The 'clop-clop' of Lionel Sorel's horse's hooves returning home was like stones dropped into boiling water, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
"He's here! Lionel is back!" someone shouted.
The crowd, like a disturbed swarm of bees, 'buzzed' and gathered, instantly surrounding Lionel and his horse.
Countless hands reached out to him, countless mouths opened and closed at the same time, and various sounds mixed together, assaulting his eardrums.
Old Pierre, a neighbor, pushed to the front, his tone both intimate and urgent: "Lionel! Good boy of Sorel!
I watched you grow up! I even held you when you were little!
My roof… a corner collapsed from snow last winter, and I haven't had the money to fix it…
Autumn is almost here again… I just need… just a hundred francs for some wood and tiles!"
The widow Madeleine almost knelt, sobbing uncontrollably: "Young Master Sorel… please, have mercy!
My youngest son… he's been sick for a long time, coughing terribly.
The doctor said I need to go to Gap to see a doctor and buy a very expensive medicine… I really… I really have no other way!
Please, fifty francs, no, thirty francs would be fine! I'll be your ox and horse…"
Jules, a childhood playmate, squeezed next to his stirrup, his face wearing a fawning and humble smile: "Leo, it's me, Jules! Remember when we used to catch fish in the stream?
Ah, life is hard now… I owe the miller a sum of money, and with interest, I can barely pay it back…
He said if I don't pay soon, he'll take my poor vineyard…
That's my whole family's hope for survival! Help me, just two hundred francs, and I can get through this!"
Before he finished speaking, the plump miller Dupont spoke: "Don't listen to Jules' nonsense, my interest is the lowest—
Young Master Sorel, my old waterwheel's bearing is completely ruined!
To replace the new bearing and drive shaft, it will cost at least a thousand francs!
Every day the mill is stopped, I lose money, and the whole town will have trouble grinding wheat!
Think about it, this is a big deal concerning the whole town's food supply! Please, help me out?"
"Young Master Sorel…" a young girl in a cloth skirt squeezed out of the crowd.
Her cheeks were flushed with shyness, and her voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum: "I… I want to go to Grenoble for a sewing training class…
Just a few days, tuition and travel expenses, fifty francs would be enough.
Once I learn, I can open a small tailor shop in town to supplement my family's income… Please, I'll pay you back as soon as possible!"
But her voice was quickly drowned out by others—
"My plow is broken!"
"My family's taxes are still far from paid…"
"Please contribute to my daughter's dowry, otherwise she'll have to go to the city to be a maid…"
"Please…"
The clamor grew louder and louder. Everyone had their own reasons, all seemingly sufficient and urgent: sick family members, bankrupt businesses, small dreams, the necessities of survival…
Lionel sat on his horse, feeling like a piece of meat bait thrown into a hungry school of fish.
Just then, Mayor Bertrand exerted his authority.
He puffed out his chest, trying to project an air of officialdom: "Quiet! All of you, quiet! What kind of behavior is this!
What kind of decorum is this, crowding around here! Lionel has just returned, tired from his journey, let him catch his breath!"
Father Peltier also stepped forward at the opportune moment, made the sign of the cross, and spoke with solemnity: "My children, the Lord teaches us to be patient and to persevere.
Such clamoring and snatching, is this the way of Montiel's simple folk? Disperse, disperse, let Lionel go inside first."
Under the half-persuasion, half-chasing of the Mayor and the Father, the crowd was temporarily driven away, creating a Gap, but they did not go far, still surrounding the fence, their gazes fixed intently on Lionel.
Lionel took the opportunity to dismount and, under the 'escort' of the Mayor and the Father, quickly entered his home.
His mother and Ivanna immediately closed the door, temporarily cutting off those countless gazes.
But the atmosphere inside the house did not ease.
Mayor Bertrand wiped the sweat from his forehead and immediately put on a worried expression: "Lionel, you see, this is the situation!
The villagers are suffering! This money… must be well-planned and used where it is most urgently needed!
Repairing roads, fixing the school roof, reducing taxes for some of the most difficult families…
I am the Mayor, I know the situation best! I can guarantee that every penny will be spent effectively!"
Father Peltier, meanwhile, nodded slightly, his tone even more gentle: "Lionel, my child.
Wealth comes from God, and it should be used to serve God, nourishing the souls and bodies of believers.
Such a sum, if it could be used to repair the church—our sanctuary has indeed not been repaired for many years;
Or to establish a charitable fund managed in the name of the church, to help the most devout and most in need of help among the people…
This will surely better manifest the glory of God and allow this good deed to receive eternal blessings."
Lionel sneered inwardly, but a frank, helpless expression appeared on his face.
In front of his parents, sister, the Mayor, and the Father, he opened his leather bag and showed it to all of them.
Besides a few sheets of manuscript paper, a quill pen, a portable inkwell, and a coin purse, there was nothing else.
Lionel spread his hands: "That's twenty thousand francs, a huge sum! How could I possibly carry it back with me?"
Everyone was stunned.
Mayor Bertrand asked eagerly: "Then… where is the money?"
Lionel sighed: "It's still at the Lalagne post office. As soon as I arrived at the post office, I ran into Mayor Martino…
Oh, and Director Charvet of the 'Lalagne Valley Savings and Mutual Bank'."
Hearing these two names, Mayor Bertrand and Father Peltier's expressions immediately darkened a little.
Lionel chose his words carefully: "Mayor Martino was very… enthusiastic. He said that although this money was donated to the 'Montiel region',
Montiel is under the jurisdiction of Lalagne, so it needs to be considered from a broader perspective…"
Mayor Bertrand's breathing grew heavy: "He wants to interfere with our Montiel's money!"
Lionel added: "Director Charvet suggested that the money is not safe at the post office and should be deposited into their bank.
They can offer generous interest and also help with investments, to make the money grow."
Father Peltier's lips curled: "Bank? Interest? Investment? Hmph, so high-sounding!
It's nothing more than wanting to turn God's grace into capital for their exploitation and profit!"
Lionel showed an expression of being greatly troubled: "You see, this is why I have a headache.
This money was clearly designated by the 'Friends of Paris' for our Montiel, but now…"
Before he finished speaking, Mayor Bertrand and Father Peltier were enraged, and their anger all turned towards those 'outsiders' from Lalagne.
They rushed out the door, adding fuel to the fire with Lionel's account, and told the Montiel townsfolk gathered at the door.
Anger instantly replaced pleading.
"What? Lalagne wants to steal our money?"
"That was donated by the Parisian gentlemen to our Montiel!"
"Martino, that scoundrel! I knew he had no good intentions!"
"And those bloodsucking bankers!"
"We can't let them succeed!"
"Absolutely not!"
"Go settle accounts with them!"
"Tomorrow we'll go to Lalagne! Go reason with the Mayor!"
"Right! Let's go together! Let them know that we Montiel people are not to be trifled with!"
The Mayor took the opportunity to fan the flames: "Good! Tomorrow morning, we'll all go to the Lalagne City Hall!"
Father Peltier also solemnly nodded: "The Lord will bless the righteous side!"
The crowd then gradually dispersed, and the Sorel Family family finally returned to temporary peace.
Dinner was unusually silent, the flickering light of the kerosene lamp illuminating the complex expressions on the family's faces.
After dinner, his mother and Ivanna cleared the dishes, and Lionel called out to his father, who was about to go for a smoke.
His expression became extremely serious: "Father, Mother, Sister, we need to talk.
About those twenty thousand francs, and about… our family's future."
All three of their gazes fell upon Lionel.