Chapter 282: Shennong Pharmaceutical Group

Ting Ting nodded and said: "Exactly, exactly, I've been thinking about this too. You really helped him out this time—you could even say you saved his life."

Ning Jinli smiled and said: "It's fine, I don't care about those things."

"Ning Jinli, I'll wait for you outside the hotel," Xiao Qidi said, then stepped ahead.

Ning Jinli then returned to the gathering's private room with the other five.

The classmates in the private room saw them return and turned their gazes toward them.

Si Ya noticed Ning Jinli's boyfriend wasn't there and, in a strange tone, said: "Why is someone missing? Was he beaten up by Wang Kai and taken away by an ambulance?"

Ning Jinli calmly said: "No need to worry, my boyfriend is doing great."

Si Ya laughed and said: "Yo, still being stubborn, anyone who offends Wang Kai won't have a good ending—I know this better than anyone. The fact that you're unharmed also proves Wang Kai ruined your boyfriend; otherwise, how could you have escaped? I actually admire you—even after something happened, you can stay this calm, just like you did in college."

Beside Ning Jinli, the few who knew the truth saw Si Ya's self-satisfied expression, felt indignant, and wanted to rebut her for Ning Jinli, but Ning Jinli stopped them with a glance.

"Everyone," Ning Jinli said, looking around, "you keep gathering; we'll head out first."

Zhang Haoyang, who had been the class monitor earlier and, thanks to the recent incident, had inadvertently established his image again before everyone, naturally wanted to show himself, so he spoke up: "Are you really not affected? Ning Jinli, how's your boyfriend? Has Wang Kai done anything unfavorable to you? If you have any difficulties, tell me—I might be able to help."

Ting Ting immediately said: "Nothing happened to us—we were just hanging out in another private room. After a while, Wang Kai took his people and left; there was no harm, no difficulty."

Zhang Haoyang put on a knowing-but-not-saying expression, smiled slightly, and said: "Alright, since you're all saying that, let's just pretend nothing happened."

Si Ya linked arms with Zhang Haoyang, smugly said to Ning Jinli: "Too bad you weren't here just now—you missed the best part of the show. Actually, my Haoyang is quite impressive—"

"Xiao Ya, keep it low-key," Zhang Haoyang said, curling the corner of his mouth.

Si Ya then said: "Fine, fine, I won't say more. Some people don't realize what they missed, stubbornly insisting nothing's wrong like a dead duck's beak. Even if my Haoyang wanted to help, he couldn't—serves them right for being bullied, they can only swallow their broken teeth."

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Xiao Yan frowned and retorted.

"Don't say more," Ning Jinli said, grabbing her hand, then told everyone: "Well then, goodbye."

Under the mocking gazes of Zhang Haoyang and Si Ya, Ning Jinli and the few beside her turned and left.

Zhang Haoyang called the hotel manager, had the remaining classmates switch to another private room to continue dining, and he and Si Ya naturally became the absolute male and female leads among the crowd.

Meanwhile, Ning Jinli brought two friends and three male classmates, met up with Xiao Qidi, and went to the city's most upscale private club.

Even though Ting Ting and Xiao Yan had the means to study abroad, they couldn't afford to spend here, let alone the three male classmates; from the moment they entered, their mouths stayed open, everything seemed novel.

Ning Jinli generously booked the top floor, letting them stay overnight after leisure activities, for as long as they wanted, with all expenses on her tab.

Ting Ting and Xiao Yan were moved to tears—not because Ning Jinli was so generous, but because they remembered how hard she had struggled in college, and now she had finally made it, and they felt genuine joy for her.

They ate, drank, sang karaoke, and then tried some of the club's high-end leisure activities designed for elites; that night, they had a blast.

Until after 2 a. m., Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi left the club.

Ting Ting, Xiao Yan, and the three male classmates went downstairs to see them off.

"Oh, I almost forgot something," Ning Jinli said to the three male classmates, "have you three found suitable jobs now?"

Their expressions inevitably turned solemn.

The flat‑headed man sighed: "Ah… the job market is brutal now; Li Weiwen and I are still unemployed… only Yu Teng is doing okay, he got into a decent company."

The refined young man named Li Weiwen fell into silence.

"Come on, don't laugh at me," Yu Teng said with a bitter face, "I scrambled to get in, thinking I could make it big, but I ended up earning three thousand a month doing meaningless odd jobs, purely a lackey for higher-ups—this time I could attend the class reunion only because I fought for it by not taking a break for three months straight."

"Sigh..." the three young men let out a long sigh together.

Ning Jinli said: "I remember your grades were excellent in college, and I trust your character—if you don't mind, I can arrange some work for you."

Upon hearing that, the three men's eyes lit up.

Yu Teng quickly said: "How could we mind? Thank you so much—we couldn't be more grateful!"

Ning Jinli continued: "You know about Shennong Pharmaceutical Group, right?"

Li Weiwen and the flat‑headed man exchanged glances.

Yu Teng widened his eyes: "Shennong Medicine? Jinli, you mean… the Shennong Medicine in Xinghan City?"

Ning Jinli nodded.

The other two guys were still puzzled and asked: "Is Shennong Medicine well‑known?"

"I feel like I've heard or seen it somewhere, but… we don't really know…"

Yu Teng's face lit up as he explained to the two: "You probably didn't know this—Shennong Medicine was founded just a few months ago, but in that short time it shot up to become the leading pharmaceutical conglomerate in Xinghan City. And that global‑shocking Bis anticoagulant incident—such huge news—you've definitely seen at least something about it online—"

"Ah! I remember now!" Li Weiwen exclaimed in shock, "The company that completely broke the monopoly of Sangbota's Bis Pharmaceutical Group and developed Moth‑wing Clear Oral Liquid—that's Shennong Medicine! No wonder it rings a bell."

Yu Teng nodded vigorously: "Exactly! Shennong Medicine truly boosts our nation's pride—I later looked up related news; Sangbota relied on its monopoly to bully our country for over a decade, and now it's gotten its comeuppance, the whole nation teetering on bankruptcy."

As soon as the three brought up these topics, they immediately opened up.

"Ahem!" Xiao Yan reminded, "Don't forget the real purpose—Ning Jinli wants to offer you jobs."

The three young men then stopped the topic and looked eagerly at Ning Jinli.

Ning Jinli said: "I can let the person in charge of Shennong Pharmaceutical Group know and have you three go for interviews; the group has many departments covering every aspect of the pharmaceutical industry, it's in a rapid growth phase and desperately needs staff—you'll surely find satisfying positions there."

"Great!" Yu Teng was the first to agree: "I'll quit my job tomorrow and tell my boss!"

Li Weiwen asked: "Jinli, are you also close with the person in charge of Shennong Pharmaceutical Group?"

Ning Jinli smiled faintly and said: "Pretty familiar—you can relax."

Not only that—the current head of the group is none other than Lu Jue Ming, the eldest son of the Lu family; everyone works for her, and she herself is the group's owner.

But she didn't say that out loud.

Li Weiwen said gratefully: "Jinli… thank you. I'll work hard and never waste your kindness."

Then Li Weiwen and Yu Teng looked at the flat‑headed man, waiting for his response.

These three have always gotten along well, so they naturally hope they can all work together at Shennong Pharmaceutical Group someday.

The flat‑headed man scratched his head and said: "I'll forget it—I feel I'll never adapt to big‑city life; I've decided to go back to my hometown's small town. Besides, my parents are getting old, I'm an only child… it wouldn't be right to stray too far from home… So… Li Weiwen, Yu Teng, you guys do well, and be sure to live up to Ning Jinli's help."

Regarding the flat‑headed man's stance, the two felt a bit disappointed, but they still respected his choice and added that if he ever runs into trouble, they're always available to help.

"Alright, then it's settled," Ning Jinli said with a bright smile.

"Mm!" The three boys nodded vigorously.

Ting Ting giggled and said: "Tsk tsk, you're really lucky—just by attending a class reunion you've met a benefactor. Our Ning Jinli is truly impressive."

Ning Jinli said: "Ting Ting, Xiao Yan, if you're not used to staying abroad, feel free to come back and find me."

"Got it!" Ting Ting hooked her arm, "You definitely won't leave us two behind."

Xiao Yan earnestly said: "Ning Jinli, it seems you've accomplished a great career; I hope you keep getting better, and also remember to look after your health—don't wear yourself out."

Ning Jinli felt warm inside, holding their hands, she said: "You two take care as well."

After saying goodbye, Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi then left.

The five of them kept watching until the two disappeared into the distance.

Xiao Yan watched the two figures gradually fade into the neon-lit sidewalk's end, smiling as she said: "They really are a perfect match… Ning Jinli has achieved success in her career and found her own happiness—how wonderful…"

"Huh? We seem not to have inquired about Ning Jinli's boyfriend's background," Ting Ting reacted, asking the other four, "What's his name again?"

The other four stared blankly for several seconds.

Looking back from leaving the hotel to gathering here at the club, Ning Jinli's mysterious boyfriend never joined their conversation from start to finish, merely silently staying by her side.

As a result, they still don't even know what that person's name is.

Xiao Yan said: "Forget it, we'll ask Ning Jinli later."

The five turned and walked toward the club's main doors.

As they walked, Li Weiwen muttered, "Do you guys remember? When we first arrived at the hotel private room, didn't someone mention Shen Nong Medicine?"

"Really?" Ting Ting tried to recall, indicating she had no impression.

Li Weiwen reminded: "Back then Ning Jinli hadn't arrived yet; the first to arrive were Zhang Haoyang and a few of his close school friends..."

Xiao Yan clapped her hands: "Exactly, I also recall—back then Zhang Haoyang and those guys were chatting and bragging, and they definitely mentioned Shen Nong Medicine, something like…"

Yu Teng added: "Zhang Haoyang said the big company he joined is—Shen Nong Medicine."

Ting Ting's eyes widened as she asked: "He actually got into Shen Nong Medicine? What position? If we also go work there later, wouldn't we end up working together?"

Yu Teng, while recalling, said: "I didn't catch the exact position, but it sounds like a management role, maybe the head of a department team… In such a big company it's not senior management, but still quite impressive."

Li Wenwen quickly said: "Then we'll definitely avoid his department when the time comes—I really don't want to work with him; if I became his subordinate, that would be even worse."

Yu Teng nodded: "We definitely need to avoid him—Zhang Haoyang loves to show off, he's got ability, but his character… we all know; let's both aim for a basic department later, start from the bottom and progress step by step."

"Mm, I think the same," Li Wenwen agreed.

The flat‑haired boy laughed, hooking his arms around their shoulders, "Let me first wish you two smooth work; when you make it big, remember to come visit my hometown, brother."

"Hahaha! Definitely, definitely!"

The three boys burst into hearty laughter—today could be considered their happiest day since graduation.

—

The next afternoon around one o'clock.

Ning Jinli called Yu Teng and the others, saying she had already greeted the Executive President of Shen Nong Medicine and arranged a meeting from three to four o'clock.

Yu Teng and Li Wenwen suddenly grew nervous—neither expected Ning Jinli to work so fast; she had only said last night she'd arrange jobs for them, and today they could go to the interview.

And Ning Jinli, considering they might be nervous, said she would accompany them, which eased them considerably.

With a little time left, the two hurriedly prepared.

At two-thirty, Ning Jinli personally drove over to pick them up.

Li Wenwen looked uneasy, "Ning Jinli, we haven't had time to put together a decent outfit—going like this… will it be inappropriate?"

Yu Teng had the same concern, recalling that when he previously looked for work, he had scrimped and saved for a long time to buy a passable suit; by convention, the larger the company, the more it values such attire.

Now they were going to interview at Shen Nong Medicine, and would even meet the president directly, yet they showed up in cheap casual wear, seeming overly informal.

"No problem, no problem," Ning Jinli said while driving, "Shen Nong Pharmaceutical Group doesn't care about those superficial formalities—you just need to perform normally."

The two were given another reassurance, and they relaxed considerably.

After driving for over twenty minutes, the car arrived at the group's headquarters.

Ning Jinli skillfully led the two inside; while waiting for the elevator in the first‑floor lobby, she suddenly heard Zhang Haoyang's astonished voice from behind: "Eh? How did you three get here? Who let you in!"