[Gone with the Wind] Back to the beginning

"That uneducated guy!" Scarlett seemed to hit the cotton with all her strength.She was so angry that her chest was bulging, but she had nowhere to vent, and her green eyes were fixed on Rhett Butler's back.Ashley would always be such a hateful guy to tease her and leave without finishing his sentence!

The heroic captain who broke through the blockade is receiving people's respect along the way.As if aware of Scarlett's gaze, Rhett Butler turned around to pay tribute, a white light flashed under his short black mustache, which made Scarlett feel depressed for a while.

But being so angry by him, the last bit of sadness in Scarlett's heart was wiped out.She casually sent a few soldiers who came to buy things to chat with Mei Li, and the content was naturally about how annoying that Rhett Butler was.It's a pity that Meili has a good impression of Rhett, and she actually said something nice to him.Listening to her good friend's gentle words, Scarlett almost rolled her eyes regardless of her ladylike image.Fortunately, Dr. Meade was about to give a speech again, and Scarlett quickly pushed Melanie: "Okay, Mellie, don't speak up for him. The doctor is going to give a speech!"

Melanie quickly looked at the old doctor on the stage.

Dr. Meade was speaking at the top of his voice.He first thanked the ladies who donated generously.

"...Now, ladies and gentlemen, I have an astonishing proposal - a new proposal that will make some people angry. But I want you to remember that it's all for the sake of the hospital and the wounded that lie in it us."

Everyone pushed forward, not knowing what surprising proposal the steady doctor would have.

"The dance is about to begin, and the first piece is of course a Scotch dance, followed by a waltz, a polka, a Scottish slow step, a mazurka, all beginning with a short Scottish dance. I know who will lead the dance." There is always a little competition in this dance, so—" The doctor wiped his forehead, "Gentlemen, if you want to lead the dance with the partner you have chosen, you have to participate in the competition. I will be the auctioneer, and the income All to the hospital."

The shaking fans stopped suddenly, and there was an excited buzz in the hall.The Self-Defense Forces cheered, but the wives blushed with anger, and the ladies blushed and laughed and pushed, Melanie looked at Scarlett hesitantly: "Don't you think——this is——it's a bit like an auction A slave?"

Scarlett's green eyes sparkled.At this moment, she could only feel her heart pounding, so she couldn't care less about answering Mei Li's words!The annoyance just now has long been forgotten, replaced by excitement and longing.Scarlett seemed to be repeating the best memories now, and of course she knew what was coming—dancing, and the beginnings of their real acquaintance in previous lives.At that time, Scarlett was still a little widow, who rashly appeared in such a happy place, but still wanted to dance.At that time, it was Rhett Butler who offered a rich invitation, and she was able to go down to spend that wonderful night and live a girlish life again after that.Rhett would ask her to dance again this time, she was sure of it!Scarlett straightened her skirt, raised her head with a proud smile.She knew that she, Scarlett O'Hara, was the prettiest girl here, and she had nothing to worry about!

Amid the uproar, Kelly Ashburn asked his companion, loudly: "Tommy, who are you going to pick? What? Scarlett?—God, she's beautiful! But she just donated Hamilton's Crying like that at the ring, man! Don't waste your time!"

Rhett Butler, who was lazily smoking a cigar, raised his eyebrows when he heard Scarlett's name, but he didn't move extra, making it impossible to see his thoughts.

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Tommy Welburne, a handsome lad six feet tall, with bright blue eyes that were always bright and determined.He went to medical school before the war, and now he is a good soldier in the cavalry regiment.He came to Atlanta to recuperate this time because of an injury.Tommy also said loudly to his companion: "You have to try it, don't you? Kelly, don't regret it if she agrees to me!" After speaking, he compared with René Picard, who had just bid 40 yuan for Maybelle. strength:

"Miss Scarlett O'Hara—fifty dollars."

The soldiers all worked up at once!Who didn't know that Scarlett was the most beautiful woman in Atlanta, but she was so sad for her fiancé who died in battle (God, Scarlett would be crazy to think so), and it didn't seem respectful to ask.Welburn has so much courage, that's great!Everyone craned their necks to see if Miss O'Hara would dance.

Scarlett heard someone call her name, although it wasn't Rhett who was a little disappointed, she still smiled and nodded to indicate that she had no problem.The soldiers were in high spirits now, and Scarlett's name kept coming out, the most enthusiastic of which was Tommy's companion, Captain Kelly Ashburn.Scarlett's limelight has completely overwhelmed Maybelle, and her worth has reached 100 yuan!Now, it's just Tommy, Kelly, and René, who's all about asking Maybelle to dance.

The big boy who was the first to bid looked familiar.This idea flashed through Scarlett's mind, but now she put all her thoughts on Rhett, so she didn't pay much attention to it.

The price was getting higher and higher, but Scarlett became more and more flustered.He doesn't really plan to invite her, does he?Or is it because of her different identity from what she used to be that Rhett no longer has the desire to dance the opening dance?After all, Scarlett was a widow who devoted herself to dancing at that time, but now she is a lady who can invite dances (although not necessarily agree) at any time!

Scarlett was now standing where she had started—even if she was no longer a widow in need of rescue, it would be no problem to dance on the dance floor.But everything that happened in this scene represents a very good memory for Scarlett-this memory is superimposed on the years to come, so it is extra heavy and meaningful.Scarlett would never have missed the opening dance.

She managed to maintain her composure, but couldn't help but glance at Rhett.But Rhett caught the somewhat anxious gaze, and Scarlett quickly turned her head away from the smile on his mouth, only to hear a male voice with a Charleston accent that was crystal clear in the noise:

"Miss Scarlett O'Hara, one hundred and fifty dollars—gold."

The price and the identity of the speaker silenced the audience.

Everyone turned to look at Scarlett.How could Captain Butler's reputation make him dance with Scarlett?But now he also contributed to the Confederacy, a hero!Besides, 150 gold coins, that's a lot of money!The doctor was hesitant, and the two boys who were bidding just now reconciled immediately, saying in unison: "No!" The girls' eyes turned red with jealousy for the high price, and Scarlett felt a burst of ecstasy sweeping through her body.But she looked arrogant, and shook the golden fan with a "swipe", her green eyes were like emeralds:

"If you insist, Captain Butler."

This is what promise means.I saw Tommy shrugging his shoulders with regret in his eyes.Dr. Meade was very moved by Scarlett's sacrifice, and made up his mind to ask his wife to write a letter to Ellen to explain.After all, who would doubt the loyalty of Miss O'Hara who tearfully donated her ring?

The soldiers cheered loudly.Scarlett gracefully walked to the center of the venue, lifted the hem of her skirt and made a slight curtsy.Rhett sneered and walked through the crowd to meet her.He bowed to Scarlett, pressing the hem of his ruffled shirt, and before they could say anything, the conductor called out, "Choose your partner, Scotch!"

The enthusiastic dance music of "Dikya" was played immediately.People were in a hurry to find a partner. Scarlett held Rhett's arm, but cast a provocative glance at him, and said deliberately indifferently: "Captain Butler, your invitation has caused me a lot of trouble."

Rhett smiled and complimented her: "You can't find a brave beauty like you in all of Atlanta, and you are willing to dance with such a 'reputable' captain like me." The latter sentence was sincere, "But I think you would Not those little fools who only listen to their mothers."

Scarlett said it was of course in her heart, but she mocked coldly on her face: "I don't need Captain Butler to comment on this—speaking of it, you don't look like a captain, but like a pirate."

Rhett grinned. "Thanks for the compliment—so Miss O'Hara died for a great cause?" he asked slyly.

"Mr. Butler, if you continue to be so unreasonable, I'm going to get the brave boy over there to dance with you."

"Nay, I'm not that interested--but, fair lady, if you don't make it clear that you are reluctant to dance with me for a great cause, I'm afraid my poor bachelor will have other delusions. "

Another set of sweet talk!Would she, Scarlett O'Hara, be so arrogant as to think he was in love with her?It was obvious that he was taking her for a fool and teasing her.

Although Scarlett was angry in her heart, she had a sweet smile on her face: "But don't you already have unreasonable thoughts? Or I actually misunderstood you. You asked me to dance just to find an excuse to donate to the hospital—— Then Captain Butler, can you answer a question for me?" The deliberate pause made the tone of voice rise slightly, and the green-eyed beauty was obviously a little proud.

"What?" Rhett looked very interested.

"You said to Mei Li before, 'You will often come and go in Atlanta, because it is not enough to just bring the goods, you have to find a way to sell', right?"

"Yes. But you haven't made it clear, beauty? Don't get away with it."

"Captain Butler, don't think women are fools. Isn't it easy to sell the goods now? To give the simplest example, in 1861 a pound of salt was one cent, but now it costs twelve cents , isn’t it because of the lack of salt in the Confederacy, so you can let the merchants set the price at will? Tell me, are you afraid that no one will take over your cargo when it arrives at the port? ——Of course, the price may still be higher if the goods are brought from the port to the city for sale Some. But in the final analysis, how can the profit of doubling be more profitable than running the blockade to buy goods?"

This is something she suddenly figured out after listening to the conversation between Rhett and Meili.Scarlett estimated that Rhett might have said the same thing in her previous life, but at that time she had heard it and heard it, and didn't take it seriously.But the experience of living a new life helped her find clues. It's okay to fool an ordinary southern girl with Rhett's words, but it's not okay to lie to her! —Hmph, after all, it was because of her that he found an excuse to go back and forth to Atlanta.

Rhett's eyes showed admiration, and he deliberately said quietly: "But running the blockade is too dangerous. Instead of earning that dangerous hard money, wouldn't it be smarter to go to Atlanta to squeeze out the value of the goods?"

"Did I get it wrong? Captain Butler is the kind of person who has no sense of adventure, and he is willing to let go of the multiplied profits of the blockade?" Scarlett also complimented him, and she pushed back, "Besides, you The lace and panniers that were brought in are not military supplies, so a little gold can make the Yankees let them go with 'empathy'?"

Rhett laughed.

"Southern men don't like smart little brains, Miss O'Hara," he said, laughing enough. "You really surprise me, you can even talk about money so uneducated. . . . Well, don't be angry. , I'm flattering you! Well, I admit, you're right, except for the first point. I don't admit the unfounded, Miss O'Hara. Maybe I stopped in Atlanta and thought This reason is too incompatible with the image of a 'blockade warrior', so why did you just casually lie to Miss Meili?"

Scarlett snorted and ignored him.In the end, she was only guessing based on her experience in doing business in her previous life, and she found out that Rhett was lying!As for the first point - isn't it based on his feelings in the previous life?

And Rhett had gone on to say:

"But I'm really surprised, Miss O'Hara. I'm really surprised by your insight. As we have seen, southerners give away their money, and most girls don't know how much breakfast their skirts are worth. People Think it's rude to talk about money, but they don't understand how money can help sometimes—hey, like me, no one in Charleston would take me in, but I've got money, I've got guts, and I'm happy."

"Oh, that's unfortunate," said Scarlett heartily.

"Oh, come on. You know I don't feel bad about it."

"Money can't buy everything."

"You can never come up with such a cliché yourself."

"But I'm serious—" Scarlett's eyelashes trembled slightly, "money can't buy everything."

At the end of the previous life, Meili died and Rhett left.She has nothing but money.