Bao, an employee at the Yiwu-based toy shop Happy Sisters, accidentally sewed the mouths of “smiling horse” plushies upside down, intended for the upcoming Lunar New Year. Rather than a festive grin, the horses bore a distinctive frown, AsiaOne reports.

This “crying horse” has become a viral sensation, resonating deeply with a workforce grappling with corporate fatigue and the remnants of the notorious “996” culture. Although the practice of working 9am to 9pm, six days a week, was technically outlawed in 2021, the pressure of long overtime hours remains a reality for many. Consumers have flocked to social media platforms like Xiaohongshu to express their solidarity with the toy, noting that its pitiful appearance perfectly mirrors the exhaustion of the modern office environment.

The crying horse plushie quickly became a must-have item, leading business owner Zhang Huoqing to pivot from offering refunds to mass-producing the mistake. In a gesture of gratitude for this accidental success, Ms Huoqing has awarded Bao a “red packet” bonus of 8,888 yuan (c. £944), which he will receive annually for the next twelve years – until the next Year of the Horse.