[Gone with the Wind] Back to the beginning

"There are two opportunities to make a lot of money, the time of building civilization and the time of destroying civilization, and the latter is the most important." Rhett looked at the cigar between his fingers and smiled lazily, "Then why don't I take this opportunity to make a fortune?" Instead of dying like a fool? That's normal, isn't it? The South was going to starve me to death, but it didn't. Now I've made money from the South's collapse—we're clean." Speaking of the Qing Dynasty, Rhett's tone became more and more brisk.He even had the leisure to wink at Scarlett, and said in a joking tone, "Miss O'Hara, your composure really impresses me—I thought that as a loyal and patriotic lady, you would pay for my rebellion." The rhetoric is outrageous."

"Every time Rhett mocks others, he always mocks himself—but why does he like to stab others so much? Does he have to make me angry to be happy?" Scarlett thought puzzledly, but counterattacked Said: "Since even the heroic captain who crossed the blockade line has evil intentions, as an ordinary girl, I follow the southern rules and don't refute what men say—or if my patriotism is not so firm, is it surprising?"

Rhett laughed.He shook his head, pointing out the holes in her words mercilessly: "No, no, Miss O'Hara, you think too little of yourself—an ordinary Southern girl?" He laughed again, "A Ordinary Southern girl—didn't you realize that you already included something extraordinary in your sentence? It shows that you have realized the unusualness of Southern rules, and there is obvious irony in your tone. If all the Southerners have the knowledge you have," he darkened, and then joked nonchalantly, "then this battle won't be fought. Well, well, bright and bold girl, can tell Why are you so eager to sell those beautiful jewelry?"

Rhett's insight had always been so sharp that it often made Scarlett speechless.Fortunately, however, he asked another question at the end, so that Scarlett could not be unable to answer.

"That's because—hey, Captain Butler, you know the price of things has been going up since the war started, and it's better to have some gold on hand."

"Well, that's a good answer—but what are you going to do with the gold? You don't have to worry about having no bacon or milk for your next meal." Rhett's sarcasm was quite different from his merry black eyes, "but That's not true, even if you could trade gold for these things—and you, being a lady of the south, have no decent explanation for keeping gold—unless you don't trade gold for that purpose," he said slowly, "and Because of other things, such as our great cause..."

"Rhett Butler!"

Scarlett shouted the name angrily—why did he want to mention the doomed war so much?And why do you have to get her equally unconfident confession from her?Could it be that this war made him—call him now, so happy?Suddenly, Scarlett felt ashamed, and she said sullenly:

"Does it make you happy to say this, or does it make you feel like you're different from other people? Butler, I don't know what you think, but I certainly don't want this war. Don't laugh too much now." Good morning, don't take yourself too far. I know that southerners always have that kind of energy, stubborn and stubborn. What kind of energy is it called Tang Keke? - I don't know, anyway, Maybe someday you'll go to war too."

She felt her eyes were slightly wet, and quickly blinked away the tears as if nothing had happened.Scarlett thought of those old friends, old friends who held their heads high and never bowed to evil.She once abandoned them with disdain, and in the end she could only taste the pain and sadness alone.

Rhett was also silent.He didn't contradict Scarlett's statement that he would go to war--although he did have some disapproval in his heart.She didn't even laugh at her describing romantic heroism as a stubborn donkey, or Don Quixote as Don Quixote—because he could hear the weary, tired, depressed pain in Scarlett's words, it was a person who When facing the reality that you don't want to face but you have to face, all the courage you can show and all your efforts for the future.The expression on Scarlett’s face made him feel a little distressed, not out of the so-called gentlemanly demeanor but from a deeper understanding——after a long while, he said slowly:

"Okay, let's skip this topic."

Scarlett vaguely agreed, showing a vulnerable and sad side in front of Rhett was not what she wanted.Just thinking about what to say to dispel the embarrassing atmosphere, Reiter said: "If you still have jewelry you want to sell, you might as well give it to me."

"You?" Upon hearing about the money, Scarlett pulled herself together subconsciously, and habitually showed doubts in Rhett's eyes.

Rhett smiled at her energy.He patiently explained: "Yes, I'll help you out. You also know that I have some ways - anyway, if you still want to maintain your ladylike image, you'd better find an agent for some things."

Scarlett reluctantly admitted that he was right.

"But if you plan to take the opportunity to raise the price, I won't agree."

Reiter smiled and shook his head and said, "Don't worry, I'm afraid that the price I sell through my way is higher than what you sell here, and I won't make you suffer, you lady who got into the eyes of money." He took the opportunity to laugh She said, "Furthermore, it's rare for me to meet a knowledgeable girl, so you must give me a chance to be courteous."

Believe your nonsense——Scarlett laughed out loud at his last sentence, and the last trace of haze disappeared.Her thick eyelashes flickered, and she raised her eyebrows: "Really? If you promise, you can't go back on your word."

Seeing her serious expression, Rhett knew that it was definitely not a simple job of a few jewelry, but his tone was still relaxed, and he even joked:

"Miss O'Hara, don't doubt the heart of a man who admires you...Well, you must first tell me what treasures you have hidden?"

Scarlett stared at him for a moment, dismayed to see Rhett's dark eyes showing nothing but a smile.But Rhett would not joke about this kind of thing, he should have sincerely planned to help her, and Scarlett could still believe this.She glared at the innocent man in front of her again, and said quickly in one breath:

"Then listen carefully—red coral necklace, black enamel gold bracelet, gold chain, diamond earrings, emerald inlaid bracelet... and about two hundred pounds of salt." At the end she couldn't help but bite His lips and raised green eyes showed a bit of satisfaction.

Rhett couldn't help showing a somewhat surprised expression, but he changed into a smile that was not a smile in an instant, and his tone was light and exaggerated:

"Two hundred pounds of salt? Good heavens, Miss O'Hara, your shrewdness is unbelievable!"

His amazed expression was too deliberate, and it made people feel that it was all a show.But Scarlett was used to his tricks in a previous life, and knew that he was teasing her on purpose, making her think he was not surprised, and refused to give her a reason to be complacent.In two lifetimes, Scarlett would never be fooled by him again.She only snorted lightly before turning her face away, this guy is too bad!

A smile flashed across Reiter's black eyes, but the praise in his mouth kept saying, "I'm serious, Miss O'Hara. Speaking of salt, it's indeed what you can find. It's a huge profit. Two hundred pounds of salt will take a lot of time to collect, right? Miss O'Hara is indeed very discerning, bold and careful."

He looked so sincere at the moment, he was coaxing Scarlett like a child.But Scarlett didn't appreciate it, so she decided to act as her agent in one go:

"Don't spend all day talking! In a word, can you help me with my affairs? I store two hundred pounds of salt separately, and I only have one pound with me today. I want to find a way. I have to worry about my own. Fame, I planned to sell these salts slowly from now on. If you can help me, then I will directly hand it over to you in several batches, and you can find a place to save it and sell it next year, and you will definitely earn more." When it came to the crucial point, Scarlett couldn't help hesitating for a while, but she quickly asked delicately, "Of course, you can't ask for too much."

Rhett looked overjoyed.

"What a good and knowledgeable girl." He said, "Of course, the price of daily necessities like salt will continue to rise—well, I will help you with this. Then, will you entrust me with your business from now on? "

Rhett is the only person who can combine respectful and glib to be annoying!Scarlett snorted as a tacit consent, but she felt a little sweet in her heart, letting him make jokes with a playful smile.

Before they knew it, the two had already walked outside the blockade office. Scarlett wanted to mention a few words about cotton, but thought that she hadn't discussed it with her father, so she stopped talking before the matter was settled.After chatting for a while, Rhett invited Scarlett to go with him, and volunteered to drive her home in a carriage.Scarlett certainly enjoyed his attentions.

There was another bickering along the way, but there was no big disturbance, instead there was a bit of joking and laughing.Scarlett, who settled her mind, was in a good mood, and judging from the corners of her mouth raised by her newly appointed agent, Captain Butler, the other party seemed to be in a good mood too?

"Why don't you come in and sit down?"

The carriage stopped in front of Aunt Pitt's house, and Scarlett jumped off without waiting for Rhett to get out of the carriage to help her, which made Rhett chuckle.However, Scarlett didn't care at the moment, she turned around and extended an invitation to Rhett with a smile in her green eyes.

Seeing her full of energy, Rhett couldn't help but smile, took off his hat with a smile and saluted: "No." Then he said, "I'll see you at dinner on Sunday." As he spoke, he hit the horse, and the carriage kicked up dust. Te waved at her, and his figure gradually disappeared on the other side of Peach Tree Street.

Scarlett pursed her lips and smiled, and pushed the door briskly back home.