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Chapter 171: Ch.170 Hospitality

Even though the ground was frozen harder than stone this time of year, no one complained. After all, having work meant having food. If Su Ming were to announce a break until the spring thaw, they would likely beg him not to.

The construction schedule for the building wasn\'t urgent. He had planned for it to take a year or two. The surface buildings could be handled easily, but the underground levels needed meticulous planning.

Given that the geological conditions on Long Island were slightly worse than those in Manhattan, construction might proceed more slowly than the Empire State Building currently being built over there.

Bucky and Steve had imagined a large-scale construction site but only saw a group of people digging a large pit. Their curiosity quickly faded.

Su Ming\'s main intention was to take them around the city, chat, and see if they were "growing up right." As for serious matters, there were none.

He left all the real work to Gin and Vodka. Recently, he had been living like a lazy person, only needing to move his mouth.

"Do you know what they\'re doing?"

He puffed on a cigar, exhaling a smoke ring as he watched the workers in the pit below.

"I know, sir. They\'re digging the foundation."

Steve raised his hand politely, as if answering a question in class.

"And do you know why they\'re digging so hard, even though it\'s so difficult?" Su Ming asked again.

Steve thought for a moment, but Bucky jumped in to answer, albeit with little confidence.

"Because the foundation is important? Just like how a person needs to be grounded?"

Su Ming nodded with a smile but said nothing more. That\'s right—the more upright and simple, the better.

It seems my image has grown even taller.

The day passed like this. No matter what questions Su Ming asked, the two boys always provided answers that were righteous and morally upright, making him sigh with admiration. These two were indeed born to be superheroes.

He didn\'t need to worry about them going astray. They embodied the American spirit even more than they did in the movies.

However, based on what Su Ming had learned, their current family situation seemed like a mix of the movie and comic versions. Was it just an illusion?

After spending the day together, both boys held Su Ming in even higher esteem, thinking of him as a wise and virtuous new-era boss.

Finally, Su Ming fulfilled his promise and took them to dine at the Gramercy Park Hotel. Despite not yet being the hotel it would become in the future, the second phase of construction was completed, with only some interior decorations still unfinished.

This was a very unique hotel, full of post-modern Gothic style. The walls, curtains, and carpets were all crimson velvet, giving it the feel of a vampire\'s castle.

Of course, this place was always ahead of its time. Historically, by the 2000s, it would announce that the hotel welcomed gay, bisexual, and transgender guests from around the world, becoming a member of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association.

Anyway, Su Ming felt it was quite fitting to bring Captain America and the Winter Soldier here for a meal. His presence was almost unnecessary.

The two boys, of course, were unaware of Su Ming\'s twisted sense of humor. They were already overwhelmed by the hotel\'s grandeur, and when the food arrived, they devoured it like a storm.

Su Ming casually ate a few bites, spending most of his time watching them. In a few years, World War II would break out, and they would be heading to the battlefield.

He looked forward to meeting them there.

"Sorry, sir. We ate too much," Steve said, wiping his mouth. He noticed that Su Ming had only eaten a steak and felt embarrassed.

"It\'s fine. I invited you to eat, so go ahead and enjoy. Don\'t worry about saving money for me."

Su Ming generously called the waiter over and asked him to bring one of everything on the menu, except for the soups. He was true to his word—if he said they could take a feast home for their parents to try, then he meant it.

"Oh! Thank you, sir. You\'re such a good person."

Bucky wasn\'t thinking too deeply about it. He was entirely lost in the delicious food.

It was just one meal. In the future, winning over Captain America and the Winter Soldier wouldn\'t be as easy as it was now.

Steve and Bucky\'s eyes were bigger than their stomachs. When the dozens of dishes came, they couldn\'t eat much more before they were too full to move.

"Alright, it\'s getting late. Take my car home."

Su Ming paid the bill and had the waiter pack up the untouched food to put in the car\'s trunk. New York was chaotic, and he didn\'t want the two kids wandering around at night and getting into trouble.

Without a shield, Steve, and without his metal arm, Bucky were just ordinary kids.

The car\'s interior was still the same, luxurious with a faint smell of tobacco. Steve and Bucky reminisced about the day\'s experiences.

In the past, finding a matchbox and tearing off the picture for fun would make them happy. But today, they had learned valuable life lessons and eaten great food—something they would never forget.

"Thank you, Mr. Wilson. I\'ll study hard in the future and become someone useful to the country," Steve said, holding a bottle of cola as he watched the city lights speed by outside the window. He felt like he had grown up today.

"Me too. I\'ll study hard."

Bucky nodded. He was willing to study now. Today, Mr. Wilson had taught him through examples that learning more skills now would help everyone live better lives in the future.

"Don\'t run around anymore. Listen to your fathers and grow up well," Su Ming said with a smile they didn\'t understand.

In the dimly lit streets, the black limo sped through the night like a shadow. Before the boys could finish their sodas, the car stopped outside their apartment building.

By coincidence or not, the car parked right over the dried, faded bloodstain on the road.

Su Ming opened the door, signaling that they were home, watching as they reluctantly got out of the car. He had the driver hand over the packed food.

He decided not to go up to their apartment. The building looked so dilapidated, creaking and groaning in the night wind. His presence might make them feel awkward.

"Goodbye, sir. Thank you again."

The two boys said their farewells and excitedly headed home with the driver.

However...

It was late, and their fathers were already home.

Steve was lucky. His father only asked him what he did today and then gave him a lecture.

Bucky wasn\'t so fortunate. Before the driver even returned, Su Ming could already hear Bucky\'s cries of pain.

"Ah! It hurts!"

"Ah! My butt is splitting!"

"No! I can\'t take it anymore!"

"Sigh, what a hot-headed man," Su Ming muttered, glancing through the car window at the two lit-up apartments. He shrugged, rolled up the window, and said, "Drive, back to the bar."

In the days that followed, Su Ming continued with his preparations. Besides overseeing Wilson Enterprises\' planned development, he spent most of his time traveling the world, selecting future safe houses, and using third-party shell companies to purchase buildings or land.

In the future, both S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra would have countless bases worldwide. Su Ming would also need logistical support. These places needed to be stocked with food, weapons, transportation, communication tools, and more—all requiring substantial funds.

Currently, only the food supplies met his standards; the other items would have to be stocked later. Still, it was a significant expenditure.

Time flew by as everyone pursued their various activities. The two boys grew up day by day, from little kids to teenagers and then to young men.

Every year or two, Su Ming would meet with them, share a meal, and chat to ensure everything was still on track.

The events unfolded as expected. They both grew into upright young men. Bucky became tall, handsome, and strong, while Steve, after the age of fifteen, stopped growing. His body was still weakened by old ailments, with little to no resistance.

Steve was plagued by illnesses like trachoma, asthma, and scarlet fever, making him a complete sickly child, as if a strong wind could knock him over.

However, their friendship remained unchanged. They were still the best of friends.