The post-war American economy is most directly reflected in the fact that there are more vehicles on the streets than before.
The sound of engines, the horns and cursing caused by traffic jams forced him to roll up the car window.
Maybe in a few years, New York City will start building overpasses or underground tunnels, but for the past few years, traffic has indeed been a major issue.
Howard's Stark Industries Headquarters is in Manhattan, which is truly a hellish place, the speed at which cars move during rush hour is as slow as a snail.
Su Ming can hardly remember the last time he drove, but today Gin had other matters to attend to, and Howard was being all secretive, so it was better to drive himself.
But now it seems that riding a bicycle would have been better, or having the adjutant arrange for a makeshift helicopter.
Su Ming held the steering wheel, smoking a cigarette and thinking, as the luxurious black car slowly moved forward with the flow of traffic. It had been a long time since he'd walked on the streets, and they had changed quite a bit.
Just then, he saw Howard actually walking over from the sidewalk, seemingly having predicted Su Ming's route, waiting for him at a point he had to pass.
Howard first looked around furtively, like a thief, and used his coat collar to cover his face and little mustache, looking particularly guilty.
After checking repeatedly, he finally opened the passenger door and got in.
Not because he felt it was safe, but quite the opposite, because the drivers behind in the traffic jam were honking like crazy, as if they were about to get out and beat him.
"I should have asked you to pick me up from Long Island; Manhattan in the morning is truly a hell."
Su Ming saw Howard's suspicious actions but didn't inquire about them. Instead, like the British talk about the weather, the New Yorkers talked about traffic conditions.
"I agree with your views, but not today. We need to go to Westchester, which is in the opposite direction of Long Island." Howard's little mustache twitched, and he stuffed back the tie that had popped out of his suit.
"Did you stay at the office again last night?" Su Ming lightly stepped on the gas pedal, and the car began to move slowly.
"You left a suite for yourself on the top floor of your company, which I think is nice. So I also stayed at the top floor of my company. But Manhattan's transportation really is inconvenient, so I'm considering buying a house in Los Angeles, right by the seaside." Howard smoothed the collar of his coat, leaning back in the seat with a sigh of relief as if relaxing.
"Malibu Beach?" Su Ming glanced at him.
"How did you know?" Howard showed a surprised expression; he had only been considering the idea, and it was guessed so quickly?
Su Ming placed the cigarette box in front of him for him to take for himself and yawned, "There are quite a few Hollywood stars living there. I bet you surely want to have a fateful encounter with some beauties."
"I realize you really know me well..." Howard pinched his chin, pondering for a moment. "But you must know, men and men are impossible; no matter how much you pay attention to me, it won't work. Nonetheless, I've decided to buy land on Long Island. We can be neighbors."
"Get lost."
Su Ming pretended to stop the car.
"Don't, I was just joking. I saw your new secretary the last time; I didn't expect that old man Gin to have such a beautiful granddaughter, you really hid her well."
Howard grabbed the car door handle, as if afraid of being thrown out.
"Stop with the nonsense. You're not here to discuss whose secretary is prettier, are you?" Faced with Howard's lewd expression and actions, Su Ming felt no fluctuation in his heart, even finding it a bit funny.
"There aren't any bugs in your car, right?" Howard became serious, putting aside his lewd demeanor.
"No, I have someone check for that." Su Ming shook his head. He would personally check first and then have Strangulation check again: "I don't want to sit on a car bomb one day like the Sherman crew, dying in an iron coffin."
"So your company's 'Iron Wall' self-propelled anti-tank gun is just a big metal lump, utterly useless except for its defense?" Howard went off-topic again.
"Then you should ask the crew who have driven the Iron Wall whether they would trade it for a Sherman." Su Ming smiled, noting that sometimes being slow on the battlefield has its benefits: "At least I let the young men come off the battlefield alive, rather than coming back under a national flag. How many people they've killed with my tanks doesn't concern me; the ideal is killing no one."
Howard showed a look of amazement, taking a good look at Su Ming: "How come I never knew you were a pacifist?"
"The war is over, my friend. Those former enemies on the battlefield are now our customers. Back then, killing one more person meant one less person from whom to earn money now. For a company, that's a loss."
Su Ming twisted the radio knob; the traffic jam was really annoying, and he wanted to listen to some jazz.
Germany is now divided, and West Germany as a capitalist country had to accept the United States' 'aid,' becoming a dumping ground for products by maximally opening up imports and exports.
Past enemies can now drink Skywalker's wine, enjoying most of Wilson Enterprises' products. The German Mark is still money.
"Damn, arms exports to West Germany still aren't open; my recent activities haven't made any progress, and the military is watching this very closely."
Howard said helplessly, staring out the car window at the traffic, watching the black snow churn out from under the wheels of the car ahead, as the exhaust gas quickly dissipated.
Su Ming scratched his eyebrow with a fingernail and flicked some ash into the ashtray.
"Did you call me just for this matter? Let's be clear, I do have good connections with the military, and I can help you move things around, but there's no guarantee it'll be effective. Admiral Panxing passed away in August, his faction is in chaos, MacArthur is playing Supreme Emperor in Japan, and Eisenhower is preparing to run for the next presidency. Most people won't get involved in your 'risky investment'."
"Why don't you just run for president and then find a way to issue a special executive order or something for me?"
Howard scoffed disinterestedly, not really keen on making money; he's a scientist, inventor, selling weapons just to fund his personal hobbies, such as promoting actress or something.
"Why don't you go? This country is ultimately run by businessmen; if you run for election, the military wouldn't be our opponent."
Su Ming retorted sarcastically; the President of the United States could be considered the weakest president, simply a spokesman for big businessmen.
Oil companies, bankers, automobile tycoons—these people take turns being behind the president, only the consortiums change.
If Wilson Enterprises and Stark Industries teamed up, and Su Ming used some underhanded tricks, endorsing a president wouldn't be much harder than promoting an actress.
"Me, becoming the president? I don't even know how many ex-girlfriends I have." Howard immediately refused, with no interest in this idea: "Can you imagine if I became president, during an overseas visit, the airport welcoming committee would be filled with ex-girlfriends—what a scene it would be?"
"I thought you were worried about your illegitimate children."
"Am I that foolish? I wouldn't let a scheming woman become pregnant; that involves inheritance rights and a whole bunch of other issues." Howard shook his head; he knew it well.
"Why do you always inadvertently drag the topic so far? Is it a talent?" Su Ming didn't feel like chatting anymore and directly asked Howard what was going on.
"Well, you... are you sure your car is safe?"
Howard started and immediately began suspiciously looking around, like a thief.
"Forget it, I'll head back." Su Ming flicked on the turn signal.
"No, I'm saying, uh... do you know about mutants?" Howard's voice grew softer until it was almost inaudible.
"Oh? Why do you ask?" Su Ming calmly asked in return.
"I heard a rumor... just a rumor, that Dr. Xavier's son, Little Charles, is suspected to be a mutant, and now some people plan to capture him for experimentation."
"SSR? Is the Roaring Assault Team in charge?"
"Walter? No, it's not SSR; Dr. Xavier, after all, sacrificed for SSR. If they touch his son shortly after his death, it would lead to disillusionment and a decline in morale, an unwise business move; I'm talking about other forces." Howard shook his head vehemently, scratching his chin hard.
"Zola told you."
"Yes... ah, he's truly a genius, with research on energy and biology, and he's Swiss. He has his own channels; he's the one who told me this information."
"Hmm, I guess the channel is a skeleton spitting out a cluster of octopus tentacles, Howard, you're playing with fire, associating with those maniacs in such sensitive times is not wise."
"Hydra's already finished; maybe some former Hydra special agent is now working as a private detective or street informant? Just like you said, the war is over."
Howard stroked his mustache, raising his chin and rubbing it with fingers.
Su Ming took a deep breath; he really wanted to pry open Howard's skull with the Great Sword to see if it was filled with women's butts and Nai Zi.
"Penniless Hydra special agents turning into private detectives, starting a new life in this chaotic place in the United States, then bypassing dozens of securities to deliver messages to Zola? ... Cut off one head, grow two; they aren't joking. As long as there are people on Earth, Hydra won't be finished."
Su Ming can do business with Hydra, and Howard can too, but this relationship cannot be exposed; it's not allowed in current society.
Dr. Zola is under house arrest at SSR, watched even for bathroom breaks; how he gets external news and passes information to Howard is the real big issue.
"Hey, listen. You know what you're saying, but what benefit could Zola gain by telling me this information?" Howard leaned closer, very earnestly looking at Su Ming: "Now, even his daily stool is examined to prevent him from committing suicide with poison, and what does he want? Simply to do some good and protect another scientist colleague's family. I think what he did is right."
"Howard." Su Ming turned his head as well, earnestly looking at him.
"Hmm?" Howard blinked.
"You're really going to get yourself killed, and not even I can save you!" Su Ming said fiercely, spraying Howard's face with spit.
"Bleh bleh bleh, you're older than me, old man. Instead of worrying about me, you'd better start choosing wood for your coffin." Howard pulled out a handkerchief, vigorously wiped his face, little realizing it only spread it evenly.