English Original
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."
中文翻译
中国人把当面奉承人叫做给某人“戴高帽子”。
在古代，一位在京城朝廷任职的官员被派往外地做官。临行前，他去老师家告别。老师叮嘱道：“外地的官不好做，你应当谨慎小心些。”
那位官员回答说：“请老师放心，我准备了一百顶高帽子，逢人便送一顶，保管叫地方上人人高兴。”
老师责备地说：“我们都是正人君子，怎么可以这样做呢？”
官员装出一副无可奈何的样子说：“天下不喜欢戴高帽子的人实在太少了！像老师您这样的又能有几个呢！”
老师听了非常高兴，点点头说：“你说的倒也是。”
官员告别老师出来后，对朋友说：“我的一百顶高帽子，现在只剩下九十九顶了！”