America: A Prodigy of Stereotypes

“After you graduate, you can come find me. I really need people here,” Wenwu said to Liqun.

"I plan to start a business with my classmates and work on an internet project."

“The internet? I don’t understand these things,” Wenwu said.

"I heard the atmosphere here is very open. Do you have a girlfriend?" Wenwu asked Liqun.

"How could I possibly have a girlfriend? I'll have to wait until I go to university. Students should focus on their studies," Li Qun replied.

Wenwu nodded to Liqun.

He felt that Li Qun was still a child from a traditional Chinese family and had not been too influenced by the American atmosphere.

"What kind of courses does Shangqi take at home?" Liqun glanced at Shangqi, who was focused on eating.

"That is, Chinese, mathematics, foreign languages, science, and musical instruments. He learned to play the violin, and was also taught calligraphy and Go."

"Can we borrow a violin here? We can have Shang-Chi perform a piece later," Wen-Wu said.

"Don't force the child, eat your vegetables," the father said.

Shangqi gave his father a subtle look of gratitude.

"Life in New York must be tough, right?" Wenwu asked.

"I've gotten used to it, but it's been a long time since I've gone back to visit," the old man said.

"I'll treat you when we get back."

Wenwu poured his father a full glass of wine, but his father just shook his head.

"This wine is so-so, just average-tasty," the old man chuckled.

"Are you still brewing your own wine?" Wenwu asked.

"You want my homemade wine? I don't have any left."

“I don’t believe you,” Wenwu said.

"Then go and look for it."

After a few rounds of drinks and several dishes, the old man got up and said, "I'm going to the restroom."

Wenwu also stood up, but his father grabbed his wrist.

"Are you going to the toilet too?" Dad asked.

"I'll go pay the bill," Wenwu said with a smile.

"I said I'd treat," Dad said sternly.

"I didn't say you couldn't treat me."

Wenwu's wrist slipped out of his father's hand, and Liqun sensed that a major battle was about to break out.

"I'll give it to you."

The old man strode towards the cashier, and Wenwu reached out to grab his father's coat, only to be caught off guard by his father's clever escape.

Wenwu threw his father's coat over his head and rushed to the cashier, clutching his black gold credit card to his fingertips.

Wenwu's hand landed on the counter. "Swipe mine."

The old man put his coat over Wenwu's head, took Wenwu's black gold credit card, and put it on the counter.

"Swipe my card!"

Wenwu threw his father's coat at Liqun, and the two of them started fighting in front of the cashier, blocking, parrying, and using small grappling techniques, neither giving an inch.

"If you want to fight, go outside and fight." The uncle came out of the kitchen.

"Helou, settle the bill for me!" The old man took advantage of his familiarity with the place.

"Why bother settling the bill? Liqun has already paid," the uncle said to the father.

"You've already paid?"

The old man and Wenwu stopped, their hands clasped together, and turned to look at Liqun.

“I already paid. I paid when the menu was finalized,” Li Qun said.

"Why didn't you say so sooner?" The old man lowered his arm and gave Wenwu a victorious smile.

"Okay, you win today."

"Do you need to go to the bathroom again?" Wenwu asked his father.

"Leave me alone."

Dad still went to the bathroom.

Chapter 58 A Person with a Very Important Background

"Where are you staying tonight?" the old man asked Wenwu.

"Why would you need to worry about that? We'll be going back tomorrow," Wenwu replied.

"You don't know some of the rules in New York, so don't go out at night. Just stay in the hotel and sleep peacefully," Dad instructed.

After dinner, the four of them came out of the Yellow Crane Tower Chinese Restaurant and stood on the street chatting. Wenwu's gaze lingered on Liqun.

Liqun is the perfect child, except for one thing that Wenwu is not entirely satisfied with: Liqun's nearsightedness.

"Liqun, how old are you?"

I'm sixteen.

Wenwu looked at his father with a meaningful gaze.

"When did you start teaching him martial arts?" Wenwu asked.

"Hmm... I won't tell you," Dad replied.

“It hasn’t been many years, has it? His hands are different from Shangqi’s hands,” Wenwu said.

"Yes."

Li Qun raised his palm and looked at it; his hands had become much rougher from practicing martial arts recently.

Shang Qi also raised his palm, and Li Qun stretched out his own hand to compare with Shang Qi's. Shang Qi's palm was extremely rough.

"Your hands are beautiful," Shang-Chi said.

"Your skin is also very fair," Li Qun said in a friendly greeting.

“My sister’s hands are even whiter, and just as beautiful as yours,” Shang Qi said.

"Chen Long, I have an idea," Wenwu said to his father.

"Don't tell me what you're thinking. This isn't a feudal society anymore," the old man warned Wenwu.

"Why not?" Wenwu's eyes flickered.

"I suddenly envy you. You have a filial and good apprentice, and you have a peaceful and undisturbed old age."

"You just came to bother me, didn't you?" Dad said irritably.

Wenwu shifted his gaze from his father, reached out and patted Liqun's shoulder forcefully, then hesitated to speak to Liqun.

On the neon-lit streets of Chinatown, Wenwu and Shangqi flagged down a taxi. Old Man and Liqun watched as the yellow New York taxi drove into the New York traffic and gradually disappeared from sight.

"Dad, who is this Uncle Xu?"

Only after the person left did Li Qun voice his question.

“He’s got quite a background; he used to be a triad boss,” the old man explained.

The explanation of "gangster boss" made the old man chuckle.

"So that's how it is."

Li Qun completely believed what his father said. After all, Uncle Wenwu was someone who shared the same face as "Tony Leung," so it was perfectly normal for him to have been involved in gangs.

Beyond Li Qun's understanding, his memories of the old world contain no recollection of either "Wenwu" or "Shangqi".

"Dad, were you involved in gangs when you were young?"

"I've just lived a long time, so I know all sorts of people." The old man walked toward the pawnshop.

"I won't practice martial arts tonight."

"By the way, show the bill to your father so I can see it. I'll transfer the money for tonight's dinner to you." The father stopped again and reached out to Li Qun.

“Dad, if I’m treating, then you’re treating, right?” Li Qun said.

"Give the bill to Dad."

"Even if we don't give you a bill, do you think Dad can't do the math himself?"

"Okay, Dad."

Liqun obediently handed the bill from his pocket to his father. By the light of the street lamp, his father could see the contents of the bill clearly. Memories of his past with his old rival Wenwu surfaced in his mind, and his father smiled with relief.

The only thing that could cause such a dramatic change in a man is that he has met the love of his life.

It's a pity.

After dropping his father off at the pawnshop, Liqun returned to the Chinese restaurant.

"Has the person been sent away?" Uncle asked Liqun, peeking out from the kitchen.

“I’m leaving,” Li Qun replied.

"How does it taste?" the uncle asked with concern.

"They say it tastes like home cooking, and it's alright," Li Qun replied.

"Uncle, are you worried about your cooking skills?"

“My father’s old friend is from our hometown, and he doesn’t look like an ordinary person. I’m worried that he won’t be used to our food,” the uncle replied.

"Uncle, if Uncle Xu doesn't like your cooking, I've stopped liking it long ago."

"You little rascal!" Uncle laughed and reached out to give Li Qun a hard squeeze on the shoulder.

Li Qun laughed and pulled his shoulder away.