"Excuse me, where are the restaurants in this town?" Seeing that the residents seemed friendly, Jiang Hai thought for a moment and asked a man walking by.
The man appeared surprised by the question but then spoke a string of words Jiang Hai couldn't understand.
"Uh, what do you mean?" Jiang Hai asked, feeling a bit confused. What was going on?
"Boss, he speaks Spanish," Bell-Lester, who had been standing next to Jiang Hai, chuckled, noticing the confusion.
Ever since Columbus discovered the Americas, for nearly three to four hundred years, South America was largely under Portuguese and Spanish rule. The indigenous people had been wiped out by the colonizers, and the remaining population consisted mostly of African slaves who had been brought over. This led to countries in the region having populations that were largely descended from Africans, including places like Cuba, Jamaica, and others.
Puerto Rico, once a Spanish territory, saw the near extinction of its native people. After the Spanish-American War, the United States took control of Puerto Rico but imposed few restrictions. The U.S. wasn't particularly concerned about maintaining power or status in its colonies—it cared more about money. Those who are familiar with global history know that before World War I, the United States wasn't a world leader, with Britain, France, Germany, and the Netherlands holding more sway.
However, after taking Puerto Rico, the U.S. sent many white settlers to the island, mixing with the local white, black, and indigenous populations. The result is a blend of cultures, with Puerto Ricans known for their striking appearance: they have the build of Africans, the features of Europeans, and the smooth, dark hair and delicate features of Asians. As a result, Puerto Rico is known for having some of the most beautiful people.
While Venezuela is a powerhouse in beauty pageants, Puerto Rico's beauty standards are also notable, particularly among women who boast slender figures, delicate faces, and a naturally full bust. It's worth noting that Rose Lane Sanchez, a Puerto Rican actress, was much admired in her role in Rush Hour 2, where she was often considered more attractive than Zhang Ziyi.
Back to the point: Although Puerto Rico seeks to become the 51st state of the U.S., its official language remains Spanish due to its history. Consequently, most locals speak Spanish, and not many can communicate in English, which led to the language barrier between Jiang Hai and the man. Despite trying for a while, the two were unable to understand each other.
Eventually, Jiang Hai decided to approach the only person he knew who spoke English— the town's head guard. The guard was delighted to help and explained that while the town was small, with a population of only around a thousand, it was well-equipped with shops, restaurants, hotels, and even bars.
Americans occasionally visited the town, though most arrived by plane. They were there to dive, as the Caribbean Sea is famous for its crystal-clear waters, especially around the coral reefs. The town had adapted to this influx of divers and catered to their needs. After receiving directions from the guard, Jiang Hai decided to grab a bite to eat before considering a visit to the bar.
Although Jiang Hai wasn't interested in the bar, Bell was keen to check it out. After giving the guard captain a $100 tip as a token of appreciation and for safety, the captain became even more enthusiastic and offered to personally escort Jiang Hai to the restaurant.
Upon entering the restaurant, Jiang Hai noticed it was busy. The menu seemed to consist mostly of fish dishes, as the island lacked sufficient land for farming. Meat, like beef, had to be imported from the U.S., making it prohibitively expensive. Consequently, fish was the main source of protein, and chicken was occasionally served for variety.
When Jiang Hai and Bell sat down, they drew the attention of many patrons, though they paid it no mind. Not long after, a Puerto Rican waitress approached them, speaking in slightly hesitant English. "Excuse me, what would you like to eat?"
"No menu?" Jiang Hai asked, slightly surprised. He wasn't sure what to order.
"We only have four cooking methods here—boiled, roasted, stewed, and fried. You can choose what you want, then tell us how you'd like it cooked," the waitress explained, clearly used to dealing with confused tourists.
"Well, what ingredients do you have?" Jiang Hai asked, trying to make sense of the situation.
"Only chicken and fish," the waitress replied, pointing to the wall. It seemed she anticipated Jiang Hai's next question. Following her gesture, Jiang Hai turned to see a large painting on the wall.
The painting depicted various fish species, categorized into four sections: recommended for consumption, edible but not recommended, and non-edible. This list, common across Caribbean restaurants, wasn't about price, but about the type of fish. Jiang Hai, having worked in the fishery for a year, recognized most of the fish on the list, though there were a few unfamiliar ones.
The first recommended fish was the lionfish, an invasive species that had been blown to the Caribbean from Miami after a hurricane. It was now considered a pest, and divers were encouraged to catch it for consumption or even to feed it to sharks. Below that was the cero, also known as the Spanish Mackerel. The next fish, called Kingfish, was another type of Spanish mackerel, just much larger than its counterpart found in China. Further down, Jiang Hai saw other fish like Wahoo, Trevallies, and Mahimahi. He recognized Yellowtail Snapper and Tuna, both familiar to him from his work in the fishery.
The menu was simple, and Jiang Hai made his decision quickly, opting for some of the recommended fish.