Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 477 The Russian Visitor! (Bonus Chapter 18 for 1000 votes in October)

"This is not fair!"

These words seemed to ignite a fuse, and a buzz of discussion arose in the hall, even more intense than before.

Yes, it's unfair! This was the sentiment of many guests present, especially the fathers whose sons were "screened out".

They looked at Marcel Dubois, who stood alone in front of them, and at Lionel on the stage, their hearts filled with resentment.

In their view, seeking advantage and avoiding harm is a matter of course.

Last summer, Lionel was indicted, and his future was uncertain. At that time, who wouldn't want to stay as far away as possible?

What if your son gets involved by associating with a family that might be "problematic"?
What's wrong with being cautious for the sake of your family and your future?

Lionel himself came from the melting pot of Paris, so he should know these rules best.

How can you use this as a yardstick to condemn everyone? That's too harsh, too inhumane, too "Parisian," and too arrogant!

Lionel turned to the source of the sound—Adrian Laffont.

The young man's face turned bright red, his eyes filled with resentment and anger at being publicly humiliated.

Lionel spoke calmly: "Mr. Lafont, you just said it's unfair?"

Adrian took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

He knew this was his last chance: "Yes, Mr. Sorel. We think this last condition is somewhat unreasonable."

Lionel gestured for him to speak: "Oh? Please go ahead."

Having received a response, Adrian grew bolder and spoke faster: "We are different from Dubois."

He pointed at Marcel, a hint of superiority creeping into his voice: "In my family, some work in the courts, some in the tax office, some run businesses..."

When we do things, we can't just act on impulse; we have to consider the impact and the family. Last year, the situation was special, and as you yourself said, public opinion was unfavorable to you.

As families with public servants and businesses, isn't it responsible of us to be cautious and avoid unnecessary trouble?
How can this prove that we don't have genuine feelings for Miss Ivana?

His words resonated with many people.

Especially those young people who were also standing in the front row but ultimately didn't take that step, all nodded, their faces showing an "that's right" expression.

“Yes, Mr. Sorel, we have to think about the whole family.”

"At that time, the situation was unclear, and no one dared to make any rash moves."

"I have the intention, but I have to consider reality."

Lionel listened, nodding slightly, his face revealing neither joy nor anger.

After they had finished speaking, he slowly began, "So, you mean that because you want to 'consider the family,' you're choosing to avoid, observe, and distance yourselves?"

The young men were somewhat speechless, but Adrian forced himself to say, "It's not estrangement, it's... it's a strategic wait, until the situation becomes clearer!"

Lionel smiled. "Wait? That makes perfect sense! Very realistic, very rational!"

His tone wasn't sarcastic, but the more sarcastic he was, the more uncertain Adrian and the others felt.

Lionel's gaze swept over them, looked at the silent parents, and finally settled on Adrian's face:

"Since you are all so adept at 'considering the family' and so skilled at assessing the situation, I have some new information here that you may take into consideration in advance so as to make 'wise' family decisions."

The hall fell completely silent, and everyone pricked up their ears.

Leonard paused, as if discussing something quite ordinary: "Consider this a 'gift' from me to everyone; I have very reliable sources—"

Mr. Jules Ferry will become Prime Minister again by next year at the latest.

Boom! One stone stirs up a thousand waves!

An uproar erupted in the hall! People stared wide-eyed, exchanging shocked glances, and even the mayor sat bolt upright.

This is not the kind of political wind that a small place like Gapu would expect to see!

The conflict between Jules Ferri and Lionel was no secret.

Ferry wanted to put Lionel in jail, and Lionel's retaliation further contributed to the downfall of Ferry's cabinet.

If Jules Ferry does become prime minister again next year, it means that Lionel's future will be shrouded in a huge shadow once more!
They might even face retribution! And what about those closely associated with Lionel? Will they be implicated?
The reason everyone insists on marrying Ivana is simply to curry favor with Lionel, hoping to gain greater political benefits and even the opportunity to visit Paris.
Now Lionel is telling everyone that marrying his sister carries enormous political risks, and the kind that can't be avoided.

Lionel, being a great writer, could simply go to England or America to hide for a while, like he did last year, but they can't.

Adrian Lafont, who had just been defending himself for "considering the family's interests," turned deathly pale in an instant.

His father was a court clerk and was very sensitive to political trends.

If Ferry returns to power, the Lafont family's reliance on Lionel will likely result in them not even being able to secure their current positions!

The other young men, along with their fathers behind them, were also pale-faced.

They were just calculating the benefits of climbing up to Lionel, but now they're completely bewildered by this sudden "risk warning."

They are adept at calculating gains and losses, and what Lionel is showing them now is just a corner of the abyss.

However, as Lionel said, if Jules Ferry successfully forms a government again, shouldn't he, who knows the news in advance, make some arrangements?
It's important to understand that France is not like Britain; it has always been the most centralized country in Europe, with the vast majority of local officials being directly appointed by the central government in Paris.

Senior officials are nominated by the Ministry of Home Affairs and appointed by the President, and they wield significant power over administration, finance, police, public works, and election oversight.

All key positions, such as provincial government secretary-general, tax officer, engineering officer, and public high school teacher, are appointed by the central government ministries upon the request of senior officials.

In terms of specific cities, mayors of cities with more than 5000 residents are nominated by senior officials and appointed by the Ministry of the Interior.

Although the mayor of a small town is elected by the local council, senior officials can "suspend him from his post" or dissolve the city council at any time, with the central government retaining the final veto power. City secretaries, tax collectors, and primary school teachers are also included in the "national official" system and are appointed by senior officials or central ministries; the city council can only recommend candidates.

Therefore, if one can know in advance who will be the prime minister, investing in his political faction in advance can give one a significant advantage in the transition of power.

That's probably why Lionel called it a "gift"?

Parents whose sons or younger relatives have just been excluded from Ivana's list of fiancés by Lionel have no "regrets" left; their minds are filled with calculations.

Lionel took in their reactions, but his face remained calm.

He even added, "In addition, I feel that a certain law is somewhat outdated, and I am discussing with some friends to see if it is possible to push for its amendment."

"I wonder if anyone here is interested in 'working on' this code of law with me?" He spoke as casually as if he were discussing dessert at dinner.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Adrian Lafont asked, "Which law?"

Lionel shrugged: "The Civil Code."

Adrian Lafont's head snapped back as if a bullet had whizzed past him.

His father dealt with the legal code all day long, so he knew all too well what that meant.

The hall was completely silent; the earlier uproar had turned into a deathly stillness, as everyone present was an educated person.

Everyone held their breath, their eyes filled with fear and disbelief as they looked at Lionel.

Is this Paris? Is this the world of those big shots? In the blink of an eye, it's either a change of prime minister or an amendment to the country's fundamental legal code.

Every step carries the risk of being shattered to pieces!
People like Gapu are only concerned with business profits and losses, promotions, and their children's marriages...

Their greatest ambition is nothing more than to control the purchase of tens of thousands, or at most hundreds of thousands of francs.

The stark contrast in status silenced everyone.

Lionel stopped looking at the pale-faced "competitors" and turned to look at Marcel Dubois, who had been standing there quietly.

Marcel was clearly stunned by what he had just heard, but his face showed more confusion and bewilderment than fear.

Lionel asked gently, "Mr. Dubois, you heard what was just said. Are you afraid of it? Will your family be troubled by it?"

All eyes were once again focused on Marcel.

Marcel scratched his head, looking somewhat confused, as if he didn't quite understand why the question was being asked.

He thought for a moment and answered very honestly: “Afraid? Why be afraid? What do these things in Paris have to do with a grocer like me?”
My father often said that as small business owners, we should honestly purchase goods, sell them honestly, keep clear accounts, and be polite to customers, and we can make a living.

What the bigwigs in Paris do is their business. Even if the sky falls, it won't hit our shelves, right? At most, we'll just have to pay a little more tax.

As for family… the Dubois family consists of my father, mother, and me. It's not really a family; it's just a household.

His answer was so simple it was almost clumsy, yet it resonated in everyone's hearts.

There was no calculation, no weighing of options, no "considering the family's interests," only a logic so simple it was almost naive:

That's Paris's business, what does it have to do with me? Big shots have their own things to do, I'm content to just live my own little life.

Lionel smiled and addressed all the guests in the hall: "I think the result is already quite obvious!"

After saying that, he turned to Adrian and said, "I heard your family wants to be my agent for typewriters and bicycles. I'm afraid you don't have the guts."

A painful "No" rang out from the crowd behind, and an old man who looked quite like Adrian clutched his head in anguish.

Lionel walked over to Marcel, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Come to my house tomorrow, and we'll have a good talk."

Marcel's face flushed red, his eyes gleaming. He wanted to speak, but his throat felt blocked, and he couldn't utter a single word.

--------

Three days later, Paris, apartment at 117 Boulevard Saint-Germain.

"So, that's why you don't want them to come to Paris, but instead want them to stay in Gap?"

After hearing Lionel's account, Sophie sighed and asked another question.

Lionel nodded: "Gap's population isn't even as big as a single street in Paris, and when everyone calculates, they've already made them look so pathetic."

If we come to Paris, I don't know how much trouble we'll cause. Both Ivana and my father will become targets for those with ulterior motives.

"Stay in Gap, away from the sight of the big shots, and don't become their pawns in my schemes; that's good enough."

Sophie smiled and took out a document: "This is the exclusive agency contract for bicycles and typewriters in the Hauts-Alpes region. You just need to sign it."

Lionel took it, glanced at it, and signed his name: "Marcel is an honest man, but his father is a shrewd businessman."

I think he's a good candidate, partly because of old Dubois. This agency agreement should ensure my sister has a good life after she marries him.

As for the dowry, Lionel, as the younger brother, still has to give it, just not in cash.

Just then, the apartment doorbell rang. Lionel got up and opened the door, where he saw the building manager, Mr. Bonjaman.

Mr. Bonyaman said, “Mr. Sorel, I’m sorry to bother you, but a young man wants to come up to you. He’s dressed too sloppily, so I don’t dare let him up directly.”

Lionel asked, "Visitor? Who is it?"

Mr. Bonyaman looked troubled: "He... he seemed to be speaking Russian, which I couldn't understand. Only your name was somewhat clear to me."

Lionel frowned. "A young Russian? Didn't Chekhov speak French?"

(Third update complete. Thank you everyone, please vote with your monthly tickets!)
(End of this chapter)