Lionel took a small sip of his red wine, letting the alcohol and aroma fully release in his mouth before he began to explain:
"If those slightly wealthier local families in Montiel—like the millers and vineyard owners—
If they start to value education because of these twenty thousand francs, they certainly won't be satisfied with the humble state of Saint Joseph's and Mr. Renaud's teaching level.
So what will they do? Even if they're unwilling to pay out of their own pockets, they will likely band together to pressure the mayor and the municipal government to improve everything.
Because only when the school improves will their children be more competitive and have a better chance of getting those twenty thousand francs.
Surely they can't kick the poor children out of the classroom, can they?"
Maupassant nodded worriedly:
"They might actually do that…"
Lionel spread his hands:
"Guy, human nature may not be all sunshine and roses, but if we only consider the dark side, then nothing would ever get done.
The most straightforward way would be to divide this money among households, 200 francs each, and then next year—perhaps even before next year, by Christmas—
They would come to my parents, or send a representative, to Paris to ask me where the next twenty thousand francs are.
Sorry, my view of human nature is, at times, more pessimistic than yours."
Maupassant: "…But what about outsiders? Those speculators…"
Lionel chuckled:
"As for outsiders, if they are attracted by the prize and temporarily move here, sending their children to Saint Joseph's school…
Have you forgotten? Saint Joseph's only provides primary education. They will eventually have to strive in secondary schools in Laragne, Gap, Provence, Lyon.
Therefore, the fiercest competition will not take place at Saint Joseph's; they will only want to graduate as quickly as possible and leave here.
Perhaps they will have a better chance of taking those twenty thousand francs—I remind you again, this is at least seven, or even ten years from now.
So their brief stay of a few years will collectively give Montiel far more than these twenty thousand francs—
Of course, the people of Montiel can also shut them out.
I just said, I never insisted that it must be a child from Montiel who receives these twenty thousand francs.
The choice lies with the people of Montiel."
Maupassant asked somewhat eagerly:
"What about those Montiel children then, what will happen to them if they don't get the 20,000 francs?"
Lionel smiled:
"They might finish primary school, realize they're not cut out for higher education, and continue to be an apprentice—a literate apprentice.
They might finish secondary school, realize they're not suited for that path, and enroll in a more practical roads and bridges school or technical college—engineers' salaries are not low.
They might not be able to get into those four universities, but they might get into the University of Lyon, Grenoble University, Toulouse University, Lille University…
They can also become doctors, lawyers, scholars, and live a decent life for themselves and their families.
Besides, Guy, you know what policies Minister Ferry is pushing, right?"
Maupassant paused:
"You mean free primary education, and universities…"
Lionel nodded:
"I am simply getting Montiel's children back to school earlier, and ensuring better learning conditions.
In a few years, free primary education will be widespread, and then merely primary literacy will certainly not be enough… they'll need at least secondary education.
Montiel's parents might be compelled by law to send their children back to primary school classrooms from workshops and fields—but what about secondary school? Will they still do that?"
Paul Pigot had an epiphany:
"So, these twenty thousand francs are ultimately just a bait, or a fulcrum to leverage more resources.
In this process, all the children at Saint Joseph's school, including the poor ones, benefit from better resources and environment.
They might, as a result, get into better secondary schools, or learn more useful skills…
Even if they don't ultimately get the twenty thousand francs, their own destiny will have changed.
This is a broader benefit!"
Lionel quickly waved his hand:
"No, those are just conjectures under ideal circumstances. Seven, ten years, that's a long time.
Any variables in between are uncontrollable—that's why I need more people to see this happen."
Maupassant also understood:
"Is that also why the scholarship must be twenty thousand francs?"
Lionel nodded:
"Otherwise, why would a Vice-Minister of Education come in person?"
He then looked at Paul Pigot:
"Why would the editor-in-chief of Le Petit Parisien be sitting in this small countryside tavern?"
He pointed to Montiel's "upper crust" eagerly looking out the tavern window:
"Twenty thousand francs, spent elsewhere, could it buy the esteemed presence of Vice-Minister Rohan and Parisian journalists?"
Maupassant thoughtfully:
"So, you used this money and this gimmick to forcibly pull Montiel into Paris's view.
Using public opinion and the power of the higher-ups to make this a matter of face that Laragne, Gap, Hautes-Alpes department, and even the Ministry of Education must take seriously?"
Lionel frankly admitted:
"How long can I stay in Montiel? Everyone here is hoping I'll leave the Alps!
Once I'm gone, whether these twenty thousand francs are evenly distributed or trickle out slowly… believe me, they'll always find a way.
Twenty thousand francs isn't enough for the gentlemen in Paris to divide, but if there's a scandal, their faces will be badly slapped."
A long silence fell over the tavern.
Pigot posed one last, most pointed question:
"But what if a poor child from Montiel ultimately gets these twenty thousand francs…
Will he and his family be able to handle such a large sum? Will they get lost, fall into depravity, or invite disaster?
Also, as you said, this process is very long. What if there's corruption?"
Lionel was silent for a moment before speaking, his tone complex:
"This is not a perfect plan; it even has many loopholes. It's more like a gamble. But what is a perfect plan? I just said French people are keen on gambling; perhaps that's why I'm so extreme."
He raised his glass, looking at the deep red liquid:
"This is actually a selfish decision too. Any plan involving 'multiple distributions' would only bring endless harassment and trouble to me and my family.
I once considered all the methods you mentioned—they vanished into thin air when the villagers of Montiel surrounded my doorstep, wanting me to hand out the money on the spot for various reasons.
'Twenty thousand francs taken in one lump sum' can at least bring seven years of peace to me and my family, with only some trouble in the year it's awarded.
Whereas 'multiple distributions' or any other plan would only lead to me receiving endless reports, denunciations, and complaints every year.
Twenty thousand francs is not enough for me to expend so much mental effort on it."
Paul Pigot was not satisfied:
"You haven't answered my question…"
Lionel glanced at him askance, and retorted somewhat strangely:
"That is his destiny and test to accept in the first place, what does it have to do with me?
The 'charity lottery' first prize is fifty thousand francs; does the Ministry of Finance consider whether this money will lead a poor family astray or into depravity?
A first-class scholarship at the Sorbonne is 1,000 francs; does the dean consider whether the winning student will use the money to gamble or visit prostitutes?
Why, when an individual does this, do these moral pressures and responsibilities suddenly appear?
Ensuring fairness is the Ministry of Education's business, supervising execution is your newspaper's business, protecting safety is the police's business…
Why, when I set up a twenty-thousand-franc scholarship, does all of this become my business?"
Maupassant and Pigot were speechless.
At that moment, a cheer and applause erupted from outside the window.
The three turned to look, seeing a large convoy of carriages jamming Montiel's narrow road solid.
"Vice-Minister Rohan has arrived!"
Maupassant hastily straightened his lapels and left the tavern.
(End of Chapter)
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