100 Ancient Chinese Jokes (100-Series Han-English Parallel Collection)

Author: Translator: Lu Yunzhong
Editor-in-Chief: Zheng Yuzhi
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-08-27
Features: Preface to the "One Hundred Series"
"The 'One Hundred Series' was originally published in Hong Kong by the Commercial Press (Hong Kong) Limited. To meet the needs of mainland readers for learning English, we have entered into a co-publishing agreement with the Commercial Press (Hong Kong) Limited. After publishing the English-Chinese "One Hundred Series," we are now republishing and distributing the Chinese-English "One Hundred Series." This is to be noted. China Foreign Translation Publishing Company, November 1990
Excerpt: 4 What the Guest Says in Reply
A man was staying at his father-in-law's house far beyond his time. One day, the impatient father-in-law finally said to him:
"It's nice of you to come all the way to visit us. Now that all our fowls have been butchered, there are no more delicacies we can entertain you with. I hope you won't mind."
Too thick-skinned to heed the gentle hint, the son-in-law replied:
"Dad, don't you worry. The day I went there, I saw in the valley a herd of fat deer. Why not catch some and have them roasted? The venison will surely last us for many days."
"But," protested the father-in-law, "it's been over a month since you came. The deer must have left."
"I guess not," replied his son-in-law. "Where there is good feed, one is reluctant to leave."
Chen Yuanjing: Fengyue Xiaolin (Wind and Moon Jest Book)
The fifth grandson, Ai Zi, had a grandson, about ten years old, who was lazy and refused to study. Every time he was beaten, he did not repent. His son had only this child and was always afraid that the child would die from the beating, so he would beg tearfully. Ai Zi was angry and said, "Did I teach my child badly?" And he beat him harder. The son had no choice but to comply. One day, snow fell, and the grandson played in the snow. Ai Zi saw him and stripped him of his clothes, making him kneel in the snow. The shivering expression on his face was pitiful. The son no longer dared to speak and also took off his clothes and knelt beside him. Ai Zi asked in shock, "Your son has committed a crime and should be punished like this. Why are you involved?" The son cried, "You froze my son, and I will freeze yours." Ai Zi laughed and let him go.
Afterword of Ai Zi [Ming] Lu Zhuo wrote