Production error 'crying horse' becomes a phenomenon

Recognized with the start of the Year of the Horse according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar, this plush toy quickly managed to capture the interest of social media users. Known as the "crying horse," this product, with its shy gaze and sad expression, has led many people to find a reflection of themselves in the rising social media trends.

However, there is an interesting story behind this popularity.

Zhang Huoqing, the owner of the Happy Sister store in Yiwu, stated that the plush horse was originally planned as a cheerful New Year decoration. However, during production, a worker accidentally stitched the mouths of the toys upside down, and the cute smile was replaced by a sad look.

Describing the process, Zhang said, "I offered refunds to people, but no one came. The only thing that came back were photos of the toys circulating rapidly on the internet." Faced with customers saying they saw themselves in this toy and found it funny, the store owner said, "We decided to continue producing the sad one. This crying horse is truly very fitting for the reality of modern workers."

Due to high demand, sellers in Yiwu state that they receive anywhere from a few hundred to fifteen thousand orders every day, while manufacturers report that they have set up additional production lines to cope with the increasing demand. Especially in the early hours of the day, shelves at the Happy Sister store empty out quickly; customers frequently ask, "Is the crying one still available?"

ALSO IN DEMAND ABROAD

Lou Zhenxian, who sells holiday toys, said, "This is a truly special product. Everyone who enters the store shows interest in it." It has been learned that orders are pouring in not only from China but also from countries such as Southeast Asia, Russia, and South Africa.

Some social media users have found symbolic meanings in this production error. One user, inspired by old Chinese proverbs, argued that the horse's incorrectly stitched mouth was a "lucky accident," while others express that this toy reflects their own feelings and that they feel "understood."

Thus, the plush "crying horse," which emerged as a mistake and draws attention with its sad face, is both capturing the interest of thousands of people with its humorous and emotional connotations and becoming a new cultural icon.

News Source: 12punto