"In garment manufacturing, the most important thing is to mobilize the enthusiasm of our employees. Reducing errors can save a significant amount of cost."
Chen Lishu nodded, "How is the recruitment going?"
"We currently have seventy-five people who have reported for duty. We've put the word out, and more people will definitely be coming in gradually."
Thinking of something, Nan Haitao chuckled, "As the General Manager, perhaps you should say a few words to everyone and boost their morale before production starts?"
Chen Lishu replied, "That sounds good. We can gather everyone together shortly."
Seeing her agreement, Nan Haitao got up to make arrangements.
Not long after, all the factory employees were gathered in the workshop.
There were many people, and they weren't all familiar with each other, standing in twos and threes, quietly exchanging information.
"What's your name? Which district is your home in?"
"Really? That's farther than me. Commuting will be a bit of a hassle. Yes, it's hard to find employers these days. I couldn't believe it when I saw the newspaper ad for jobs; my heart is still racing."
"Isn't our manager Manager Nan? Why is there someone surnamed Chen?"
"Ms. Chen is the General Manager, and Manager Nan is her deputy. I came earlier than you, so I know more. Look, here they come."
As Chen Lishu and Nan Haitao walked in, those who had been whispering immediately stood up straight and looked at the two.
Upon seeing that Chen Lishu was a young and beautiful woman in her twenties, some of the later employees were a bit taken aback.
"I imagine most of you are familiar with me. I was responsible for your training. However, some of you have only reported for duty in the last couple of days. Allow me to reintroduce myself. My surname is Nan, and I am the factory's Deputy General Manager..."
After Nan Haitao finished speaking, applause immediately erupted from below.
Everyone had a good impression of this deputy general manager. He wore glasses, looked young, spoke politely, and was very patient during training. Meeting such a good leader suggested that everyone would have good days ahead.
Nan Haitao, observing the reactions from below, could roughly guess their thoughts, but he said nothing, merely turning to look at Chen Lishu.
"Hello everyone, my surname is Chen." She didn't offer much more self-introduction, speaking only a few words before getting straight to the point.
"I've gathered everyone here today, firstly, to help you all get to know each other better, and secondly, to discuss what concerns you most, which is salary and benefits..."
She then detailed the salary and various benefits.
"Although your positions may differ, as long as you complete your tasks on time, with quality and quantity, I guarantee that earning over a hundred yuan will not be a problem."
As soon as she finished speaking, the employees below erupted.
Currently, the wages in other factories were generally forty to fifty yuan. Even for frontline workers in the best-performing factories, seventy to eighty yuan was the absolute ceiling.
Here, they could earn over a hundred yuan!
"If we can really earn that much, I'll be happy to do anything."
"Thank goodness I came to apply. My neighbor even made snide remarks. The real thing these days is earning money."
Ignoring the murmurs below, Chen Lishu continued, "In addition to performance bonuses, we also have monthly, quarterly, and annual assessments. Employees who consistently receive excellent evaluations will, in addition to their salary, receive an extra fifty yuan monthly award, a two-hundred-yuan quarterly award, and a five-hundred-yuan year-end bonus."
"Five hundred yuan! That's practically a year's salary for someone else! This factory is too generous!" Many employees straightened their chests, their eyes filled with eagerness and a determination to win the assessment bonuses.
Chen Lishu scanned the more than seventy faces before her, then shifted her tone, her expression becoming serious. "Of course, where there are rewards, there are also penalties."
She had dressed intentionally for school today in a mature and capable style. Now, with a slight frown and her full aura unleashed, the initial excitement of the employees subsided considerably.
"For the factory to be profitable, we cannot afford to keep idle hands. I don't care what you did before or where you worked. Once you are in the factory, you must obey the leadership's arrangements. Do you see that blackboard over there?"
Following her finger, everyone turned to look. At the back of the workshop hung a blackboard nearly two to three meters long.
"Since there are assessments, there will be both excellent and poor performance. If your performance fails to meet standards for three consecutive months, you will be asked to leave immediately."
"Whoa..."
Everyone exploded in a flurry of murmurs.
Their previously excited expressions now held a touch of nervousness.
"Strict requirements lead to excellent results. I hope everyone will work together. If the factory performs well, your benefits will naturally not be lacking." Chen Lishu felt she had made her point and shifted the topic back to what interested them.
"As you can all see, the cafeteria and dormitory are under construction. In a while, the factory will also purchase buses to arrange commuting for everyone... In short, the factory's performance is directly related to everyone's benefits. Let's all work towards the same goal and put in our best effort. I guarantee that the factory will absolutely not mistreat any employee who dedicates themselves diligently."
As soon as she finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted from below.
After the two managers finished speaking, Nan Haitao began arranging the division into groups.
The team leaders would be the employees who had previously gone to the national cotton mill for training. They would lead the new employees in familiarizing themselves with the machinery.
Yuan Lihua and two other masters had successfully debugged the sample garment, and formal production could now commence.
Zhao Xingwang and Li Qiang had been busy with market promotion during this period. Besides successfully securing orders for Feng Jie and some individual customers, totaling over a thousand pieces, Nan Haitao had also contacted old clients, bringing in another two thousand pieces.
There were still three more clothing stores. Chen Lishu planned to produce five thousand pieces for the initial run.
Without clients pushing for immediate delivery, there was more flexibility in terms of time. Chen Lishu did not require employees to work in shifts, only regular day shifts.
Time unknowingly moved into July. Rui Rui's school finished its final exams and officially began its summer vacation.
Two days before the exams, the elder Mr. and Mrs. He had called, making subtle inquiries.
Knowing that he would only be staying at his grandparents' house for a short period, Rui Rui was no longer as resistant as he had initially been.
"Your uncle will pick you up tomorrow. When you get there, don't get too carried away and neglect your homework. You need to sleep and wake up early. Grandma and Grandpa are old, so please don't make them angry."
Chen Lishu, while packing her son's belongings, couldn't help but nag him.
"Mom, can my younger brother and sister come with me? Sister Mingqi said she wants to take me to climb the Great Wall and teach me rollerblading. I can take them to play too."
"They are still too young. They can go with you when they are older," Chen Lishu said, tucking her son's holiday homework into a compartment of the suitcase.
"Mom will come to pick you up herself when she has time. Also, here is one hundred yuan. Mom knows you're a good child and won't spend it carelessly. If there's anything you want to eat and you feel shy to ask Grandma and Grandpa, just buy it yourself."
Rui Rui took the money and said, "I understand, Mom."