objections.
Although it was slightly less efficient, this method was more practical and would prevent conflicts.
Everyone’s eyes lit up. Sixty cents for a single garment! The women were all quick with their hands; making five or six pieces a day would be no problem at all. Even at just five pieces, that was three dollars a day! That was much more than they earned from a day of farm labor.
"Really sixty cents?" Fiona Rhodes asked, unable to believe it.
She was petite and not very strong. Her two older sisters-in-law always earned full work points, while she never could. Although her parents-in-law never said anything, she felt stifled and frustrated. If Adrian Hawthorne was really offering sixty cents a piece, she would grit her teeth and make ten a day. One day of her work would be worth ten for others. It would be her chance to finally hold her head high.
Sylvia Swann and Phoebe Huxley felt the same way. They were absolutely going to make their husbands look at them with new respect. ’Chairman Mao said women can hold up half the sky. Well, we’ll just have to tear down the other half, too, and let those chauvinistic men be ashamed of themselves!’
Adrian Hawthorne smiled and nodded. "Yes, sixty cents, settled daily. However, I have to be blunt: quality is a must. If the workmanship is too sloppy, I won’t pay for the piece. When that time comes, aunties, don’t blame me."
"Why would we blame you?" Phoebe Huxley said casually. "If we do a bad job, we wouldn’t have the face to ask for money. We’d die of shame!"
Fiona Rhodes and Sylvia Swann also nodded, a competitive spark igniting in their hearts. They were determined to work both fast and well, each striving to earn the highest wage of the three.
Phoebe Huxley, of course, was thinking the exact same thing.
Shane Thorne and Preston Thorne now understood the plan as well. They exchanged surprised glances. ’Looks like the Hawthorne boy is planning to go big, huh?’
Byron Thorne, however, was very worried. "Isn’t this considered speculation and profiteering? Will the authorities come and investigate?"
