In the hospital, the miraculous electric blanket attracted many inquiries.
"Young man, how much is this electric blanket? Where did you buy it?"
"Twenty-five yuan, at the department store."
Wang Shuo had lost count of how many times he'd answered this question. With people coming and going, he worried his elderly mother wouldn’t be able to rest properly.
But most of the visitors were elderly patients, so he couldn’t bring himself to be cold toward them.
Fortunately, his mother’s body had warmed up, her sleeping expression relaxed. The doctor had even returned the extra electricity fees they’d paid earlier.
Meanwhile, the supply and marketing cooperative director was still figuring out how to promote the electric blankets when a customer spotted them right away.
"Is this an electric blanket?"
"Yes, yes! It’s a domestically made electric blanket—affordable and practical. Apart from the department store, no one else is selling these yet!"
"Same as the department store’s, twenty-five yuan each, right?"
"Uh, yes."
"Quick, give me one—no, two!"
The director, delighted, called Little Lin over to pack the blankets for the customer. He had originally priced them at twenty-three yuan, slightly cheaper than the department store, but he wasn’t losing money—this was the agreed minimum price.
Li Xueguo had set this price with the intention of letting ordinary folks benefit. At the textile factory gate, he’d advertised them at twenty-five yuan each, with a discount of one yuan off for two, plus a free pillowcase worth one yuan.
Unexpectedly, thanks to Yang Yufen’s unintentional promotion, people were already willing to pay the higher price without needing further discounts.
After selling two, sporadic inquiries followed. The director felt optimistic—once he spread the word among friends and family, selling three hundred wouldn’t be a problem.
"I got it! You can buy them at the supply and marketing cooperative now. They just restocked, and no one else has them yet. Hurry if you want one—they might sell out soon!"
The buyer was someone caring for an elderly relative at the hospital. Patients at Third People’s Hospital either had some money or needed specialized treatment unavailable elsewhere.
Word spread quickly, and soon, people were rushing to the cooperative with cash.
It wasn’t far to the cooperative, unlike the department store, which would take more time.
Little Lin, just about to eat lunch, was stunned by the sudden flood of customers. Even the director had to step in to handle payments.
Three hundred blankets—gone! He’d only just called friends to recommend them, and now they were out of stock.
"I need to go back. This isn’t enough to meet demand."
A similar scene unfolded at the textile factory gate. Li Xueguo had brought only fifty blankets in five different patterns, and they were snatched up immediately, with people still asking for more.
"If only I hadn’t supplied the cooperative yesterday..."
"What are you thinking? Small profits, quick returns!"
Li Xueguo smacked his cousin Li Baoguo lightly on the head.
"Go, fetch more stock from the factory."
Meanwhile, the supply and marketing cooperative director went to the department store but couldn’t find Li Xueguo—even the salesperson had changed.
"Our boss took a team to promote the blankets at the textile factory. If you hurry, you might catch him."
The director pedaled his bicycle furiously. Before even reaching the factory, he spotted workers walking away with electric blankets in their arms.
Just as Li Xueguo was about to leave, someone called his name. He turned to see a bicycle hurtling toward him.
He yanked his companions aside, watching as the bike nearly crashed—until he recognized the rider and grabbed the back seat to steady it.
The director gasped for breath.
"Whew... almost... almost broke these old bones."
Li Baoguo couldn’t help laughing.
"Director Zhang, what’s the rush?"
"I came to get more stock."
"Already sold out?" Li Baoguo’s eyes widened in shock.
"We were just heading back to the factory for more. Why don’t you join us? We can grab lunch too."
Li Xueguo wasn’t surprised. Their factory’s electric blankets were top-notch—they’d just been late to market and lacked promotion. Selling fifty in one go had boosted his confidence.
"Good, good!"
News of Aunt Wang’s illness spread through the residential compound. Wang Shuo’s supervisor expressed concern, granting him three days off. Soon after, Zhao Lian, the women’s director, visited with gifts.
Word of the miraculous electric blankets reached the compound.
"Director Zhao, do you think we could organize a group purchase? Maybe get a discount? Times are tough, and this winter’s especially harsh—even adults can’t take the cold, let alone kids and the elderly."
Zhao Lian’s husband was the logistics director, so the women naturally turned to her to discuss the idea.
"I can’t promise anything, but I’ll relay everyone’s needs and get back to you soon."
Group purchases weren’t new, and Zhao Lian knew the drill.
Yi Aiguo agreed it was feasible.
"I’ll request approval from leadership. You tally how many people want them—better to avoid shortages or surpluses."
"Got it."
After finishing chores in her own yard, Yang Yufen remembered that Aunt Wang would be discharged tomorrow. She went to Aunt Wang’s home to shovel snow from the path, preventing slips, then tidied the backyard greenhouse.
Another busy day passed.
Qin Nian was in high spirits all day, even eating with renewed appetite.
"You finished everything today—what’s the good news? I’ve seen you smiling since morning."
"Nothing special. Maybe I slept well last night. My mother-in-law bought an electric blanket—my feet weren’t cold at all."
"Wow, your mother-in-law is so generous! No, I mean, she’s so thoughtful! Mine just tells me to use more hot water bottles."
Xiao Ranran grimaced.
"I burned a blister on my foot last night—it was so cold, I didn’t notice until too late. At least I reacted fast enough to avoid worse."
"You should buy one too. My mother-in-law says they’re only twenty-five yuan—not too expensive."
"Twenty-five? That’s cheap! I’ll get two—one for my mom, so she stops calling me a ‘leaky padded jacket.’"
Though Xiao Ranran joked about her mother’s tough love, she still thought of her first.
Qin Nian paused. She’d only given her mother-in-law money—last time, she’d forgotten to buy her winter clothes. Her mother-in-law had sold roasted sweet potatoes to stay busy, but now, stuck at home caring for her, she must be bored.
Meanwhile, the supposedly "bored" Yang Yufen stared at the electric blanket in her hands.
"Nephew, I already took the money. Why did you buy me an electric blanket too? Right now, just focus on taking care of Aunt Wang."
