In the hospital, the “magical” electric blanket attracted a lot of attention.
“Young man, how much is this electric blanket? Where did you buy it?”
“Twenty-five yuan, at the department store.”
Wang Shuo had already lost track of how many times he had answered. With people coming and going, he was even worried that his mother wouldn’t be able to rest properly.
But those who came were mostly elderly patients, so he couldn’t bring himself to be cold or impatient.
Fortunately, his mother’s body gradually warmed up, her sleeping face relaxed, and the doctor had also come to check. The electricity fee they had paid earlier was even refunded.
Meanwhile, the supply and marketing cooperative director was still thinking about how to promote the electric blanket—but unexpectedly, when someone came to buy goods, they recognized it immediately.
“This is an electric blanket?”
“Yes, yes, it’s a domestically made electric blanket—affordable and practical. Other than the department store, nowhere else is selling it yet!”
“It’s the same as the department store’s one, twenty-five yuan each, right?”
“Uh, yes.”
“Quick, give me one—no, two!”
Hearing this, the director immediately became delighted and called Xiao Lin over to pack the goods. His original price was twenty-three yuan, slightly cheaper than the department store. He wasn’t losing money—he had agreed it couldn’t be sold below twenty-three.
Li Xueguo had set the price of twenty-five yuan at the textile factory gate, offering a discount of one yuan for buying two, and even giving a one-yuan pillow towel as a bonus.
But he hadn’t expected that, thanks to Yang Yufen’s unintentional publicity, there was no need for price cuts—people were already asking for the price themselves.
Two units were sold immediately, and more inquiries kept coming. The director felt this was quite good. Once he promoted it to friends and relatives, selling all 300 units would not be a problem.
“I bought it! I bought it! You can get it at the supply cooperative! It just arrived—nowhere else has it yet. I was really lucky. If you want one, go quickly, or they’ll be gone!”
Those who bought electric blankets were all relatives of hospitalized patients. Since they were at the Third People’s Hospital, they either had some money or were cases only the Third Hospital could handle.
The news spread quickly, and many people immediately took money and rushed to the supply cooperative.
It was much closer than the department store, and going there wouldn’t waste time.
Just as Xiao Lin was preparing to eat lunch, she was shocked to see a flood of customers coming to buy electric blankets. Even the director had to step in to help collect money.
Three hundred units—he had only just called friends and relatives to promote them, and now they were already out of stock!
“I need to go again—this is nowhere near enough!”
The same situation happened at the textile factory gate. Li Xueguo had only brought fifty electric blankets.
There were five patterns, and they were instantly sold out. Some people even chased after him asking for more.
“If only… if only I hadn’t supplied the cooperative yesterday,” someone sighed.
“What are you thinking? Low profit but high turnover,” Li Xueguo tapped his cousin on the head.
“Go, go back to the factory and bring more stock.”
Meanwhile, the supply cooperative director arrived at the department store but couldn’t find Li Xueguo. Even the salesperson had changed.
“Our boss went to the textile factory to promote sales. He should still be there.”
The director pedaled his bicycle at full speed. Before even reaching the factory, he already saw workers leaving with electric blankets in their arms.
When Li Xueguo was about to leave, he suddenly heard someone call his name. Turning around, he saw a bicycle charging straight toward him.
He quickly pulled people aside, and just as the bicycle nearly lost control, he grabbed the rear seat and steadied it.
The director gasped for breath.
“Huff… huff… I almost… almost had a heart attack.”
Li Baoguo couldn’t help laughing.
“Director Zhang, what’s the rush?”
“I’m here to get stock from you!”
“You’re already sold out?”
Li Baoguo’s eyes widened in shock.
“We were just about to head back to the factory for more stock anyway. Director Zhang, why don’t you come with us? We can have lunch together.”
Li Xueguo wasn’t surprised. Their electric blankets were good—it was just that production and promotion came late.
The fifty units sold just now gave him confidence.
“Alright, alright.”
News of Aunt Wang’s illness quickly spread through the residential compound. Wang Shuo’s superiors expressed concern and gave him three days of leave. The neighborhood women’s director, Zhao Lian, also brought gifts to visit.
The “magical” electric blanket spread throughout the compound.
“Director Zhao, do you think our residential area could organize a group purchase? That way it might be cheaper. Life isn’t easy for anyone, and this winter is especially cold. Not just children and the elderly—even adults can’t stand it.”
“I can’t decide, but I’ve heard your opinions. I’ll report it and try to get a response as soon as possible.”
Group purchasing like this wasn’t unusual, and Zhao Lian was very familiar with it.
Yi Aiguo also agreed.
“I’ll report it to the leadership. You count how many people want it so we don’t end up with too many or too few.”
“Okay.”
After finishing her own chores, Yang Yufen thought Aunt Wang would be discharged the next day, so she went over to her house again. She cleared the snow so no one would slip, and tidied the backyard greenhouse.
Another busy day passed.
Qin Nian was in an especially good mood all day, even eating more than usual.
“You actually finished everything today? Something good happened? Ever since this morning, I’ve seen you smiling nonstop.”
“No, maybe I just slept well last night. My mother-in-law bought an electric blanket, so my feet weren’t cold when I slept.”
“Wow, your mother-in-law is so generous! No, I should say she’s really good to you. My mom only tells me to fill a few hot water bottles.”
Xiao Ranran grimaced.
“My foot even got a blister. It was too cold last night, I wasn’t careful. Luckily I reacted quickly and didn’t burn it too badly.”
“You should buy one too. My mother-in-law said it’s only twenty-five yuan—not expensive.”
“Twenty-five? So cheap? Then I’ll buy two—one for my mom too. Otherwise she’ll keep calling me a leaky cotton jacket.”
As she spoke, she complained about her mother, but in reality, she still thought of her mother first in everything.
Qin Nian paused slightly. She only knew she gave money to her mother-in-law. She had once promised to buy winter clothes but forgot. Her mother-in-law had originally been selling roasted sweet potatoes and had things to do—but now, to take care of her, she stayed home every day. She must be bored.
And at that moment, the “bored” Yang Yufen was looking at an electric blanket in her hands.
“Nephew, I already collected the money—why did you still buy me an electric blanket? Right now you should just focus on taking care of Aunt Wang.”