Chapter 2: Nonconformity is the Mainstream

The farm was no place for sleeping in. The noise from various birds could drive anyone crazy. It was baffling how such tiny bodies could make such loud noises. Looking at the poodle-like hairstyle in the mirror, William was a bit speechless. He couldn't understand why he liked this nonconforming look. Alright, maybe he was overthinking it. Actually, the afro was the current mainstream. Everyone on the street had sunglasses and afros. "Fulton, make arrangements for me to get a new haircut later." "Sure thing, Young Master. I'll notify Smith right away." "Thanks a lot, Fulton." After the death of his parents, there were fewer servants at home. Those who stayed were like family. No matter what, he wouldn't lay them off as long as he could manage it. "Young Master, Smith is ready. You can start now." "Okay, Fulton. Can you check the documents from the futures company? I've made a little investment, around one to two million." "Sure thing, Young Master." White Castle was quite large, and William was somewhat unaccustomed to it. He felt like a ghost drifting around, never quite at ease. "Young Master, you have a call from Mr. Garrison." "Alright, I'll take it outside." Jason Garrison was his good buddy, not only from high school but from college too. In his previous life, he had many friends, but most were superficial drinking buddies. The only exception was this guy. "Hey there, buddy, what's up?" "William, are you feeling any better? Everyone is worried about you." "Yeah, I'm still pretty sad, but I'll pull through. Don't worry, man, I'll be alright." "That's good to hear. Are you coming back to school this year?" "Not for now. There's too much to handle at home. It'll take at least a year. Maybe next year." "If you need anything, just say the word." "Thanks, Jason. I will. How's life at USC?" "Same old, same old. Quite a few girls have been asking about you, though." "Haha, forget it. I'm really not in the mood lately." "Take care, William." "Don't worry, I'll be fine." Jason's family was pretty wealthy too, though not as rich as William's. At least they were also farm owners. ... "Hello, Mr. White." "Hello, Smith. You can just call me William." "Alright, Mr. White." Seeing that Smith couldn't adjust for now, William White didn't mind. Ever since his parents' passing, the way people addressed him had been strange. He was now the de facto head of the family. The correct title was indeed "Mr. White." In his previous life, he had detested such titles, even to the point of throwing tantrums. But now, he wouldn't react that way. Having lived two lives, it would be silly to cling to such childish behavior. Right now, nonconformity was in vogue in America; it seemed the whole society was rebelling against the norm. Private lives were astonishingly messy. The immediate consequence was the outbreak of an epidemic, although people were largely ignorant of it at this time. "William, how do you want me to handle this hairstyle?" "Hm, straighten my hair. Trim the sides and back higher, and keep it as short as possible." Even though he didn't understand why his Young Master wanted a military-style haircut, Smith obliged without hesitation. He had served the White family for many years and knew it was wise to follow the Young Master's wishes without question. "Young Master, it's done. Are you satisfied?" "Very good, thank you." "Do you need a wash?" "No need, I'll take a shower." The warm water continually flowed over his body, clearing his mind as well. William found it strange that his brain now seemed to contain much more information. From yesterday till now, he had felt somewhat dazed. He wasn't sure if he had been reincarnated or if he was just dreaming. If it was a dream, why were things so vivid? Besides, some memories didn't even belong to him. Alright, even though he was a top student, he was far from his current level of knowledge. For example, if you gave him a 737 plane now, he'd probably find a way to fly it. That meant the original pilot must have died, and all his memories had been transferred to William's brain. Since God chose to bring him back, he must live better this time. Absolutely no more childish behavior. In fact, people were calling him Mr. White as a form of respect for his status and in hopes that he would take over the family business. These people depended on his family for their livelihood. Without a dependable successor, they could lose their jobs. "Fulton, have them bring Black Wind over. I want to take a walk around the farm." "Sure thing, Young Master. I'll have them bring him over right away." Looking at his reflection in the wardrobe mirror, William felt a bit proud. He looked much better now. Black Wind was a gift from his father. Though not of noble lineage, he liked it very much. This horse had grown up with him, and it held a lot of sentimental value. Black Wind was also quite excited today. Animals are very sensitive; they can sense your emotions. If you're agitated, they'll pick up on it. Fulton was very happy today. Seeing that his Young Master had emerged from his gloom, he breathed a big sigh of relief. As a farm owner, not showing up for a long time could make the cowboys uneasy. In their view, the owner needed to inspect his land. If you didn't, it showed you didn't care. You could call it sentimental or traditional, but that was the reality. No matter how busy his father was, he always found time to inspect his land. It was both a right and a responsibility. William White fulfilled his mission, making the farm workers very happy. Their Young Master had evidently come out of his sorrow and was ready to take on family responsibilities. His youth wasn't a problem. The farm was always well-managed. Although not highly profitable, it was still doing well. Many farms were losing money these days. Staying profitable was impressive. White Farm had a prime location, just over two hours from Houston. And the farm itself was massive. It was almost the largest irrigated farm near Houston. To put it in perspective, having 20,000 acres for a farm was impressive. White Farm was close to 60,000 acres, making it the biggest farm in the vicinity. Originally owned by the Dutch, the farm had over 200 years of history, dating back to when this land belonged to Mexico. It must be said, William White's ancestors were quite formidable, as holding onto this farm hadn't been easy. ***** https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.