Yan Zi of the State of Qi was sent on a mission to the State of Chu. The King of Chu intended to humiliate the State of Qi to Yan Zi's face.
齊國的晏子出使到楚國，楚王有意要當着晏子的面侮辱齊國。
One day, the King of Chu gave a banquet for Yan Zi. Just when they were enjoying it, two petty officials brought a convict to the King.
一天，楚王擺了酒席招待晏子。正當他們吃得高興的時候，兩個小官押着一個犯人來見楚王。
Deliberately the King of Chu asked: "What crime has this man committed?"
楚王故意問道：“這人犯了什麼罪?”
One of the petty officials answered: "He robs."
小官回答說：“他是一個強盜。”
Again the King of Chu asked: “Where is he from?"
楚王又問：“他是哪個國家的人?”
The petty official answered: "He is from the State of Qi."
小官回話：“他是齊國人。”
The King of Chu turned to Yan Zi and said: "So the people of the State of Qi are used to committing robbery."
楚王回頭對晏子說：“原來齊國人是慣於當強盜的。”
Yan Zi stood up and replied: "Your Majesty, I heard that when orange trees grown in the south of the Huai River are transplanted to the north of Huai River, they become trifoliate orange trees. Outwardly the leaves of orange trees and those of trifoliate orange trees look alike, but the tastes of their fruits are entirely different.”
晏子站起來答道:“大王，我聽說生長在淮南的橘樹，移植到淮北就會變成枳樹。從外表上看，橘樹和枳樹的`葉子是一樣的，但是這兩種樹的果子的味道卻完全不同。”
“Our people of the State of Qi never commit robbery, but once they come to the State of Chu, they start to engage in criminal activities. I think, maybe this is the effect of the environment and climate here."
“我們齊國的老百姓從來不做強盜，一到楚國就幹起犯罪的勾當來了。我看，這也許是受這裏的水土環境的影響吧!”
As the King of Chu heard this, he was struck dumb with shame.
楚王聽了，羞愧得連一句話都說不出來。