I was the Founding Father of the United States

Chapter 39 The Declining Aristocracy of North America

Early the next morning.

After Chen Wenbin and Diana finished breakfast, they were just about to change their clothes and go to the dock machinery factory when their butler, Chris, came to inform them.

"...Sir, a Miss Smith and two Mr. Adams have come to visit at the gate."

"...Let them in!"

Chen Wenbin thought for a moment, then instructed, "Go and get the tin of Chinese tea that Captain House gave us and brew it. I think the guests will enjoy it!"

"Yes, sir."

Chris nodded, then turned and left the living room.

Diana asked with some curiosity, "Darling, didn't you really like that tin of tea and plan to keep it as a keepsake? Why did you bring it out to serve them today?"

What else could it be?

Of course, it's because people with the surname Adams have a deep connection with Eastern tea!

If these two brothers hadn't dressed up as Native Americans ten years later and dumped that entire shipload of East India Company tea into the sea, Great Britain might have actually been able to save its North American colonies!

The fact that they are considered the founding fathers of the United States is absolutely true!

But he couldn't say this to Diana, so he simply laughed it off and said, "Tea is meant to be drunk, so I think we shouldn't waste it... Diana, why don't you go to the botanical garden with Abigail later!"

I'll have a good talk with the Adams brothers!

"……All right!"

Diana was a little puzzled as to why Chen Wenbin had sent her away, but she still obediently agreed, since she and the two Adams who had become commoners didn't have much to talk about anyway.

Soon, guided by Chris, Abigail, who had changed into a light green English silk dress, and two men wearing black top hats entered the living room.

The man on her right was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, dressed in a formal high-collared tailcoat, white tight-fitting breeches, and black leather boots. He had typical English features, and his head was slightly bald after he took off his hat, so it looked like he would definitely be bald like Franklin in the future... This man must be John Adams.

As for the middle-aged man in his forties standing next to him, dressed similarly, he was clearly Samuel Adams, John Adams' cousin.

"...Beautiful and elegant Miss Spencer! Respected Councilor Robin! Good day!"

Samuel Adams stepped forward and bowed slightly to the two men who had already stood up, saying, "John and I have brought a fine porcelain vase from the Qing Dynasty. Please accept it!"

Chen Wenbin and Diana exchanged a glance, both somewhat surprised. Fine Chinese porcelain is not cheap these days, especially in North America, where a vase can cost at least £20.

This amount of money is nothing to Chen Wenbin, but Adams' willingness to give a gift of 20 pounds suggests that he genuinely intends to curry favor with him.

After the two men kissed Diana's hand, Chen Wenbin smiled easily and asked the three of them to sit on the sofa. He then put his arm around Diana and sat opposite them.

"...Mr. Adams, Diana and Abigail are good friends, and of course we are good friends too!"

"So there's no 'Sir' here. You can call me Robin, and if you don't mind, may I call you Samuel and John?"

"...Of course I don't mind!"

Samuel said with a slightly excited tone, "You are the most famous person in New England! It is an honor for John and me to be your friend!"

John Adams looked at Chen Wenbin with undisguised admiration, "Dr. Robin! Your new forceps saved my sister and her child!"

And the miracles created by Jenna's spinning machine... I simply cannot describe to you how excited I was yesterday when Abigail told me you had invited us to your home!

"...Haha! John, you're exaggerating!"

Hearing the future Founding Father of the United States praise him like this, Chen Wenbin didn't feel particularly proud.

From the Adams brothers' perspective, Chen Wenbin's current status is indeed several levels above theirs.

According to what Diana learned from Abigail, the two brothers were only slightly better off than ordinary civilians in the colony. Samuel was passionate about politics and had previously served as a treasurer, but was dismissed for dereliction of duty.

John is a quick learner. After graduating from Harvard College, he joined the bar association in Boston and worked hard for eight years. Now he has a good income and social status, plus a decent background, which is why he was able to get engaged to Abigail, who comes from a newly wealthy family.

A fallen aristocratic family!

This is the label Chen Wenbin has attached to these two brothers in his mind!

It has to be said that this is quite apt.

If you put yourself in the shoes of a fallen aristocratic family, you'll understand why these brothers were so restless and insisted on rebelling against Great Britain.

If Great Britain hadn't been ousted, a large group of pro-British nobles and wealthy individuals in the North American colonies would have continued to hold power and wealth. How could they have had the opportunity to rise to high positions and become the founding fathers of the United States?

Chen Wenbin felt a pang of emotion, but his actions were unaffected. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he finalized the share transfer with the Adams brothers. However, since the contract witness, Pastor Jensen, had not yet arrived, they chatted casually.

Diana remembered what Chen Wenbin had told her, and took Abigail to the botanical garden in the manor, where there were many plants and flowers that Chen Wenbin had paid to have transplanted, making it a good place for a walk.

The three men drank tea and chatted about the economy and politics of the colony and the situation in Europe... Men, besides women, love to talk about national affairs, especially Samuel Adams, who was practically a middle-aged angry young man from 18th-century North America, very pessimistic about the future.

"...Although the Seven Years' War was won, Britain's finances were on the verge of collapse, with the national debt exceeding £1.32 million!"

How much is the UK's annual fiscal revenue?

Less than £900 million!

At least half of the government's annual revenue is needed just to pay the interest on the national debt!

He said to Chen Wenbin in a sarcastic tone, "Faced with this reality, what will the lords and members of parliament in Whitehall, London do?"

The only solution is to raise taxes!

Where should the tax be added?

North America only!

Robin, do you believe it?

By next year at the latest, British tax collectors will be like hares, swarming every country lane in the North American colonies!

After listening, Chen Wenbin had a complicated expression and didn't say anything. Of course he knew all this, and he also knew that all of this ultimately led to North America's independence... That's why they say only your own people understand your own people best.

If Samuel Adams could deduce this conclusion, what about the other North American colonial elites?

Many people probably already understand that Britain will definitely further strengthen its control and exploitation of North America.

Some people, like Benjamin Franklin, chose to petition London, hoping the British would go easy on them when they were exploiting them.

Some people see an opportunity to climb up the social ladder amidst the chaos, like Samuel Adams in this case.

Chen Wenbin took a sip of tea, looked into Samuel's ambitious eyes, and said calmly, "Samuel, so what do you plan to do?"