[Gone with the Wind] Back to the beginning

Noticing Rhett's back stiffened for a moment, Scarlett raised the corners of her mouth triumphantly.She just said, the man was rambling earlier and refused to remind her of that thing, so it was this matter!

"When did you get out of prison, Rhett?" she asked softly, with an inexplicable lightness in her tone.

Seeing that Rhett didn't answer for a long time, Scarlett's smile widened.

Sure enough, as she expected, everything that was glamorous before was pretended.She just said, obviously she had been paying attention to whether Rhett Butler was released, why did this person suddenly turn to her today as if nothing happened, and there was no news at all, as if she had missed something.Wow, Rhett Butler was just released!And as soon as he was released, he made himself look like a dog, so that he could go to Aunt Pitt and ask about her.Aunt couldn't see her there, and he took the initiative to pick her up!It turned out that he still missed her very much!Scarlett snickered.

"Well, I can't remember." Rhett said vaguely, "Maybe it's just a few days ago, hey, why do you care about that..."

Scarlett finally couldn't help laughing, and didn't take Rhett's uncomfortable glances seriously.She laughed and coughed, and waved to him happily and triumphantly.Seeing that she is in a good mood, I won't press the question any further, but let's look back at how she found out the exact time when the bastard was released from prison.Still want to fool her?

"Okay, let's talk about something else." There was a smile on Rhett's lips, but he turned his head away from Scarlett's sight, "I think you probably won't spend a few more days in jail because of me." Are you happy?"

"Of course." Scarlett raised her voice and gave him a schadenfreude look. "Anyway, I guess you didn't suffer much, compared to when you were in the war—by the way, let's talk about how you got out. I feel sorry for you and the Yankees." Interesting in the way we dealt with it.”

"Ah, that." Rhett made a nonchalant gesture, "no trouble. You know I have a friend in Washington who is powerful in the Federal Congress, and I blackmailed him a little bit. That's a Good man—a staunch patriot of the Confederacy." He smiled, with mockery in his eyes, "I used to buy things from him for the Confederacy, including cute things like big panniers, guns and medicines. Not so cute stuff. I let him know about going to prison through some channels, and he quickly used his power to release me. Power is everything, and guilt or innocence is not a matter of words."

"I bet you're guilty." Scarlett subconsciously raised an argument, but she was thinking in her heart whether Rhett's method would be beneficial to solving Jonathan, and whether it was to bribe his superiors?Wouldn't that mean more money than what Jonathan asked Tara for?

"That depends on how you define it," he said lazily. "For example, I did take the Confederate money, but don't tell Miss Pitt. In fact, it's all sitting in the bank in Liverpool!"

"It's a shame to say it," Scarlett complained with a touch of jealousy.The money obtained from representing cotton for the Confederacy is naturally being rolled into the pockets of the agents now that the Confederacy has collapsed.The Confederacy is gone, so why not hand it over to the Confederation?Scarlett wouldn't do that anyway.Still, it's enticing to think that Butler has that much money.The world is difficult, and everyone is running for their lives. Although Scarlett, who has come back again, is more comfortable than most people, she is still in a hurry before the new crisis.It's hard to imagine, there is so much money in the world.But she changed her mind, if Jonathan was not dealt with, she would be a lamb waiting to be slaughtered no matter how much money she earned, she wrinkled her nose.

"Rhett," she asked bluntly, knowing that it is easier to get an answer directly when talking to him, "The world is so chaotic, how can I keep money if I have money?"

Rhett seemed to be surprised by the jump of her topic, but he raised his eyebrows and gave the answer: "Build a relationship."

"What?" Scarlett didn't respond.

"Establish a relationship with the military high-level, such as friendship or something." Rhett shrugged and explained to her, "Of course, it is the kind of friendship that smells of copper..."

"Ah." Scarlett sighed listlessly, and leaned back on the back of the carriage again, "I forgot you were a traitor." It didn't work for her at all.

Rhett looked at her amusedly and angrily.

It was night now, and there were not many pedestrians on the road.The light of the new moon fell on the ground and was crushed by the wheels of the carriage.The sound of horseshoes.Big Sam, who was driving, was paying attention, because the hostess had already become wary of the man escorting him by saying "traitor" just now, but his hostess didn't notice it at the moment.Scarlett was a little tired, she closed her eyelids to rest, the moonlight flowed on her magnolia-like clean face, her thick and curly eyelashes were like the fluttering wings of a butterfly.In a daze, she felt the carriage stop for a moment, and Rhett was saying something softly to Big Sam, and then the carriage started to go again, more steadily and comfortably, and it was like a cradle to lull her to sleep.Something slipped from her shoulders and woke her half asleep, and Scarlett picked it up to find Rhett's cloak.She suddenly realized that the person in front of her had changed—the figure of Big Sam riding a horse was blurry in the distance, and the man in front of her holding the reins to drive her cart had a back she was all too familiar with.It was a broad, strong back that she had attached to for many nights.For some reason, on such a night, at such a moment when it was so quiet that it seemed as if there were only two people in the world, Scarlett felt an urge to shed tears when she saw his back so close to her.The smell of leather and tobacco came together from the cloak in her hand. Scarlett closed her eyes and softly called out in a hoarse voice, "Rhett."

After a rustle, she didn't need to open her eyes to understand that it was him who turned to look at her.She could imagine that his eyes must be very soft, so she also opened her eyes and smiled at him.It's great that you're here, it's really great.No matter how many times you think about it, you must thank God for the miracle.Scarlett watched Rhett all the time, her heart was peaceful, but her mind was very dull.All she could realize was that he was holding the rein awkwardly as he slowly came back and sat beside her.It wasn't easy driving next to her anyway, but here he came.Scarlett closed her eyes when she heard the soft call.

"Scarlett."

He slowly moved closer, and the smell of tobacco and leather came closer, mixed with the heat of his breath, and rushed to her face.The moment he called her name softly, his lips were on hers, and then he gave her a soft and tender kiss.

As soft as the moonlight tonight.

Scarlett didn't open her eyes for a long time after the kiss, resting her head on Rhett's shoulder, vaguely aware that this must make driving more difficult for him.Rhett just sneered slightly, reaching out to stroke her black hair.

"Scarlett." He called softly, and got a vague "hmm".But Scarlett's dreamy green eyes opened, and she listened to him in silence, a small curve of her lips.

"They tried to teach me a cute concept since I was a child," Rhett laughed softly. "They told me that girls are fragile and gentle creatures. Ah, by the way, they are also very sensitive." He said in his throat Let out a soft and weird mutter, "But I have my own answer. I have always felt that women have a kind of tenacity that men don't have, just like what you and Miss Meili showed me."

Scarlett shook his hand in dissatisfaction, signaling him not to mention others.Rhett laughed again, and said slowly:

"You remember why I noticed you, right? It wasn't anything like vulnerability, sensitivity, or tenderness. I saw what a valuable quality you had, cunning and honesty with yourself, and your courage that seemed to be on fire And vitality. The most important vitality, but just now."

But just now, he was moved by the fragility, sensitivity, and tenderness he had always despised, or something similar.When they appeared on the girl's face, his heart was like a feather.

"But I thought just now," he closed his eyes with a smile, "that occasional fragility or sensitivity wouldn't be a problem, and maybe that lovely notion is right, at least half right." He took the reins and took hers.

Scarlett gazed into his face, very rarely without sarcasm or laughter.It had the grace and handsomeness of a pagan prince on ancient coins, and she was fascinated by it.The moonlight also softened his face, or the night made him think that it was well hidden, which revealed a little warmth.Scarlett knew she probably didn't need to say anything, just look up a little and give her another kiss.But maybe the moonlight is too bewitching, and the warmth at this moment makes people think that everything can be realized.She gently shook his hand, lowered her eyes and asked him, "Then why don't you propose to me?"

Rhett didn't speak for a long time, but Scarlett was keenly aware that the atmosphere that both of them cherished before was gradually dissipating.The moonlight has grown icy cold.Rhett still held her hand, but didn't move for a long time.Her heart was shaking with uncontrollable sadness and anger, but there was no sound.Rhett Butler hasn't changed his mind, no.

So what is all this?

"I always thought," he finally said, with an imperceptible embarrassment in his voice, "that Europeans have a correct concept of marriage. Marriage is convenient, love is happy, it is reasonable, isn't it?"

Scarlett pushed away his embrace, and she could feel her body getting cold.

"Then," said she coldly, "I am a small part of the happiness you seek, am I not? I am afraid you have not thought of contriving a convenient form of one's eternal happiness?"

Rhett didn't answer, but he didn't return to his original position either.An embarrassing silence replaced the previous warmth.Scarlett felt desolate and angry.They passed the rest of the journey in silence without another word.When getting out of the car, Scarlett did not accept Rhett's support, and the two of them broke up unhappy.Who would have thought that such a tender opening would usher in a bone-chilling ending?

Only stupid Big Sam waited bewildered after riding his horse to Aunt Pete's door.Seeing Rhett coming, he quickly handed him the reins, then scratched his head and asked him if he wanted to sit in.Rhett shook his head. He looked at the lights in the red brick house, sighed softly, got on his horse and left.