There was a man of the State of Song who liked to curry1 favour with others.
One day, he got a piece of uncarved jade2 and went to present it to Zi Han, a minister of the State of Song, with the intention to ingratiate himself with the official.
Zi Han adamantly3 refused to accept it.
Thereupon, this man said in honeyed words: "This is a piece of rare jade. I regard it as a treasure suitable for a gentleman's utensil4. If it gets into the hands of an old gentleman like you, to be worn by you or put on your dining table, that would be most suitable and fitting. I am an unrefined man, not deserving such a valuable treasure."
"You may regard this piece of jade as a treasure," said Zi Han, "but I do not accept other's fawning5, nor do I regard this kind of conduct a treasure."
The man of Song felt he had asked for a snub and sneaked6 away.
宋国有一个人，喜欢奉承别人。
有一天，他得到了一块未经雕琢的玉石，便去献给宋国大臣子罕，想讨好一番。
子罕执意不受。
于是，那人便花言巧语地说：“这是一块珍奇的玉石啊！我把它当做宝贝，适宜于做君子的器皿。要是落在老先生你的手中，挂在你的身上，放在你的餐桌上，是最相称、最适合的。我是一个粗人，不配使用这种贵重的宝物。”
子罕回答说：“你把这块玉石当做宝贝，我却不接受别人巴结奉承，并且不把这种行为当做宝贝。”
那个宋国人自讨没趣，溜了。
