Laughing Forest Chronicles “is a collection of Chinese jokes, also known as” Newly Engraved Laughing Forest Chronicles “. The author of this book is Game Master, who refers not to a single person but to a group of literati from the Qing Dynasty. The Laughing Forest Chronicles can be considered a strictly defined collection of jokes, with witty language, concise and elegant writing, and mature expression techniques. This book is divided into twelve parts, each with its own unique theme. One ancient beauty, two corrupt trends, three skilled professions, four physical forms, five special talents, six boudoir styles, seven taboos, eight monks and Taoists, nine greed and stinginess, ten poverty and sorrow, eleven ridicule and twelve fallacies.
The meaning of this article is that a person with sparse beard asked Mr. Xiangmian to meet him. Mr. Xiangmian said, “Although Mr. Zunxiang is not very wealthy, he is not very poor.” The person asked, “Why do you say that?” Mr. Xiangmian replied, “Judging from your beard, it’s not enough compared to the top, but more than enough compared to the bottom
《笑林广记》是中国笑话集，又名《新镌笑林广记》。此书作者游戏主人编成，游戏主人并不是指一个人而是清代的一批文人。《笑林广记》可算是严格意义上的笑话集，语言风趣，文字简练隽秀，表现手法也十分成熟。此书分十二部，每部皆有其独特主题。一古艳、二腐流、三术业、四形体、五殊禀、六闺风、七世讳、八僧道、九贪吝、十贫窭、十一讥刺、十二谬误。
本篇的意思是，有个胡子稀疏的人让相面先生相面，相面先生说：“尊相虽不十分富有，也不十分贫穷。”那个人问：“凭什么这样说？”相面先生回答说：“看你的胡须，比上不足，比下有余。”
《笑林广记·稀胡子》
一稀胡子要相面，相士云：“尊相虽不大富，亦不到贫。”胡者云：“何以见得？”相士曰：“看公之须，比上不足，比下有余。”
A man with a thin beard went to see a fortune-teller. The fortune-teller said to him: “Though you are not very wealthy, you are not extremely poor.” The man asked: “Why is it so?” He replied: “Judging by your beard, it is not up to those above, but above those below.”
