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Summary
The book vividly portrays the many faces of ordinary life, using witty folk tales to convey the sweetness and bitterness of the world; it praises truth and beauty and satirizes greed and cruelty with penetrating sharpness. Unlike other storytelling works, it carries Guo Degang's brand of banter that ordinary people love, in which laughter and scolding alike become literature, instructing through entertainment—so that readers, while enjoying a relaxed and pleasant read, also gain insight into human affairs and worldly ways.
Editor's review
From an editorial perspective, the book's value lies in its "contrast." It breaks the public's fixed image of Guo Degang and reveals his literary accomplishment and depth of thought as a writer. The pieces are short and punchy, suited to fragmented reading, yet each leaves an aftertaste worth savoring. There is no piling up of lofty principles; instead, the plainest language conveys the simplest wisdom—about how to conduct oneself, how to navigate the world, and how to maintain inner order amid clamor. For readers familiar with his stage image, this is a rare opportunity to approach his spiritual core; for those unfamiliar with him, it is an independently enjoyable, entertaining, and wise life reader. Its reading value lies precisely in the power behind this authenticity and sincerity.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in Guo Degang's personal reflections and literary expression beyond the stage
- Readers who enjoy short, pithy essays full of life wisdom and humor
- People who wish to relax and share a knowing smile through reading amid a busy life
- Readers interested in observing human relations and worldly culture who seek inspiration from a unique perspective
Not a good fit for
- Readers expecting traditional crosstalk scripts or long-form storytelling
- Readers seeking rigorous academic discourse or deep philosophical discussion
Reading tips
- Consider keeping it by your bed or close at hand, reading a few pieces at a time in spare moments and savoring them.
- While reading, you may connect the text with Guo Degang's public experiences or works to appreciate the subtle echoes between his writing and his stage persona.
- Pay attention to the narrative rhythm and language, and notice how he combines the vividness of colloquial speech with literary concision.
About the publisher
Guizhou People's Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher based in Guizhou, with publishing directions covering architecture, foreign literature, Eastern philosophy and history. Its library currently holds 232 titles, including representative works such as Liang Sicheng's A History of Chinese Architecture, Yasunari Kawabata's Snow Country, The Old Capital, The Izu Dancer and Thousand Cranes, Mou Zongsan's Nineteen Lectures on Chinese Philosophy, Jiang Tingfu's Modern Chinese History and Rashomon. Its author resources span architecture, foreign literature and philosophical studies. These titles show that the press both introduces foreign literary classics, including Japanese literature, and continues to publish academic and general-interest works on Chinese architectural history, Chinese philosophy and modern history, reflecting a publishing profile that balances Chinese and foreign works and combines classics with accessible reading. Public information on its fuller publishing history and key series is limited, so no speculation is offered here.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 自序
- 一 吴大人买橘子
- 二 珍珠翡翠白玉汤
- 三 皇上二大爷
- 四 杨老爷娶亲
- 五 狐狸看书
- 六 救人救己
- 七 古册得失记
- 八 但行好事
- 九 三试火龙单
- 十 好人王好仁
- 十一 东岳庙
- 十二 狄大人求雨
- 十三 良人福
- 十四 一钗二凤
- 十五 姚大控
- 十六 啼笑拉郎配
- 十七 天降福财
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About the author
Guo Degang, born in Tianjin in 1973, is a Chinese crosstalk performer, film and television actor, and host, as well as the founder of the Deyunshe troupe. He began learning traditional storytelling at the age of eight and later turned to crosstalk, studying under Hou Yaowen. In 1996 he founded Deyunshe and has long devoted himself to performing and promoting crosstalk on stage, helping this traditional folk art form regain wide attention; in 2013 he appeared for the first time on CCTV's Spring Festival Gala. Beyond performing, he is an active writer, with 19 works in the collection, spanning biography, essays and miscellaneous writings, history, and folk literature. His writing draws on stage experience, reading, and observations of human affairs, with a humorous, brisk style steeped in colloquial speech and the flavor of storytelling, making it easy and rewarding to read and giving him considerable influence among both crosstalk fans and general readers.
