While Zhou Ge was pretending to be clueless, many others in the imperial capital were doing the same.
There wasn't much choice, after all—there were only three cities in China with flights to the U.S.: the imperial capital, the magic city, and Yuezhou.
This particular group of tourists came from the imperial capital, which meant those they were "pretending to be stupid" around were also in or near the capital.
After encountering these seemingly clueless folks, many locals were curious enough to check things out for themselves.
The world is vast—they had to see it for themselves!
It hadn't been long since the first batch of tourists returned before more people began flocking to the travel agency, eager to learn more and sign up for the next trip to Winthrop.
Some were first-timers, while others had already reserved spots for a second visit before they even came back.
Originally, the agency had planned to rest for a week after returning, finalize the itinerary the following week, and set out again in half a month. But just a few days after their return—while Jiang Hai was still sailing the American coast—the tour company's phones were ringing off the hook. Crowds gathered at their offices, all asking the same thing: how to get to Winthrop.
The agency was stunned at first, but quickly pulled together a second group. Naturally, Wu Shan and his team led the way again. From their arrival back in China to the departure of the next tour, only five days had passed.
By then, Jiang Hai hadn't even reached Miami, but the second group had already landed in Winthrop. This time, 86 people made the trip. Having had prior experience, Winthrop quickly arranged transport to pick them up.
Once they arrived, social media exploded.
Jiang Hai's manor remained the centerpiece of the experience. Many tourists came solely for the seafood from his estate. Edward Anderson and the others, having received Jiang Hai's authorization before he left, were allowed to sell it—but with conditions.
Everything had to be accounted for. Jiang Hai didn't mind them eating the seafood, but he absolutely wouldn't allow unauthorized sales that profited individuals at the manor's expense. It wasn't about the money—it was a matter of principle.
Fortunately, Edward and the others understood. Plus, Jiang Hai had promised them 20% of the profits. At $3,000 per lobster, $600 per sale wasn't exactly pocket change. Naturally, Winthrop's popularity and reputation in China skyrocketed.
Before the second tour group even returned, a third had already set off—this time with 102 people. Jiang Hai's villa complex could no longer accommodate them all, and local hotels began cashing in.
Though they couldn't charge as much as the manor villas—not even half—they were thrilled. These were earnings with virtually no investment, and business was booming. Unbeknownst to most, Winthrop had become the top destination for Chinese tourists visiting the U.S.
Higher in appeal than many U.S. locations, Winthrop offered delicious, affordable food, picturesque views, and endless entertainment. For Chinese tourists, it was irresistible.
Thanks to the buzz on social media, Chinese students in Boston soon caught wind of it. Many hadn't even known such a fun spot was nearby. The first group of domestic drivers made the trip out.
For a while, Winthrop wasn't just a Chinese sensation—it was hot in the U.S., too.
While Jiang Hai was diving for lobsters in Puerto Rico, the fourth group from China set out—this time with 124 people. In under a month, Winthrop had welcomed about 400 Chinese tourists, not to mention dozens of curious Americans.
Though the total number wasn't enormous, it sent shockwaves through the Boston Tourism Bureau.
They were baffled. What was going on?
To them, Winthrop was never a key attraction—just another coastal town. Out of courtesy, they hadn't developed it, and when Jiang Hai and Mayor Wallis bypassed Boston's government to improve Winthrop themselves, it ruffled feathers.
But now? Now Winthrop had hosted 400 Chinese tourists in a single month.
Sure, 400 wasn't a huge number. But what if it became 10 groups? That's 4,000 people. Even if Winthrop's tourist season lasted only half a year, they could easily host over 20,000 tourists annually.
At $1,000 per tourist, that's more than $20 million in revenue. The thought alone made their kidneys ache.
Due to U.S. political structure, no government level has authority over another. The federal government can't control states; states can't control municipalities. And Winthrop isn't even under Boston's jurisdiction. So Boston had no claim to the profits.
Their only hope of cashing in was to somehow tie themselves to these tour groups—but that wasn't happening. Jiang Hai had sourced them independently. Boston had done nothing.
Even taxes weren't in their favor: federal taxes go to the U.S. government, state taxes to Massachusetts, and the remainder stays in Winthrop.
Watching Winthrop's success, Boston's officials were floored. After several days of internal discussion, they tried reaching out to Mayor Wallis, offering to promote and invest in Winthrop—in exchange for a slice of the pie.
Mayor Wallis wasn't interested.
He'd worried at first. Would Chinese tourists even want to come? After all, China has its own beaches. Why fly across the globe?
But when the numbers came in, he knew Jiang Hai was right. All he had to do was follow Jiang Hai's lead.
As for Boston? They could sit and watch. The officials they sent were swiftly rejected.
Jiang Hai knew none of this. If he had, he might've popped open a bottle of red wine to celebrate!
For now, Winthrop's situation could wait.
Out at sea, Jiang Hai and his team had already hauled in a sizable catch of lobsters.
Once they had enough for a feast, they stopped fishing and started playing in the water.
On a hot day like this, soaking in the sea felt heavenly. After swimming all morning, they grew hungry, swam back to the boat, and cooked up cheesy baked lobster. With so many lobsters, there was no reason to hold back.
Caribbean lobsters are large—thanks to year-round growth in warm waters.
They didn't bother picking the small ones. Even the smallest weighed six pounds, and the largest tipped the scales at thirteen or fourteen. Jiang Hai, Kevin, and the other guys caught the big ones. Darlene and the women couldn't swim as fast underwater.
The massive lobsters were quickly chopped up. If someone saw this in China, they'd probably be outraged.
After all, lobsters have brains. And while Caribbean spiny lobsters don't have big claws like Boston lobsters, their whiskers are full of valuable meat—especially prized in China.
But here, no one cared. The heads were tossed overboard to feed the fish, and the tails were sliced open, coated in cheese, and roasted in the oven.
The result? Absolutely mouthwatering. Even Kevin and the others ate with blissful smiles.
Sure, Puerto Rico had plenty of lobsters—but cheese was pricey here.
Most cheese sold locally was American-made. But the cheese Jiang Hai brought on the boat was sourced from Zhang Dehai's Shanghai supermarket—authentic European imports.
Everyone knows Europe makes the best cheese.
Back in China, Jiang Hai hadn't eaten much cheese—except on pizza. But in the U.S., he indulged in all kinds. And that's when he realized: cheese isn't just cheese. Different types serve different purposes—pizza, salad, bread—each has its own.
Among the world's famous cheeses, French varieties reign supreme. Then there's Bosworth cheese, made from goat milk—milder than yogurt and very smooth.
Next is cheddar, from the UK—great as a seasoning and very flavorful.
Akagi cheese is tangy and salty—an acquired taste.
Emmental cheese, the one from Tom and Jerry, has holes from fermentation. It's hard, fruity, and loved by some, but not everyone.
Mozzarella, of course, is the pizza classic. If it's not mozzarella, it's not pizza.
Jiang Hai had it all on board—Stilton, Red Leicester, Wensleydale... a whole gourmet selection ready for the grill.