$ cargo run Compiling cons-list v0.1.0 (file:///projects/cons-list) Finished dev [unoptimized + debuginfo] target(s) in 0.53s Running `target/debug/cons-list` a initial rc count = 1 a next item = Some(RefCell { value: Nil }) a rc count after b creation = 2 b initial rc count = 1 b next item = Some(RefCell { value: Cons(5, RefCell { value: Nil }) }) b rc count after changing a = 2 a rc count after changing a = 2