英语翻译
APayRiseorNot?
“UnlessIgetarise,I’llhaveatalkwiththeboss,HenryManley,”GeorgeStrongsaidtohimself.Georgelikedhisjobandhelikedthetownhelivedin,buthiswifekepttellinghimthathispaywasnotenoughtomeettheneedsofthefamily.ThatwaswhyhewasthinkingoftakingajobinBirmingham,anearbycityabout50milesaway.Hehadbeenofferedajobinafactorythere,andthepaywasfarbetter.
GeorgelivedinWyeford,amedium-sizedtown.Hereallylikedtheplaceanddidn’tliketheideaofmovingsomewhereelse,butifhetookthejobinBirmingham,hewouldhavetomovehisfamilythere.
HenryManleywasthemanagerofasmallcompanymanufacturingelectricmotors.Thecompanywasindeeptroublebecause,amongotherreasons,theJapaneseweresellingsuchthingsatverylowprices.Asaresult,Manleyhadtocuthisownpricesandprofitsaswell.Otherwisehewouldnotgetanyordersatall.Eventhen,orderswerestillnotcominginfastenough,sothattherewasnomoneyforraises(加工资)forhisworkers.Somehow,hehadtostrugglealongandkeephisbestworkersaswell.Hesighed.Justthenthephonerang.
HissecretarytoldhimthatGeorgeStrongwantedtoseehimassoonaspossible.Manleysighedagain.Hecouldguesswhatitwasabout.GeorgeStrongwasaveryyoungengineer.Thecompanyhadnofutureunlessitcouldattractandkeepmenlikehim.Manleyrubbedhisforehead(前额);hisproblemsseemedendless.