Ji Xinghuo listened to Ji Daosheng's words with some perplexity in his heart. The leader's first half of the sentence referred to "our own family," but the second half became "our clan."
There's a subtle difference between these two terms, which can be easily overlooked.
Sharing a surname could mean being from the same house, but definitely not from the same clan. As a public child, the surname "Ji" was randomly assigned to me when I was named, with no blood relation to the leader at all. Why would the leader say that?
Maybe I'm overthinking it.
These thoughts flashed through Ji Xinghuo's mind.
"Leader, you overpraise me!" he replied modestly, "I am a public child, and without the nurturance of the country, I wouldn't be who I am today, naturally, I am your junior. To share the surname Ji with the leader is my honor; many have envied me for it since I was young."
"Hahaha... I love hearing that." Ji Daosheng laughed.
Those around them laughed along.
