Chapter 502: It’s Like Entering Another World
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The power station in Carefree City was finally completed.
After Bai Wutong and Chu Tianbao visited together, while the wiring device was constantly being perfected, they also began to seek the wishes of the people to install wires in thousands of families and popularize the use of electric lights.
There were people promoting it in every area. When Su Susu returned from work and saw many people surrounding the building manager, she squeezed in and heard the building manager announce loudly, “On the fifth of next month, someone has to stay at home on the first floor. The Imperial Court will send someone to install wires at your door and you can use electric lights in the future. If there’s really no one at home, come to me to register.”
Su Susu asked in confusion, “What are wires and electric lights?”
The building manager explained in a hoa.r.s.e voice, “Wires are a way to allow electricity to be transmitted. It’s like a tap and pipe. As long as it’s implemented, there’s no need to buy candles and oil lamps in our building in the future. Everyone just has to pay the electricity fee regularly.”
As soon as he said that, many people said unhappily, “1 don’t even light candles and oil lamps at home, but I still have to pay. Isn’t that too much?”
The building manager emphasized again, “I’ve already told you that it depends on how much electricity you use. If you don’t use it, you won’t have to pay at the end of the month. If you use it, you will definitely have to pay.”
Su Susu was puzzled. “Is it better to use electricity than candles and oil lamps?”
The building manager’s voice was abnormally hoa.r.s.e. After moistening his throat with a large cup of tea, he said, “You’ve seen the leather shop in the center of the city, right? Through the gla.s.s window, the shiny and eye-catching thing inside will replace candles and kerosene lamps in the future. Not only will there be no smoke, but it won’t catch fire. Even if you count the electricity cost, it’s no different from candles and oil lamps.”
As soon as he said this, everyone was surprised and delighted. “Then if such high-quality things are installed at home, they will only be at the same price as oil lamps and candles?!”
The building manager said affirmatively, “Why should I lie to you? Hurry up. I will register the people on the first floor first. On the sixth of next month, I will register those on the second floor, and so on. If you’re not sure, you can look at the timetable on the noticeboard. If you can’t read, ask others.”
The building manager spent a lot of effort talking, but Su Susu understood. Another wave of people came to stop her and asked their questions.
Su Susu felt tired for her.
When she returned home, the next day, she had already sensibly prepared the food.
w.a.n.g Fu would be home that day. Su Susu took another piece of meat from the balcony, cut it into thin slices, and stir-fried a plate of pepper meat.
The sound of w.a.n.g Fu’s footsteps came. Su Susu and Ming’er hurriedly went to welcome him.
His wife and children were smiling happily, and there was a sumptuous meal on the table. w.a.n.g Fu felt that this was the best day in the world.
w.a.n.g Fu picked up their son and circled him. “Let Daddy take a look and see if you’ve gained weight.”
Ming’er said happily, “I have become fatter. Mother said that my chin has gained weight.”
w.a.n.g Fu laughed loudly. “It’s a blessing to be fat. When Father gets his monthly salary next month, our family will be able to buy an apartment bigger than this.”
w.a.n.g Fu could earn five taels of silver a month from mining. He often worked overtime, and with the seasonal allowance, he could earn seven taels of silver at the most.
Coupled with what Su Susu had earned, their family earned about 10 taels of silver a month.
The apartment was a one-bedroom apartment. Ming’er was still young and it was still suitable for living, but when he grew older, it would not be enough s.p.a.ce.
They could not afford the villa but it was more than enough to buy a
three-bedroom apartment with a down payment after loaning from the bank.
Ming’er said in surprise, “Really?”
w.a.n.g Fu pinched his increasingly chubby face. “Why would I lie to you? Soon, our family will be able to move into a big house. In a few days, I’ll bring you to see the house.”
After Su Susu scooped the rice, she asked, “I remember that houses are in high demand now. I don’t think there’s an available house.”
Many of the commoners who had come with them had just moved out of the tent.
Everyone worked hard. Now that there was a bank that could lend money, who didn’t want to have a real home? Once there was a new building, they would fight to book it.
w.a.n.g Fu chuckled and said, “If there’s no available house, we can buy it from others!”
In the first batch of houses built in Carefree City, some people wanted to change to villas, so they had an empty house in their hands. When w.a.n.g Fu heard the agent introduce it to him, he had some ideas in mind.
Su Susu’s eyes lit up and she said happily, “That’s great. We’ll take a look when we have time.”
w.a.n.g Fu met his wife’s satisfied smile and picked up some meat for Ming’er in extreme satisfaction. “Eat more so that you can become smarter and find a good job in the future.”
Ming’er nodded and suddenly said, “Then will our new house also have electric lights installed? We used them in primary school. They’re especially bright and there’s no smell. They don’t dazzle the eyes at all and we won’t have to be afraid of accidentally setting the book on fire.”
w.a.n.g Fu smiled and said, “Then it must be installed. It’s quite good and it’s popular in our mine. At that time, I thought that it would be good if our family could use such convenient electric lights. I didn’t expect to be informed not long after.”
Su Susu looked at the father and son and smiled. “In just a year, our current life still feels surreal.”
w.a.n.g Fu also smiled. “Yes, it’s like entering another world! In the past, when 1 was still farming in my hometown, if others told me that the Carefree Kingdom was like this, I would definitely scold him for bluffing.”
Ming’er said happily, “Father, if you go back and tell them now, they will also scold you for bluffing.”
w.a.n.g Fu thought of his eldest brother and second brother in their hometown and suddenly felt a little sad. They decided to leave back then because their family really could not support so many people.
For a few taels of silver, he decided to risk it with the mentality that he would never return. Who would have thought that it would be such a great fortune?
He couldn’t help but think that if only he had persuaded his eldest brother and second brother to come along.
One look at his expression and Su Susu knew what he was thinking. She comforted him and said, “Our Carefree Kingdom’s firearms are so powerful. The Ling Kingdom definitely won’t dare to attack. One day, we will reunite with Eldest Brother and Second Brother.”
w.a.n.g Fu smiled. “Our Great Empress is wise and mighty. She will definitely do so.”
The apartment belonged to the Imperial Court and was mandatory to install wires. It was voluntary for the villa and countryside to install wires.
If they wanted to install it, they had to pay the installation fee themselves. It was not expensive. It was only one tael of silver and they were even given an electric lamp.
But it was this amount of money that made Old Madam Luo unhappy.
When she heard that she would have to pay the electricity fee in the future, she was even more unhappy.
Her two sons also did not allow their house to install wires. They even emphasized, “We don’t usually use oil lamps and candles. When it’s dark, we’ll sleep. When the sun gets big, we’ll get up. One tael of silver is definitely too much!”
Their family really did not lack this bit of money. However, Old Madam Luo was determined. She was already old and they were afraid of agitating her, so Eldest and Second son Luo gave up on installing wires.
When everyone’s house was electrified and brightly lit, Old Madam Luo even scolded them for being prodigals.
In the end, the neighbor bought a headlamp and charged it. In the middle of the night, he went to the reef to catch crabs. He caught a large basket and sold it for a lot of money.
Old Madam Luo immediately ran back and asked her eldest son, “Hurry up and get someone to install the wires at our house! i just bought a headlamp..”