CH-084

84 That Is the Dream of Every Adult

After the consecration ceremony, the portrait of the newly appointed bishop would be sent to the Metropolitan Holy City for archival preservation and record-keeping.

For the Holy City, the Empire boasted at least two hundred bishops, whether titular or those possessing actual sacramental jurisdiction.

One more new bishop was of little consequence, and one fewer made little difference.

Furthermore, a rumor had long circulated that Bishop Hugo had presented the miraculous Carson sacred statue to the Pope's private prayer chamber in exchange for a Papal Dispensation—a document permitting certain exceptional clergymen to receive extraordinary promotion beyond the usual constraints.

Based on the information available to the Holy City, the statue had originated from a remote, impoverished pastoral district and had been unearthed by a priest who had practiced rigorous asceticism there for over a decade. It was said that before the statue was excavated, the mountain town had experienced unusual phenomena indicative of demonic activity. Yet once the statue was brought forth, miracles had descended upon the pastoral district.

This very statue had once been presented as a gift at the wedding of the Duke of the Northern Territory and Lady Adeline. At that time, all who beheld the statue were struck with wonder, so much so that the rose pattern adorning the crucifix emerging from within the statue's cloak was subsequently engraved upon various personal accessories and became a fashionable ornament.

The Holy City, naturally, did not disregard such tales, yet those in elevated positions were disinclined to lower themselves and make a special journey to the Northern Territory merely to catch a glimpse of the statue.

And Bishop Hugo, being so adept at catering to the preferences of the Pope, was naturally able to achieve his desired outcome.

Precisely because of this, to the lower-ranking clergy within the Holy City, the fact that such an individual had become a bishop at a young age was not a matter warranting particular attention.

Upon receiving the portrait, they casually hung it upon the wall of the archive room, and with elegant, flowing calligraphy, inscribed beneath it the annotation: "Northern Territory, Diocese of Savoy—Bishop Aris."

The tall, slender priest by the window adjusted his spectacles. "Bishop Hugo certainly possesses considerable skill, managing to have them drape the very vestment of a canonized Pope upon that mere child. I have only ever seen that vestment depicted in books."

The portly priest seated across from him, eating honey-preserved fruit, nodded. "He is exceedingly doted upon indeed."

A middle-aged priest clad in a worn, old robe shook his head. "What of it? Pity it is in the Northern Territory. Such a vast expanse of land, yet aside from the Dioceses of Carson and Sidan, there is nothing of any note. Everyone there is poor."

Another younger priest, who was rifling through documents, interjected, "Precisely. The Carson Diocese is wealthy and powerful. When they visit the Metropolis, they spend lavishly, and everyone envies them. The Bishop of Sidan Diocese guards the very first church established in the Northern Territory, and his congregation is so exceedingly loyal. Yet even with the fine resources his mentor bestowed upon him, he cannot compare to Carson City. Every time he visits the Holy City, he stands at the very end of his mentor's student retinue, utterly disregarded."

The tall, slender priest continued, "To be honest, the Church itself is short of funds these days. The upper echelons are all crying poverty. How could we not ingratiate ourselves with the Carson Diocese?"

The portly priest, whose mouth never ceased chewing, wore a hint of mockery at the corner of his lips as he recalled something. "I met Bishop Whitmore once. He appeared aloof and refined, but in truth, he was merely imitating the fashionable trends of the Metropolis. The only difference was that his purse was empty. I heard that after autumn, he sent gifts to his mentor, hoping to secure a favorable position within the Holy City and return to the capital."

The middle-aged priest raised an eyebrow. "Where would he get the money? From Lady Adeline?"

The portly priest replied, "Who knows? He visits his family in the Holy City every year. At the end of this year, we shall simply see whether he stays or goes, will we not?"

The middle-aged priest imagined the scenario and said, "He would certainly have to present gifts of considerable value."

Just then, the young priest ceased his task of opening letters and said in a hushed voice, "My Lord God… Bishop Sidan is dead!"

The others were startled. "Ah—?"

He held up the letter and explained, "The portrait of the new bishop and the bishop's obituary were mailed separately. We received two letters here."

The middle-aged priest immediately rose and walked to the wall. "Then shall I take his portrait down? Has he been granted any posthumous honors?"

The young priest shook his head. "It is said he committed murder. The details will likely have to wait until Cardinal Otto returns to be properly explained."

The portly priest clicked his tongue. "My, my, how could such a matter be handled so carelessly! To think he was actually discovered…"

As they spoke, they had already removed Bishop Whitmore's small portrait from the wall and tossed it into the waste receptacle in the corner of the room.

Beneath Bishop Whitmore's portrait lay dozens of other images, some discarded, some faded with age—a silent testament to the forgotten fates of many.

At that moment, a young man with an upright and imposing stature appeared at the doorway of the archive room. He had not yet reached the age of thirty, yet appeared somewhat younger than his actual years. He was already one of the seven Cardinals possessing electoral authority within the Church.

The priests, realizing that Cardinal Kael had arrived, immediately lowered their heads and maintained a reverent silence.

"Where is the portrait of the newly appointed Bishop of the Northern Territory?"

No sooner had his voice faded than his gaze fell upon a brand-new portrait.

It was an uncommon full-length depiction. The subject of the painting wore a traditional chiton robe. The artist seemed reluctant to omit any detail of the attire; even the shoulder sash draping to the floor resembled a long white river flowing across the scarlet carpet.

Cardinal Kael read the annotation beneath the portrait. "…Bishop Aris…"

There had been no word from him since spring. I had assumed the man was dead. I never imagined he had gone off to become a bishop.

A cold glint surfaced at the corner of his mouth.

Within the room, the atmosphere congealed momentarily. No one dared to utter a sound.

In the portrait, Aris's expression was serene, his gaze resolute, as though it penetrated the very canvas to engage in a distant standoff with the Cardinal.

*

Returning to the church with the news that he had become a bishop, Shu Li felt as though he were returning home in triumph, clad in the finest silks.

The church remained that same small church, but the donation box was now crammed full of all manner of congratulatory gifts, piled high and brimming over. Elder Jager had organized a flowing feast, inviting the entire population of the small town. Before Shu Li could even open his mouth to speak, the Elder had already taken the initiative to introduce him, proclaiming, "Our Lord Aris is now the Bishop of the entire diocese."

Hearing that Shu Li had become a bishop, Herens and Cecilia, who resided far away in Carson City, also hurried over.

They arrived carrying an assortment of vegetables and ornamental plants that one would typically only find at merchant houses from the southern regions.

What Shu Li recognized was, in reality, a potted Napa cabbage. His heart trembled with profound emotion. "…"

He examined it closely. Although its exterior appeared akin to a cabbage, encased in thick, hard green leaves, the core within was the fresh, tender heart of a Napa cabbage.

Though East and West had long been connected by the Silk Road, the widespread cultivation of East Asian vegetables lagged significantly behind that of crops from the Americas. Even in the present day, East Asian vegetables remain noticeably less common in overseas supermarkets unless one visits an Asian grocery.

"I spotted it at the market. It was said to be some kind of rare ornamental specimen," Cecilia explained with a smile. "I recalled that Lord Aris is always partial to foraging various wild grasses from the ground—sometimes eating the leaves, sometimes the roots. Those always looked quite alarming. However, this one looks like a cabbage. It should be rather tasty, shouldn't it?"

Shu Li hurriedly said, "Thank you so very much—!"

Compared to common cabbage, Shu Li actually much preferred Napa cabbage.

With this potted specimen, Shu Li could begin propagating his own supply of Napa cabbage.

For three consecutive days, the group gathered on the heated brick bed, enjoying stone-plate grilled meats and chicken stewed with mushrooms. Sometimes they would stick small wheat-flour flatbreads against the sides of the iron pot, reminiscent of the iron pot stew they had shared during their very first communal meal.

In the midst of this, Herens took a dozen or so children ice fishing and managed to catch a large fish weighing five kilograms.

It was a lake fish, its flesh tender and delicate, entirely devoid of any muddy or fishy odor.

Shu Li instructed the children to continue fishing while he himself took up a knife and, standing to one side, meticulously sliced the flesh from the bones in thin sheets, ensuring that no bones remained.

The soup base was prepared by roasting the fish bones first, then simmering them to create a rich broth.

In less than half an hour, the entire pot of soup had transformed into a fragrant, creamy white.

When the children, having stood on the frozen lake until they were nearly frozen solid like little icicles, could bear the cold no longer, they began to blanch the fish slices in the bubbling soup. A sprinkle of salt was added, and each child was given a small wooden bowl to hold as they ate.

Grilled fish is fragrant, but it is difficult to ascertain whether all the bones have been removed, making it less convenient for young children to eat.

Moreover, on a cold day, drinking piping hot soup is far more comforting.

They even had a small evening program of church music planned.

As the group began to part ways, Herens and Cecilia both looked somewhat bewildered. "But, now that you are Bishop of the Savoy Diocese, what exactly are you supposed to do?"

Herens had accompanied bishops before, but none of those situations were as unique as the Savoy Diocese. Even now, there were still no regular congregants, only the neighboring townsfolk who frequently came by to visit.

Shu Li was equally uncertain. "Because I was in a hurry to return, Bishop Hugo informed me that he would assign some personnel to assist me later. When they arrive, I presume I will understand what needs to be done."

Hearing that Bishop Hugo was making the arrangements, Herens felt considerably more at ease.

Shu Li also inquired about Herens's own circumstances.

Since Herens was currently stationed beside the Duke's subordinate, Corney, Shu Li worried that Herens might occasionally find himself swept along by the exigencies of the situation and compelled to do things against his own will.

Herens shook his head and spoke softly to Shu Li. "Bishop Hugo seems to be aware of Corney's identity. He spoke with me privately. For the time being, he has instructed that as long as my actions benefit the people and do not involve murder, arson, or any violation of the law, I may cooperate as needed."

"The Duke is still a good Duke," Herens suddenly remarked with a touch of emotion. "Because winter arrived early this year, he has granted tax reductions and exemptions to everyone, especially the farming households…"

Shu Li, however, did not subscribe to this sentiment in the slightest, nor did he wish to hear any more of it. He therefore let the matter drop and turned his attention to Cecilia.

"Next year, the school will open here. When that happens, commercial activity is bound to flourish. If you are on good terms with Sona, you might ask her whether she would consider purchasing a shopfront here in advance, perhaps to open a bakery or a dessert shop."

Cecilia seemed to understand yet not fully grasp the implication. "Isn't Carson City more prosperous? If she were to come here, she would have to sell her shop in Carson City. Wouldn't that result in a loss? It's merely students coming here to study, after all…"

Although Bishop Hugo had not explicitly stated it, Shu Li understood that Hugo's intention was to use Carson City as a fulcrum to develop a central hub for education within the Northern Territory.

In the present era, it was exceedingly rare for a city genuinely centered around education to experience long-term economic stagnation.

On the contrary, many cities had flourished precisely because education formed their core—cities such as Boston, Ann Arbor in Michigan, Cambridge, Oxford, Wuhan, Xi'an, and Singapore. In urban planning, the economic potential of a university town is often in no way inferior to that of a Central Business District.

Shu Li said, "If she feels it is unnecessary, that is also perfectly fine. Carson City will undoubtedly continue to prosper. Its geographical location is superior to that of the Savoy Diocese, its economic activities are more diverse, and students with both money and leisure time will surely travel to nearby major cities during their holidays to spend their coin."

Cecilia spoke earnestly. "Lord Aris, do you wish for me to return? If you feel my presence here is needed, I can resign from my position in Carson City. I have been away from home for over half a year now. Although I have enjoyed myself immensely, I truly miss my family. I also feel that Carson City, after all, is not where my roots lie."

In truth, Cecilia's words stemmed primarily from her awareness that Shu Li was making plans for the entire Jager household.

During the summer, Cecilia had hesitated about whether to accept Shu Li's proposal to go to Carson City.

Shu Li had spoken with her privately on one occasion.

"I do not know if you have noticed, but even when Elder Jager is at rest and not performing any task, his hands tremble quite severely. While this does not impede daily life at present, as Elder Jager grows older in years, it will be absolutely impossible for him to continue working into old age as he claims he will."

"Currently, your wage is twenty silver coins per month. Raymond primarily assists with carpentry work and church activities, earning only thirty-five silver coins per month. I am unable to provide him with a wage from my end. This mode of earning a living can only suffice temporarily while one is young; it cannot sustain a person for an entire lifetime."

"I do not wish to see Elder Jager and Rona reach an age where they can no longer eat solid food, yet are still forced to toil in the fields. Nor do I wish for you to endure hardship for the rest of your lives, only for Shia and Via, once they are grown, to repeat the exact same pattern and find themselves similarly confined to a tiny plot of land."

"Cecilia, you have the time and the capacity to venture out and see the wider world. You can also become a role model for the younger girls. If you can successfully earn money, you might even be able to alter the destiny of your entire family."

Cecilia had always followed the arrangements made by her family. Whatever they said, she did. She had never considered that she herself might one day become a pillar of support for the household.

After a night of contemplation, Cecilia set out for Carson City and began her new life there.

She undoubtedly enjoyed the experience, yet within her very bones, her family remained.

Even if not now, she would certainly have to return to Savoy eventually to grow old alongside her loved ones.

…

Listening to Cecilia speak, Shu Li could not help but feel a swell of emotion.

The young woman before him now possessed a steadiness and a sense of responsibility forged through experience, qualities that had been absent in the naive, carefree girl he had first met.

He spoke with an open and candid tone. "Our Savoy Diocese will soon welcome wave after wave of outsiders. If you happen to have some spare funds on hand, now is an opportune moment to purchase land."

"Then should I buy some farmland? Or residential plots?" Cecilia asked.

"Neither," Shu Li shook his head. "Simply purchase undeveloped land adjacent to the main commercial road."

He elaborated. "Currently, there is only one road leading to the outside world, and it is far too narrow, barely allowing the passage of a single carriage. Once the students arrive, whether funded by the nobility or by the Church, the widening of the road is inevitable. When that time comes, the value of the wasteland bordering the road will appreciate most rapidly. It would not be unusual for prices to increase threefold or even fourfold."

He had, in fact, privately made inquiries. The incoming student body numbered at least three hundred, half of whom were children of the aristocracy. There would also be a significant number of teachers of noble birth. That road was destined to be widened sooner or later. Those who acted first would secure their footing first.

"When the time comes, should you choose not to agree to an acquisition or requisition, and instead wish to develop that undeveloped land into shops or a coaching inn, those would both be excellent choices."

However, Shu Li felt that for Cecilia, selling the land outright would likely be the quicker and more straightforward option.

Constructing shops or storefronts from scratch would not only consume considerable time but also significant capital, a burden she could not realistically bear on her own.

"Regardless of whether you ultimately act upon this, you must not disclose this matter of purchasing land to your father or your brother."

Shu Li harbored a genuine concern. He feared that the father and son, being so exceedingly earnest and honest, might interpret this as a personal "advice on how to get rich" from him. If they were to actually earn some money, they might simply turn around and deposit every last silver coin into the donation box, offering it all up to the Church.

They were perfectly capable of doing precisely that, without the slightest hesitation.

Imagining that scene, Shu Li felt he would absolutely cough up blood on the spot.

He could not resist adding one final remark. "If you do happen to earn a bit of money, you could consider opening your own shop, much like Miss Sona has done. Should you have such plans, you may come and discuss them with me at any time."

"Alright!" Cecilia nodded emphatically, as though engraving every single word into her heart without missing a single stroke.

She paused for a moment, then spoke softly. "When I was young, I thought just like my father, my mother, and my brother—we all believed that any priest who would come to our Savoy Pastoral District was surely the hope of our family. But as I grew older, I gradually stopped thinking that way."

She lowered her head, her tone calm yet laced with a hidden grievance. "Our life is hard, very hard, but it is also a life where one can see the bottom from the very beginning. From the day I was born, I performed the same tasks every day, spoke the same words, and lived through the same days… The Stonehollow Pastoral District also had a priest, but the deacons there fared no better than we did. I never expected a clergyman to change anything."

"I thought about it, and perhaps it was because we simply needed someone to share the responsibilities of the Church with us. But later, I realized that we were merely accustomed to waiting."

She lifted her head and looked directly into Shu Li's eyes, a glimmer of light shining within her own. "But ever since we came to know Lord Aris, we have encountered things we never imagined before, and dared to do things we never dared to do before."

"We dare to move forward because we know—that you are standing behind us, supporting us."

The corner of her mouth trembled slightly, as though she had finally managed to voice the words that had long resided in her heart.

"Therefore, when we ultimately give thanks to the Lord, it has never been because we finally received a priest."

"It is because… we waited, and we received you."

Shu Li was deeply moved by her words. Had he not, in turn, chosen to remain in this place precisely because of the protection and affection that Elder Jager and his family had extended towards him?

He responded softly, "I also thank the Lord for allowing me to meet the most devout and kind-hearted family of deacons in all the world."

*

In the months following December, the Savoy Diocese underwent a transformation at an astonishing pace.

In early January, tens of thousands of laborers were summoned from across the Northern Territory. They carved out new trade routes, renovated manor houses, expanded the scale of the church, and even constructed a direct shortcut connecting the school to the church.

By mid-February, the Stonehollow Pastoral District was formally incorporated into the Savoy Diocese, and new transportation routes were established.

By the end of March, the construction of the school was largely completed.

In early April, the first cohort of faculty and staff began to arrive at the school, acquainting themselves with the entirely new diocese, the educational facilities, and the indispensable church.

Bishop Hugo made numerous visits during this period. His purposes were threefold: first, to inspect the progress of the construction; second, to visit Shu Li; and third, to personally instruct Shu Li, step by step, on how to manage the affairs of a bishop.

After hearing everything, Shu Li concluded that the vast majority of his time would be spent signing documents. Since even the celebration of Mass had been delegated to a newly arrived priest, he felt that his life after becoming a bishop had, paradoxically, become even more leisurely.

"Since this new diocese was established with the support of the Duke, the taxation system here shall adopt the same model used in the Carson Diocese," Bishop Hugo remarked casually as he flipped through a ledger. "Donations made to the Church, once certified, are eligible for tax deductions."

Hugo added further explanation. "This is also precisely why we could not establish the school within the Carson Diocese itself. The Duke and the City Hall would never consent to us pocketing the revenue we generate."

An odd premonition stirred within Shu Li upon hearing these words. "So… we actually earn a considerable amount?"

He was not unaware that elite educational institutions could be highly lucrative. However, the staffing and administrative expenses of a school were substantial, and the number of students was finite.

Could they realistically expect to break even in this first year?

Hugo did not reply with words. He simply handed over a bank draft.

Shu Li lowered his gaze to read it. Units, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands…

Twenty-two thousand three hundred silver coins?

He had not miscounted. It was indeed a five-figure sum.

Shu Li desperately wanted to ask, "…What is this?"

Hugo stated flatly, "Donations submitted for the purpose of claiming tax deductions."

"…"

"There will be even more in the future."

"!!!"

A sense of responsibility suddenly caused Shu Li, who had been fully prepared to coast along, to feel both flustered and perplexed. "Then what exactly am I supposed to do within this diocese?"

Hugo looked at Shu Li with keen anticipation. "That is precisely the question you must answer. Now that you have this sum of money, what is it that you wish to do?"

A veritable explosion of ideas detonated within Shu Li's mind.

Naturally, it would be—

To pay Elder Jager and Deacon Raymond their proper wages!

To pay myself a salary!

To organize church-funded group outings!

And henceforth, to implement a four-day work week with three days of rest, and full closure for all holidays!

Shu Li realized that the greatest satisfaction lay not in being the proprietor, but in using the proprietor's funds to legitimately do as one pleased.

"Absolutely not."

Two icy words, utterly devoid of mercy, cut short Shu Li's internal elation.

The speaker was Sister Rita, who had just arrived to report for duty under Shu Li's jurisdiction.

She had voluntarily requested assignment to the Savoy Diocese—not only as an act of atonement, but also to embrace punishment. After all, within the entire Northern Territory, the Savoy Diocese was renowned as a remote, frigid, and impoverished backwater. Prior to Shu Li's arrival, it had languished for over twenty years as a place devoid of faith, essentially a lifelong exile for any member of the clergy.

Thus, she had voluntarily applied for lifelong service in the Savoy Diocese, only to discover upon arrival that their new bishop actually wished to institute a system where everyone would work only four days a week, rotating their days of rest.

Sister Rita had no desire to displease Shu Li, and so she softened her tone slightly. "A devout heart must abide in the presence of the Lord twenty-four hours of every day."

She had come to recognize that their new bishop, though brilliant, was still, at his core, a young man. Therefore, Sister Rita calmly placed Naxi, the little fox, securely into Shu Li's arms.

"Why don't you take him for a walk first, and spend a little time playing outside?"

"By the time you return, I shall have prepared for you a comprehensive work schedule that is entirely in accordance with the Divine Will."

Shu Li looked down at the fox, then raised his head to look at her, then glanced over at the two other newly assigned priests—Father Simeon and Father Leighton. "…"

He could not shake the feeling that he was being treated like a small child.

But… but still…

A four-day work week! That is the dream of every adult!

She simply did not comprehend the sheer value and weight of that proposition!

In any case, the life of a bishop had officially begun.