I was the Founding Father of the United States

Chapter 156 Harvard Student Representatives

Chapter 156 Harvard Student Representatives

"—Ricardo, you can't judge a person with prejudice."

Timothy Pickering emphasized: "At least for now, Governor Robin remains an exceptionally good businessman and a generous gentleman. His medical discoveries have saved countless lives and deserve respect. You cannot judge what he hasn't done yet."

The short young man beside him nodded and said, "Yes, Ricardo, Lord Robin is the governor appointed by the king. If you don't have evidence, you'd better not slander him!"

Ricardo turned and glared at the shorter man, then snorted and said coldly to Timothy, "Just you wait and see! This Asian will definitely reveal his ambition! He definitely will!"

Seeing that he insisted on his opinion, Timothy Pickering shook his head slightly and said nothing more.

Their purpose in coming to Robintown was to invite Robintown to join the New England Board of Education on behalf of Harvard College, and to raise funds from the great philanthropist Sir Robin Chan.

Harvard College suffered a significant fire this year, requiring substantial funds for repairs. Meanwhile, the Massachusetts legislature is embroiled in a dispute with the governor over the sugar tax law, resulting in a freeze on all government funding, including education subsidies.

In addition, the rum merchants and shipping merchants who originally donated to Harvard College saw their incomes plummet due to strict crackdowns on smuggling and the ban on legitimate banknotes, and they all stopped donating.

Therefore, the Harvard College Board of Trustees thought of Governor Chen, who was said to be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, hoping to raise reconstruction funds from him.

The Adams brothers, who were Harvard graduates, would have been the most suitable to handle this matter, but they had just resigned from their jobs in the newspapers not long ago and then joined John Hancock in an anti-British movement.

This is a bit embarrassing.

They were just about to find a big investor to help them get some money when the two graduates cut ties with the investor.

The Harvard College Board of Trustees held a two-day meeting on this matter and ultimately decided to ask Governor Chen for the money.

However, to avoid being rejected outright and losing face, they simply used the name of Principal Edward Hawkeoli to send Timothy Pickering, who had just graduated last year, along with two current students, Ricardo Durant and Caleb Strong, to Robin City to sound out Governor Chen's opinion.

Coincidentally, on the second day after the three arrived in Robin City, they witnessed the clipper ship finishing its trial run and saw how popular Governor Chen was.

However, the opinions of the three Harvard students had no effect on Governor Chen.

He was on the deck, smiling as he watched Reverend Jason's youngest daughter, Elisa, perform the bottle-breaking ceremony.

"————!"

A bottle of champagne from France was smashed to pieces by a girl in a white dress against an anchor, sending foam flying everywhere.

Upon seeing this, Chen Wenbin and the onlookers laughed and applauded, with Pastor Jensen clapping especially enthusiastically.

The fact that Governor Chen was supposed to perform the bottle-breaking ceremony, but he gave the role to Elisa, is enough to prove to the outside world that the relationship between their two families is still very close.

"Uncle Robin!"

Thirteen-year-old Elisa excitedly ran to Chen Wenbin, tilted her head back, and giggled, "This is so much fun! I love this ship!"

Chen Wenbin chuckled, affectionately patted her hair, and looking into her large blue eyes, suggested, "Elisa, since you like this ship, how about naming it after you?"

The girl felt the warmth of the large hand, her face flushed slightly, and she immediately nodded, saying, "Okay, okay! Then this ship will be the lovely Elisa from now on!"

Chen Wenbin, now a seasoned veteran in matters of love, was perfectly capable of noticing the girl's blush. He subtly withdrew his hand and forced a smile, saying, "Well, let's call it the Alyssa! It's the world's first clipper ship! Little Alyssa, your name will surely be etched into history along with this ship!"

Hearing Chen Wenbin still treating her like a child, the girl pouted in dissatisfaction and said, "Uncle Robin! I'm thirteen years old, not a little kid at all!"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Chen Wenbin glanced somewhat guiltily at Pastor Jensen beside him, and seeing that his old friend's smile remained unchanged, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Our Elisa is not little anymore, she's all grown up!"

After saying that, he quickly greeted Reverend Jensen and went to find Henry Vicsolley, the shipyard manager who was surrounded by a group of businessmen.

He already has many women; it would be utterly despicable for him to make a move on Elisa as well. He doesn't want to lose his old friend, Pastor Jason.

Upon seeing Chen Wenbin approach, Aaron Lopez, who was currently pestering Henry Vicsolley, exclaimed with delight, "Dear Robin! I heard from Henry that this ship can reach a top speed of 15 knots? God! This is exactly what I need!"

Name your price!

Six thousand pounds, how about it?

Chen Wenbin looked at the Jewish man, dressed in a linen shirt and black woolen coat, who resembled a wandering poet, and said unmoved, "Aaron, this ship is not for sale! Didn't you see I had Henry cover its hull with copper? This is a fast ocean-going merchant ship I used to transport immigrants from Asia; its construction cost alone exceeded eight thousand pounds!"

"Eight thousand it is!"

Aaron Lopez gritted his teeth, leaned closer, and whispered, "You sell me the ship for eight thousand pounds, and I'll let you join my smuggling business—"

Chen Wenbin immediately frowned and interrupted, "Aaron! I have no interest in smuggling!"

If you really want a small clipper boat that can quickly travel between the Caribbean and New England—Robin Shipyard might consider accepting your order!

"I assure you, the speed will not be slower than this ship. You don't really need a behemoth of over 700 tons, do you?"

"yes!"

Aaron Lopez's eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands excitedly. "I just want a fast ship, the faster the better. Small cargo ships don't need many sailors and carry less cargo, so I won't feel bad about losing one!"

Robin, you—”

He looked up, wanting to say more, but Chen Wenbin raised his hand to interrupt him, saying, "Dear Aaron, my friend, you should discuss these details and order prices with Henry!"

He was the shipyard's director and chief engineer, and after I left the east coast, he was in full charge of the shipyard.

When Aaron Lopez heard him say he was going west, he looked regretful and said, "Aren't you really going to consider using African slaves on your plantation?"

I guarantee to provide you with the highest quality goods, the price upon arrival is negotiable, the disease rate can be controlled to below five percent, and each ship will also come with at least ten female slaves —”

"Aaron!"

Chen Wenbin couldn't stand the slave trader's sales pitch any longer and impatiently refused, saying, "I really don't need African slaves!"

All that's needed are free indentured laborers and immigrants—that's no longer a question!

"—Fine! You're the governor, you're in charge!"

Aaron Lopez shrugged and sighed, "I really don't understand why you worry about things hundreds of years from now—"

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