Transmigrating As a Poor Fake Heiress with Trillions in Family Asset - Chapter 37

Chapter 37: Buy, Buy, Buy

As the end of the year approaches, people inevitably feel the urge to spend. Companies start handing out year-end bonuses, and construction sites begin settling a full year’s worth of wages.

At a construction site in S City, a worker turned to his friend. “Lao Wang, didn’t you say you wanted to buy a new TV and a better washing machine for your family when you go home for the New Year? We get paid tomorrow. When are you going to buy them? Want me to head to the mall with you to pick them out?”

Lao Wang looked a bit troubled. “I definitely want to. My wife is still washing clothes by hand at home—imagine how cold that water is in winter! I promised her a washing machine this year, and I promised the kids a big LCD TV.”

The foreman, who was eating nearby, overheard them. “Lao Wang, can they even deliver to that rural village of yours?”

“They can if I pay extra,” Wang replied.

The foreman nodded and pointed to a banner advertisement hanging nearby. “That ad has been up at our site for ages. Why haven’t you checked it out? It says free delivery to your doorstep.”

Wang looked hesitant. “I saw the ad, but I didn’t really get it. It says free delivery, but what exactly is ‘Jing-Selection’?”

“It’s a mobile app,” the foreman explained. “Remember those fruits we distributed to everyone last month? We bought them from there.”

Wang was skeptical. “A place that sells fruit also sells appliances? And buying on an app… is that even reliable?”

The foreman chuckled, swallowing a mouthful of rice. “You’re making me sound like a paid spokesman for their company.” Amidst the laughter of the workers, he explained what Jing-Selection was. “Plenty of people didn’t believe it at first, but the app was featured on the national news. More importantly, they’re having a big appliance sale right now. If you buy now, it’s way cheaper than the stores, and it’ll be at your house in a few days. Wouldn’t it be better for your wife to start using that washing machine sooner?”

Wang cautiously downloaded the app. Minutes later, his eyes nearly popped out at the prices on the appliance page.

The TV and washing machine he wanted usually cost over 7,000 yuan together. On Jing-Selection, the total for both was 1,100 yuan cheaper!

He showed the screen to his friend, who frowned. “Saving 1,100 yuan on two items? Does that kind of discount even seem possible? We saw the prices at the mall during their sale—how can this be even cheaper than a mall sale?”

Wang was torn. Saving over 1,000 yuan meant he could buy new clothes for his wife and kids. But his friend’s warning worried him. If something went wrong with an app that had no physical store, who would he turn to for a refund?

This dilemma bothered him for days. By Saturday, knowing the sale had started, he couldn’t help but pull out his phone during lunch.

He saw that the washing machine he wanted already had hundreds of orders. Other popular items had even more. If so many people are buying, it shouldn’t be a scam, right? And it was on the national news, he thought.

That evening, he finally caved. He spent a long time filling in his home address and phone number and ordered just the washing machine first to test the waters.

When his coworker saw the order confirmation, he gasped. “You actually bought it? Aren’t you afraid of being cheated?”

“The foreman said it was on the national news,” Wang replied. “And I saw the update—they’ve surpassed 100,000 orders today. That’s hundreds of millions in sales.”

The friend shook his head. “That just means the scam is huge!”

…

The Arrival

Wang spent the next few days in a state of anxiety. Every day, he checked the tracking info. It showed “Shipped,” and he could see the truck’s location. This can’t be fake, right?

He showed the tracking to his cynical friend, who scoffed, “Those computer people can fake data easily.”

Wang was getting annoyed. Why was this guy constantly pouring cold water on him? He stopped talking and waited.

On the fourth day after ordering, his phone rang. It was his wife.

“Husband! The washing machine arrived! It’s at the house, and the installers are here right now!” Her voice was overflowing with happiness.

Wang felt a surge of relief and pride. He saw his cynical friend nearby and turned on the speakerphone. “What was that? I didn’t hear you clearly!”

His wife shouted even louder: “I said the washing machine is here! The technician is installing it! He’s going to teach me how to use it before he leaves. I’m going to find some dirty clothes to test it right away!”

The surrounding workers all turned to look at Wang. The skeptical friend looked stunned.

Wang straightened his back. “That machine cost 500 yuan less than the store! I’m using that saved money to buy you a new outfit for the New Year!”

“Husband, you’re the best!” his wife cheered.

After hanging up, the skeptical friend shuffled over, grinning sheepishly. “Wow, so that app really delivers appliances? I was just worried about you getting scammed!”

Wang felt immensely satisfied. “Now I’m going to order the TV! And a rice cooker too. I saw some on there that are so cheap my wife won’t have to struggle with the old stove anymore.”

The friend chimed in eagerly, “Which brand was that washing machine? Give me the link! I want to buy one for my parents too.”

Wang teased him, “Aren’t you afraid it’s a scam?”

The friend turned red. “Oh, don’t tease me! I was just being short-sighted. I’ve never seen anything like this before. Quick, show me the one you picked!”

He figured that since Wang’s delivery arrived, he would too. Plus, the national news wouldn’t lie!

Suddenly, the floodgates opened. The friend downloaded the app and started browsing.

Ten pounds of tropical fruit for 30 yuan? The supermarket charges 6 yuan a pound! Buy!

Brand-name laundry detergent cheaper than the generic stuff in the village? Buy!

A brand-name down jacket on clearance in his mother’s size? Buy!

By the time he looked at his cart, he had spent most of his month’s wages. But strangely, he felt like he had actually earned money.

He wasn’t an exception. Thousands of people across the country were currently experiencing the “Jing-Selection Charm”—spending more than they planned, yet feeling like they’d won the lottery.