America: A Prodigy of Stereotypes

“We had Peter try it yesterday, and his fried rice was just edible.”

“Being able to eat is already quite an achievement,” Peter shouted from the side.

“Gwen also took two days off. What were you doing?” Peter looked at Li Qun, feeling betrayed.

“We went to a traditional Chinese festival to remember deceased family members. Gwen only knew about the festival, but didn’t know it was a solemn occasion to commemorate the dead,” Li Qun explained simply.

"Sorry Peter, I didn't mean to not call you." Gwen stood next to Peter, talking as she worked.

"A serious holiday?"

“It’s very serious. There are many things you can’t do, and you need to remain quiet for long periods of time,” Gwen told Peter.

"I can do it."

“Remember to take me with you next time,” Peter said.

"I'll make sure you're prepared early next year," Li Qun said.

After preparing the food to be distributed at noon, the truck loaded the food and left. Li Qun, Gwen, and Peter stayed at the community canteen and did not take them to the shelter to distribute food to the homeless.

After Li Qun took Gwen and Peter and ran off with Steve last time, Martha adjusted the three's job duties, classifying them as the type who were outwardly obedient to orders, but once they encountered something that interested them, Li Qun and the others would become as unruly as other New York teenagers.

The three men moved three chairs outside the community canteen and waited in the shade for the community's truck to return.

They were very concerned about the situation at the shelter and whether Steve had been released.

Now, they only have two ways to learn about Steve's situation: one is to watch late-night programs that report on homeless people, and the other is to inquire through the community.

Li Qun suspected that Steve had likely been discovered by S.H.I.E.L.D., and that they had secretly taken Captain Steve into their custody. Perhaps they would treat Steve like an anti-fascist veteran, or perhaps they would imprison him as a successful case study of a super soldier for biological research.

What if Steve is really imprisoned?

Maybe he can get John Wick and Wade Wilson to rescue Captain Steve and break through S.H.I.E.L.D.?

Li Qun's mind was filled with all sorts of random thoughts.

This world is not the Marvel Universe 616, and all the Marvel storyline stereotypes in his mind are based on the 616 universe.

As if shrouded in mist, Li Qun couldn't even be sure that Peter would become Spider-Man.

"They're back."

The community's truck was parked in the driveway. After greeting Ms. Martha, Li Qun began inquiring about Steve.

"Lyon, we have news."

"Is it good news or bad news?" Li Qun asked.

"That's good news. Johnny has a job and a new place to live; he doesn't have to stay in the shelter anymore," Ms. Martha replied with a smile.

"What new job does Johnny have?" Peter asked.

"Where does he live?" Gwen asked with concern.

“I’m only telling you this, don’t tell anyone else,” Martha whispered.

“We promise to keep it confidential,” the three men said.

"The city hall assigned Johnny to work as a cleaner, whose job is to follow the garbage truck and collect garbage in the city every day. Johnny's accommodation is in Brooklyn, but I can't tell you exactly where."

"If you really want to see Johnny, you can wait for the garbage truck on the street, and you might bump into him."

"...A city sanitation worker?" Li Qun couldn't believe it.

“Aside from being a bit dirty, it’s a job that many people envy,” Martha said.

"A $25 hourly wage and $800 a month in rent, with guaranteed salary and benefits, couldn't be better for someone like Johnny who has no education but a healthy body."

This sounds bizarre and perplexing, but it happened to Steve, and Li Qun felt it was very likely that Steve himself made the request.

Chapter 17 I am my son

At five o'clock, before the sun had risen, Steve left his single apartment to go to work.

Garbage collectors work from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., forty hours a week, and have two days off per week.

After changing into his work clothes and putting on a fluorescent vest, Steve sat in a garbage truck and drove through the neighborhoods of Brooklyn.

"Johnny, we have your favorite cinnamon raisin flavor."

A colleague took a bag of donuts from the trash can and tossed it to Steve, who caught it with a smile.

"Thank you."

Picking up leftovers from the trash cans that bakeries didn't want the night before to eat for breakfast is a routine task for garbage collectors.

Johnny was the star member of their team. When Steve reported for duty on his first day, the other three members of the garbage collection team looked surprised. It was Johnny the Wanderer.

After that day, Steve got a new nickname, given to him by the homeless show crew: "Johnny the Homeless".

"These guys really don't know how to sort garbage. If it were a month ago, we would have left this pile of garbage here."

My colleague picked up a trash bag dripping with soup and threw it into the garbage truck while complaining.

"Leave it to me."

Johnny spoke up, and his colleague stepped back, letting Johnny handle the disgusting pile of garbage.

My colleague made a note in his notebook, which meant that the homeowner had to pay a fine.

As the sun rises, garbage trucks slowly move along the road, emptying one trash can after another.

Li Qun waited by the roadside for several days and finally ran into Steve.

On August 23rd, Li Qun, Peter, and Gwen finished their community volunteer work. Today is Tuesday, August 29th, and Midtown High School will start school on Tuesday, September 5th. There's only one week left until school starts.

The reason school starts on Tuesday is because the day before, September 4th, is Labor Day in the United States, a national holiday.

"Hey! Johnny!!"

Steve was hanging behind the garbage truck's garbage collection point when he saw Li Qun. He let go of the handrail and jumped off the garbage truck. His colleague looked at Li Qun curiously, feeling that he had seen this Asian boy somewhere before.

"Hey, Leon, long time no see."

Steve smiled and greeted Li Qun, but stopped five meters away; he had an unpleasant smell from dealing with garbage.

"Johnny, I heard they've found out your real identity."

“Yes, Chief Black said my father’s name is Steve Rogers, but now my Social Security card says Johnny Rogers.”

"Your father, Steve Rogers?"

"Correct."

Steve nodded.

Now I'm considered "my son".

“Do you remember anything about your father? About this name?” Li Qun asked Steve.

“I don’t remember.” Steve shook his head.

“That’s right, Johnny, Dad’s shop has things that Steve Rogers pawned, so that’s why you were standing in front of Dad’s shop that day,” Li Qun said.

"So that's how it is."

"I've redeemed Steve's things for you."

"how much is it?"

Steve looked at Li Qun.

“The city government gave me an advance of one month’s salary, four thousand dollars,” Steve said.

Li Qun raised his hand and spread his five fingers.

"Five hundred? Or five thousand?" Steve asked.

“It’s five yuan,” Li Qun said.

"Leon, you're not lying to me?"

“Your ‘father’ is an old friend of Dad’s. Actually, this five yuan is a safekeeping fee.”

"Thank you."

"Johnny, where do you live now? I'll deliver the stuff to your house."

"I currently live in the innermost room on the third floor of 70 Wilfield Street in Bushwick..."

"I've written it down."

“I get off work at two o’clock in the afternoon,” Steve said.

"Would you mind if I brought two friends along?" Li Qun asked.

"Is it Peter and Gwen?" Steve asked.

It's them.

"Welcome, but my apartment is a bit small, please don't mind."

"Of course not."

See you this afternoon.

See you this afternoon...

Li Qun waved and watched Steve turn around and chase after the garbage truck.

"Director Black... don't tell me that Sheriff Black has become the director of S.H.I.E.L.D." Li Qun muttered under his breath.

Chief Black discovered the name Steve Rogers, and Li Qun concluded that Chief Black also knew that the amnesiac "Johnny" was Steve Rogers.

Steve was likely under Chief Black's protection; at least until Steve regained his memories, he could live in New York as an ordinary person.

These past few weeks, Li Qun's worries can finally be put to rest.

Li Qun called Peter and Gwen separately to tell them that he had met Steve and found out Steve's current address, and that they would be able to visit Captain Steve that afternoon.

Only Li Qun was willing to stake out and chase the New York garbage trucks, as it was too dangerous for Peter and Gwen, and only Li Qun could get up before dawn to carry out the operation.

At 3 p.m., Li Qun, along with Peter and Gwen, arrived at Steve's 80-year-old apartment building, carrying suitcases. Most residents in this area have lower-middle-class incomes in New York City, and the neighborhood is predominantly Latino, with many Latino restaurants nearby.

After knocking on the door, Steve opened it at lightning speed, welcoming the guest inside.