Chapter 148: Don’t Pass by Without Taking a Look!

This left Feng Weizhi in total despair, and the crowd arriving at the scene grew by the minute. Many were workers who had heard the news and come from other factories, all demanding that Feng refund their money.

"Why? Why must you all demand your money back right now?" Feng Weizhi felt desperate, but his heart was filled with indignation. He could not understand what these people were thinking; why couldn't they trust his Weimeixian Restaurant?

It wasn't until someone pulled out the Nanming Daily and pointed to the front-page headline: "Beware of Systemic Economic Decline, Make Preparations for a Preventive Winter." As Feng read the contents, he finally understood, and he fell into absolute despair.

Thump. Feng Weizhi swayed, his face deathly pale, and collapsed to the ground. He knew he was finished, and he realized with chilling clarity that Chen Huajiang must be behind this. Otherwise, why would Chen's words at the gates of the Hongqi Factory that morning be so similar to the article in the Nanming Daily? Phrases like "stock up on grain in times of plenty" and "prepare an umbrella on sunny days," or the references to the crisis in Northern Dong Province where wages went unpaid for half a year—if there were no connection between the two, he would never believe it, even if he died.

What drove Feng to the depths of despair was the feeling that Chen Huajiang had known all of this from the very beginning. From the moment he started his shop at the factory gate following the other man's lead, he had already fallen into a trap.

The crowd grew, and the situation escalated. Soon, the police arrived, but this era was different; the principle that debts must be repaid was absolute. Even the police urged Feng to pay back the money immediately, but where could Feng find the funds?

The standoff lasted all afternoon. As dusk fell, the impatient and angry crowd stormed the shop to recoup their losses. Coal stoves, pots, pans, and bowls were cleared out; they took whatever they could to mitigate their losses.

By the next day, the Weimeixian Restaurant had been completely picked clean. Those who hadn't received their money back emptied the shop to make up for it. They didn't even spare Feng Weizhi’s home. Bicycles, beds, radios, tables, chairs, and even his old worn-out shoes were taken, leaving behind nothing but a scene of total wreckage.

Fortunately, no widespread social crisis ensued. After all, the amounts people had deposited were small—two or three yuan, or five at most—unlike the massive investment scams of later generations that could wipe out a family’s entire life savings.

Feng Weizhi was, of course, arrested by the police. The punishment awaiting him could be light or severe. With the "Strike Hard" campaign approaching in a year, only heaven knew if he would survive the ordeal.

This collapse served as a massive blow to the "Rat Societies" and "Brotherhoods" that would emerge in Nanming over the next few years. The Weimeixian incident became a sensation that lingered in local gossip for over a year. Information was scarce in those days, and the public had little to talk about beyond domestic trifles or neighborhood affairs like who was having an affair. The explosion of the Weimeixian scandal naturally became the biggest topic in Nanming, debated passionately by everyone from ninety-year-old grandmothers to ten-year-old children.

As a result, when similar deposit-collecting organizations tried to develop in Nanming years later, they found themselves facing insurmountable obstacles. Moreover, it created a landmark event that would be discussed with great interest on the internet in later eras.

Of course, that is a story for the future. For now, Chen Huajiang was facing some problems of his own—or, to be precise, Liang Long thought he was.

"Brother Chen, this won't work. The price is set too high; it simply won't sell." Liang Long approached Chen, his words urgent and rapid. "I've talked until my mouth is dry these past few days, and not a single shop owner is willing to distribute our Kunlun coal stoves. Just think about it: the Coal Stove Factory sells theirs for 1.50 yuan, the Hongqi Factory for 1.40, and ours is priced at 1.80. Only a fool would buy ours."

"The price of 1.80 will not change for the time being. Don't worry about that; I have my own arrangements," Chen Huajiang waved him off, not wanting to explain the concept of branding, which was nonexistent in this era. He had positioned the Kunlun stove as a "high-end" product. Only by establishing that positioning would he be able to hit the mark when the inevitable price war began. "By the way, is the warehouse full yet?"

"Just about. It's more than half full now," Liang Long said, taking a gulp from his water cup and looking at Chen with anxiety. "Engineers Zhao and Wang are also hearing bad things, and the workshop is filled with unease. With the inventory piling up and nothing selling, it's a blow to everyone's morale."

Chen Huajiang nodded, acknowledging the logic. "You all just keep producing. Don't worry about the sales; I'll handle that." He patted Liang Long on the shoulder.

Liang Long, seeing his resolve, could only nod and take his leave.

Chen Huajiang first took some stock from the factory and provided it to stall owners like Zhang Bao for free. He called it a "trial," telling them to pay only if they liked the product, and to offer suggestions for improvement if they didn't—no payment required. Upon hearing that the stoves were free, the stall owners were happy to try them out, and once they did, they discovered the advantages of the Kunlun stove.

First, there was the adjustable air intake and the heat-focusing ring, which allowed for autonomous control of the fire. The ability to concentrate the heat was crucial for stall owners in the food business. When frying, they needed to frequently adjust the heat—high to heat the oil quickly when customers arrived, and low to conserve fuel and prevent oil evaporation when idle.

Second was the insulation layer. The Kunlun brand used coal slag and straw pellets, which provided better thermal retention than the clay insulation used in current stoves. The coal balls were still burning the next day, significantly reducing the time wasted on re-lighting the stove.

In this way, the Kunlun stove built a reputation among the vendors on Food Street and covered a small group of customers. However, this group was too small; compared to the entire coal stove market in Nanming, it was merely a pebble tossed into a lake, creating no ripples.

It wasn't until Liang Long informed him that the warehouse was completely full that Chen Huajiang arranged for Er Mao to start creating a buzz.

At the East Gate Dam, the North Gate Vegetable Market, the East District Farmers' Market, and the South District City Crossroads, people began promoting and demonstrating the Kunlun stoves simultaneously.

"Travelers from north and south, don't miss this!" Chen Huajiang stood at the Dam himself, shouting to the crowd through an old-fashioned battery-powered megaphone. "New product, new innovation, known all across the country! Want to see if the quality is good? A demonstration right here will show you all! I won't pressure you to buy, but whoever does will find it a convenience!"

The catchy, rhyming slogans popular in later years quickly attracted a large crowd, soon packing the area so tightly that no one could pass. Three stoves were set up in front, including common products from the market, with the Kunlun stove placed prominently in the center. Whether it was its unique design or Chen Huajiang's energetic spiel and explanation, the Kunlun stove quickly seized the attention of the crowd.