[Gone with the Wind] Back to the beginning

Scarlett glanced at Rhett Butler who was leaning on the metal support, imitating his tone and asked lazily:

"How to say?"

When she spoke, her emerald eyes were shining, charming and playful, with a hint of provocation. The golden fan in her hand shook open with a "snap", and she slapped it a few times carelessly, but did not disturb the hair on her temples at all. hair strands.Just now, he was about to lean on the metal shelf on the other side like Rhett, but suddenly realized that he would laugh at his unladylike behavior, and straightened up all of a sudden.This fluster, the previous lazy and charming attitude was all lost, but Rhett grinned.

"Don't laugh!" Scarlett gave him an annoyed look, why would she be laughed at every time in front of him?This guy was like—she cursed inwardly, like he could see what she looked like naked.Men know what women think, what a shame!Gentlemen shouldn't know this!But then again, he was never a gentleman.She already knew this.

Rhett smiled and made a gesture of surrender, a look of giving in to her even though he disagreed, which made Scarlett even more frustrated.His Charleston drawl sounded all the more damning at the moment: "Agitated, beauty? Don't worry, your sinful secret is safe with me."

Knowing that he was going to mention this, Scarlett's face darkened: "I don't understand what you are talking about."

Even if a gentleman knows that a lady is lying, he still has to pretend to believe it, but Rhett doesn't.He leaned over, looked at her carefully, and said unhurriedly:

"I asked Mrs. Wilkes to find out. She is really a respectable lady, and she didn't realize any of your sinful secrets." Seeing Scarlett's expression change, Rhett chuckled , and continued, "Wow, Miss O'Hara, you actually plan to marry Mrs. Wilkes' brother?"

"So what?" Scarlett said coldly, wishing to skip the subject quickly.

"Why, aren't you glad you don't have to marry your rival's elder brother? Oh, I forgot, your lovely conscience should be feeling uneasy at this moment, because you have been poked in the sore spot by my villain..."

"You—" Scarlett blushed with anger, she was already mentally prepared for his sarcasm, but it would be too hurtful!She struggled to keep the harsh words from blurting out, "How can you be so sarcastic about a Southern soldier's fiancée?"

"Not necessarily." Rhett still looked at her with a smile. Seeing that Scarlett was really going to get angry, he said unhurriedly, "Okay, okay, I apologize to the head office, oh? Miss O'Hara, Don't get angry, I'm really happy for you. It's better to be an unmarried girl than a widow. At least you don't have to understand our old South's barbaric rules-I always thought that mourning rules women wear all their lives. Black yarn, you are not allowed to participate in legitimate entertainment activities, it is as barbaric as the Indian martyrdom. Look at how tightly this set of rules binds you women!"

Seeing that he changed the subject, Scarlett could finally breathe a sigh of relief.This kind of discussion with new words and going around has always given her a headache, but this one happened to be her own experience.If it hadn't been for Rhett to pry open the widow's cage for her, her girlhood would have died at the age of 17.Even after the war, when the morality was broken in the eyes of southerners, women had to come out to make a living, but they were still bound by the old rules.The friends are clearly in a bad situation, but they follow the old rules of the past.Scarlett thought she had found a way out.But now that everything is back to the original point, Scarlett can't help but wonder, who is right?

"Yeah, how tight it is." She murmured involuntarily.

When Rhett saw her agreeing, he was taken aback for a moment, and a smile flashed in his dark eyes: "It's rare to hear you agree with me once, oh?" He sneered, "It's almost there, it's almost there. This set of rules is going to die."

He said war!Scarlett couldn't help shuddering.She looked at Rhett's face, and for a moment it seemed to coincide with what she saw in the firelight of the siege and escape that day.He has a beautiful, stern and decadent head, just like the head portrait on an ancient coin.The supercilious and cold expression seemed to be very happy for everything that was about to happen.Scarlett shuddered. He meant the war that ruined everything, the South!Even if she gets the gift of God to start again, and is willing to grit her teeth and overcome all difficulties for her homeland, her family and his love, the years of war and the hardships of reconstruction, the brutality of the Yankees and the ubiquitous Oppression is still scary!Rhett seemed to be looking forward to the complete destruction of this old world!What was he thinking about?

Just as he couldn't help but want to ask the question, the field suddenly fell silent.Dr. Meade climbed onto the bandstand, his goatee fluttering from his chest, and delivered a passionate speech.His enthusiastic words aroused bursts of cheers from time to time. Rhett noticed that Scarlett was in the wrong mood, and leaned close to her, but his tone was casual: "Do you think he looks like an old goat?"

Scarlett understood that he was teasing her, so she pulled the corners of her mouth reluctantly, and heard the old doctor continue to speak impassionedly:

"... our warriors need more medicines - Ladies, I am asking you to sacrifice! Gold can be melted, gems can be sold, and the money can be used to buy medicines of all kinds! - Ladies, now Two wounded warriors will pass in front of you with baskets, please..." But a storm of applause and cheers interrupted him.

Little Zouave René Picard made his way through the crowd on his uninjured arm, holding a basket heavy with jewels that filled him with pride.The girls rushed to take off their expensive jewelry and put them in his basket, and the people cheered and applauded.

Scarlett stood where she was, watching the little man walking towards her with a smile on her face, feeling a little dazed for a while.What are they doing?Donate to the war?They—what war—why did they fight?Ashley's words suddenly rang in her ears: "Most of the suffering in the world is caused by wars, but when the war is over, people often don't know why they fight..." She could not help clenching her fists.

Yes, why?Why fight this war?Why such a crazy world?Why, after suffering so much and losing so many loved ones, do these curmudgeon southerners still sing about jihad, as if it was an honor to die for it? !Charles embarrassedly and proudly told her that when he came back to marry her after his meritorious deeds, the two Tarleton brothers cheered and ran to announce the arrival of war, and Ashley wiped his shotgun silently with gloomy eyes...but they were made to sacrifice for it Yes, what is it!Scarlett's eyes became moist unconsciously, and when she looked up, she realized that René had been standing in front of her for a long time, and was about to walk away out of consideration.For a moment, Scarlett felt a lump in her throat, slowly took out the engagement ring that Charles had left her from her bosom, squeezed it firmly in her hand, and slowly put the ring in the basket.

Everyone was surprised and moved to see the tears in Scarlett's eyes.Rhett's expression was inexplicable, René saluted with admiration, and Melanie quickly walked over from the crowd, her eyes were full of pride and love, and she hugged Scarlett tightly.

"Oh dear! You're wonderful, very wonderful!"

Scarlett closed her eyes in her warm embrace, and at last a tear oozed.

But I don't want this war at all, and I don't want to sacrifice for it at all.

Charles, I'm sorry.Your ring, I gave back to the great cause of the South that you love.You die dying for it.I know that if you went to war, you would, like everyone else, shed your last drop of blood for this great cause.You believe in your great cause as do all the people here, and I have my own beliefs.I don't think this war is sacred, let alone die for it.But no matter what, I will definitely survive, and I will survive even if I grit my teeth!And, I will definitely keep the land and home I love!

------

"Why, stop crying?"

The little vigilante had gone away, but Rhett's mocking tone implied concern.Scarlett wiped the corners of her eyes, a little embarrassed by her sentimentality just now.Suddenly thinking of Melanie, the energy I lost just now came back all of a sudden:

"Where's Merry? Merry's ring won't—"

Rhett looked at her in surprise: "You really surprised me, Miss O'Hara—but Mrs. Wilkes was infected by your sacrifice and has already donated her ring." He turned his head to look at Meili in front of the stall again, and sighed, "Her look is worse than crying."

He asked with great interest: "I don't think you shed tears just because you couldn't bear Mr. Hamilton's ring, did you? What's the matter, sorry for the stupid things you did? It's really unnecessary..."

"Ri——Captain Butler, please don't pester me so ill-mannered again?" Scarlett managed to say "Rhett" angrily, "Can you lend me some money please?" ? I need it urgently."

"Just talking about money with a double-dealing man? Miss O'Hara, you really are not a lady." Rhett was very slick, and politely replied, "Can I ask the reason for borrowing money?"

"It's not up to you to tell me whether I'm a lady or not." Scarlett snorted coldly, smashing the jar, and as expected, she heard the other party's low laughter, "Oh, do you want to borrow it? I have to get Mei I don't want to go back and see Lili's ring redeemed." She casually found a reason for herself.How did Meili get back the ring she wore to the end in her previous life?Oh, how can I remember such a small thing clearly.Even the fact that Mei Li donated the ring with her, didn't she just remember it because she was annoyed by being forced to donate things at the previous charity bazaars, and put her idea on Charles' ring?

Rhett immediately sighed "tsk tsk": "I'm sorry, but I misunderstood Miss O'Hara's noble heart. I didn't expect Miss O'Hara's love to be so great that she even fell in love with Mr. Wilkes' wife. , and take good care of..."

"Butler!"

Scarlett just felt the veins on her forehead throbbing. Why can't this person explain clearly, and deliberately confuse the public!Just as he couldn't help shouting "I have nothing to do with Ashley", Rhett grinned.

"Quick-tempered Southern chick."

Putting his feet together, he bowed and walked away.