Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 159 (Bonus Chapter) Sharp Tongue, Sharp Heart
As if sensing Lionel's gaze, Father Peltier felt a chill run down his spine and quickly turned around.

Then he heard Lionel righteously "defending" the church over Jean-Baptiste Reynolds' meager salary.

"Oh, about Mr. Reno's salary... I think it fully reflects the deep concern and... uh, unique wisdom of the local parish."

As you know, Professor Reynolds dedicated his life to education and was extremely busy. It's unlikely he would have had the same amount of time as ordinary believers to participate in all religious ceremonies and engage in lengthy prayers.

Lionel's voice was full of sincerity, and the reasons he gave were simply "flawless":
"As far as I know, the church—I believe it must be out of consideration and compassion—deducts a portion of Mr. Renoir's already meager salary each month in advance, I remember it being about 30 francs."

What a clever and well-intentioned arrangement!
You might think that this is equivalent to performing a form of 'dedication' on behalf of Teacher Reno, ensuring that his soul continues to receive God's favor and protection, even if he is slightly less formally pious due to being busy raising the next generation.

This undoubtedly reflects the church's support for education and its extra care for the spiritual well-being of teachers!
This is a… well… a very effective ‘spiritual protection,’ isn’t it?”

After Lionel finished speaking, he maintained that sincere expression on his face.

A moment of deathly silence fell over the scene.

Even Count Rohan, who was observing the surroundings outside the classroom, stopped in his tracks.

He immediately realized this was a golden opportunity and quickly signaled to his attendants to "control" Father Peltier so he wouldn't ruin things.

The reporters were stunned for a moment, then their eyes lit up with ecstatic joy!
They are all shrewd people; how could they not understand such obvious irony?

Father Peltier's face instantly turned a deep purplish-red, his lips moved, but he couldn't utter a single word.

He tried to step forward to explain something, but was cornered by several Ministry of Education officials and couldn't move.

Soon, reporters turned to Count Rohan and asked for his opinion on the matter.

Count Rohan's lips twitched slightly, but his tone was serious and even sorrowful: "This...this is indeed a thought-provoking approach."

This further illustrates that education must be led by the state to guarantee its purity and fairness!

……

There's no need for anyone else to say anything more; the reporters have already gotten all the ammunition they wanted.

Father Peltier slumped to the ground like a dead man—he knew he was finished, and whatever became of Montiel and Saint Joseph was no longer his concern.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Sister Alice, the young master is in the newspaper again!" Petty shouted, holding a large stack of newspapers in her hand.

Although she doesn't yet know enough words to read the newspaper fluently, she recognizes "Lionel Sorel" perfectly.

Alice quickly put down the "Sprout" magazine she was holding and got up to take the newspaper.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be entirely reports about Lionel—

The top one is Le Figaro, and the headline on the front page is "20,000 francs illuminate the dark corners of education, deputy minister calls for national responsibility".

Although she knew last week that Lionel had donated 2 francs to a scholarship, she was still quite moved to see it gradually turn from "rumor" into "reality".

However, Le Figaro maintained its usual practice of glossing over the issue of the church withholding teachers' salaries in Montiel, as if it had never happened.

But other newspapers are different.

Le Parisien used the most direct and incisive headline to strike at the heart of the church—

"The Church is Exploiting Village Teachers by Deducting Thirty Francs a Month!"

The criticism was also extremely sharp:
[...In the rural areas we cannot see, churches have not only failed to fulfill their responsibility for education, but have also become robbers who plunder the already meager educational funds.]

The ordeal of Mr. Jean-Baptiste Reynolds tore away the last fig leaf of the church school.

The nation must liberate education from this outdated and corrupt system as soon as possible!

Alice closed the newspaper, her heart filled with turmoil.

When she first escaped from the church and sought refuge with Lionel, she thought that Lionel had just made a fortune in Paris by chance, and she was still a little puzzled as to why he was unwilling to help his family more.

Later, seeing Lionel achieve success through literature, not only earning increasingly higher royalties but also joining the "high society," she became enamored with him and felt somewhat inferior.
Today, Lionel seems to be more than just a writer; she appears to be involved in many "major events" that seem like a mystery to her as a childhood friend.

This made Alice feel that Lionel had become a star in the distant sky, visible but forever out of reach...

Petty jumped over: "Sister Alice, what did the newspaper say about the young master?"

Alice then came to her senses and patted Patty's head: "Leon has done something big again, let me tell you..."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The turmoil in Montiel did not completely subside with the departure of Count Rohan and the press corps.

Those 20,000 francs stirred every nerve in this small Alpine town.

In the mouths of the villagers, Lionel Sorel's name has gradually evolved from "a successful Parisian celebrity" to a mysterious tycoon who "could feed us for a year with just a little gold that slips through his fingers."

Speculation about his annual income spread rapidly through word of mouth, quickly climbing from the initial 10,000 francs to 30,000, or even higher.

To the people of Montiel, Parisian coins would automatically and continuously flow into their pockets.

Lionel keenly sensed this shift in atmosphere—

His doorstep wasn't completely blocked by people, but the "accidental" passersby, the hesitant words, and the desperate attempts to get close to him all left him feeling exhausted.

He knew that his vacation had to end early.

On the night before his departure, under the kerosene lamp, Lionel's voice was soothing yet very solemn: "After I'm gone, there are a few things you must remember."

Father, mother, and sister all nodded gently.

"First, regarding money. If neighbors or fellow villagers come to borrow money, even if you can't refuse them, you should know in your heart that you won't get the money back."

Do not let me burden you or cause you to make enemies.

Joseph nodded solemnly: "I understand. We will do what we can."

Lionel looked at Ivana: "Secondly, sister, you shouldn't have to pay for the sins of a liar with a lifetime of melancholy."

You are still young, and you have a long road ahead of you. If... if a suitable young man comes to propose marriage with genuine sincerity, I hope you will try to open your heart.

Ivana lowered her head, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers, and softly murmured "Mmm".

Lionel's gaze swept over his three closest relatives: "Third, do not discuss my specific situation in Paris with outsiders, and do not take on any troublesome matters that require using my 'connections' or 'face'."

Whether it was the mayor's request, the priest's hint, or any request from the villagers, I always claimed that I was too insignificant in Paris to help.

“We remember, Leon.” Father Joseph nodded solemnly, making a promise on behalf of the whole family.

He knew that the head of the Sorel family was now Lionel.

The following morning, before dawn, Lionel, carrying only a few simple bags, left Monttier and embarked on his journey to Paris.

　I never expected such an ordinary plot point yesterday to cause such a huge controversy... Although I still wrote it according to the original plan, I still feel that it is my fault as the author that caused everyone to argue so much, so I will punish myself by adding two more chapters.

　　Those who wish to criticize the author can join the group: 650939535
　　
　
(End of this chapter)