Continuation of "Gone with the Wind"

Chapter [-] New Discovery

But Scarlett has never touched any printed paper since she left the girls' school, except for the time when she was tricked by Jack and read the article written by him.She stays away from books like many things that she doesn't like because she doesn't understand them. Now Lanli wants her to read her family history, but she is not interested in what other people's ancestors have done. It turns out that things like family history are just things that later generations put gold on their faces by exalting their ancestors.But seeing that Lan Li was so happy, she couldn't take it easy, so she had no choice but to accept it.At the beginning, she was still thinking that the southerners would definitely not have good things to say about the north. It can be said that she just wanted to see how the upper class in the south would laugh at what they saw as the barbarism and lack of etiquette of the Yankees, and then she would talk to all the people she was in the north these days. A comparison of what you see and hear, the effect of humor is obtained from the contrast between people's bragging and reality.But what surprised her was that Lanli's father had a surprisingly good opinion of the northerners, praising them for having "a kind of broad-mindedness and bold personality that the southerners don't have, and even the girls are like the ladies and gentlemen of the south." Some are bright, they have their own minds, and don't bother to hide it as much as our girls do. Some of my northern friends appreciate it, but I know they're just saying it, because In private, they all admire the gentleness and demureness of southern ladies, and they are good at keeping quiet, which are unique to women. This coincides with my thoughts. By the grace of God, because of me, they have no respect for southern gentlemen. Stubborn tempers betrayed the slightest bit of disapproval. They were good-natured enough to dismiss as false the accusations I heard in the South that Mr. and Miss Northern were 'disrespectful and undereducated'. As for their demands on women , can be regarded as a common problem of men all over the world. And obviously, because women’s right to speak is usually ignored by men, no man is willing to change for his wife. This is especially evident in the south.” Scarlett really can’t believe this It was written by Lanli's father, a southern gentleman who died heroically for the Confederacy. Although Lanli was also surprised, after reading it carefully, she had to admit that her father had undisputed copyright to this passage.However, the date of this note is in [-], when she and Lanli were still young, at that time the South and the North were not at odds as they are now.

The unexpected discovery made Scarlett full of curiosity and surprise. She watched with great interest as Lanli's father continued to tell about his travels in the north, and smiled knowingly at the humor in it from time to time. In his eyes, everything in the north All cute, except for one thing.

"Another quarrel with Tom today over black slavery. I've tried to avoid talking about it, but he's leading the topic in this corner. I think he didn't mean it. I don't have any moral prejudices, but I kind of understand my countrymen's anger at northern meddling. Tom likes to talk so much that people have to put up with his poor opinions and spittle flying around. Maybe this Is the common fault of all warm-hearted but impractical people. I suggested that he should not give advice on important issues with which he is not familiar, but he ignored it. The gentlemen present, no matter where they come from, are very cultivated, but any one No sane person would approve of 'Let the cannons blow the heavy shackles off the niggers.' I must say something, first of all, the niggers in the south never had shackles, at least not on my estate This kind of burden, that's something that will affect their work in the field, if the iron he imagined exists, it's better to forge them into farm tools. And, if it's really let the cannon solve these problems as his brother said, I don't think Those black bodies will be stronger than the shackles. Also, I'm bluntly pointing out that the white workers in the northern factories are treated far worse than slaves. The northerners think they can do whatever they want with the Irish immigrants for a fee without squeezing them dry blood and sweat will never pay wages. And we don't pay black people in money, as long as they understand and respond to our words - as I hope he does at this moment - we will pay them back. The poor man who is far away from home sincerely cares. I didn’t expect this to make him furious. If it wasn’t for Foster to stop him, I’m afraid he would beat me. Of course I’m not afraid, but I really don’t understand. Black slaves are equal. Why did I say that I put him and black people together and caused him such a big reaction. Did I insult him, or did he insult himself by his insincere words? In any case, this sensitive issue should not be treated too Too sloppy and extreme, I don't understand what the northerners want us to free the black slaves unconditionally, but if we want us to send them from Daejeon to those smoky factories, I will never agree. I think There must be a better way to solve this problem. Neither the secession of the southerners nor the provocation of war by the northerners is the result I would like to see. The only thing I am thankful for is that I am not a federal congressman, so I don’t have to worry about politics.”

This one was written fairly easily and reasonably, but it didn't interest Scarlett at all.The two things that Lan Li's father was afraid of had both happened and ended, and the wounds had not yet healed.

Fortunately, the tone of the following description is still peaceful, and she didn't spend any more words on the controversial slavery and southern independence, and Scarlett seemed quite relieved.She thinks that this kind of article is well written, and as for the criteria for judging, the one that suits her taste is good.A good article is like the author chatting with the readers. It can make the readers feel what the writer is thinking, which is much better than those who pretend to be profound and talk about the truth.The so-called spread of culture, whether it is precepts and deeds or written in black and white, is actually just a carrier. To regard them as culture itself is putting the cart before the horse, and it is even more unreasonable to think that some of them are better than others.Besides, in terms of efficiency, a group of housewives can spread news more than a shelf of historical documents.

Scarlett reads very purposefully, so she finished reading the seemingly thick volume of family history in less than an hour.Fortunately, she has a good memory and reads carefully, so she can clearly understand everything to be memorized in just one pass.To be honest, except for some small details that are easily overlooked, what Lanli taught her is not far from the lady education she received since she was a child.Lanli had told her before.Men all over the world have the same requirements for women. What she really needs is to make herself natural, and deliberately modifying details is useless to improve her temperament.

"Pretend to be natural." Scarlett reminded herself inwardly.Although she had few defeats in the war for men before, but thinking about it now, it was just because her prey and opponents were too childish.Now what she has to face is the real big shots. Although she has met some big shots before, she has not had too close contacts with them. The door was closed to her, and she was welcomed only by Carbuggers, Yankee officers, and rebels, who catered to the vulgar side of her nature, and then she drove them away, but the good manners that had been lost were hard to come back. .

Now she didn't think about picking up that set of rules again, she didn't have that interest.What she really needs is not superficial skills, but her own unique demeanor, a firm attitude that will never change under any circumstances, she needs spiritual growth, completely shed the remaining childishness on her body, and become a truly independent person .Rhett said she had always been a child, and she had to prove to him that she had grown up.She doesn't expect to be reborn within a week, but she has to do her best, and Lan Li happens to be the best teacher around her.Although she can't see her love clearly, to be honest, she has no right to laugh at her in this regard.In other respects, Lanli can teach her a lot.

Scarlett returned to Lan Li the family history that had completed the historical mission.Lan Li looked at her with a hint of surprise and asked, "Honey, have you read it all?" Scarlett nodded and said, "That's right. I've read everything Mr. Stocker wrote, and he remembers it very comprehensively. The handwriting on the back is different, so I only read a little bit, and I don’t know what it’s talking about.”

The surprise on Lan Li's face further expanded when she heard her say this: "You mean there will be more later? But I clearly remember that this part was specially listed for reference at the end. At the beginning, I..." Before she finished speaking, she put The words stopped, and a suddenly enlightened expression appeared on his face, and then it turned into Scarlett's indescribable weirdness.Although this expression only stayed on her face for less than a second before being replaced by Lanli's usual decent smile, it was remembered by Scarlett.And as Lanli directly put the manuscript back without giving herself an explanation and took out another book, Scarlett's doubts piled up even heavier.

It was not for nothing that Scarlett remembered that look.Although Lan Li did not give any explanation for this, she felt dissatisfied with her, but this kind of expression transformation and control ability has always been what she lacked, and she can control it under normal circumstances, but it is difficult when she is emotional. up.No matter what is in her heart, it will be written on her face immediately. This is a fatal weakness for purposeful social communication. Rhett has guessed her mind many times because of this.She had wanted to change this for a long time, but if she asked Lan Li directly, she might not say it. Everyone has something they don't want to say, and forcing others will not get good results, so she can only summarize the technical points by herself: You can’t make too many expressions, your eyes can’t be too active, and your movements can’t be added. Control the volume of your speech. Smiling is the most useful expression…