in the spring and autumn period, a man in the state of song raised monkeys. the monkeys could understand what he said. as the man became poor, he wanted to reduce the monkeys' food. he first suggested that he give them three acorns1（橡子） in the morning and four acorns in the *ning. thereupon, the monkeys protested2 angrily. then their owner said, "how about four in the morning and three in the *ning?" the monkeys were sati*ied with that.
this idiom originally meant to befool others with tricks. later it is used to mean to keep changing one's mind.
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