Training Begins

Greta said happily, "Don't worry, I promise to get the job done! The Textile Works will start training tomorrow, and I really want to see what this so-called power loom is all about."

Early the next morning, the female workers of the Textile Works gathered on time and first ate a free, standardized breakfast in the factory cafeteria.

In the cafeteria, Greta warmly approached Mrs. Lu and Mrs. Zane.

"Wow, the food here at the factory is really delicious, and there’s even meat!" Mrs. Zane said joyfully as she ate, "This is so much better than what I eat at home."

Mrs. Lu agreed, "Yes, the food at the Textile Works is really good. Chancellor Evans treats us so well."

Greta didn’t really care, but on the surface she acted just like everyone else, praising the Textile Works and Chancellor Evans.

After breakfast, the female workers assembled and officially began their training.

The female supervisor stood before everyone and said, "Yesterday I trained you on workplace safety. You must remember what you learned yesterday, understood?"

"Understood!" the women responded in unison.

The supervisor said, "Good. Today, I’ll teach you how to use the machines. Line up and follow me into the Weaving Hall. Remember the safety manual, and don’t touch anything you’re not supposed to! These machines must be operated properly—otherwise you could lose a hand or a foot, and you’ll be the one hurting!"

The female workers gasped, "This machine could really take off a hand or a foot?" Instantly, everyone straightened up, nodding quickly, "Don’t worry, Supervisor, we won’t touch a thing!"

Only then did the Female Supervisor look satisfied. She pulled out a key and unlocked the doors to the Weaving Hall.

As the doors swung open, three enormous Power Looms stood revealed, each one several times the size of the traditional looms the workers used at home.

What’s more, these three looms looked like they were made of iron, with a structure so complicated it made your head spin.

Everyone looked at each other, completely lost. None of them had ever seen such complicated machines before, let alone knew how to use them.

Greta blended into the crowd, her eyes glued to the Power Looms. She couldn’t help but wonder: How on earth do you work something this big? Just how many people—and how much muscle—would it take to press those pedals and get the thing moving?

Was that why they’d hired so many women—to act as pedal-pushers for these monster machines?

But if it’s all about brute strength, wouldn’t it make more sense to hire men?

Greta mulled it over, but for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out how these machines were supposed to run.

Of course, Greta had no idea these were electric-powered. She just assumed they worked like the old looms—with hand cranks and foot pedals.

Mrs. Zane, standing nearby, tugged Mrs. Lu and Greta closer and whispered, "Those looms are huge! And so complicated—look at all those crisscrossing threads. I have no idea how anyone’s supposed to weave with that."

Mrs. Lu, ever the optimist, patted Mrs. Zane’s hand and said, "What’s there to worry about? That’s what the training’s for! We don’t know how to use them yet, but that’s exactly why the factory is teaching us."

Mrs. Zane shot her a look. "You say that, but what if we mess up and break something? What if the supervisor docks our pay?"

The Female Supervisor saw everyone had gathered and had them form a circle around the Power Looms, then began teaching them how to use the machines.

"I'm about to turn on the loom, so pay close attention! No one is allowed to touch the machine yet—if you do, and lose a hand or a foot, don’t say I didn’t warn you!" The Female Supervisor swept her gaze over the crowd, brows furrowed.

Greta joined the chorus, but quietly edged behind Mrs. Zane, ready to push her toward the machine at a moment’s notice if things got dicey.