The Comprehensive Evolution of American Comics.

Chapter 1000 Metropolitan Plaza

Yang Le readily agreed to Cassandra's request, so the three of them changed their plans and decided to skip the hot dog stand that Clark had recommended and head towards the bookstore on the street instead.

It has to be said that even in this information age, Europe and America still attach great importance to picture books. Because of Cassandra, Yang Le has been visiting bookstores a lot recently, so he can directly feel this.

The most obvious thing is that almost every time Yang Le comes here, he can see some new picture books that were not there the last time he came. Some of them are produced by publishers, and some are printed by the authors themselves and put here for sale after discussing with the bookstore.

This is a good thing for Yang Le, because it means he won't have to worry about Cassandra not having any books to read in the short term.

While Diana was helping Cassandra choose picture books, Yang Le was also looking down at the bookshelf, seemingly picking out picture books for his child but actually buying things for himself.

Since browsing the picture book section, Yang Le has noticed a very interesting phenomenon: there are always some people with a perverse sense of humor who put their own suggestive picture books here.

These picture books always use a very childlike way to depict sexual innuendo that only adults can understand. To children, they are no different from fairy tales, but adults can tell at a glance that they are telling dirty jokes.

Yang Le once accidentally bought a copy of "Helen's Hole," which seemed to be about how Helen dealt with the big hole in her backyard, but the whole book was actually about how Helen preferred to walk on dry paths.

This book was tucked inside a bunch of picture books that Yang Le bought for Cassandra. Luckily, Yang Le found it early, otherwise Cassandra would have heard this obscene story.

Although Cassandra doesn't understand it now, with her memory, it will definitely be a dark history when she grows up.

After that, Yang Le became much more careful when choosing picture books for Cassandra, and sure enough, he caught quite a few mediocre ones.

For example, "Tripping Over a Dachshund," "Dad's Dirty Splint," and "Eat or Spit" are three books that adults would immediately sense something was wrong just by looking at the titles. They're easy to spot. What's most infuriating are those books whose titles don't reveal any danger.

For example, "Hide and Seek," "Pajama Party," and "A Veterinarian's Day"—these three books seem fine at first glance, but reading them will definitely give you unexpected surprises.

Yang Le laughed while reading these picture books, a laugh born of frustration.

Therefore, all the books Cassandra buys now have to be strictly vetted by Diana and Yang Le, and no one is allowed to slip through the net.

After making her selections, Cassandra found herself with a bag containing several newly purchased picture books and storybooks, which made the little girl even more eager for the night to come.

Diana and Yang Le smiled at each other. Cassandra's happiness was their happiness. Unconsciously, they were becoming more and more like a real family.

The little incident passed perfectly, and the three of them went to the hot dog stand recommended by Clark as planned. Clark patted his chest to guarantee the deliciousness of the hot dogs there, and banged hard on the steel body, making a loud thud.

"I've sped there more than once to buy hot dogs for breakfast and then rushed back to the Daily Planet for work," said reporter Clark.

This description, so delicious it was almost like ice, greatly piqued Yang Le's curiosity, and today he finally had the chance to find out for himself.

Just as Clark had assured them, it was clearly just a food truck, but there was a long line of people around it, and the outdoor seating area was also full. A closer look revealed that the hot dog was indeed a regular customer. Yang Le had offered to join the line himself so that Diana could take Cassandra to find a place to sit, but the latter refused.

“Sometimes queuing can be quite enjoyable,” Diana said.

Although the queue was long, the number of people leaving was just as fast, which shows that the chef was very experienced and skilled at handling the situation. It seems that long queues are the norm here.

It was only a dozen minutes later that it was Yang Le's turn. Following Clark's recommendation, they ordered three classic American hot dogs, also known as the original flavor.

The owner's skills were indeed proficient. After taking the order, three meals were served immediately. This was all thanks to the thorough preparation before opening. All that was needed was to heat the sausages, bread, and vegetables that had been prepared in advance on the hot plate.

It sounds like a pre-made meal, but there's actually a big difference. The bread is soft and sweet, unlike a semi-finished product from a supplier. It's probably a ready-made product from a bakery.

The sausage is incredibly flavorful, thick, and juicy. When you bite into it, you can see the firm meat chunks turn into juicy fat chunks in the cross-section. This level of sausage is definitely not comparable to those junk foods.

The hot dog sauce didn't taste like the common brands on the market. This yellow mustard sauce had a very subtle flavor, at least Yang Le had never tasted anything like it before, with a faint fermented aroma.

The vegetables were quite ordinary, which was the only shortcoming of the hot dog, but they did serve to cut through the richness.

Yang Le finished his hot dog in a few bites, and his appetite was whetted, so he couldn't resist going back and buying three more. Because it was during a lull in the crowds, he was able to buy them without queuing this time.

This time, Yang Le wasn't going to just eat whatever he wanted. He packed three hot dogs and planned to take Diana and Cassandra to a scenic spot to enjoy a meal.

This place is the Metropolitan Plaza, located at the end of Tomorrow Street. It's a popular spot for Metropolitan residents, much like parks in Tianjin and old Beijing, where many people enjoy strolling around after lunch or dinner.

With a clear goal in mind, the three of them walked much faster than when they were shopping. Before long, they left Tomorrow Street and arrived at Metropolitan Plaza. Compared to the 'narrow' Tomorrow Street, Metropolitan Plaza gave Yang Le a feeling of sudden openness, like the Peach Blossom Spring.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art seems to have a particular fondness for white doves. Even in the center of the square, there is a statue of a flock of white doves. I heard that there was originally going to be a statue of Superman here, but he refused.

The reason for the refusal was that there was already a statue of him in the memorial park, and there was no need to put a statue of him in every landmark of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art belongs to everyone, not just him.

Sitting on a long bench by the roadside, looking at the Hobbes River not far away, the metropolis gave Yang Le a different feeling than the bustling Tomorrow Street before. It was quiet. Apart from the occasional children's laughter, it was really quiet, unlike a crowded city square.

It seems that choosing to buy a house near the metropolis was definitely the right decision.

"boom!"

(End of this chapter)