“ Since you are scholar, allow me to examine you." The scholar replied: " All right, will you kindly issue a subject that I may show my ignorance." The military officer cogitated for a long time, and could not think of anything, so he said: "Begone; it is your good luck to-day that I have no subject to give." ”

“ The scholar said: "It is too simple for me." The servant again brought a book of the Han Dynasty. The scholar again said: "Too simple." Again a book of history was brought. He again said: "Too simple."
As his room was next to that of a monk, the latter hearing what he said, was surprised, and came over to question the scholar saying: "These three books, if a person could commit one of them to memory, he may consider himself learned. Why do you say that it is simple. What is your reason for saying that?" He replied: "I wish to take a nap and intended to pile up the books to form a pillow." ”

“ When the farmers heard of their boast, they were exceedingly enraged. They secretly called together a few men, and impersonating the magistrate en route, shouted out to the two blind men: "Do you not know manners? Why do you not keep out of the road?" ”

“ THERE was a jail official who escorted a monk to the capital for trial, charged with a weighty criminal offence. On the way the prison official became deadly drunk and senseless. The monk stealthily broke his shackles and put them around his keeper's neck and shaved his head till not a hair was left. ”

“ THERE were two blind men walking together and conversing. "Among the people of the whole world we blind people are the best. Those who have eyes are always busy, especially the farmers. Who has so much leisure and such an easy time as we have." ”

“ One day the scholars questioned the teacher: "What is meant by the principles of the Great Learning (大學之道 ) ?" As the teacher could not explain, he immediately pretended to be drunk. "You always ask me questions when I have had too much to drink. How can I explain clearly when I am in that condition?" He dismissed the students and went home. He then repeated to his wife the scholars' questions. His wife replied: "Great Learning is the name of a book. Tze Tao (之道) are the principles or discussions given in the book. ”

“ My subject, you should hold your temper a little. You do not know that the Empress also has a little temper. Yesterday, because there was one word in which she disagreed with me, she tore my crown to pieces, and I did not dare to be angry. ”

“ THERE was a merchant who, on account of his son having become a mandarin, also received a title, and one day he called on the local magistrate. Owing to the old age of the merchant, the magistrate addressed him as Loh Sen (老先) leaving out the word Sun (生) (the equivalent of Sen Sun (先生) in English is Mister) . When the merchant heard this, he was very angry, and immediately went home. On his return, his son asked him the reason of his coming home in such a rage. He replied that the magistrate has been most insolent to him. ”

“ THERE was a magistrate whose birthday was celebrated on a certain day. All the writers, runners, etc., of the yamên made enquiries of their master's previous life as to what animal he was transformed from. They discovered that their master was transformed from a rat. A few days before the birthday they all raised a subscription and ordered a statuette of a rat made of pure gold, and used it as a birthday present. The magistrate was very joyful when be saw it, and said: "All your thoughts have been most artful and skillful, but do yon know the mistress' birthday? ”

“ We have an ox 30 feet long in our home; it can go 1,000 li a day. There is also a cock that can announce the watch of the night. Whatever the watch of the night, he is able to crow the number of the watch. ”

“ His son, with his mouth tightly closed, replied to his father, "Why do you not invite some one else instead of inviting a friend whose name is Man. Since early morning I have been writing till now, and I have made only 500 strokes. Do you think it is so easy to complete the ten thousand strokes?" ”

“ A secretary and his wife are fighting." When the magistrate heard of this, he grit his teeth with rage, and said: "If it is, I- I- I-" Who knows but the magistrate's wife heard this. She came out, shouting very loud: "If it is you, what will you do?" ”

“ THERE was a man, naturally sluggish of understanding and illiterate, met a well-bred friend on the way, who said: "Where do you go?" (何往.) This idiot, when he heard this question, could not understand it at all, nor answer the question. He then kept the two words "Ho Wan" in his mind. He asked other people what these words meant. As every one knew that he was an idiot, they wished to make a fool of him, and told him these two words form an insolent term. ”

“ Then he went up to them and said: "If you have any intention of moving your shops, let me know in advance, so that I may prepare a feast and invite you both." One day both smiths came over and said: "We both wish to move, so we are giving you due notice. Did you not promised to invite us to a feast? We came here purposely to remind you of your obligation." When the man heard these words, he was very happy. Without delay he ordered a feast to be prepared to which to invite the two smiths. After they had feasted, he asked them: "Where do you wish to move?" ”

“ The rich man, although he possessed a great deal of worldly goods, had no education and, unwilling to show his ignorance by requesting his friend to read for him, he took up the note and made a pretence of reading it. ”

“ Just as he was saying this, the Magistrate saw his furious wife come up from the back of the Yamen, saying: "Whom do you wish to lick?" The Magistrate on seeing this, immediately addressed his underlings thus, "Let us adjourn the Court. You must all disperse at once. Your master's vine bower will also soon tumble down." ”

“ His son put the paper in his sleeve. When he has occasion to use it, he would secretly take out the paper and have a peep at it. For three days no one came to enquire after his father. The son said: "The writing is no earthly use." ”

“ His friend opened the door fronting the street and shouted toward the house. He said to his friend: "Your respected dog must be affected with thirst. He must be very thirsty. If you do not believe it, you just look. ”

“ As the pot was boiling, water was added from time to time, until the pot was full of water. The tea was, after all, not ready. His wife called him aside and said: "The visitor is not likely to get any tea to-day; you had better ask him to stay and take a bath." ”

“ He then took the hat and tied it very tightly on the baggage, and said to his master: "We will now go. Now if you should ascend to heaven, your hat will not again fall to the ground" (不能及第) (Literally translated means "you will not obtain the degree".) ”

“ Nine of the brothers all tried to find a place of concealment, from whence they could peep. Only one man was left sitting there, who made no movement, and allowed all the women to create a tumult, but did not interfere with them. ”