Continuation of "Gone with the Wind"

Chapter 120 Nine Rhett's Request

Paul really wanted to be like Jack in his diary, reviewing the present and thinking about the past, and recalling how he lived in the past ten years, but he soon found embarrassingly that he had no idea about this matter at all.And more importantly, those ten years of life didn't seem to leave any traces in his life that could be used as commemorations, just like the sand dunes that were constantly moving in the howling wind, or the mirage that twisted and changed under the scorching sun. , he even began to wonder if his previous life was a dream, because too much time had passed, so he couldn't remember it clearly.

For Paul, who is used to being carefree, this kind of problem that goes deep into the spiritual level is nothing at all. Before, he would think that people who think so are hypocritical, but now he has also stepped up. Following in the footsteps of the "old southern melancholy", as he himself named them, he began to think about the "meaning of life" and "the value of life", which sounded very mysterious.

Looking back, the first time he realized this change in himself probably started after Mrs. Butler and himself had several gentle but slightly weird conversations these days.Before this inexplicable gathering, she began to teach herself etiquette, and discussed with herself such metaphysical topics as money, morality, and human nature. She was not a person who would bother with such issues before, not to mention embarrassing relationships. Own.

From any point of view, she would not have discussed these with herself, but Mrs. Butler's behavior was always unexpected, so Paul didn't care much.As for Mr. Butler, although he said and did things that occasionally puzzled him, he never said them to himself.

Mr. Butler stubbed out his cigarette, glanced casually at the hall, and after confirming that the door was indeed closed, he said slowly: "Okay, then let me ask you one last question, do you want to stay here?" Then he said seriously Added to him calmly, "I respect your choice [-]%, but I hope you will answer me after thinking it over. I don't like to hesitate."

Paul looked at him, and then bowed his head in silence for a moment. In Rhett's eyes, this silence was thoughtful—although Rhett didn't think his ward had such thinking power.

In fact, in these few minutes, Paul thought far more profoundly than Rhett imagined.

The first thing he thought of was what Scarlett said to himself last time, "Being comfortable for a while and being comfortable for a lifetime are two different things. You must know that if a person does too many bad things, even if others don't punish you, God forgives you. But one day you will feel regret in your heart. People can’t do bad things, just to prevent future self from regretting.”

There are many explanations for bad things, but in Paul's understanding there are only two: one refers to things that are bad in themselves-he did a lot of good things in New Orleans and finally settled them; and the other is It means that the thing itself is not bad, it can even be said to be a good thing, but because of the attitude and ability of the person doing it, the good thing is turned into a bad thing.

Paul is facing the second situation at this time, and he needs to make a careful choice.Staying in the north, unfamiliar with the place and not understanding the words, is far less relaxing and comfortable than returning to the familiar south, but no matter whether he follows Mr. Butler or Mrs. Butler, the other will not be happy. I can't handle it myself; in addition, to be honest, he is not very willing to follow these two people now. Leaving aside emotional factors, he has been in New Orleans and Tara for a long time, and he always feels Neither place was interesting, and as for Charleston, which he hadn't been to but had heard about for a long time, that ghostly place full of gentlemen, ladies and Yankee occupying troops, God spare him.

On the contrary, if you stay in the north, you don't have to get involved in their troubles.Although the north is full of Yankees (this is of course nonsense), judging from his experience these days, these people are not as unreasonable as the southern legends, but they are quite easy to get along with.

What's more, Commander Walmont said in front of Mrs. Butler that he could serve as a soldier, an American soldier.

This sentence may be a joke, but Paul has always dreamed of wearing a military uniform and carrying a gun, but he has never said it to anyone, but he has always buried it in his heart.Like a stubborn seed that falls into the barren land, it cannot be destroyed by wind and rain. As long as the sky casts a ray of sunshine, it is enough for it to germinate, bloom and bear fruit.

At this time, Paul didn't know that what he was thinking about was the ultimate puzzle that human beings have been thinking about since the first time they looked up at the starry sky: Who am I?Where do I come from?Where am I going?

But fortunately, facing this eternal mystery, although he did not find an answer, he did not appear to be more melancholy because of it, but made a certain determination.

Staying here, maybe I can start again and find the "meaning of life".

After thinking about this clearly, Paul bravely raised his head and looked into Rhett's black eyes. I don't know if it was an illusion, but he felt that he seemed to see a kind of "encouragement" in it. Stuff: "Mr. Butler, I want to stay. Because..."

"That's enough." Mr. Butler stood up suddenly from the sofa, and when his tall figure approached, Paul felt a pressure he had never felt before, "Don't tell me your reason, I hope your Decisions will get you what you want, kid."

After finishing speaking, he didn't look at Paul, opened the door and strode out, and Paul also hurriedly followed out full of doubts.He was thinking as he walked, I hope this decision of yours can make you get what you want?What does Mr. Butler mean by saying this, does it mean that he already knows his plan?

Mr. Butler didn't close the door just now, but presumably no one was bothered to eavesdrop on what they said.Now that Paul was standing beside him, he couldn't talk much, he could only listen to him fueling the situation that was on the verge of collapse with his polite attitude and calm drawl: "Mrs. Stoke."

Paul couldn't bear to look at Scarlett's resentful face and Deason's storm-like blue eyes, but Rhett didn't care. His eyes had turned into binoculars filled with gunpowder. The shotgun aimed at Lanli who had no time to dodge.

"Mrs. Stocker." Rhett continued to fan the flames politely, completely ignoring Scarlett's sharp eyes and Langley's embarrassing expression, let alone clenched his fists so angry that his knuckles turned white. Dyson.

"I'm taking the liberty to ask you an unfeeling favor. It's just—" At this point, he stopped on purpose again, as if he was worried that Lanli would offend him.

"It doesn't matter what you say, as long as I can do it." Lan Li quickly adjusted her expression to be impeccable, and treated her former benefactor with courtesy.

"But I'm worried..." Rhett looked at Disson deliberately, and didn't say anything further.

"No matter what request you have, my wife and I will do our best." Disson gritted his teeth almost word by word, and the raging sea in his blue eyes had frozen into a thousand miles of ice.

"If you're willing to say it."

"You are so polite." Even Paul couldn't help admiring Rhett's skill in pretending to be stupid, "I just hope you two can help take care of this child for a while." He patted Paul on the shoulder lightly, Four or two strokes pushed him out.

"Happy to help." Lan Li was stunned for a moment, but immediately reacted, and at the same time quietly poked Disson who was standing beside her with her hand, and she could obviously feel his body tense.

"I--willing to help." Deason was confused, looked at Paul and then at Rhett, the anger in his eyes had been replaced by doubt, and the muscles all over his body suddenly relaxed, but he couldn't find the right words for a while, so he had to stand stiffly Parrots learn tongues.

Mr. Butler didn't close the door just now, but no one bothered to overhear what they said.Now that Paul is standing beside him, it's hard to talk. He can only listen to his polite attitude and steady draw to fuel the situation that is on the verge of collapse: "Mrs. Stoke." Paul has no longer dared to look at Si Belle's angry face and Deason's stormy blue eyes didn't bother Rhett.His eyes seemed to have turned into a loaded double-barreled shotgun, aiming at Lan Li who had no time to dodge. "Please allow me to ask you an unfeeling favor." He stopped here, as if he was afraid that Lanli would brush off his face.

"It doesn't matter what you say, as long as I can do it." Lan Li quickly adjusted her expression to be impeccable, and treated her former benefactor with courtesy.

"But I'm worried..." Rhett looked at Disson deliberately, and didn't say anything further.

"No matter what you ask, my wife and I will do our best." Deason gritted his teeth almost word by word, and the angry sea in his blue eyes had frozen into a thousand miles of ice. "If you're willing to say it."

"You are so polite." Even Paul couldn't help but lament Rhett's superb skill in pretending to be stupid, "I just hope that the two of you can help take care of this child for a while." He patted Paul on the shoulder lightly.

"Happy to help." Lan Li was stunned for a moment, but she reacted immediately. At the same time, she quietly poked Disson who was standing beside her with her hand, feeling that his body was tense.

"I——willing to help." Dison was confused, looked at Paul and then at Rhett, the anger in his eyes had been replaced by doubt, and the muscles all over his body suddenly relaxed, but he couldn't find the right words for a while, so he had to imitate stiffly. tongue.

Scarlett was the most bewildered.She never dreamed that Rhett made so many preparations and finally made this request.What is he trying to do?He is Paul's legal guardian. If he is willing to take Paul away, no one can stop him; if he finds it inconvenient to let Paul live in the north, he is fine, but he has provoked Deason and Lanli so many times just now, even if they I won't have any prejudice against Paul because of this, but doesn't this embarrass Paul?But seeing Paul's expressionless expression, she felt that this matter was not that simple.