Lionel took a small sip of red wine, letting the alcohol and aroma fully release in his mouth before he began to explain: "If the slightly wealthier families in Montiel—like mill owners and vineyard owners—
If they start to value education because of these 20,000 francs, they certainly won't be satisfied with the simplicity of Saint Joseph and the level of Mr. Renault.
So what will they do? Even if they are unwilling to pay out of their own pockets, they will probably unite to pressure the mayor and the city government to improve everything.
Because only when the school gets better will their children be more competitive and more likely to get those 20,000 francs.
Can they really kick the poor children out of the classroom?"
Maupassant nodded worriedly: "They might actually do that…"
Lionel spread his hands: "Guy, human nature may not be so bright, but if you only consider the dark side, then everything stops.
The simplest way is to divide this money, 200 francs per household, and then next year—maybe not even next year, just by Christmas—
They will come to my parents, or send a representative, to Paris to ask me where the next 20,000 francs are.
Sorry, my view of human nature is, at times, more pessimistic than yours."
Maupassant: "…What about outsiders then? Those speculators…"
Lionel chuckled: "As for outsiders, if they are attracted by the prize money and temporarily move here, sending their children to Saint Joseph School…
Have you forgotten? Saint Joseph only provides primary education. They will eventually have to strive in middle schools in Lalagne, Gap, Provence, and Lyon.
Therefore, the most brutal competition will not happen at Saint Joseph; they will only want to graduate as soon as possible and then leave here.
Perhaps they will have a better chance of taking away these 20,000 francs—let me remind you again, this is at least seven, or even ten, years from now.
So their brief stay of a few years will, in total, give Montiel far more than these 20,000 francs—
Of course, the people of Montiel can also shut them out.
As I just said, I never thought that it absolutely had to be a child from Montiel who received these 20,000 francs.
The choice is in the hands of the people of Montiel."
Maupassant asked somewhat eagerly: "What about these children from Montiel 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 it, and continue to be an apprentice—an apprentice who can read and write.
They might finish middle school, realize they're not cut out for it, and go to a more practical mining school or technical college—engineers' salaries are not low.
They might not be able to get into those four universities, but they 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 scholars, allowing themselves and their families to live a decent life.
Besides, Guy, you also know what policy Minister Ferry is promoting, right?"
Maupassant was startled: "You mean free primary school, and also university…"
Lionel nodded: "I'm just getting the children of Montiel back to school a little earlier, and with better learning conditions.
In a few years, free primary education will be widespread, and then simply being able to read and write from primary school will certainly not be enough… they will at least have to go to middle school.
Parents in Montiel might be intimidated by the decree and send their children back to primary school classrooms from workshops and fields—but what about middle school? Will they still do that?"
Paul Pigout seemed to have a sudden realization: "So, these 20,000 francs are ultimately just a bait, or a fulcrum to leverage more resources.
In this process, all the children of Saint Joseph School, including the poor children, have enjoyed better resources and environment.
They might therefore get into better middle schools, or learn more useful skills…
Even if they ultimately don't get those 20,000 francs, they have changed their own destiny.
This is a broader benefit! Lionel, you are a genius!"
Lionel quickly waved his hand: "No, those are just conjectures under ideal conditions. Seven years, ten years, that's a long time.
What variables might occur in between are uncontrollable—that's why I need more people to see this."
Maupassant also realized: "Is that also why the scholarship must be 20,000 francs?"
Lionel nodded: "Otherwise, why would a Vice Minister of Education come in person?"
Then he looked at Paul Pigout: "Why would the editor-in-chief of Le Petit Parisien be sitting in this small country tavern?"
He pointed to the "upper class" of Montiel eagerly looking out the tavern window: "20,000 francs, spent elsewhere, could it buy the presence of Vice Minister Rohan and the Parisian journalists?"
Maupassant pondered: "So, you used this money and this gimmick to forcibly drag Montiel into Paris's view.
Using public opinion and the power of the upper echelons, you made this matter a face that Lalagne, Gap, the Hautes-Alpes department, and even the Ministry of Education must take seriously?"
Lionel admitted frankly: "How long can I stay in Montiel? Everyone is hoping I leave the Alps!
When I leave, whether these 20,000 francs are distributed equally or in a trickle… Believe me, they will always find a way.
20,000 francs is not enough for the gentlemen of Paris to divide, but if a scandal breaks out, their faces will be severely slapped."
A long silence fell over the tavern.
Pigut raised the last, and sharpest, question: "But, if a poor child from Montiel ultimately gets these 20,000 francs…
Can he and his family handle this huge sum? Will they get lost, fall into depravity, or invite disaster because of it?
Also, as you said, this process is very long; what if there is fraud?"
Lionel was silent for a moment before speaking, his tone complex: "This is not a perfect plan, it even has many loopholes, more like a gamble.
But what is a perfect plan? I just said French people are keen on gambling, maybe that's why I'm so extreme."
He raised his glass, looking at the deep red liquid: "This is actually also a selfish decision. Any plan involving 'multiple distributions' would only bring endless harassment and trouble to me and my family.
I had considered all the methods you mentioned—they all vanished when the villagers of Montiel surrounded my house, wanting me to pull out the money and scatter it to them on the spot for various reasons.
'20,000 francs taken in a lump sum' can at least give me and my family seven years of peace, with at most some trouble in the year it is awarded.
Whereas 'multiple distributions' or any other scheme would only lead to me receiving endless reports, denunciations, and complaints every year.
20,000 francs is not enough for me to expend so much mental effort on it."
Paul Pigout was not satisfied: "You haven't answered my question…"
Lionel glanced at him, somewhat strangely retorting: "That is his destiny and test to accept, what does it have to do with me?
The top prize of the 'Charity Lottery' is 50,000 francs; did the Ministry of Finance consider whether this money would lead a poor family to get lost or fall into depravity?
The first-class scholarship at Sorbonne is 1,000 francs; did the dean consider whether the winning student would use this money for gambling or prostitution?
Why, when an individual does this, do these moral pressures and responsibilities suddenly arise?
Ensuring fairness is the Ministry of Education's business, supervising implementation is your newspaper's business, protecting safety is the police's business…
Why, when I set up a 20,000-franc scholarship, do all these become my business?"
Maupassant and Pigut were speechless.
At this moment, a cheer and applause came from outside the window. The three turned to look, only to see a large convoy of carriages completely jamming Montiel's narrow road.
"Vice Minister Rohan is here!" Maupassant hastily adjusted his lapels and left the tavern.