Classical Chinese humorous stories

original text

A man lost his way and didn't answer questions when he met a mute. He just made a sample of money with his hand, indicating that he would get the money and be willing to show him the way. This number of people is serious about money. The mute pointed out the way, and he asked, "Why don't you have the money to pretend to be dumb?" Dumb: "In today's world, talk if you have money!" "

translate

A man lost his way and met a "mute" who didn't answer. "Dumb" will only give money by hand, and then give directions. The lost man understood the meaning and immediately took out some money to the "dumb". "Dumb" opened his mouth and pointed out the way. The lost man asked, "Why do you pretend to be deaf?" "Dumb" said: "Now in this world, with money, you can talk."

Excerpts from Laughter in the Woods, the main collection of signature games in the Qing Dynasty, are mostly taken from jokes in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.