[Gone with the Wind] Back to the beginning

Scarlett's dislike of the Yankees reached new heights after a face-to-face confrontation with the disrespectful Maine woman.At first she only thought that they were some people who conquered her homeland, but now she found that these Yankees even trampled on the dignity and emotions of southerners!It's so hard to keep going!

I don't know if it has anything to do with that Maine woman. Recently, Scarlett's wood hasn't been selling as well among the Yankees as it used to.Although it is still the big head of Atlanta, it has already revealed a dangerous meaning.Scarlett knew how many competitors were staring at her behind, and these people would not care about gentlemanly demeanor, they would pounce on her and tear her to pieces when they got the chance!Now the timber factory is Tara's biggest source of income. Although she still has some savings, the consequences of breaking the capital chain are still serious.Therefore, Scarlett tried her best to save the business. She visited powerful Yankee officers from house to house, hoping to have some effect on the business.

The officer she was going to visit today was the chief of the largest of the several troops stationed in Atlanta.Scarlett knew that this trip was no small matter, because the officer had no idea how many soldiers had to build houses!Therefore, she even specially prepared gifts before visiting at the appointed time.When the servant opened the door for her and invited her in, Scarlett still didn't understand what she was about to face.

Scarlett talked and laughed with the Yankee officer's wife as they walked toward the house.The Yankees enjoyed it quite a bit, and the decor was tacky but luxurious.Scarlett was more confident in convincing him with money.Today, the officer is going to have lunch with her.Scarlett was going to persuade him to sell her business at the dinner table.After dinner, Tommy will pick her up.

Since Uncle Peter was insulted by the Yankee woman that time, he was not very willing to help Scarlett drive the car to the door of others, and Scarlett was not very good at forcing him.Tommy had another overseer this morning, so Scarlett drove the carriage alone to the Yankee officer's house.She drives in Atlanta and feels perfectly safe.Since Tommy and Uncle Peter couldn't come, it's fine, and she didn't plan to ask Rhett Butler for help.The other party would have liked to be courteous, but he couldn't afford to stay every day, so he missed the opportunity--Scarlett thought nonchalantly, she was doing pretty herself, too.

Talking, laughing and walking through the hall, and turning a door, Scarlett's words stopped suddenly, her pupils dilated suddenly, her face was full of disbelief and forcibly suppressed disgust——

Jonathan Wilkerson sat affectionately beside the Yankee officer with an ugly triumphant smile on his face, raising his glass to Scarlett from a distance.The Yankee officer said to her with both amiability and contempt: "Here you go, Miss Scarlett? Please sit down. Lunch is about to begin."

Scarlett's eyes were fixed on Jonathan Wilkerson without blinking, and for a moment she thought she was going to explode.Jonathan Wilkerson was the guest of honor here, and the officer's invitation clearly stated that there was no one but himself and his wife!Take a deep breath, calm down, calm down, Scarlett told herself.It must be Jonathan's tricks—yes, he's plotting against her, and she mustn't fall for him!Scarlett clenched her teeth, which were trembling with anger, and tried to restrain herself and said politely:

"I'm sorry, Mr. Hernans. I suddenly remembered that I still have something to do. I'm afraid I can't have dinner with you today."

She directly ignored the intimate and contemptuous "Miss Scarlett" in the past, because she knew that it was useless to argue with him at this time.

"Oh, is it?" The fat officer Hernans had a strange face, and his swollen, sausage-like fingers were knuckles, knocking on the table, and said casually, "But, we have an appointment Yes. Dear Miss Scarlett, why do you pay so little attention to our agreement? This makes me doubt your attitude towards our military orders!"

Scarlett clenched her teeth again, and she said coldly, "But, I thought it was a private lunch. You didn't tell me that there was Mr. Jonathan Wilkerson among the guests."

"Ah, that's right!" Hernans laughed and slapped his hands, "Miss Scarlett, you are unhappy with your feelings and lose your temper with us! Mr. Jonathan Wilkerson is just like you. My friend--our dearest and dearest friend. Why," said his little eye with a sly twinkle, "you don't like this friend who helps us run the South?"

Scarlett knew that she couldn't answer that she didn't like it at this time, otherwise countless big hats would be put on immediately, and she and the lumber factory would not be able to turn over.You must know that the person in front of you is a senior officer of the Yankees!But the deep-seated hatred for Jonathan prevailed. Seeing him sitting on the side with a sure chance of victory, with a proud face, Scarlett wished she could pounce on him and bite him the next moment!

"I don't like him." Scarlett said coldly, "Mr. Wilkerson did some interesting things in the countryside and hurt a lot of my relatives and friends."

Hernans laughed loudly: "What a coincidence, Miss Scarlett! Our senior management just appreciates Mr. Wilkerson's work!" As he said, the two brothers hugged Jonathan's arm in a friendly manner, and Jonathan said to himself Jiali spoke for the first time after she came in, with a reserved and proud face: "Ah, I'm very honored that you said that."

"I'm leaving." Scarlett said, unable to bear the atmosphere here any longer.But Hernans' servant stood in front of her. The fat officer straightened up and said coldly, "What's the matter? Is Miss Scarlett looking down on us? She won't even eat a meal? How rude!"

Scarlett's nails dug deep into her palm, and she restrained herself from thinking about Jonathan's smug face.She knew that if she pulled away at this moment, the Yankees would be able to tear off the cloak of friendship between them in no time - tear it off, who cares!But she can't let her hard work and her hard-working sawmill collapse like this!Scarlett turned around numbly, and was pushed hard onto a chair by the Yankee wife who had been watching the show. She suppressed her anger and said in a voice full of hatred and loathing, "Then please start."

It was an elaborate, long and difficult humiliation.

Apparently Jonathan was amused by the situation Scarlett was in.He is like a cunning hunter who teases and tortures animals that fall into his trap, rather than killing them.Scarlett knew that the other party had planned this moment for a long time, and he would not allow anyone to stop him from enjoying it.look!The Hernans sat there laughing loudly, agreeing casually, treating her like a puppet for fun.And if she gets angry and stands up, she will give someone else the handle to kill herself, and she will kill herself!The passage of time became very slow, and Scarlett was almost ashamed, while uncontrollable anger kept rising in her heart.Jonathan Wilkerson, how dare he!How dare he mention her relatives and her home in a playful tone, how dare he mock the beliefs of the South in a superior tone, how dare... How dare he gazing at her body with that shameless gaze, Scarlett almost threw the plate It's in his face!She swore she was going to do it in 1 minute!

Nothing is more moving than the sight of Scarlett O'Hara, the southern belle, pale with rage, trembling but helpless, holding herself up in vain, burning her body and mind with thirsty long hours!The Hernances were about to laugh out loud watching this scene, what a meal, a wonderful comedy specially prepared by good friend Jonathan Wilkerson!The ugly couple looked at each other, and were about to say a few more witty words when suddenly there was a loud movement at the door, knocking on the door, shouts of servants, and shouts of panic.Hernans stood up and reached out to feel for the pistol in his crotch——but found nothing.Jonathan's smug smile froze on his face, while Scarlett stood up involuntarily, and looked towards the direction of the corridor——

Pushing away two servants who were struggling to block the way, Tommy Wellborn appeared in front of the crowd with an angry face.

The blond man was already tall and tall, but he had an uncommon bravery when he rushed in with anger.One hand was firmly pressed on the pistol at his waist, if he didn't have a sliver of reason, he might have died long ago.Tommy Wellborn stood here angrily, and even the Hernances and Jonathan Wilkerson were stunned for a moment, not daring to look at him.He came to scarlett in a few strides, grabbed her arm, and protected her tightly behind her.For a moment, Scarlett burst into tears.

After a long period of confrontation, Jonathan Wilkerson was the first to react. He asked with a gloomy face, "Why, have we invited you in, Mr. Wellburn?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Hernans, who was scared out of his wits just now, also yelled, "You actually dare to break into my house, you obviously look down upon it..."

"I'm sorry." Tommy said coldly, but there was no apology in his voice. "Miss O'Hara is not feeling well. I'll pick her up." After saying this, he jerked Scarlett's arm, and that was it. No matter what, he led her out all the way, no matter what Jonathan and Hernans scolded angrily behind him.Scarlett trembled all over.

A carriage and a lonely horse were parked at the door.Tommy must have come in a hurry.Just as he was about to help Scarlett get into the carriage, Scarlett tugged at his sleeves and whispered, "Riding, I want to go quickly." Tommy's face was still calm, but his movements were gentle.He promised "yes", took off his coat and wrapped Scarlett around her.Then he carried her on his own horse, flicked the rein, and the horse galloped in pain.He felt Scarlett trembling in his arms.

"Scarlett, Scarlett." The horse had galloped a long way before Tommy gently shook the girl in his arms and called out with utmost tenderness, "Are you all right? Sorry, I'm late."

"No, you came in time, Tommy." Scarlett murmured, her mood was still a little unstable, and her whole body was almost exhausted, "Thank you, thank you. If you didn't come..."

If Tommy hadn't come over, Scarlett didn't know what she would have done.Shoot Jonathan on the spot?Maybe that's not the worst kind of outcome.

But Tommy still felt guilty, and he said softly: "I overheard two Yankee clients talking about this, saying that Hernans promised to fix Jonathan... I went to find you as soon as I heard about it, or late……"

Scarlett closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, the weakness inside had disappeared.She said with certainty: "It's Jonathan who is the mastermind. He has been planning this day for a long time."

The sharp decline in her lumber business before was probably not due to a few quarrels with that Maine woman, but because of Jonathan Wilkerson's actions... Scarlett paid special attention to meeting Hernance because of Because most of the lost customers during this period came from his subordinates, at that time she was still thinking about getting it back... This time the matter was a calculation from head to toe - from the sharp drop in customer base to her door visits.One by one, Jonathan Wilkerson really valued her!Scarlett's knuckles were pinching together, and he just wanted to watch her act like a clown as she struggled in front of him with a little false hope, and endured his humiliation!The beast!

"Tommy," Scarlett said suddenly, "If you help me like this, Wilkerson and the others will definitely hate you. At that time..."

"I'm all right," interrupted Tommy, who gazed tenderly into Scarlett's face, "as long as you're well."

Scarlett suddenly felt a lump in her throat.

At this moment, Scarlett doesn't know that this time Jonathan's designed humiliation of her will once again become the trigger for the war between the Ku Klux Klan and the traitors.Reckless retaliation and attack, the sound of gunfire once again echoed in the outskirts of Atlanta.Fate went round and round, and finally came to the same position.She tried her best to avoid it, but it was useless... At this moment, she just quietly curled up in Tommy's arms, enjoying a moment of peace, but she didn't know that the storm was coming.

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"Those rebels drinking at that bar outside the city tonight? Including that bastard Jonathan?"

"Yes, we'll ambush them on their way back to town tonight. Yankee lackeys, you've got to learn your lesson!"

The author has something to say: *The little angel Tommy who appeared like a god

*Ah, I really want to kill Tommy according to the original plot