The Chinese people refer to flattering someone to their face as "presenting a tall hat" to them.
In ancient times, an official from the imperial court in Beijing was appointed to a post outside the capital. Before his departure, he visited his teacher to bid farewell. His teacher cautioned him: "It is not easy to be an official in the provinces. You must be prudent and careful."
The official replied: "Please don't worry. I have prepared one hundred 'tall hats' and will present one to every person I meet. I'm sure all the local people will be pleased."
The teacher said reproachfully: "We are honorable gentlemen. How can you do such a thing?"
The official pretended to be helpless and said: "Very few people in this world are like you, who dislike flattery or being presented with tall hats."
Hearing this, the teacher was immensely pleased. He nodded and said: "What you say is quite true."
After bidding farewell to his teacher and stepping outside, the official said to a friend: "Of my one hundred 'tall hats', only ninety-nine remain now."