Chapter 127 - 123 Homestead
"Haha, some people are just so amusing. We see plenty like your landlord around here. Ever since we got electric lights, countless couples have argued over the use of them, and it’s even escalated to the point of nearly causing fights. Many people always feel like they’re saving money if they turn the lights on and off for just a moment less, as if that’s taking advantage of a good deal. If someone at home forgets to do so for a second, they can nag and grumble all day long without rest."
Zhou Yi laughed and shook his head, finding it quite ridiculous.
"I actually made a special trip to ask the village electrician about it. He said one kilowatt-hour is a thousand watts, and most light bulbs are just fifteen watts. It takes over sixty hours for a light bulb to use up one kilowatt-hour of electricity. Leaving it on quietly actually doesn’t consume much, whereas turning it on and off uses more electricity. I’ve tried to mediate when villagers argue over this, and I’ve talked until I’m blue in the face. But some people just won’t believe it, and the next thing you know, there’s another ruckus over turning the lights on and off."
"Sixty plus hours for just one kilowatt-hour?"
Lu Aiguo and Shitou were first stunned, then couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time. They were hearing this for the first time. Thinking back on the day when the landlady, Sister Tao, was furious, they really thought that a night of use would drain a lot of electricity!
But hearing Zhou Yi say this, they were glad they had a wall separating them from the landlord. Otherwise, how could they bear someone constantly reminding them to turn off the lights?
"Stop babbling and hurry up, put the money away. Don’t talk about this nonsense. I can see right through the scheming you two are up to. If you really want to show your gratitude, don’t talk about treating me to a meal. I think it’s best if you just bring some of that local product of yours, just give me a few kilos of meat each, and we’ll call it even."
Zhou Yi looked at the two men, feeling quite proud of his own "wide knowledge and experience," and his expression softened as he continued, "Even if you didn’t ask today, I would have still inquired. Fortunately, this is not a problem. If I couldn’t do it, I would have to pay you for those local products you brought me the other day in cash."