''Shifu, You'll Do Anything for a Laugh'' (original title: 师傅越来越幽默）is a 2001 collection of novellas by

Nobel Prize in Literature The Nobel Prize in Literature, here meaning ''for'' Literature (), is a Swedish literature prize that is awarded annually, since 1901, to an author from any country who has, in the words of the will of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, "in ...

winning author

Mo Yan Guan Moye (; born 5 March 1955), better known by the pen name Mo Yan (, ), is a Chinese novelist and short story writer. In 2012, Mo was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his work as a writer "who with hallucinatory realism merges fol ...

. The collection was translated from Chinese to English by

Howard Goldblatt Howard Goldblatt (, born 1939) is a literary translator of numerous works of contemporary Chinese (mainland China & Taiwan) fiction, including '' The Taste of Apples'' by Huang Chunming and ''The Execution of Mayor Yin'' by Chen Ruoxi. Goldblatt ...

. The novellas collected within this volume include: * 'Shifu, You'll Do Anything for a Laugh' * 'Man and Beast' * 'Soaring' * 'Iron Child' * 'The Cure' * 'Love Story' * 'Shen Garden' * 'Abandoned Child' The title story follows Ding Shikou, a former factory worker abruptly laid off from his job. After failing to receive compensation from the government and other local authorities, Ding sets up a cottage in a graveyard and charges money for couples to enter and have

sexual intercourse Sexual intercourse (also coitus or copulation) is a sexual activity typically involving the insertion of the Erection, erect male Human penis, penis inside the female vagina and followed by Pelvic thrust, thrusting motions for sexual pleasure ...

. The title story acts as loose inspiration for the film

Happy Times Happy Time or Happy Times may refer to: * ''Happy Time'' (Roy Eldridge album), a 1975 studio album * ''Happy Time'' (Junior Mance album), a 1962 studio album * ''Happy Time'' (TV program), a Philippine variety show on Net 25 * ''Happy Times'' (1943 ...

, directed by

Zhang Yimou Zhang Yimou (; born 14 November 1950) is a Chinese filmmaker.Tasker, Yvonne (2002). "Zhang Yimou" i''Fifty Contemporary Filmmakers'' Routledge Publishing, p. 412. . Google Book Search. Retrieved 21 August 2008. A leading figure of China's Cinem ...

, starring

Zhao Benshan Zhao Benshan ( zh, s=赵本山, t=趙本山, p=Zhào Běnshān; born 2 October 1957) is a Chinese skit and sitcom actor, comedian, television director, and businessman. Originally from Liaoning province, Zhao has appeared on the CCTV New Year's ...

and Dong Jie.

References

2001 Chinese novels Novels by Mo Yan Chinese novellas Arcade Publishing books {{2000s-novel-stub