Emperor Yao thought of Xu You as a person of virtue, and believed that it would be to the interests of the people to have Xu You govern the country. So he decided to abdicate(退位) and hand over the crown to Xu You.

But Xu You did not accept this and left the capital city stealthily(暗地里). He hid in the home of an ordinary person. This person was afraid that Xu You might steal his valuable hat, so he hid his hat secretly.

Xu You even declined the crown while the man was afraid that he might steal his hat. Certainly the man did not know Xu You's character.

尧认为许由是贤人，由他来管理国家是人民的幸福，于是决定把帝位禅让给许由。

许由不肯接受，悄悄地离开京城，逃得远远的躲了起来，住在一个普通人的家里。这个人怕许由偷他那顶值钱的皮帽子，暗自把它藏了起来。

许由连整个天下都不要，而这个人却怕许由偷他的帽子，真是不理解许由的品德啊!