[Gone with the Wind] Back to the beginning

In the blockade office the next afternoon, when Scarlett rejected the five pieces of jewelry that Gerald had chosen for her, Scarlett visibly felt a headache.

Of course, buying jewelry was an excuse she made for her father to accompany her to visit the blockade office, God knows how reluctant she was to spend the money!However, whenever she tried to bring the topic to the cotton business, the old father would shout excitedly, "Scarlett! Come and see this emerald necklace, you will definitely like it—why does it look familiar? ".

Scarlett: ...Should I be glad that my father is really not sensitive to my old jewelry?

Just as she was thinking about ambiguity, she suddenly heard muffled and loud laughter. Scarlett watched Rhett Butler come out of the shop angrily and amusedly, and pretended to say hello to her, "Miss O'Hara."

"Mr. Butler." Scarlett knelt slightly, with a smirk on her face, "You won't tell me that this shop also belongs to you?"

Rhett shrugged: "You think too highly of me, Miss O'Hara. I'm just a coolie who came to deliver the goods." He turned to Gerald again: "Mr. O'Hara." The tone was actually quite respectful.

The store manager who accompanied him all the way out quickly added: "Mr. Butler is a noble character. He always sneaks in medicines in the name of lace and panniers, and the prices he gives us are never high."

Of course Scarlett heard that this remark was mixed with truth and falsehood, but Gerald was greatly moved when she couldn't stand it.He patted Rhett's shoulder heavily several times: "Good boy, I didn't misread you!"

Rhett said in a very humble tone: "I just did some insignificant things for the Confederacy." Glancing at Scarlett again, he sighed worriedly, "It's a pity that my ability alone is really limited, and I can't do more for the Confederacy. .Mr. O'Hara, I really don't want to defend myself, but I do think it's getting harder and harder."

Gerald patted his chest proudly: "You boy from the Butler family, don't worry! I'll explain this to everyone!"

Rhett looks like a patriotic and tolerant gentleman:

"No, please don't bother me, Mr. O'Hara. In fact, it may not be a bad thing to give me a bad name among the patriotic people in the South-you know, we will inevitably have to fight with the North when we cross the blockade." Sometimes I can make a few friends among the Yankees who sympathize with us. The worse my reputation in the South, the more they will believe me. I loaded a boat full of lace, panniers, Down the blockade. But they won't know," Rhett suddenly excited, "they won't know what's hidden under those lace and panniers! It's quinine, opium, gauze, that's what the South lacks most. medicine!"

This time it was Scarlett's turn to be dumbfounded, and Gerald grabbed Rhett's arm, flushing with excitement:

"If you want me to help you, just ask! Although I failed to go to the battlefield, I am still a good man!"

Then he sincerely exhorted:

"Friends from the Yankees... Well, during special times, we can come and go. But please remember that you are from the South!"

Ritter nodded, not showing any sign of impatience.

When I saw Rhett complaining about the greed of the Yankees, the money from selling lace panniers was used to buy medicines, and the gringos were up for sale, it was embarrassing to say that only the cotton that the gringos desperately needed could be exchanged for the most medicines. Admitting that there are no good people willing to sell him cotton, and that it would be a waste to go out with an empty ship, Scarlett felt that she was about to believe these nonsense!How could Rhett Butler be so noble?All the money was spent on medicines, so how could he spend money like water after the war?Gringos up for grabs?They are obviously eager to make more money, after all, no one knows how long the war will last!Running out with an empty ship, can't buy cotton?Not to mention the whole of Georgia, but around Atlanta, there are quite a few smart people trying to sell cotton. Not everyone is as brainless as Dad!

Scarlett watched helplessly as the dead-brained father, who was blindsided by the outside situation, was persuaded by Rhett and agreed to entrust him to transport and sell two years of cotton, and donate [-]% of the proceeds to the hospital in exchange for medicine.She was soft-spoken, insisting that cotton was the source of money for the family's life, and all of it was donated to the family without food and drink. Could it be that Ellen was going to be exhausted, and Gerald managed to change his words by [-]%.Even so, it took her a lot of effort, and the old father was full of displeasure, as if he felt that he had made less contribution to the Confederacy.

Rhett heard him mumbling aside, but after a while he happily picked up jewelry for his daughter, obviously a heart of love for his daughter.Thinking of the relationship between father and daughter, it's kind of funny.Rhett turned his head, stared at Scarlett with his dark eyes, with a sly smile on his lips, and asked unhurriedly:

"Did I do you a great favor, Miss O'Hara?"

Scarlett's heartfelt gratitude disappeared after seeing him like this. She glanced at Gerald who was not far away, and said in a low voice:

"Are you lying to my dad like this?" There was a sense of humor in the words.

Rhett shrugged indifferently:

"At least I'm clever, aren't I? Besides, I'm not wrong." He also lowered his voice obediently, "Only very clever liars and very excited fools fight hard to support war, and Mr. O'Hara and I just happen to Tandem matched up—and after all, it's your choice, Scarlett."

"You—" Scarlett could never speak to him, but his words made her feel suffocated, "you don't like fighting, obviously."

Rhett laughed: "I just don't like to waste. It just makes me feel uncomfortable to see all the good things go to waste." He looked at her and became mischievous again, "Scarlett, don't change the subject, you How can I thank you?"

But Scarlett said softly: "But you are obviously the latter, a very excited fool."

"What?" Rhett didn't hear clearly.

"It's nothing." Scarlett showed a lively smile again, and she snorted, "What did you just say? Isn't it natural to serve ladies?"

"You willful little girl! You always think that everyone likes you, and everything is for you." Rhett smiled and shook his head, "That's not okay, Miss Lady."

Just as Scarlett was about to refute, on the other side, Gerald's excited shout sounded again.Scarlett gave Rhett a helpless look, and hurried over to appreciate her father's taste.As she walked, she thought, Dad is a superior person, and he will do what he says.Even if you regret it, you will not regret it.In this way, at least two years' worth of cotton was sold.But Dad insisted on donating [-]% of the proceeds!God, sixty percent!

Just as she was thinking about it, a string of heavy gold chains appeared around her neck.Gerald rubbed his hands together triumphantly and excitedly, admiring his daughter's beauty.In the distance Rhett was lazily leaning against the door frame, his eyes mocking with interest.Scarlett finally couldn't help it, and said to Gerald:

"Dad! Picking jewelry...I'll do it myself."

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

Although Gerald believed Rhett's nonsense and gave him the cotton as promised and asked him to help him sell it, the hostility of Atlanta people towards Rhett could not be eliminated.

Mrs. Merriwether's mastermind led Dr. Meade to take action by writing a letter to the newspaper.Although Rhett's name was not directly mentioned, the meaning was clear.Soon, Atlanta and even Georgia set off huge repercussions, angrily denouncing the speculators who made the country rich.These people bought the goods at high prices by whole boats and boats, but they refused to sell and waited for the price to rise, watching the people complain and suffer.People's life became more and more difficult. Confederate banknotes depreciated rapidly under the soaring prices, and people had to buy luxury goods frantically.Therefore, speculators put the necessities and medicines that the Confederacy desperately needed, and failed to ship them. Instead, they sold luxury goods.Boxes of bacon and flour piled up in the warehouse spoiled and rotted, but the people lived a life of starvation.

Ritter was at the forefront of a boycott of speculators in Atlanta. Of the family that had hosted him in the autumn of 1862, by 1863 almost only Aunt Pitt's remained.And this is still under the circumstances that Melanie firmly maintains.Merry insisted on not kicking out a man who shared her husband's views, and Aunt Pitt couldn't hold back her niece, so she accepted Rhett's visit with tears and fear, and was then reprimanded by her friends.

Some of the same accusations fell on Scarlett, who had been ignored by Atlantans whenever she and Rhett walked down Peachtree Street together.It's been a long time since she was treated like this. Although Scarlett didn't find it too embarrassing, her mother's warnings made her very upset when she went back to Tara several times.

"Can't you continue to put on your appearance?" Scarlett scolded during a walk. "You have to feel that your celebrity status is worth protecting. I don't believe you can't."

A white light flashed under Rhett's short black mustache: "Oh? So Miss O'Hara has so much confidence in me?" His black eyes were full of smiles, "Since Miss O'Hara said this, she obviously understands what I mean. You don't care about the celebrity's status."

Scarlett's face burned, and she hurried to remedy it: "If you can fool my dad, you must be able to fool other people."

Rhett smiled meaningfully: "Mr. O'Hara is indeed a great gentleman—speaking of it, Scarlett, I helped you hide the matter from Mr. Gerald, and you haven't said how to repay me?"

Scarlett snorted and turned away from him.Rhett laughed seeing her like this, and didn't try to squeeze her with words, but slowly explained what he said earlier.

"Why wouldn't I want to keep this celebrity? Scarlett, you and I both know that's not worth mentioning. I can't do a fake hero and pretend | Well, there are already enough patriotic heroes, there is no need for people like me to join in the fun. Neither the patriotic merit list nor the list of beggars need my name to add glory. Let them be honored, they deserve it. Besides, in a few years, they will have nothing but glory There's nothing left."

"That's a terrible thing to say." Scarlett couldn't help retorting. "They have backbone, and some of them are aggressive. Even if they lose everything, they can earn it back."

Rhett looked her up and down, grinning:

"I thought you looked down on them. That's a good thing. When the times change, the world has to change. Those who have courage live on, and those who don't have courage are waiting to be eliminated. But you don't have to worry about that, my dear." Miss O'Hara. A girl of your courage and sense cannot fail to live. Of course, there are some people who cannot. New things will collapse, unless someone is willing to drag them for a lifetime. Like your respectable Mr. Wilkes..."

Immediately, Scarlett felt that the veins on her forehead were throbbing. After a long time of fuss, this person still wanted to mention Ashley!

Since she was reborn, although there were thorns everywhere in the relationship between the two, except for the reunion at the bazaar, Rhett had never used Ashley to pierce her heart!Scarlett always thought that the two had formed a tacit understanding on this matter, but it turned out that they had misunderstood until now!Just as she was about to speak angrily, she suddenly caught sight of his probing black eyes. Scarlett thought about it, and the words became gentle again when she reached her mouth.She pretended to smile and said:

"Of course, Mr. Wilkes will live a good life—after all, you have met Mrs. Wilkes, an outstanding woman, haven't you?"

Rhett was deeply surprised by this answer, and couldn't help laughing.Scarlett also pursed her lips, as if she had run out of words.The confrontation between the two is considered as a handshake for the time being, but I don't know what they think about each other.