Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 157 A Selfish Decision

Lionel took a small sip of red wine, savoring the full release of alcohol and aroma in his mouth, before beginning to explain: "If the slightly wealthier families in Montiel—such as millers and vineyard owners..."

For the sake of those twenty thousand francs, they began to value education, and they certainly wouldn't be satisfied with the simplicity of St. Joseph's and the level of Monsieur Reynolds' education.

So what will they do? Even if they're unwilling to spend their own money, they'll probably band together to pressure the mayor and the city government to improve the situation.

Because only when schools improve will their children be more competitive and more likely to receive that 20,000 francs.

Surely they wouldn't kick poor children out of the classroom, would they?

Maupassant nodded worriedly: "They might really do that..."

Lionel shrugged: "Guy, humanity may not be so bright, but if we only consider the dark side, then everything is over."

The simplest solution is to divide the money among each household, giving 200 francs, and then next year—or perhaps not even until next year, but just by Christmas—

They would then approach my parents, or send a representative, to Paris to ask me where the next 20,000 francs was.

I'm sorry, but my view of human nature is sometimes more pessimistic than yours.

Maupassant: "...And what about the outsiders? Those speculators..."

Lionel chuckled: "As for outsiders, if they are attracted by the prize money and temporarily relocate here, sending their children to St. Joseph's School..."

Have you forgotten? Saint Joseph only provides primary education. They eventually have to struggle in secondary schools in Laranère, Gap, Provence, and Lyon.

Therefore, the fiercest competition doesn't happen in St. Joseph; they just want to graduate as soon as possible and leave.

Perhaps they have a better chance of taking the 20,000 francs—and I remind you, that's at least seven or even ten years from now.

Therefore, their brief stay of a few years must have given Montiel far more than 20,000 francs in total.

Of course, the Montiel people could also refuse them entry.

As I just said, I never thought that Montiel's child would necessarily receive the 20,000 francs.

The choice is in the hands of the Montiel people.

Maupassant asked somewhat anxiously, "What about these Montiel children? What will happen to them if they don't get the 2 francs?"

Lionel smiled and said, "Maybe after finishing primary school, he'll realize he's not cut out for it and continue as an apprentice—an apprentice who can read and write."

After finishing high school, they might realize they're not cut out for it and go on to study at a more practical mining or railway school or technical college—engineers earn a decent salary.

I might not have been able to get into those four universities, but I did get into the University of Lyon, the University of Grenoble, the University of Toulouse, the University of Lille…

They can also become doctors, lawyers, or academics, enabling themselves and their families to live a decent life.

Furthermore, Guy, you are also aware of the policies Minister Ferry is implementing, aren't you?

Maupassant was taken aback: "You mean free primary schools, and universities..."

Lionel nodded: "I'm just getting Montiel's children back to school a little earlier and having better learning conditions."

In a few years, free primary education will be universal, and in the future, primary school literacy alone will definitely not be enough... They will at least need to go to middle school.

Montiel's parents might be deterred by the law and send their child back to primary school from the workshops and fields—but what about secondary school? Would they do the same?

Paul Pigut suddenly realized: "So, in the end, the 20,000 francs was just a lure, or a fulcrum to leverage more resources."

In this process, all the children at St. Joseph's School, including the poor children, enjoyed better resources and environment.

They might get into a better high school or learn more useful skills as a result...

Even if they don't ultimately receive the 20,000 francs, they've still changed their fate. That's a much broader benefit!

Lionel quickly waved his hand: "No, those are just ideal scenarios. Seven years, ten years, that's a long time."

Any changes that may occur are uncontrollable—that's why I need more people to see this.

Maupassant also realized: "Is this why the scholarship must be 20,000 francs?"

Lionel nodded: "Otherwise, why would a deputy minister of education come in person?"

He then looked at Paul Pigut: "How come the editor of Le Parisien is sitting in this country tavern?"

He pointed to the Montiel "high society" eagerly waiting outside the tavern window: "Could twenty thousand francs, spent elsewhere, buy the presence of Deputy Minister Rohan and the Parisian journalists?"

Maupassant said thoughtfully, "So, you used this money and this gimmick to force Montiel into Paris's view."

"By leveraging public opinion and the power of higher authorities, have they turned this into a matter that Laranée, Gap, Hauts-Alpes, and even the Ministry of Education must take seriously?"

Lionel readily admitted: "How long can I stay in Montiel? Everyone is looking forward to my departure from the Alps!"
I'm leaving. Whether the 20,000 francs are distributed equally or used sparingly... believe me, they'll find a way.

Twenty thousand francs wouldn't be enough for the gentlemen of Paris, but if a scandal broke out, they'd be slapped in the face.

A long silence fell over the tavern.

Pigut raised the last, and most pointed, question: "But what if a poor boy from Montiel ended up with those twenty thousand francs...?"

Can he and his family manage this huge sum of money? Will they become lost, corrupted, or bring disaster upon themselves?
Also, you said yourself that this process is very lengthy. What if cheating occurs?

Lionel was silent for a moment before speaking, his tone complex: "This is not a perfect solution; it even has many flaws, and it's more like a gamble."

But what is the perfect solution? I just said the French are passionate about gambling, and perhaps that's why I'm being so extreme.

He picked up his glass, looking at the deep red liquid: "This is actually a selfish decision. Any scheme involving 'multiple distributions' will only bring endless harassment and trouble to me and my family."

I considered all the ways you suggested—but they all vanished when the villagers of Montiel surrounded my doorstep, trying to get me to hand over the money on the spot for various reasons.

"Twenty thousand francs to take away in one lump sum" will at least bring me and my family seven years of peace, at most some trouble in the year it is issued.

As for 'multiple allocations' or any other schemes, they only result in me receiving endless reports, accusations, and complaints every year.

Twenty thousand francs is not enough to make me devote so much energy to it.

Paul Pigut was not satisfied: "You haven't answered my question..."

Lionel glanced at him and asked, somewhat puzzled, "That was his fate and trial to accept, what does it have to do with me?"
The jackpot in the 'charity lottery' is 50,000 francs. Has the Ministry of Finance considered that this money could lead a poor family astray or degenerate?

The Sorbonne's first-class scholarship is 1000 francs. Has the dean ever considered whether the students who receive the scholarship will use the money to gamble or visit prostitutes?

Why is it that when individuals take on this task, they suddenly face these moral pressures and responsibilities?

Ensuring fairness is the Ministry of Education's job, overseeing implementation is your newspaper's job, and protecting safety is the police's job...

Why does it suddenly become my responsibility once I establish a 20,000 franc scholarship?

Maupassant and Pigut were speechless.

Just then, cheers and applause came from outside the window. The three turned to look and saw a huge procession of carriages crowding the narrow road in Montiel.

"Vice Minister Rohan is here!" Maupassant hurriedly straightened his clothes and left the tavern.

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(End of this chapter)