Yan Zi of the State of Qi was sent on a mission to the State ofChu. The King of Chu intended to humiliate the State of Qi toYan Zi's face.

?One day, the King of Chu gave a banquet for Yan Zi. Just

齊國(guó)的晏子出使到楚國(guó)，楚王有意要當(dāng)著晏子的面侮辱齊國(guó)。

when they were enjoying it, two petty officials brought a convictto the King.
一天，楚王擺了酒席招待晏子。正當(dāng)他們吃得高興的時(shí)候，兩個(gè)小官押著一個(gè)犯人來(lái)見楚王。

Deliberately the King of Chu asked:? "What crime has this man committed?"
楚王故意問道:“這人犯了了一么罪?”

One of the petty officials answered:?"He robs."
小官回答說(shuō):“他是一個(gè)強(qiáng)盜。”

Again the King of Chu asked:? “Where is he from?"
楚王又問:?“他是哪個(gè)國(guó)家的人?”

The petty official answered:"He is from the State of Qi."
小官回話:“他是齊國(guó)人?！?/span>

The King of Chu turned to Yan Zi and said:"So the people of the State of Qi are used to committingrobbery."
楚王回頭對(duì)晏子說(shuō):?“原來(lái)齊國(guó)人是慣于當(dāng)強(qiáng)盜的?！?/span>

Yan Zi stood up and replied:?"Your Majesty, I heard that when orange trees grown in thesouth of the Huai River are transplanted to the north of Huai River,they become trifoliate orange trees. Outwardly the leaves of orangetrees and those of trifoliate orange trees look alike, but the tastesof their fruits are entirely different. Our people of the State of Qinever commit robbery, but once they come to the State of Chu,they start to engage in criminal activities. I think, maybe this isthe effect of the environment and climate here."
晏子站起來(lái)答道:?“大王，我聽說(shuō)生長(zhǎng)在淮南的橘樹，移植到淮北就會(huì)變成積樹。從外表上看，橘樹和積樹的葉子是一樣的，但是這兩種樹的果子的味道卻完全不同。我們齊國(guó)的老百姓從來(lái)不做強(qiáng)盜，一到楚國(guó)就干起犯罪的勾當(dāng)來(lái)了。我看，這也許是受這里的水土環(huán)境的影響吧!”

As the King of Chu heard this, he was struck dumb withshame.
楚王聽了，羞愧得連一句話都說(shuō)不出來(lái)。