[Gone with the Wind] Back to the beginning

Scarlett was in a very good mood after visiting Rhett.The joy of reuniting after a long absence not only hit her, but also infected that arrogant and cunning man, making him even compliment her without sarcasm in a rare way.And that's not all - when Rhett looked into her eyes and said he never stopped thinking about her, Scarlett's heart didn't know how fast it was beating.

The only pity is that apart from a few intimate moves, the relationship between the two has not made any substantial progress.Scarlett was annoyed and wronged, but she couldn't help wondering whether she had shown her affection for Rhett too early in this life, causing him to lose his sense of threat?Does she have to mention Ashley again to test Rhett?But the thought disappeared after a while, and Scarlett was still satisfied with the status quo for the time being.She didn't want to touch one of the reasons that ruined her marriage with Rhett in her previous life, even if the situation was very different from before.However, it might be a good idea to get in touch with other young guys appropriately, to perfunctory Ellen's concerns about marriage and at the same time see if Rhett will be jealous?

As a result of her wild thinking all the way, Scarlett unknowingly slowed down her pace, and then was chilled by the sudden heavy rain.When the green-eyed beauty rushed back to the red brick house in embarrassment, she opened the door and saw the tearful Aunt Pete and the serious old black man waiting.After a lecture, Scarlett also had to obediently admit the mistake of sneaking out, since the doctor personally diagnosed Miss O'Hara's fever, which made Uncle Peter very angry.After that, Scarlett was ordered to stay at home and rest for at least two weeks before going out.And Big Sam, who was very sad about Miss's fever, stayed loyally in the living room every day, cutting off the last possibility of Miss O'Hara sneaking away again.

Being so troubled by this sudden fever, let alone going to the dance to chat with other boys, or going to the fire hydrant to see Rhett again, even this trip to Atlanta is the most important thing-- The opening of Zhang Luo's two warehouses, as well as the purchase and rectification of the timber factory, had to be delayed!Locked up in Aunt Pete's red brick house, Scarlett was restless.At this rebuilding moment, every minute is money!How willing to let her lie down for two weeks!

Fortunately, there are always letters from home, and old friends often come to visit the next day. Scarlett's confinement life is not too boring.Will Benting arrives with the news that he will marry Karin in May.Scarlett found out that Sue Ellen also hoped to have a wedding with Frank at this time, but Frank was shy and embarrassed to mention the marriage like an old girl, and Gerald was impatient.Will had come here to find out what he had to say.Scarlett thinks it's not a big problem, anyway, Will has always been able to do things and talk, so it's better to marry Su Allen as soon as possible.

Scarlett just replied to Ellen’s letter in the morning, and her mother asked her to rest for two weeks as prescribed by the doctor, just to recover the loss from working too hard before. Scarlett told her with a bitter face that she would be obedient (mainly because Peter Uncle really lost his temper, plus Sam was watching too closely to get out), please rest assured that my mother is in good health.Scarlett also told Ellen in the letter to pay taxes later, otherwise Jonathan, the villain, would know how much the tax would increase next time if he knew that Tara was better off than he thought.Thinking of this, she couldn't help asking Will about the situation at home.

"Yes, the weeds and bushes have cleared up to the slope." Will said to her, his voice reassuring. "Ms. O'Hara will always tire herself, but it will be much better with Karin's persuasion. That sinister The typhoid fever did not leave any sequelae, it is God's blessing, everything is fine, you can rest assured."

"So—" Scarlett hesitated for a moment before moving on to the next topic, "Are you going to live in Tara when you marry Karin in May?"

The redheaded man smiled.Will has long been accustomed to Scarlett's overly blunt way of speaking.He said:

"If you don't bother—you know, Tara is my home. No one can help falling in love with the land they fought for, and Tara has fed me. Miss O'Hara, with your permission I will Eager to live here."

Although Gerald meant to hand over the entire Tara to Scarlett, in principle the future of other people does not belong here, but now that various manors are extremely short of labor, no one will care about this kind of thing.Scarlett is certainly no exception.It wasn't her intention to drive Will away, either.

"Will, I have always been grateful to God for sending you to Tara. You have been of great help to us."

These words are Scarlett's sincere words in any life, and Will also showed a smile: "My honor, miss. Compared with you saving my life, this is really insignificant."

What a gentleman he was, Scarlett praised silently.She considered it over and over again, and said carefully:

"I've actually been trying to keep you, you know how desperate Tara is right now. But when you and Karin get married and you have families of your own, I thought—maybe you'll want your own house? "

"You mean..." Will's voice hesitated.

"What I mean is, would you like to live in Atlanta for half of your time every year?" Scarlett looked directly into Will's eyes, and said her plan with a little nervousness, "I mentioned it to you before. Yes, Will, I have plans to open a warehouse in Atlanta. What I can tell you now is that there is at least one lumber mill in my plans. You know I can't manage this alone, and some things need a man The support scene is the way Southerners-the goddamn rules-I mean, Will, would you agree with me? Come to Atlanta half of the year, off-farm, and manage a family or more Warehouse—no, there must be more. Will, I—Of course I'll pay you, there's no question about that.”

At the beginning, she still hesitated, because she asked another person to act according to her will, and even though that person was trusted by her, she was not a relative who could do whatever she wanted.But Scarlett smiled confidently as she talked more and more fluently about the warehouse, the lumberyard, and her business.Her infectious tenacity, confidence and grit are unique gifts, and Will sees it clearly in her face.

"Great proposal, why not." He thought for a moment, and then carefully gave his answer, "It's a good idea to run a store during the slack season, but since you invited Karin and me in Atlanta Semi-settled, Scarlett, I would like to ask if it is possible for me to buy a shop from you in the future, if your lumber mill goes well?" Will will not ask Scarlett to give him a piece of Tara for his labor , he would never do that.But if he took Karin to half-settled in Atlanta, he would hope to have a property of his own, hope to run a home that belonged to him and Karin.This makes sense.

Scarlett hesitated for a moment, and said firmly to him: "If the lumber factory goes well, Will, of course I am willing to do it." She smiled wryly, and said honestly, "I don't mind my mother accepting me to sell things in the shop." I’m sure, but the lumber factory is—” She raised her head, and as expected, she saw the same wry smile in Will’s eyes, “If my mother finally agrees that I will run the lumber factory myself, I will pay a slightly lower price in the market.” Transfer the store to you and Karin."

"Then, I have to start helping you with Mrs. O'Hara's work." Will smiled softly, using words to help her relax.

"Mother's work is not so urgent," Scarlett stood up from the sofa at the end of the conversation, her back aching from sitting.At this time Will also got up together, and she smiled at him, "But if you want to do other work, you can start as soon as possible—Will, can you help me look at the store? Why—they won't let me go out."

----------------

Confinement (or recuperation) is depressing, but friends are comforting.Scarlett was much more pleased by Tommy Wellburn's visit than Will, who was in a hurry and only stayed in Atlanta for two days, most of which were still busy with errands.

There were quite a few friends who came to visit, most of them were ladies who were entrusted by Ellen to come to visit.They really cared for her, shared with her their experience of surviving the disaster, and then laughed and encouraged each other.Scarlett liked the atmosphere—but she couldn't stand their fuss, and still insistence, either. "It's not very interesting stuff--I'll think so a few more times. Of course, it's a different story when it's used to ridicule Yankees for being uneducated," thought Scarlett.

She doesn't belong to this warm atmosphere, even if she can get comfort from it, they can't really get close to her heart.Scarlett knew she wanted money, and she was crazy about seizing large sums of money to build a city wall. It would give her a false sense of security, and she didn't care so much about the will and virtue of old friends.Worst of all, she had to convince them that she felt the same way, or spend two weeks arguing--Scarlett's dismay.But Tommy was different, chatting with him was almost the happiest time in two weeks.

This big boy with blond hair has experienced the tempering of the war and has grown up rapidly.There was kindness and alertness in those blue eyes, and at the same time the comforting demeanor of a southern gentleman.The memory of Tommy's previous life is actually very blurred - the young man who died in the wilderness because of her, and her fear of killing others - the fear of going to hell.Instead of the dead body, this capable and friendly big boy became her image of "Tommy," a real friend, a real friend, not a painful and frightening memory.

Tommy can understand Scarlett's desire for money and tolerate her moral flaws (but this may have something to do with Scarlett's bottom line for herself in this life. She broke through the constraints of women in the traditional South, but she still does not abandon all virtues) .They chatted very speculatively, they hit it off very well.He and she chatted about business, about some crazy idea that crossed his mind but knew he would never use it, and laughed together.He affirmed her economic acumen, and negotiated with her as a truly evenly matched opponent—the matter discussed in the carriage before has been completely settled. Scarlett's lumber factory will be combined with Tommy's current contractor business to ensure that Profits do not flow out.He came every two or three days, and could talk to her for hours each time.Sometimes he stayed to eat, and more often he had to rush to work on the construction site.Scarlett knew he was as aggressive as herself.Their relationship quickly became close.

Aunt Pitt's excitement about this close relationship was soon conveyed to the ladies of Atlanta society and sent to Ellen in letters.Scarlett didn’t know about this until she received another letter from her mother—Ellen mentioned a few words cryptically, and said that she was concerned about family matters, and she didn’t mind Scarlett staying in Atlanta for a while, which made Scarlett dumbfounded.God is sorry, she has just now sincerely regarded Tommy as a friend, and she has never thought about anything else.Besides, being locked up at home to recuperate is extremely boring, if you don't talk to friends who really understand her, how can you survive?What's more, apart from chatting, Scarlett did entrust Tommy with an important matter, which is the reason why Mr. Wellborn visited frequently during this period.

—The two warehouses belonging to Miss O'Hara in confinement are about to open.