From the traditional approach, it is hard to understand why Lin Shu’s translations, which are still severely criticized by some scholars at home and abroad, were so widely accepted by the readers in the early 20th century Based on Lefevere’s “patronage”, the author makes a thorough microstudy on the manipulation of the then Commercial Press in Lin Shu’s translating activity and proves that “patronage” is an important “control factor” in translation process