The 1970s: Married First, Fell in Love Later-Chapter 122 - 121: Whoever Wants to Watch, Pays the Electricity Bill

Chapter 122: Chapter 121: Whoever Wants to Watch, Pays the Electricity Bill

Mr. He clasped his hands behind his back and sized up the television. "Alright, it’s already bought. What’s the use of saying all this now?"

Mrs. He shot him a glance. "I think you want to watch it too, don’t you?"

Mr. He froze for a moment, then said bluntly, "And you don’t? I just saw you staring so hard your eyes were practically glued to it."

Mrs. He gritted her teeth. "My son bought it, so why can’t I watch it?"

Mr. He glanced at her and muttered, "Who said you couldn’t watch—"

"Grandma, Ruanruan likes watching too." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Hahaha— Alright, Mom, it’s bought anyway. You and Dad can come over to watch it whenever you want," He Lang couldn’t help but laugh.

Mrs. He shot a glare at Mr. He, then said to He Lang, "Don’t be such a spendthrift in the future. How are you ever going to earn back that much money?"

He Lang quickly raised his hand in a pledge. "I know, I know. I promise not to be a spendthrift. I’ll spend every penny wisely."

"Pfft—" Xue Yue burst out laughing.

Mrs. He pointed a finger at He Lang and sighed.

"Alright, let’s go back and make dinner," Mr. He urged.

Mrs. He looked at Ruanruan, her voice softening. "Ruanruan, do you want to come to Grandma’s for dinner?"

Ruanruan glanced at He Lang and shook her head. "Grandma, I miss Daddy. Can I come see you tomorrow instead?"

Mrs. He stroked her little cheek. "Alright then. Grandma’s heading home."

"Okay. Bye-bye, Grandpa and Grandma."

Once it was just the three of them, Xue Yue finally took a closer look at the television.

After staring at it for a long while, she couldn’t help but marvel, "To think a little box like this costs so much money."

He Lang casually replied, "That’s nothing. Do you know what people in the city have to prepare for a wedding these days?"

"Isn’t it just the betrothal gift?"

He Lang held up a finger and wagged it. "It’s more than just the betrothal gift. You also need the ’three rounds and a sound.’ It’s practically become the standard for getting married."

Xue Yue was confused. "What’s ’three rounds and a sound’?"

"It’s a bicycle, a sewing machine, a watch, and a radio. Of course, those who are well-off also need ’thirty-six legs’—that means cabinets, wardrobes, a vanity, a bed, tables, chairs, and so on. So you see, what we spent is really nothing."

Xue Yue was astonished. "You need all that just to get married?"

He Lang nodded. "I only heard this from others, but just those items alone cost at least five hundred to start. Then there’s the betrothal gift and all the other miscellaneous costs. All in all, you can’t even think about getting married without a thousand."

Xue Yue couldn’t help but sigh. "Tsk, tsk. People in the city are so rich."

"Not all city folk are rich. There are plenty of people who can’t even afford to eat properly; some are even worse off than us villagers. But when it comes to marriage, the bride’s family is definitely going to ask for those things. I heard from Da Wei that it’s not just in the city anymore. It’s starting to happen right here in our own town—people demanding the ’three rounds and a sound’ for weddings. Sigh... now that I think about it, I’m lucky I got married early. I wouldn’t have been able to afford a wife otherwise."

Xue Yue teased him, "Did *you* marry me? Wasn’t it Mom and Dad who arranged it?"

He Lang went over and put his arm around her shoulder. "That just goes to show how brilliant and wise Mom and Dad are."

Xue Yue said playfully, "But marrying me wasn’t cheap either. That money would have been enough to buy the ’three rounds and a sound’."

He Lang raised an eyebrow. "True. But of our ’three rounds,’ we’re still missing a sewing machine. I’ll make it up to you in the future."

Xue Yue waved her hand. "Forget it. With that money, we could buy so many ready-made clothes." Besides, Xue Yue wasn’t very skilled at needlework, so she really had no use for a sewing machine.

So, the television was bought, and their family became the first in the village to own one.

Ever since they got the TV, droves of people came to watch it every day, not just during the day, but at night too. Some people were inconsiderate, bringing sunflower seeds, cracking them open while they watched, and leaving the shells all over the floor. They wouldn’t even clean up; they’d just leave after the show was over.

It was fine for a day or two, but after a while, Xue Yue really couldn’t stand it anymore.

Xue Yue complained to He Lang, "I have to sweep up sunflower seed shells several times a day. The house is full of people day and night, it’s so noisy. This doesn’t even feel like a home anymore, it’s more like a public space. It’s so annoying. If I had known it would be like this, I’d rather we hadn’t bought it."

He Lang was in a tough spot too. He had originally bought the TV to pass the time when they were bored, but now it had just created more trouble. Some people came during the day and came back at night. If they didn’t open the door, they would just keep knocking relentlessly. Xue Yue was pregnant and couldn’t handle all the noise every day. But it would be awkward to just tell people they couldn’t come in and watch, since they were all neighbors who saw each other all the time.

He Lang thought for a long time and finally came up with a plan.

"The next time they come, just tell them the electricity bill is too high and we can’t have the TV on anymore. If anyone wants to watch, tell them they have to split the cost of electricity. That’s sure to scare them off."

Early the next morning, before He Lang had even left, someone was already knocking on the door, asking to watch TV.

He Lang composed himself, then slowly opened the door with a pained expression. He said glumly, "From today on, we can’t have the TV on anymore."

"What’s wrong? Did the TV break?"

He Lang shook his head. "No, it’s not broken. It just uses way too much electricity. The bill shot up so high, it’s almost half a month’s wages for me. I have to support my wife and child on my meager salary. If all of it goes to the electricity bill, what are we supposed to eat? But we already bought the TV, so there’s no use regretting it. So, from today on, anyone who wants to watch is still welcome. However, you’ll have to help pay for the electricity. It’s not much, just ten cents per person, per day. None of your families are hurting for ten cents, right?"

"How could that work? Ten cents a day is a dollar in ten days! Goodness, you want three dollars a month from me? No way! I could buy plenty of other things with three dollars."

He Lang agreed. "Exactly. And think of all the other things I could be doing with that electricity money."

Then there was a particularly thick-skinned person. "He Lang, you could afford to spend over two hundred on a TV, but you can’t afford the electricity bill? Aren’t you just saying this because you don’t want us to watch? We’re all from the same village, living right next to each other. You’re a worker, for goodness’ sake, don’t be so stingy."

He Lang shook his head and laughed. "Believe it or not, I really can afford the TV but not the electricity bill. If anyone thinks I’m being stingy, then you can pay for it. I’ll let everyone watch for free. I have a family to support, don’t I? Money doesn’t grow on trees."

With He Lang having said all that, many people left resentfully. Three dollars a month was no small amount; you could buy three catties of pork with that kind of money. No one was willing to pay.

But there were still one or two who stood at the door and refused to leave. It wasn’t like he could chase them away. He Lang just ignored them and closed the door.

’Whoever wants to stand there can stand there. They can lie down for all I care. The point is, this has to stop.’

Word of this quickly spread through the village. Most people were understanding—electricity was indeed expensive. Many villagers would rather eat dinner early or use kerosene lamps at night than turn on a light bulb, precisely because they were afraid of the cost. Of course, there were a few who gossiped behind his back, calling He Lang stingy and tactless. But when Mrs. He heard it, she got right in their faces and told them off.

Xue Yue could finally live her days in peace.