Chapter 141: Launching a Career

Even though Jiang Hao had clearly just saved her, Jiang Jingru still felt entitled to criticize him right to his face, even going so far as to claim that he wasn't good enough for Su Qingli.

Forget Jiang Hao; any man in this situation would likely have felt the urge to slap her across the face.

"Alright, Jiang Hao, Jingru was just speaking without thinking. Don't be angry with her," Su Qingli said with a bitter smile.

Jiang Hao looked at Su Qingli, nodded, and then said to Jiang Jingru with displeasure, "For Qingli's sake, I won't hold this against you!"

Jiang Jingru had nothing to say; she could only play the fool and force a smile.

Su Qingli then asked, "Jingru, you mentioned earlier that you wanted our classmates to help you find a job, right?"

"Yes," Jiang Jingru replied while continuing to eat.

"Would you be interested in working for me? If you're willing, I can make you a branch manager. As for the salary... how about eight thousand a month, with meals and housing provided?"

An eight-thousand-yuan monthly salary might be considered low in a large coastal metropolis, but in Maple Leaf City, it was a high wage. One had to realize that the average monthly income in Maple Leaf City was only about four thousand yuan, and a typical white-collar worker at a private company would only earn six or seven thousand before taxes. Giving Jiang Jingru a position as a branch manager with an eight-thousand-yuan salary was a very generous offer.

Jiang Jingru didn't hesitate for a second. She nodded immediately and said, "I'm willing! Of course, I'm willing!"

"That’s wonderful. Just stay in Maple Leaf City for these next few days. Once I’ve settled the logistics for opening the new branches, you can start working at my shop," Su Qingli said with a radiant smile.

Jiang Jingru was overjoyed, her face flushed as if she were slightly tipsy.

After the meal, Jiang Hao and Su Qingli prepared to head home. Jiang Jingru looked at them with profound embarrassment and said hesitantly, "Could you... could you lend me some money first? I'm really broke right now."

Jiang Hao turned his face away, refusing to look at her. Su Qingli, however, smiled, opened her bag, and took out three thousand yuan in cash, handing it to Jiang Jingru.

"Spend it wisely. I expect it will take another week or two before the new branches are ready," Su Qingli advised.

"Don't worry, I'm not the type to spend money recklessly," Jiang Jingru nodded vigorously.

As they watched Jiang Hao and Su Qingli walk away hand in hand, Jiang Jingru suddenly called out, "Qingli, Jiang Hao! Are you two going to the class reunion being organized by our class monitor, Li Dong?"

Jiang Hao didn't answer. Su Qingli turned around and said to Jiang Jingru, "If we are free, we will go. Contact me when the time comes."

"Okay!" Jiang Jingru agreed happily.

Once they were out of the food street, Jiang Hao said unhappily, "It's been years, and Jiang Jingru is still as annoying as ever!"

"She doesn't actually have any bad intentions. She just has a very blunt, fast tongue—she says whatever comes to her mind," Su Qingli said helplessly.

Jiang Hao knew she didn't have malicious intent; her tongue was just venomous. If she had truly meant harm, he would have lost his temper already.

"Are we really going to that class reunion?" Jiang Hao asked again. Truth be told, he didn't want to go. He knew well that modern class reunions were no longer about nostalgia or camaraderie; they had become venues for showing off, flaunting status, and rekindling old flames. Attending one felt pointless. After all, if you were truly close with your former classmates, you would see them regularly; there was no need to force a meeting at a reunion. If you hadn't seen someone in years, there was no real bond left, so what was the point of meeting? They were just strangers wearing the label of "classmate."

"You don't want to go?" Su Qingli sensed his reluctance.

Jiang Hao nodded. "I really don't want to. Besides, these reunions are meaningless."

"Let's just go. It won't hurt, and it’ll be nice to see some old classmates," Su Qingli said with a smile.

Since she had put it that way, Jiang Hao didn't object.

Over the next few days, Jiang Hao and Su Qingli were busy with the preparations for the new branches. While, strictly speaking, this was Su Qingli's venture, Jiang Hao couldn't bear to watch her work while he remained idle. So, whenever there was something he could help with, he made sure to assist.

Within a few days, the locations for the new branches were selected. Su Qingli already had a health-food shop in the city center of Maple Leaf City. The two new locations were one near the suburbs and another on the very food street where they had eaten their meal. Furthermore, Jiang Hao and Su Qingli had selected a location in Donglin City.

That would be the first branch of Qingli Health Food outside of Maple Leaf City. If Su Qingli succeeded in growing the company into a nationwide brand, Maple Leaf City would serve as the headquarters, and the Donglin City branch would be the first step toward that national expansion.

"All three leases have been signed for one year, and the renovations have already started," Su Qingli said while calculating figures at the shop. These were internal company matters that she didn't necessarily have to share with Jiang Hao, but she told him every detail out of respect. Moreover, although Jiang Hao held no official title in the company, he had invested twenty million yuan. Strictly speaking, Jiang Hao was the angel investor of the company. However, he didn't care for the title, nor did he ask Su Qingli to establish a board of directors to seat him as a member.

"How does it feel to be a CEO?" Jiang Hao asked with a chuckle.

Su Qingli put down her pen and stretched, saying, "Is there any CEO in this world as tired as I am?"

"It’s just the beginning, after all," Jiang Hao walked over and began massaging her shoulders with a smile.

Su Qingli didn't refuse. She leaned into the massage, feeling the pressure on her shoulders wash away her exhaustion. She could even feel faint, warm currents of energy flowing from his hands into her muscles. The tingling, soothing sensation made her feel incredibly relaxed.

"Your technique is amazing. You could be a professional massage therapist," Su Qingli joked.

"How could an ordinary therapist compare to me?" Jiang Hao said with a touch of arrogance.

With his level of skill and internal energy, no professional therapist could compare—after all, he was using his inner power to help ease her fatigue.