America: A Prodigy of Stereotypes

……

……

On the last day of her driving lessons, Gwen was idly flipping through brochures advertising used car dealerships, occasionally showing Peter and Liqun the used cars she liked.

Gwen's eyes lit up when she saw a black minivan.

“How about this vehicle? We can modify it into our base vehicle,” Gwen said softly, looking down.

"Why are we modifying the base vehicle?" Peter asked in a low voice, puzzled.

“I just think it’s really cool to do this, and it’s a mobile secret base that’s completely our own,” Gwen whispered excitedly.

"Can we take this car to get our driver's license?" Li Qun asked in a low voice.

"Oh, we still have to consider that... Let's talk about it later."

Gwen's enthusiasm waned; taking the road test in a minivan was definitely not as easy as taking it in a regular sedan.

Gwen frowned, and by the time the video course ended, she still hadn't decided which model of used car to buy.

After registering and signing the form to confirm that they had all completed the five hours of mandatory classes, the three of them went for a stroll on the street.

"Should we go to a used car dealership and take a look ourselves?" Li Qun suggested.

“We don’t know how to drive yet, what are we going to do if the dealership manager makes us test drive?” Gwen said.

“Gwen, you should put aside the idea of ​​buying a car for now,” Peter said.

“I’m getting a little anxious.” Gwen put down the used car brochure in her hand and stuffed it back into her bag.

"It's the holidays, and it's so boring." Gwen kicked a trash bag on the street.

“Peter, when will the school report cards arrive? I heard that holiday homework will be mailed along with the report cards.” Li Qun looked at Peter.

"Holiday homework is not mandatory."

"The email will include a reading list, allowing you to choose a book to read during the holidays; it will also suggest community service or volunteering, saying it will help you in your college interviews," Peter replied.

“I’ve done community volunteering, distributing lunches to some homeless people. How should I put it? It doesn’t seem like what they need is a free lunch,” Gwen said.

"Are there many people taking the free lunch?" Li Qun asked.

“Not many, but each one of them is very deserving of sympathy,” Gwen said.

“Some are veterans with severe PTSD, some are people without legal status, some are middle-aged bankrupts, and some are mentally ill,” Gwen counted on her fingers.

As the three walked through a dark alley, a homeless man covered in newspapers and living in a small shack made of scrap wood and cardboard rolled over in the alley. The homeless man's hair and beard were so long that they covered his neck and shoulders.

Chapter 59 Drink More Hot Water

After the summer vacation, Li Qun was constantly worried about his semester report card. He was always afraid that the mail sent by the school would get lost, which caused him to lose control of school-related matters.

It feels like the teacher is about to go over a test paper in class, and all the other students have already taken out their test papers and put them on their desks, but you're the only one still frantically searching through your desk.

Li Qun's worries did not come to pass. Zhongcheng High School successfully delivered the email to her home, and Li Qun immediately opened the email and received her semester report card.

He got 'A's in all subjects, with 'A+'s in mathematics and science, which gave Li Qun a sense of accomplishment.

Maintaining good academic performance starts with gaining a sense of accomplishment in learning. This feeling propels a person forward and makes them confident in their learning abilities.

When Li Qun showed his report card to his uncle and aunt, the two guardians had indifferent expressions, as if they should only be surprised if Li Qun accidentally got a 'B'.

"Has Shuangxi's report card not arrived yet?" Liqun asked.

"It will either arrive a few days late, or it will arrive and he will hide it," Auntie said.

"It's no use hiding it; I'll find it eventually. He can never hide anything properly."

"Aunt, shall I tutor Shuangxi?" Liqun said.

"No, please don't."

“He’ll pollute your brain and make you stupid,” Auntie refused.

"Is it really that exaggerated? I taught Shuangxi Chinese and I didn't find anything wrong with him being slow," Liqun said.

"That's because you're teaching him his native language, and you're using 'Journey to the West' as a textbook. If you were teaching him math, you'd be furious."

The aunt and Li Qun exchanged glances, the aunt trying to dissuade Li Qun.

"Ok."

At the restaurant, Shuangxi's uncle and aunt didn't need him to help them with chores, and his aunt didn't arrange for him to attend tutoring classes during the holidays. Shuangxi spent his days either staying at home watching TV or studying Chinese with the Four Great Classical Novels. He wasn't allowed to leave Chinatown when he went out to play, and he didn't have the same freedom of movement as Liqun.

"Liqun, what's your holiday homework?" Auntie asked.

“The holiday homework assigned by the school is not mandatory,” Li Qun said.

“That’s still something we should do,” my aunt said.

"I want to finish reading a book on the recommended reading list, participate in a social practice activity, do some volunteer work or something," Li Qun replied.

"Take this and go buy books."

Aunt gave Liqun a $20 note.

If you're buying new books, as long as they're not hardcovers, $20 is definitely enough. But if you're buying used books, $20 can buy many.

Li Qun went out with a book list to find books at a second-hand bookstore in Chinatown.

"Hey Peter, is there any book you'd like to read? I'm on my way to the used bookstore." Li Qun called Peter's house on her cell phone.

“I’ve forgotten about the report card,” Peter said on the other end of the phone.

"You weren't woken up by my phone call, were you?"

Li Qun noticed that Peter's voice sounded listless.

"You guessed it."

"Wait me a moment……"

A moment later, Li Qun heard the sound of paper being torn on his phone; Peter was tearing up his school emails.

“I found the book list… The recommended reading for 11th grade is *The Great Gatsby*. If you can find it, please buy it for me. Liqun, which one did you choose?” Peter said.

“Animal Farm,” Li Qun replied.

“Liqun, have you asked Gwen?” Peter asked.

“I haven’t asked yet, but she probably won’t do her holiday homework, right?” Li Qun said.

"If you ask her, she probably will know."

“We’ve all chosen books; we can’t let her relax alone,” Li Qun said with a smile.

"I'm hanging up now, I'm going to call Gwen."

Li Qun stood at the entrance of the secondhand bookstore and called Gwen again.

Gwen's deep, languid voice came from the phone.

"Hello, who is this?"

"I am Liqun."

"Oh, Liqun, I'm not feeling well today. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Are you feeling unwell?"

After thinking about it, Li Qun realized that Gwen must be having her period a few days every month.

"Drink more hot water," Li Qun advised.

“I want ice water,” Gwen said.

“I’m standing outside the used bookstore. Peter and I are both planning to do some holiday homework and finish reading a book. Gwen, which one would you like to read? I’ll deliver it to your house,” Li Qun said.

“Oh, send me your copy of How the Steel Was Tempered. I don’t want to read any of the books on the school’s recommended reading list,” Gwen said.

"it is good."

"Liqun, do you have any mysterious Eastern herbs that can relieve pain?" Gwen's voice sounded weak on the phone.

"I have a way to make you feel better right now."

"How do we do it?" Gwen's voice suddenly perked up.

"Sit up straight and relax your lower abdomen."

"Place your hands on your navel, one on top of the other, and try to grab your lower abdomen as much as possible to lift it upwards, then sway it left and right a few times."

Li Qun heard the phone receiver being put down, listened quietly for a while to the white noise coming from the phone, and then heard Gwen's excited voice coming from the other end.

"Liqun, the method you taught me is really effective! The pain has almost stopped!"

"That's good."

"Who taught you that?" Gwen asked.

“Acupoints, do you understand them? They’re from traditional Chinese medicine in Aurora, my father told me about them,” Li Qun said.

"I have another idea."

"What method?" Gwen asked.

"Let's wait for a sunny day, and then we'll find a rock that's scorching hot from the sun. You can sit on that hot rock."

“It’s like some kind of mysterious Eastern magic,” Gwen said.

"One more thing, Gwen, don't drink ice water. Ice water will deplete your body's yang energy, which is not good for your physical condition these days."

"So you're telling me to drink hot water? Fine, I'll go boil some water and try out your yin-yang theory."

“These are all experiences summarized by our predecessors. I’ll come over later and bring you some Chinese herbs that can be put in hot water,” Li Qun said.

"Will the herbs be expensive?" Gwen asked.

"It's very common and not expensive at all. My uncle even uses it when he makes soup."

“That would be great! I’ll wait for you to come over. Could you also help me buy something? I don’t want to go out,” Gwen said on the phone.

"Tell me what you want me to buy for you."

"...OK."