◎ The Book of Rites
A grand famine hit the State Qi one year, and many people were starving to death.
A rich person called Qian Ao wanted to help the poor people, and put out some steamed breads and wine near the road, waiting for the hungry people to eat.
One day, a man looking like a beggar staggered slowly pass. The man was dizzy with hunger with his face covered with his sleeve, wearing a pair of very rugged sandals. Holding the food in the left hand and the wine in the right hand, Qian Ao shouted with an arrogant voice, “Hey! Come eat something!”
Hearing the contemptuous offer, the man removed the sleeve from his face, opened his eyes broad, and said to Qian Ao angrily, “No! Who cares about your bad things! I am starving like this because I refuse to accept the contemptuous offers along the way!” Upon hearing this, Qian Ao realized his prior voice was indeed insulting and felt hurt the dignity of the man, so he hurried to apologize. The man, however continued to refuse the food, but shortly fell to the ground because of hunger. He died soon thereafter.
