America: A Prodigy of Stereotypes

"It's said that there are only 130 umbrellas in New York City, and every time it's about to rain, these umbrellas are passed around the streets of New York like a relay baton," Peter told a New Yorker joke.

"You didn't bring an umbrella either?" Li Qun asked Peter.

I don't have an umbrella.

"Unless the weather forecast issues a warning of heavy rain, no one will carry an umbrella in their backpack when they go out."

"Peter, are you telling the truth?" Li Qun's eyes clearly showed disbelief in Peter.

“Hey kids, why aren’t you leaving yet?” Gwen walked up to the two of them, her backpack hanging around her neck.

“Peter and I are waiting for the rain to stop,” Li Qun said to Gwen.

“Look, there’s someone selling umbrellas around the corner,” Gwen said.

"I would never buy it. Do you know how these people price their umbrellas? 20 yuan apiece, and the quality is terrible," Li Qun complained.

"You bought it?"

Peter bought it.

Gwen looked at Peter.

“My uncle took it and used it, and I never saw that umbrella in the house again,” Peter told Gwen.

"Aren't you in a hurry to go home and practice your kung fu today?" Gwen asked Li Qun.

“My father said that practicing martial arts requires a balance of tension and relaxation. For the past few months, I’ve been on edge, and if you’re too tense, the string will break. He told me not to practice for the next couple of days and to find something relaxing to do,” Li Qun replied.

"But I still wore the weights."

Li Qun raised his wrist to show Gwen the black weight belt.

The weighted belts are filled with metal particles, which can make them even heavier.

“Shall we go see a movie? I’ll buy the tickets,” Gwen suggested.

"Any good movies out there lately?" Peter asked.

"Nishidi's new animated film 'Dinosaur' will be released this weekend."

“You guys would really like those terrifying giant lizards, wouldn’t you?” Gwen said.

"I don't think it will look good."

Li Qun recalled that he had seen the movie "Dinosaur" when he was a child before he traveled back in time. He had watched it several times, mainly because several animation channels often aired this dinosaur movie with a bland and unoriginal plot during holidays.

"Gwen, are you brave enough to watch horror movies?"

When Li Qun asked Gwen, Peter showed a frightened expression.

"Why don't you dare to look?"

“How about we come to your house for a horror movie night on Friday night?” Li Qun suggested.

“Is that so? Peter, and what about you?” Gwen looked at Peter.

“I… I need Uncle Ben’s permission to stay overnight at your house,” Peter replied hesitantly.

“Liqun, don’t you need to ask your uncle for permission?” Peter asked Liqun.

“Of course I’ll ask, but they’ll definitely agree,” Li Qun replied.

"Let's leave it at that."

“If Peter can’t come, then it’ll just be the two of us together,” Gwen said.

“No, Uncle George is with us too.” Li Qun smiled at Gwen.

“He doesn’t like mindless horror movies,” Gwen said with a laugh.

“Leave the horror movie videotapes to me, Dad has plenty in his shop,” Li Qun said.

The rain gradually stopped, and the three walked out of the campus side by side, saying goodbye at the bus stop.

This weekend is destined to be busy. Friday is the horror movie night we just agreed on; Saturday is the final of the street fighting tournament; Sunday is the scheduled match between Li Qun and karate master Miyagi, which will be postponed to next weekend if Li Qun is not in good form.

When I got home, it started raining again on the street.

Due to the weather, the Chinese restaurant had few customers that day, but my uncle still insisted on staying open until the designated closing time before closing for a break.

"Going to a female classmate's house to watch a movie? That Stacy? The one whose dad's a sheriff?"

"Mmm." Li Qun nodded to his uncle.

"Okay."

Just as Li Qun had expected, his uncle readily agreed.

"Will you also have dinner at Stacy's house on Friday?" Uncle asked.

"I didn't expect that."

"Be tactful when visiting someone's home, don't embarrass yourself."

"I'll teach you two simple dishes, so you don't have to order takeout."

Li Qun followed his uncle into the kitchen.

My uncle's house has two kitchens.

One is the kitchen of the Chinese restaurant on the first floor, and the other is the family kitchen on the second floor.

The kitchen on the second floor has no open flame; the stove only has an integrated ceramic cooktop and an induction cooktop, and the heat is barely enough.

Seeing his uncle take out chilled chicken wings and a can of full-sugar cola from the refrigerator, Liqun immediately guessed what simple dish his uncle was going to teach him.

"Cola chicken wings?" Li Qun asked.

"You know what? This is something a Chinese student studying abroad taught me to make," the uncle laughed.

“I can do that too,” Li Qun said.

"I'm going to teach you my improved version of the recipe, which tastes even better."

"Apart from restaurants, the chicken wings that other people buy are frozen products that have been frozen for months or even years. Frozen chicken wings definitely don't taste very good."

"My secret method for treating frozen chicken wings is to marinate them overnight in concentrated salt water with scallions, ginger, and garlic at a low temperature."

"Don't be afraid that the concentrated salt water will make the chicken wings too salty. The concentrated salt water will make the chicken meat incredibly tender and smooth. Once marinated, they will taste delicious even if you just fry them directly in oil."

"I'll marinate the chicken wings tonight. Try them when you get home from school tomorrow. They'll be delicious."

On Thursday, Liqun went home and ate his uncle's secret recipe cola chicken wings. All 20 chicken wings that came out of the pot were eaten by Liqun and his cousin Shuangxi. The little bit of broth left in the pot was also used to mix with rice and finished off.

Chapter 32 The Killer Isn't Cold

"Dad, are the chicken wings tasty?"

"good."

In his father's kitchen, Liqun first used his father as a test subject.

Despite his advanced age, Dad still has all his teeth and can eat anything; his digestion is quite good.

"Dad, do you have any recommendations for horror movies? Peter and I are meeting up at Gwen's house on Friday night to watch a horror movie together."

"Horror movie?"

“I recommend you watch ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street.’ They have the whole series in the store; it’s a classic,” the old man said.

Li Qun went downstairs and came back a short while later carrying a cardboard box.

"This movie is so old, there are seven parts to it."

Li Qun flipped through seven videotapes of "A Nightmare on Elm Street."

"Don't be too scared to sleep after watching it!" Dad said with a smile.

"Dad, what's the plot summary?"

“Freddy is a demon who lives in dreams. He drags young people into nightmares and tortures them cruelly, and the harm in the dreams manifests in reality,” the old man replied casually.

"The main characters in the movie happen to be kids your age."

"Dad, I'll take it then."

"Take good care of it."

……

……

On Friday morning, Peter curiously observed Li Qun's new look on his way to school.

Today he was carrying a large handbag and holding a potted mint plant that was growing very well.

Rain clouds looming over New York could bring rain at any moment, and Li Qun was wearing a long black trench coat over his clothes.

"Hi, Lyon!" Peter greeted Li Qun with a smile.

"Good morning, Peter."

“I know what you’re trying to say,” Li Qun said to Peter.

"You're like Léon, the protagonist of 'Léon: The Professional'."

“The only difference is that the glasses aren’t sunglasses, and he doesn’t have a beard on his cheeks,” Peter said.

What did you bring to school?

“I’m going to Gwen’s house to cook dinner tonight, so I brought the ingredients to school in advance,” Li Qun replied.

"Liqun, are you making dinner?"

"Of course."

"I'm starting to look forward to it."

Upon entering the school, Li Qun felt that he was being watched by the vice principal, Old George.

Upon reaching the locker, Li Qun opened his briefcase and stuffed its contents into his locker. Seeing the contents of Li Qun's briefcase, Vice Principal George secretly breathed a sigh of relief; there were no rifles or pistols inside.

The locker was crammed full of two bags of marinated chicken wings and other ingredients. Li Qun, looking troubled, carried a potted mint plant as he wandered from classroom to classroom. During class, the potted mint plant was placed at his feet.

"Hey, Liqun, I think you should wear my glasses."