Listening to Bell's expert skills at picking up girls, Jiang Hai couldn't help but curl his lips. He was truly uninhibited.
Although Jiang Hai was usually relaxed, he didn't like to be too casual in unfamiliar situations. So, instead of getting involved in the commotion at the far end of the room, he simply took a sip of his wine and observed.
"Brother, what kind of good wine do you have here?" Jiang Hai asked, turning his attention to the bartender, who was still fiddling with his cup.
"We have beer or white wine," the bartender replied, his smile indicating he appreciated Jiang Hai's business. "The white wine here isn't domestic; it's what we call foreign wine."
"That's fine, I was just asking," Jiang Hai shrugged and said, not particularly interested in either option.
"As for beer, we have bottled Corona and Brahma. There's also homemade beer, which is quite cheap, though I'd advise against trying it, as it might not sit well with you. As for liquor, our main drink here is rum, and it's pretty good quality," the bartender continued, looking at Jiang Hai seriously.
Jiang Hai raised an eyebrow. He had heard of Corona and Brahma but had never tried them. He remembered reading an article about the world's top-selling beers. The top one was China's Snow Beer, a market leader driven by Chinese consumption, though it was virtually unknown outside the country. In the Western world, Budweiser Light, a light beer with a refreshing lemony flavor, reigned supreme, followed by regular Budweiser, Corona, and Brahma.
With this in mind, Jiang Hai decided to try a few options. "Give me one of each of the three beers you mentioned, and a glass of rum as well."
The bartender was quick to serve the drinks. Jiang Hai started with the locally brewed beer but nearly spat it out after the first sip.
"It's not great, I admit. We're short on fresh water here, so we import it. We brew the beer with ocean water, which doesn't make it taste great. But locals drink it because it's cheap," the bartender explained, noticing Jiang Hai's reaction. "Puerto Rico has a tough economy; we declared bankruptcy in 2012. That's why we're so eager to join the United States. But the U.S. isn't interested in us. We don't offer anything special—no strategic location, no special products. It's not worth it to them, and we're stuck without much help."
Jiang Hai nodded, taking in the information. "Got it," he said, wiping his mouth after finishing the local beer. He moved on to try the other drinks.
He found Corona's taste similar to a light beer, but with a stronger kick. Brahma was a heavier beer, not as refreshing as the first two, so Jiang Hai only had a couple of sips before setting it aside.
Finally, he tried the rum. He raised his eyebrows in approval. South American rum, made from sugarcane, had a smoother taste than American rum or vodka. It wasn't too spicy or harsh but sweet and easy on the palate, making it much more enjoyable.
Jiang Hai turned to the bartender and, pulling out a few hundred-dollar bills, said, "Give me three boxes of Corona and ten bottles of this rum."
The bartender laughed and replied, "That'll be $315, but I'll charge you $300." Jiang Hai handed him three hundred-dollar bills and tipped him five dollars. Other waiters helped him carry the drinks to his boat, and Jiang Hai gave them another five-dollar tip for their assistance.
After delivering the goods to the boat, Jiang Hai told the waiter to leave and went to find Harriman-Fiers. Together, they carried the boxes and bottles up to the boat. Bell, still enjoying his time at the bar, would make his way back later, Jiang Hai presumed.
The four people on the boat had already eaten dinner but were curious about the local specialties Jiang Hai had brought back. They seemed to enjoy the new flavors.
Around 10 p.m., after a full day, Jiang Hai escorted everyone back to their rooms. He still remembered Kevin's promise to meet him at six in the morning, so he made sure to get some rest, though Bell didn't return to the ship until about midnight. Jiang Hai wasn't worried; he knew Bell could handle himself.
The next morning, Jiang Hai woke early with the rising sun and stepped outside. The sea breeze immediately cleared his mind. He was familiar with the drastic temperature shifts by the sea—much like deserts, the ocean experiences a large temperature difference between day and night. Even Jiang Hai shivered slightly as he stepped outside, but he was prepared and put on his coat.
By 5:50 a.m., the fog had lifted, revealing clear skies and a calm sea. Small fish could be seen swimming near the boat, and the weather seemed promising for the day.
Just as Jiang Hai was about to wake the others, a familiar voice rang out. "Hi, handsome! You're up early!"
He turned to see Kevin, the girl from last night, walking over with four others. They wore the same clothes as before, each carrying a small bag. They waved excitedly when they saw Jiang Hai.
"Come on up!" Jiang Hai called, lowering the ladder for them.
As the girls climbed onto the boat, their eyes widened at the sight of the luxurious yacht. It was their first time being on such a beautiful boat.
"Make yourselves comfortable in the living room," Jiang Hai said with a smile. "You can watch TV while I go wake up my crew and prepare breakfast. We'll head out once we're all ready."
The girls looked thrilled at the idea, and Jiang Hai could see their excitement as they made their way to the lounge area. (To be continued.)