The lettuce was magical. It cured a lot of diseases. The old monk had planted it for his mother. He knew that it would treat her illness and releive her from the pain. But when a distraught father came for the cry of help, the old monk had to sacrifice the lettuce. He was a man of principles and this is what made him stand apart from all the others. He was not selfish at all and everyone liked it about him.
Picture is my own.