After a moment, Lu Haifeng understood why the university had reached out through official channels.
These days, fresh graduates—especially those in automotive or mechanical engineering—face brutal odds in the job market.
Major state-owned carmakers like FAW, SAIC, and GAC had long-standing recruitment pipelines with China's elite 985 and 211 universities. The number of grads they took each year was limited, and getting in often meant navigating a maze of unspoken rules.
As for private players like Geely, Great Wall, or Taisan? Their smaller size meant even fewer entry-level spots.
Jinling University of Technology was technically a 985/211 school. But unlike its peers, it had no official partnerships with major automakers, leaving its leadership worried about student placement.
That changed today.
One of the students told Vice Chancellor Deng Wen about a rising star in the industry—Audi Automobile. The same Audi that had just made global headlines for developing China's first independently engineered automobile engine.
And they were hiring.
Every engineering student at Jinling knew Audi. After all, they had watched the Ward's 10 Best Engines competition unfold online like wildfire. Audi's homegrown engine had beaten out legacy brands from Europe, the U.S., Japan, and Korea, taking first and third place. A feat once considered impossible.
So when the opportunity to apply came up, the whole department lit up.
"President Lu, do you have any concerns?"
"President Lu, I can't speak for everything, but I promise our students are the best Daxiofferser!"
"Please give them a shot. I'll bring them in for interviews myself!"
On the other end of the line, Lu Haifeng had gone quiet—not out of hesitation, but contemplation.
Vice Chancellor Deng, mistaking the silence for rejection, grew anxious.
But then Haifeng replied, calm and decisive.
"Sorry, Principal Deng—I was just thinking."
"How about this? We've got plenty of openings at the new Audi plant. I'll have HR send over job listings and headcounts. You can organize students from relevant majors and bring them in for interviews. We're right next door, after all."
For a moment, Deng Wen was stunned. Then elated.
"Really? That's incredible! On behalf of Jinling University of Technology—thank you, President Lu!"
Lu chuckled. "No need for that, Principal Deng. It's the least we can do."
"I'll start organizing students immediately!" Deng said. "I won't keep you. Goodbye!"
"Goodbye."
After the call, Haifeng leaned back and chuckled to himself.
"I was overthinking it. Why was I considering open recruitment with a talent pool like this right next door?"
He had always respected Jinling's academic strength in engineering. No need to look further. He immediately called HR and told them to coordinate with the university and cancel the online listings.
On the other end, the surrounding students cheered when Deng Wen hung up.
"Let's goooo!"
"We made it! We're interning at Audi!"
"Principal Deng is a legend!"
"I'm so pumped I could scream!"
Deng smiled as he watched their excitement. These students were China's future—and they knew it.
Then another thought hit him.
"That's right… What about last year's graduates? There were some brilliant ones in that batch. I should check on them, too."
Back in his office, Lu Haifeng finally felt the pressure lift. The staffing problem was solved—and not just for today. This would be a long-term pipeline.
That Night
Audi made national headlines again.
At exactly 7:00 p.m., during the evening broadcast on state television, viewers tuned in to the usual updates—party initiatives, economic development, national achievements.
Then the screen cuts to the Ward's 10 Best Engines showcase.
First, a logo: four chrome rings.
Then came the visuals—an Audi A4L and TT displayed in the exhibit hall.
The anchor's voice followed:
"Recently, Audi Automobile, a well-known domestic automaker, achieved historic results at the global Ward's 10 Best competition. The company earned top-ten rankings in design, interior, and most notably, engine performance."
Audi stunned the engine category industry by defeating established foreign automakers with its independently developed high-performance engines."
"Their twin entries—two engines of different displacements—secured first and third place, respectively."
"This marks the first time in the competition's history that one automaker claimed two spots in a year."
"This is conclusive proof that China's automotive engine technology has reached world-class standards."
"Audi is not just a domestic success—it's the pride of China's luxury auto sector."
Back home, the internet exploded with patriotic pride and engineering admiration.
Audi hadn't just won awards.
They had made history.