[Gone with the Wind] Back to the beginning

Will has few words, but he is empathetic and practical, so he quickly wins Tara's affection.From the conversation, people learned that his only relative is his sister, who moved to Texas with her husband a few years ago, and is now alone.

As soon as Will was recovering enough to toddle, he helped Tara with her work.Weaving baskets out of oak strips and repairing furniture destroyed by the Yankees, he was good at everything.Will chopping wood is really ingenious, and the toys he made made one-year-old Beau giggle.He is reassuring in taking care of the children, and he is as meticulous and considerate as Meili.Unknowingly, people have become accustomed to his existence.

"Mr. Gerald, Mrs. O'Hara, you have treated me very well," Will said, "I am a stranger with no relationship to you, and you take care of me like this. If you don't mind, I hope to help you Do some work, and repay some kindness."

So he stayed there, from hobbling to full recovery, day after day, slowly becoming a member of Tara.At least, there was no mention of Will Benting leaving.

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It was September, and it was the season of harvesting cotton.Gerald's energetic and loud voice seemed to be heard from far away on the steps in front of the door. Although this year's harvest was far inferior to previous years, it always gave people a new hope.A new life was about to begin, and they would be rich again from cotton.

Scarlett is also keen on cotton. Although she knows that being rich in a short time can only be a dream, she likes the vibrant Tara Manor now.Scarlett became more and more busy, collecting and ginning cotton was a big project that could not be sloppy.Today, production matters are still arranged by Ellen just like before the war, and Scarlett acts as the overseer to implement them in detail, and Will assists them.Gerald, the head of the family, became a laborer instead, but fortunately that Irish brain didn't think about it at all.

Scarlett also thinks about Will when she is not working, and the more she thinks about it, the more promising she feels.Although Scarlett understands that Will has no home and relatives, she thinks that she will go back to her own land no matter what.She didn't think much about it, it was always a good thing Will stayed.Especially when she saw Will push the door out of Ellen's study once, Scarlett believed that Will had already made his own decision after talking with Ellen.

Scarlett sincerely hoped that Will would marry Karin and stay there for a long time—she wondered what her mother was thinking, but found that she still couldn't figure it out.Ellen, would you be willing to let Will, who was born as a commoner, marry Karin?

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Will has always been very smart in buying and selling, and he can always get back more seeds and food than others.Therefore, the task of purchasing was quickly transferred from Polk to Will, and he never failed to live up to his trust.This time, he was about to take a load of vegetables and fruits to Atlanta, but before he left, Scarlett found him.

"I'm going to Atlanta with you, Will," Scarlett said bluntly. "I have work to do, and I might stop there for a couple of days."

Will didn't seem surprised at all, and asked in a flat tone: "Then Mrs. O'Hara—"

"I mentioned it to Mom," Scarlett replied, with a hint of a smile in her voice. "I didn't expect to be able to persuade her, of course I must go, but it's great now!"

Will said gently: "From what I've seen, you're not as tense as before. Of course Mrs. O'Hara can be trusted." Ignoring the embarrassment flashing across Scarlett's face, Will continued, " So, see you in half an hour?"

Scarlett thought for a while before agreeing: "Then I'll go get things first—I'll talk to you slowly in the car about what to do in Atlanta this time, and maybe I'll need your help in the future."

Will showed no other expressions, and the two said a few more words before leaving.

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"Scarlett!" When Scarlett hurriedly packed up the things to be taken away and quickly searched through the rooms, Melanie came from the other side and stopped her.Scarlett stopped what she was doing, and the two girls looked at each other for a moment. Finally, it was Meili who asked, "Mrs. O'Hara really agreed? Scarlett, I always find it a bit unbelievable."

"Yeah," said Scarlett cheerfully, "it's a lot easier to convince Mama than Uncle Peter—after all, he sure as hell wouldn't believe me that way. But all Mama knows is that I'm going to make a fuss about the unprocessed supplies from the Yankees." , if you really come forward to do business—" Scarlett showed a trace of trouble on her face, "God, I didn't dare to mention it!" It's a pity that she will always go to that step in the future, but this time she can pass the test of her mother always good.Thinking of the previous conversation with Ellen, the corners of Scarlett's mouth curled up again, "Obviously, my mother and I agree on some points, for example—Merry, you must accept the rent, after all, it is Charles's inheritance to you .”

But Melanie insisted: "But Scarlett, you have been taking care of me and Xiaobo in Tara these days, and I have never repaid you! Besides, we can't afford the tax for that shop. You forcibly took it away from me. You helped us put up that tax—oh, Scarlett, I don't know what to say!" She covered her face. "How dare I pay your rent back? We I couldn't afford to take care of the ruined shop, but it is a little bit of my heart to be able to use it for you. Besides, I heard that the shop burned badly, and you have to pay an extra sum of money to repair them. Didn't cause trouble for you!"

"Merry!" Scarlett quickly grabbed her hand to comfort her, "I saved a sum of money during the war, and it's enough now. It's one thing to pay taxes and repair warehouses, but it's not the same thing to collect rent." It's another matter! The rent is what you deserve, and if you can't afford it, you can just waive the first few months, but you must accept the rest! That's what Charles left for you !"——It was also left to her by Charles in her previous life.But at that time, Scarlett had no idea of ​​using that land at all. Uncle Henry reluctantly helped to pay the taxes for a few months, but after that he couldn't afford it, and the land was taken away by the Yankee government.Scarlett, who had come back again, knew very well how much profit that piece of land that was a traffic artery could bring.At this point, she will not treat Mei Li who is as close as a sister.

"But I can't ignore Tara's care for me and Xiaobo these days." Melanie sighed, her palm-sized face full of worry, "Scarlett, the rent is just a little bit for us." My heart..."

Scarlett stopped her: "Don't be silly, Merry." She said angrily, "We are all sisters, these things are nothing. Aren't all southerners like this?" After the last sentence, she I was also taken aback.

Melanie, who has always been gentle, is extremely stubborn in this matter: "But I can't let you suffer——Scarlett, if you don't want to keep the rent, I'm afraid I won't be able to eat at ease."

"You have to think about Beau." Scarlett continued to persuade, but Melanie was determined, no matter what she said, she would not let go.Scarlett could only secretly plan to ask Ellen to persuade her again when she came back. If it really didn't work, the supplies should be almost finished when Ashley came back. At that time, she would return the shop to Meili and let their family own business.With the foundation she laid, the Hamiltons or the Wilkeses should keep the shop afloat.

Seeing that the time was approaching, Scarlett bid farewell to Mei Li, took her things and hurried to Will.

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Will drives steadily, at least the bumps are tolerable.Scarlett only heard his half wooden leg collide with the car board from time to time, making a "tuk-tuk" sound.After Will rubbed her leg for the third time, Scarlett finally couldn't help asking, "Does it hurt?"

Will forced a smile at her: "Fortunately, I rushed out of work during the war. It's not suitable, but it can be used for a living." He pressed the interface again, and couldn't help but hiss softly.Seeing Scarlett's worried eyes, he explained, "Actually, it's fine, it's just that it hurts when it's cold or raining."

He said it lightly, but Scarlett still frowned.She thought for a moment, then said, "I think Atlanta might be able to find someone who can make wooden legs—I'll pay attention this time, and we'll replace you with a new wooden leg as soon as we find someone safe."

Will was taken aback at first, and then was greatly moved: "Miss Scarlett, actually there is no need to do this—the farm work is busy, and the family is short of staff, I know all of this. You have treated me so well, what a shame."

Scarlett did not budge: "Don't talk about these stupid things, the pain is on you, and you can do more work when you are healthy. Do you think I am being polite to you?" She said, "I want to ask a doctor to help you take a good look at it again." wound, and then if all goes well, we'll order new wooden legs. Will, don't be polite to me, know we're family."

Will Benting helped her so much in her previous life, but Scarlett never thought about what he wanted—this man finally married Sue Ellen, and then stayed to work on Tara's land.At that time, why didn't he think about changing Will to a more comfortable wooden leg?Scarlett only thought of this when she saw him suffer just now, and she did have money in her pocket.

From Will's point of view, the O'Haras were very nice.Mr. O'Hara is kind and upright, and Mrs. O'Hara is of high moral character. Karin and Sue Ellen didn't blame him as a burden, but only Scarlett, the eldest lady of Tara, is actually another person in power She has an overly paranoid guardianship of Tara, and is often vehement about it.But Will never thought that Scarlett would accept him so quickly and treat him as a family member - this is of course because Scarlett knew his character well in her previous life, but for Will, he was very touched, so he always Even though he was peaceful, he showed some emotions.

"Thank you, Miss Scarlett." He calmed down and said.Although Will didn't say any more words, Scarlett knew that this man must have silently remembered it in her heart, and would definitely repay it with actions.She smiled.

"If only you could really be my family."

After saying this meaningful sentence, neither of them spoke again.It wasn't until near Atlanta that Scarlett confessed her purpose of coming to Atlanta this time.

"I drove to Atlanta with Polk just after the war." Scarlett said succinctly, "At that time, the supplies of the Confederates--the batch that happened to be brought by the train was unloaded beside the railway track and ignored. The supplies used to belong to the Confederacy, and now they belong to the Yankees, and I think the Yankees are going to burn them. It was a mess, and no one paid attention to the supplies. I found a warehouse on the side of the Pentagon Square with the roof burned, It took ten silver pieces to mend the roof. Then I asked Polk to hire some niggers for the money—the niggers who came out to make money to feed their poor masters after the war, not the kind of free niggers. I asked Polk to spend Qian asked them to move supplies as much as they could into that warehouse, and then locked it. There were probably two or three people doing the same thing as me at the time, but obviously we couldn't eat that much supplies, and no one had that much space to store , so we didn’t have a conflict. These people include Sue Allen’s fiancé, Mr. Frank Kennedy.” The corner of Scarlett’s mouth twitched, because she bought the warehouse, and Frank couldn’t find a suitable storage place, so he had to take it away There is no way to make as much money as in the previous life if you have limited things and then sell them at roadside stalls.

"I said to my mother that these supplies should belong to the Confederates, at least to the people of the South. Rather than being burned by the Yankees, it is better to take them at a low price and give them to the residents of Atlanta. Anyway, there is a shortage of everything now. Mom did not refuse this proposal, maybe because it also Can help others - but I thought Dad would let me give it away for free, but the Yankees have burned the rest of the supplies, and if I give it away for free, it will definitely attract attention. No one knows the attitude of the Yankees, in case It is always risky to pursue it, so my mother agreed with my idea of ​​selling it at a low price, and persuaded my father. If I guess it is good, we can make a fortune from it." Scarlett paused, and continued, "Because I am short I couldn't stay in Atlanta for a while, and the security of the city after the war was really worrying, so I mentioned it to Uncle Peter, and asked him to tidy up the warehouse a little while I was away, and keep good things from being stolen. I have already Ask Mei Li to lease me a piece of land in Hamilton's house, which is right next to the Atlanta railway line. I plan to rebuild the warehouse on the land when I go to Atlanta this time, and then when the cotton is harvested, the two stores will officially open together—" Scarlett's green eyes fixed on Will, "When the time comes, you have to show me a store."

After hearing Scarlett's big plan, Will couldn't help being stunned.