[Gone with the Wind] Parallel Time and Space

Chapter28 Parents

"Look, what a lovely girl!" Mrs. Butler took Scarlett's hand affectionately, smiling all over her face.

"She's my treasure, mother." Rhett leaned on the table and looked at the two women with a smile.

"I really didn't expect... Rhett was finally going to get married." Mrs. Butler once thought that her son would never get married in this life. As a mother, she always hoped that someone would be by his side just like other mothers Take care of him and accompany him through the long years to come.When you encounter difficulties, you can share a little for him; when you are happy, you can share with others.

"Thank you, dear." Mrs. Butler embraced Scarlett with open arms.It's a transfer of responsibility from two women to the same man.

Please take care of him for me later...

it is good.

After that, Mrs. Butler told the two of them in detail about various matters, from the marriage to Scarlett's pregnancy to the growth of the child and the aging of the two, everything could not be more normal... except for her tone of voice.

Happy families are alike, every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.Mrs. Butler couldn't even attend her own son's wedding because of the other of the two most important men in her life—her husband.

She has been married to her husband for decades, and she is very clear about his temper. She understands what makes him happy and what he says makes him angry.He was an amiable gentleman, with many respectable habits and pious maxims.He was a decent old gentleman, stubborn and intolerant, even of his own son.He abandoned his son, and he told those old-school gentlemen in front of his own mother that her son was dead!Everyone admires him!

"If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out," her husband explained to her.At that time, she did not speak, she was silent.Because the speaker is her husband, her reliance, and her life.

When Mrs. Butler saw Scarlett for the first time, she felt the difference in that child.There was a light of reason in the girl's emerald eyes which she lacked.The two of them are different, she herself has been left behind by the times, and can only wait to die of old age to end this bleak second half of her life.

After the war, the farm houses burned down, and the rice fields turned into swamps again.Because they couldn't pay the taxes, the houses in the town were no longer theirs.They lived in two houses where even black people could not live. Rosemary had reached the age of marriage but could not marry out decently. The money sent by the eldest son was returned by her husband angrily, and she and her daughter were taught a lesson— — They starved with him, they died with him.But all of this, Mrs. Butler chose to forgive, not because of her noble character, but because she loved him.

Forgive him because I love him, and I love him because I married him.I don't marry him because I love him, but I must love him because I marry him.

I marry him and I have no choice but to love him.

"Get out of my house!" Old Mr. Butler threw a wad of dollar bills on the table into Rhett's face.

Rhett was not annoyed, he just said lightly: "I thought at least you would be willing to see my wife." Then he said goodbye to his mother and sister, and took Scarlett away.

"He only wants his dignity, he doesn't want me, Scarlett." Rhett looked at Scarlett with a wry smile, what she saw was the painful soul hidden behind the mask.

They stood silently at the door of the dilapidated manor, he bent down slightly so that Scarlett could hold his head, and she stroked his hair, giving him comfort as much as she could.

She suddenly remembered that on the way to Charleston, he suddenly changed the subject and said, "I want you to know all about me, and this will be part of it. Promise me, Scarlett, you won't be disappointed in me." .” He took her hand and kissed the back of her hand.

Unconsciously, Scarlett touched the back of her hand lightly.Then, she stood on tiptoe and kissed his forehead.

She thought of her father. Mr. O'Hara had been broken since Mrs. O'Hara's death, his heart had died long ago.He sat at the head of the dining table, like a gray-bearded old man with long bells, a pair of weak eyesight and dazed eyes fixedly staring at the door, his head nodded slightly, obviously listening to Ellen's dress, he murmured said, "We'll have to wait for Mrs. O'Hara, she's late!"

Scarlett felt her eyes a little sore, she blinked, took Rhett's hand, interlocking fingers, they turned and left this suffocating place of imprisonment.This time, let me lead you, Rhett.

At this time, Charleston has not fully recovered from the war, but as a port city in South Carolina, the United States, its resilience will not be low.In Charleston in spring and summer, rhododendrons, camellias, roses, jasmine and tall and straight green palm trees compete to reflect each other.Perhaps it has temporarily lost the power of modern industry, but still retains the gift of nature.

"Charleston is a good place, Scarlett." Scarlett heard Ritter say this suddenly.She's a little surprised: "I thought you hated it."

"Yeah, I hate it, maybe...but it's still a good place." Rhett looked at her and smiled, he gently pinched Scarlett's earlobe, and said, "Did you hear the sound of the ship's whistle?" ?”

Scarlett nodded, it wasn't just the sound of the whistle, she even faintly heard the sound of the waves amidst the melodious singing of the birds.

"My life began here, and that harbor gave me new life." Rhett pointed south to the sky.

"Come on, Scarlett, I'm going to tell you about myself now." He held Scarlett's hand and took a step forward.

"I'm the eldest son of the Butler family, Scarlett, you know what an eldest son means. It means responsibility. As the eldest son, you have to bear the responsibilities of the Butler family from birth, and there are many kinds of responsibilities, such as maintaining' 'Family honor' - my father's word for it, or for the Butlers to have an heir... Let's talk about 'family honor' instead of the family line. That's a word that changes, my dear. Decide The connotation of the so-called 'family honor' is often those in power. When I was young, that was my father. In my grandfather's generation, the connotation of this word is completely different. But in fact, I am more like my grandfather, Tragically, I'm not my grandfather's son but my father's - that's really disrespectful." He shook his head with a long-lost sarcasm on his face.

"I think you can understand, Scarlett, this statement or the 'system' within the family itself is problematic. I am my father's property, and my thoughts and actions must be controlled by him so that everyone can live in peace. Between the two of us I have never had a good impression of him, and I can’t think of any thing he agreed with me, I am too much like my grandfather.”

"What kind of person was your grandfather?" Scarlett tilted her head to look at him.

"I heard that he was a pirate. People called him 'Captain'. He made a lot of money during his lifetime and left his father a large inheritance when he died. I heard his stories from a young age and tried to imitate him more than my father. "

"It's amazing. People call you 'Captain' too, my dear Captain Butler." Rhett saw Scarlett's mischievous smile, and the vitality in her touched his heart again at this time. "So we were made for each other! My grandmother, Robillard, was also a pungent character. Mammy used to use her to warn me whenever I was naughty. My grandmother was as cold as ice, and she was as cold as ice to herself and to me. Others are strict, but she's married three times, has had rivals duel over her countless times, wears rouge, wears frighteningly low necklines, and doesn't, uh... doesn't really like underwear."

"It does seem so, my dear. You admire her very much, though you try to be like your mother. Don't bother, dear, why hide yourself now that you are going to marry me?" Rhett raised his eyebrows, and his tone made Scarlett a little unhappy, because she was still trying to learn from her mother so far.She wanted to refute but didn't know what to say, after all what he said was reasonable.

So she had to sulk herself, but Rhett didn't seem to notice it, because he spoke again, and after a while, Scarlett completely forgot what she was upset about, after all, it was For the first time, his fiancé is revealing his own history.And she is also willing and eager to know him better.

"As I grew up, my father's disapproval of me gradually turned into an out-and-out dislike. I admit, I have not tried to change his attitude towards me. What my father asked me to do, to do Everyone, is very boring. Finally he kicked me out of the house, I was broke and uneducated, just a Charleston man, sharpshooter and poker player. I didn't starve to death, but fully Playing poker, relying on gambling, life is very good. But my father thinks this is a great insult to him, the Butler family has a gambler!"

"Then, with some capital, I bought a boat and started my business out of Charleston Harbor - 'speculation' they call it..."

"And then you started your 'great career,' Captain Butler."

"You're not embarrassing me, baby." Rhett looked at her, asking jokingly in his eyes.

What Rhett didn't expect was that Scarlett stood on tiptoe again and kissed him on the cheek this time."No, Mr. Butler, in my heart, you are a great man," she said.

Her words floated into his heart lightly.

They took the train back to Atlanta early the next morning. Rhett planned to build a house on the vacant lot next to the Leighton house on Peachtree Street. Besides, getting married was a troublesome thing, and there were all kinds of messy and trivial things to deal with. There are various items that need to be arranged.After arriving in Atlanta, Rhett first sent Scarlett back to Aunt Pitty's house and then returned to the Atlanta Hotel.

"Sir! You have a letter." Rhett turned around and took the letter from Tom.

Dear Rhett,

Zhan Xinjia.I know it may be inappropriate to write to you at this time, but you have not been in the store for a long time, and there are still many accounts waiting for you to check this year.Besides, out of concern for you, do you have time to come over?

you sincerely

Bell