[Gone with the Wind] Back to the beginning

Rhett was always erratic.For several months, he went back and forth between the port and Atlanta, coming and going without reporting or saying goodbye.Scarlett had nothing to do with him, even though she secretly believed that Rhett skipped a few trips to the blockade to meet her, but once she saw Rhett's black eyes full of ridicule and challenge, Scarlett couldn't help but shake her previous belief and boldly The *words came to her lips and she secretly retracted them——she didn't want him to see anything, and she was at a disadvantage!

But since that in-depth conversation, Scarlett felt that there was something tacit between her and Rhett.As for what it is, she doesn't know.But the worries about the doomed war seemed to be taken over by Rhett's strong and powerful shoulders.Scarlett felt much more relaxed now, though the two of them never actually talked about the war again.

Rhett is now a figure in the limelight in Atlanta.As soon as he appeared in the city, the women went crazy.Dare to break the blockade itself is romantic enough, not to mention he has such a bad reputation!Women always gather to whisper how he got expelled from West Point for drinking and "women's business", how he discredited that Charleston girl and killed her brother in a duel, how he died at the age of 20 He was kicked out of the house by his upright and strong old father.Every time Scarlett heard others talking about Rhett, she felt an indescribable feeling in her heart, sour and satisfied.Now Reiter is working for the Confederacy, bringing in various supplies that the Confederation is scarce from abroad.Even the harshest Atlantan felt that the returned prodigal son should be forgiven.

The autumn of 1862 flew by like this, and Rhett seemed to have suddenly lost his temper-in other words, after dealing with these staid patriotic citizens of the local area enough to win their respect and stingy favor. , he began to publicly offend people again, letting people understand that his previous good deeds were just a disguise, and he is not happy to continue to pretend now.

He deliberately belittled the great cause of the Confederacy, offended the fervent and sincere patriotism of the people, and discredited himself at will.They told him how brave he was to break the blockade, and he quickly bowed and said it was just a business, and he would gladly do it for a Yankee woman.He also ridiculed the Confederate contractors, saying that he envied them very much for their money-making business selling recycled cloth, mixed with sugar, moldy flour, and rotten leather, which made people very unhappy.

In 1862, there was a lot of criticism about government contractors.But the people of Atlanta naively believed that it was Alabama and Virginia, and that noble Georgians would never be so dirty, so Ritterton became the target of everyone's criticism.Of course Scarlett knew that Rhett was right, but she was still annoyed by Rhett's troublesome temperament.This guy is frivolous on the surface, but he is cruel in his bones. He mocks people like a child who can't help popping a balloon when he sees it.She was so angry that she also secretly expressed her views to Aunt Pete and Melanie, but Aunt Pete was so frightened that she passed out on the spot. After waking up, she kept asking her if she had a fever.Mei Li was so frightened that her face turned pale and her tears rolled down. It was a long time before she mustered up the courage to gently open her door to express her love and loyalty.

"Honey, I'm so sorry." Mei Li's heart-shaped face was full of apology, "You must be very sad, right? I'm sorry, I should stand up and support you, but I'm too timid, and you are so brave. Ah That's what Shiley said in his letter to me, he said—"Her eyes widened, "he said that we have been fooled by orators and politicians, that there is no glory in this war, only suffering and humiliation --Oh!"

Meili covered her face and cried. She believed everything Ashley said, but panicked at her frankness at the moment: "Oh, Scarlett, I don't know what to do. Ashley said that our great cause is worth nothing." Not worth it, but we're all willing to die for a cause. It would take far more courage than fighting for justice, but Scarlett—"

"Don't cry, you fool." Scarlett hugged Melanie firmly, patted her on the shoulder, and her voice gradually softened, "Don't cry, Mei Li, you don't even know how brave you are .We must—must—even if everything else changes, but you will not change. The war will pass, and we will live a good life through our hands..." Even if the quiet, easy, and leisurely days of the old south are gone forever ,"everything will be fine……"

And I will never let you die in miscarriage again.Scarlett clenched her fist and swore silently.

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Rhett's break with Atlanta society came at Mrs. Elsing's silver coin concert for the recovered wounded.Mrs. Elsing's house was full of guests that afternoon, the wounded, soldiers, wives, ladies, and even quite a few widows.The war had disrupted the slow Southern tradition, and it was not uncommon for widows to remarry these days, and one girl was even widowed three times while in Atlanta.What's more, now that manpower is scarce, widows have the power to socialize, which was unimaginable before the war.

At the concert, every girl with a little talent was invited to perform on stage to raise money for the Confederacy.The generosity of the people, despite the tough times, is evident in the butler's large carved glass jar which has been emptied twice, for a silver piece is worth sixty Confederate bills these days.

Scarlett was first offered a duet of "Flowers with Dew," and then she was asked to add the brisk "Oh Ladies, Don't Say No to Stephen!" ", and was finally selected to participate in the plastic drama "The Spirit of the Confederacy".She was very upset—the cotton at home was about to be harvested, and Gerald had been persuaded to sell the cotton for two years at one go, but Rhett's reputation was bad now, and those in the office Speculators are also questioned by Atlanta residents!With Dad's temper, maybe he won't sell it again!

Scarlett felt very annoyed, though she was not to blame for the fact.She knew there was a city boycott of speculators in Atlanta, but she couldn't remember when it started, as if she remembered that Rhett broke with the crowd at a fundraiser, but she didn't know what day it was, After all, there are too many fundraisers now!The memory was crowded together and the brain hurt. Scarlett looked up and saw Rhett arguing with the people around her, so she hurried over.It happened that there was a silence in the crowd, and then Rhett's lazy voice was heard:

"All wars are sacred," he said, in a soft, weary tone, "otherwise who would give their lives? But no matter how noble the orators may label wars, there is only one motive for wars, and that is money. "

"He's right," thought Scarlett. "The Yankees are going to take Tara's red lands and niggers! I won't let them!" And for a moment she felt worried about Rhett again.Sure enough, Dr. Meade frowned, tried his best to suppress his anger, and looked solemn:

"Young man, perhaps nothing is sacred to you. But to us, everything in the South is sacred, and our soldiers die for it..."

"If you are killed by a train, the railway company doesn't become holy, does it?" Rhett's tone was very humble, but it was full of ridicule. "Of course the slogans of careerists are nice. Recapturing the Tomb of Christ in the Hands of the Christians', 'Hit the Pope' and 'Freedom' for a while, and 'Cotton, Slaves and State Rights' for a while..." He suddenly smiled sarcastically, looking away from the flushed faces of the crowd. Sweeping, "I'm sorry everyone, I seem to have offended your patriotic enthusiasm - excuse me first."

He put his feet together, bowed in style, got up and walked outside.Scarlett's memory suddenly became clear—it was today!Although she had witnessed this scene before, she was even more startled now that she knew the meaning behind it. She subconsciously chased a few steps in Rhett's direction, but Mrs. Elsing grabbed her skirt.

"Let him go!" said Mrs. Elsing in a voice audible to all in the tense and quiet drawing-room. "Let him go. He's a traitor, a speculator! We're the only ones to blame." There is such a poisonous snake in the house!"

Rhett was standing in the aisle, hat in hand.Hearing this sentence, he turned his head and looked at the people in the room, then pressed Mrs. Elsing's flat chest sharply, grinned and smiled.He turned around and walked out.

"Can't let him go, can't let him go!" Scarlett's heart was beating wildly, the back of the resolute departure in her previous life overlapped with the one at this moment, and she suddenly had the illusion that she would lose Rhett forever . "Can't let him go—can't let him go alone!"

In an instant, she was trapped in the mist of nightmare again, only the lonely figure was as clear as the destined direction.Scarlett yelled out before she could react: "Rett, wait for me!"

she's done.Scarlett wondered numbly why she didn't care at the moment.All eyes were on her, and Scarlett's extraordinary courage was suddenly stimulated. While thinking that she was completely finished, she felt a sense of joy.She suddenly understood why Rhett insisted on telling everything.This kind of pleasure tore apart the pain and repression that has been unspeakable for a long time, with a sharp and cruel gesture, like quenching pain and drinking poison to quench thirst—but she, Scarlett, would rather have this kind of pain that was hostile and misunderstood by everyone , and never want to be like Ashley who clearly sees everything but dare not resist!

She raised her head slightly, the feathers on her hat fluttered gently, and her proud green eyes were like emeralds.She announced to the crowd:

"I agree with Mr. Butler."