The woman hurriedly stuffed the comb into her bosom, her hands trembling as she received the food bag. Overwhelmed with emotion, she knelt down, bowing heavily toward the direction of the offering.
“Thank you, great god!” she cried.
Her gesture left everyone deeply moved.
When she lifted her head again, her face was streaked with tears.
Lu Xingyao, momentarily stunned, gestured for the nearby clan members to help her up.
After seeing that they could indeed receive food, the eyes of those waiting behind her glowed with anticipation. Their minds began racing, and they rushed forward in fear they would miss their share.
“I—I—! I also offered something! It was that long-life lock! The god took it!”
“I offered two copper coins!”
“I gave something too!”
The Lu family members calmed the crowd, making them form orderly lines to retrieve their previous offerings while distributing food to each person.
Those who received food were overjoyed and showered the Lu family with gratitude.
“I never expected the Lu family to be so generous! Not only did they not take our offerings, but they even gave us food in return!”
“Perhaps they saw our sincerity and rewarded us!” someone guessed.
Some sensed that the Lu family might be trying to win people’s hearts, but they wondered, “What could the Lu family want from us, people with nothing?”
The atmosphere buzzed with excitement, like a festive celebration.
Those who hadn’t offered anything watched with regret as others received food. Some were resentful and tried to sneak into the line to claim food but were caught and punished by the guards.
The guards themselves were eager to curry favor with the Lu family, hoping for some of the leftover food, even if they had offered nothing.
After seeing the punishment meted out, no one else dared to try and cheat. Everyone obediently followed the rules.
Soon, all the offerings were returned, except for a single flatbread.
The man who had offered the flatbread stood tall, larger than most of the others. He hesitated at first, but finally stepped forward, feeling humiliated by the mocking glances from those around him.
“Just a flatbread?”
“Isn’t that yesterday’s bread?”
“If it were me, I’d be too embarrassed to offer that to a god. Isn’t it an insult?”
Hearing these snide remarks, the man froze in place, his face burning with shame. He shouldn’t have offered that bread, he thought.
But others stepped in to defend him. “What are you talking about? You didn’t offer anything, but now you’re criticizing someone who did!”
“Exactly!”
“A god doesn’t need material wealth; it’s the thought that counts!”
“Oh, so you’re saying offering a mere flatbread is an act of sincerity?”
“What’s wrong with flatbread? We’ve all been eating it for over a month! If you’re so high and mighty, stop eating yours!”
The man braced himself, walked up, and grabbed his flatbread, stuffing it into his pocket. As he turned to leave, Lu Xingyao stepped in front of him.
“You haven’t received your food yet.”
Embarrassed, the man smiled awkwardly. “It was just a flatbread. I won’t take any food.”
Lu Xingyao glanced at the mockers, recognizing them as those who had been against the Lu family from the beginning. They hadn’t offered anything, so they weren’t receiving food either.
He could tell that his grandfather wanted to win the hearts of the exiles, but some people—like those mockers—would never be swayed. If left unchecked, they could become a problem for the Lu family later.
When the opportunity arose, he would have to deal with them.
Lu Xingyao handed the man two portions of food. “The god has said that flatbread sustains life. As long as the offering is sincere, it doesn’t matter what it is.”
Upon hearing this, the man’s eyes welled up with tears. He accepted the first portion with trembling hands. “Thank you!”
Lu Xingyao handed him the second portion.
The man looked puzzled. “Why two?”
Lu Xingyao explained, “The god said that you offered up your food despite being hungry yourself. This second portion is a special gift from the god to reward your sincerity.”
Lu Xingyao couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride as he uttered the words, “The god of my family.”
Tears streamed down the man’s face as he took the second portion. “I’m just a simple man, not good with words. Lu Gongzi, if ever there’s a way I can be of help, I won’t hesitate.”
Lu Xingyao paused, then asked, “What’s your name, brother?”
“I’m Liang Yang.”
As Liang Yang walked back, he tried to hide the food, not wanting to draw attention. But the two bags were too conspicuous, and soon, everyone was looking his way, envious of his two portions.
They grumbled amongst themselves, wondering why they hadn’t offered flatbread as well.
Quickly, others began to approach Liang Yang, showering him with compliments. “Congratulations, Brother Liang! You’ve caught the god’s eye, and surely better days are ahead!”
“Yes, Brother Liang, if you ever get a position working with the Lu family, don’t forget to lend us a hand!”
Liang Yang, still holding the two bags, awkwardly smiled. “Of course, of course.”
Meanwhile, the guards who hadn’t offered anything also received some food, leaving the entire exile group, except for the few who opposed the Lu family, in high spirits. The sight left those few fuming with anger.
“The Lu family is outrageous! We’re all in exile, yet they openly bribe the guards, winning people over!”
“Imagine! A former Grand Chancellor’s family behaving like this! Shameful!”
“We are the descendants of honorable scholars! We must never associate with such people!”
The men ranted, but the nearby exiles, enjoying the food gifted by the Lu family, only scoffed at them.
“Sounds like they’re bitter because the Lu family doesn’t want to associate with them.”
“You—!”
“Oh, but when they get something from the Lu family, it’s ‘kindness.’ And when we get something, it’s ‘bribery?’”
“Careful, or they’ll accuse you of wounding their pride and take it out on you later.”
The jeers continued as the Lu family observed the scene, noting that when they had first been exiled, no one had defended them. But now, everyone was speaking up in their favor.
Watching from the sidelines, it felt satisfying.
For the exiles, receiving gifts from the once-powerful Lu family, who still had influence despite their fall, was an opportunity not to be missed. Who cared about pride when there was a chance to secure a better future?
At that moment, Lu Qing was instructing people to open the cask of aged wine they had brought, using the excuse that it was too cumbersome to carry.
Lu Xingyao clung to the wine, his heart aching, as he whined, “Grandfather, this wine was meant for the Ancestor…”
It was heart-wrenching to see it opened now!
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