<span>Story: Customers crowded a small store in Yiwu International Trade City, China’s largest wholesale market.</span><span>They were looking for a stuffed toy commonly known as the “Crying Horse.” </span><span>Shop owner Zhang Huoqing said the plush doll was originally designed as a New Year decoration.</span><span>But making mistakes turned its smile into a frown and became a viral sensation. </span><span>“The ‘Crying Horse’ came about because a worker sewed its mouth backwards. Later, my client’s client said they wanted to return it because the mouth was backwards. I didn’t say anything at the time, and I didn’t think much about it. I just said, ‘Then just send it to me.'” But then they said, ‘No, it doesn’t need to be returned.’ ‘”</span><span>Soon after, Zhang discovered photos of the toy circulating online.</span><span>It quickly became popular ahead of the Spring Festival holiday, which is the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac.</span><span>Some young white-collar workers in China say the stuffed ponies’ gloomy expressions reflect their long hours and work pressure.</span><span>Zhang said people joke that a crying horse is what it looks like at work and a laughing horse is what it looks like after get off work.</span><span>By the afternoon, the piles of sad steeds were sold out, and staff were busy restocking. </span><span>As demand surged, Zhang decided to continue making and selling her surprise products: </span><span>“A lot of customers liked it, and they said it made sense: It fit the spirit of today’s corporate slaves. A lot of customers liked it, and then it started selling well. So we just kept making them. Now it’s pretty good and selling well.”</span>
