America: A Prodigy of Stereotypes

"Individuals need to pay for phone bills, monthly bus and subway passes..."

Li Qun helps with the family's accounts, including his father's monthly bills. He is very familiar with the living expenses of an ordinary family.

In terms of taxes, in addition to paying New York State tax, you also have to pay additional taxes from New York City.

Li Qun explained to Leo in detail the basic expenses of living in New York City, and that if he didn't have a good job, leaving New York City to live in a smaller town was the best option.

Harry and Peter listened from the side, which made them feel increasingly pressured.

Chapter 30 Amazing Strength

On my second visit to Steve Rogers's single apartment, I noticed an extra appliance in the room: a microwave oven. The price tag was still on the microwave, showing it cost $99.

"Johnny, I brought you some bananas. The bananas here are cheaper than in Chinatown."

"Thank you." Steve took the banana from Li Qun and placed it on the cupboard.

"Did I disturb your rest?" Li Qun asked.

The television was on in the apartment, and Steve was watching a Spanish-language channel. Several bilingual books in Spanish and English were on the table next to the sofa.

"I'm learning Spanish."

“I need to learn how to talk to my neighbors,” Steve replied with a smile.

"A new friend? Let me introduce you?"

Leo stood ramrod straight, while Harry curiously observed the living conditions of apartments for low- to middle-income earners in New York.

“This is Harry, my classmate with Peter. He just transferred back to New York this semester.”

“This is Leo, he just arrived in New York. In some ways, you two are quite similar,” Li Qun introduced.

"Hello, I'm Johnny Rogers."

Steve and Leo shook hands, both wearing polite smiles.

Steve and Leo gave Li Qun the feeling that they had swapped scripts.

Steve had a full beard, like a "soldier boy," while Leo's face was spotless, without a single stubble. Using the same face as "Wolverine" felt very incongruous to Li Qun.

“You’re really strong,” Leo exclaimed, marveling at Steve’s muscular physique.

“These are muscles built up through hard work,” Steve told Leo.

“Mr. Rogers, what is your job?” Leo asked.

“I’m a city sanitation worker, responsible for collecting garbage every morning with the garbage truck,” Steve said.

Steve reached out his hand to Harry Osborn to shake hands with him.

“Hello, Mr. Rogers.” Harry felt Steve’s strong, powerful hand.

“On the way here, Peter and Leon talked a lot about you,” Harry said earnestly.

"Please sit down, make yourselves at home," Steve said.

"Johnny, how have you been lately? Have you run into any trouble?" Li Qun asked.

"Trouble, we've actually encountered some."

"I go for a night run about an hour after dinner, and I often run into some guys with ill intentions."

"Those who rob people's wallets, steal tires, break into homes through windows..." Steve counted on his fingers.

“I gave them a good beating, including those who urinated or defecated indiscriminately.”

"Didn't the police handle these matters?" Leo asked, puzzled.

“If they were around, I’d ask them for help,” Steve said.

"Won't this cause even more trouble?" Harry asked.

“What do you mean by bigger trouble?” Steve looked at Harry.

“Like gangs or something,” Harry said.

"I don't know, I haven't encountered any gangs yet."

“Be careful, Johnny,” Li Qun said.

"By the way, I've finished reading the book you lent me."

Steve picked up "How the Steel Was Tempered" from the table and handed it to Li Qun.

After being read repeatedly by several people, this decades-old secondhand book was starting to fall apart.

Leo's gaze lingered on the title of the book, "How the Steel Was Tempered".

"Could I borrow this book to read?" Leo asked.

"of course can."

"Thank you."

Li Qun then handed the book to Leo.

Leo opened the book, and after flipping through a few pages, he found that the content was different from what he had imagined.

“I thought this was a book about how to forge steel,” Leo said.

"Pretty much, except that people are used as steel to be forged," Steve said to Leo.

"It's still worth reading." Leo closed the book; now was not the time for him to read.

Harry was very curious about everything in Steve's apartment. The apartment building Steve rented was also a century-old building, but not as "historically significant" as Harry's mansion.

“Mr. Rogers, do you work out?” Harry asked.

“Night runs are my entire fitness routine,” Steve replied.

“That’s physical talent,” Harry said.

Peter smiled. This is not as simple as just having talent.

“Let’s arm wrestle!” Harry rolled up his sleeves, wanting to feel how strong Steve was.

“I’m afraid I’ll hurt you,” Steve said.

“I work out too, look at my muscles.” Harry patted his biceps.

"alright."

Li Qun moved the table to a different position so that the two of them could each arm wrestle on one side.

Compared to Steve, Harry, who has his own gym at home, looks skinny with thin arms and legs, making the outcome obvious at a glance.

"start."

Steve simply placed his arm on the table, and Harry couldn't budge it no matter how hard he tried.

“You can use both hands,” Steve said with a smile.

"If I had two hands, I'd definitely win..."

Harry grabbed Steve's arm with both hands, and not only with his hands, but also with his upper body pressing down on Steve's arm.

But they still couldn't move Steve's arm an inch; Harry only moved the table.

"give up!"

Harry released his hands and gasped for breath.

“I’ll give it a try.” Leo was surprised by Steve’s arm strength and rolled up his sleeves to arm wrestle with Steve.

"Wow, wow!" Li Qun took out his phone and took pictures of the two "big stars".

“Leon, do you want to give it a try?” Steve asked.

“It’ll be my turn after you’re all done,” Li Qun said.

Steve looked relaxed, while Leo exerted force with one arm and looked serious.

The Duke's upper body was trembling, and the muscles in his cheeks were shaking, but Steve's arm remained still.

"I give up."

Leo withdrew his hand; his palm was red.

"Two hands or one hand?" Steve asked Li Qun.

"One hand is enough."

Li Qun squatted down by the table, grasped Steve's hand with his, and tried to exert force.

Steve felt the force exerted by Li Qun, glanced sideways, and frowned slightly.

Steve knew he was powerful, far more powerful than anyone he knew, but today he discovered that Leon's power seemed to be the same as his own.

There were others like him, and he was still considered a normal person. Steve felt inexplicably at peace thinking about this.

The two arms on the table began to change angles noticeably, and Harry and Leo were amazed that Rogers' "Mountain" arm had been shaken by Li Qun.

With a serious expression, Li Qun suddenly exerted force to press down Steve's arm, but did not completely pin it down.

Steve resisted Li Qun's arm strength, steadily exerting force, and gradually turned the tilted arm back, finally pressing Li Qun's arm down onto the table.

"I won."

Steve released his grip and exhaled; his victory hadn't been easy.

Chapter 31 Sunspots

Peter was pushed to the edge of the table by Harry, who then took Peter's hand on the other side of the table.

"Why do I want some too?"

“Come on, Peter, let me see what you’ve got!” Harry shouted.

Li Qun acted as the referee for the two and shouted "Start!"

Harry quickly pressed his arm down on Peter, who resisted fiercely. Both of their arms were trembling, and the muscles in their faces were tense.

"Go for it, Peter!" Li Qun shouted from the side.