After moving to the U.S., a Chinese doctor struggled to find work in a hospital. So, he opened a small clinic with a clever sign out front:
“Treatment for $20 — If not cured, get $100 back!”
One day, an American lawyer saw the sign and thought, “What a scam… but hey, easy money!” He walked in confidently.
Lawyer: “Doctor, I’ve lost my sense of taste.”
Doctor: “Nurse, bring medicine from Box No. 22. Three drops in his mouth.”
Lawyer: “Bleh! That’s kerosene!”
Doctor: “Congratulations — your taste is back. That’ll be $20.”
Annoyed but determined, the lawyer returned a few days later.
Lawyer: “I’ve lost my memory. I can’t remember anything.”
Doctor: “Nurse, Box No. 22 again. Three drops.”
Lawyer: “Wait! That’s kerosene again!”
Doctor: “Wonderful — your memory’s back! That’ll be $20.”
Now thoroughly frustrated, the lawyer made one last attempt to win.
Lawyer: “My eyesight is failing. I can’t see a thing!”
Doctor: “I’m sorry. I don’t have a cure for that. Here’s your $100.”
The doctor handed him a $20 bill.
Lawyer (squinting): “Hey, wait a minute… this is just $20!”
Doctor: “Fantastic! Your eyesight is restored. That’ll be $20.” /__/
Joke Poo: The Genie’s Fine Print
A struggling used car salesman named Dave found an old lamp at a flea market. Figuring it couldn’t hurt, he rubbed it, and out popped a genie!
The Genie boomed, “You have freed me! I shall grant you three wishes, but be warned, there’s a catch! For every wish you make, your ex-wife, Brenda, will receive double.”
Dave thought for a moment. “Okay, for my first wish, I want a million dollars!”
POOF! A million dollars appeared, and Dave grinned, imagining Brenda with two million. He chuckled.
“Alright,” said the Genie, “What is your second wish?”
Dave smirked. “I want a massive, beautiful mansion, filled with all the latest gadgets and luxuries!”
POOF! A magnificent mansion materialized. Dave pictured Brenda with two equally grand mansions, maybe even side-by-side. He was still winning.
“And your final wish?” asked the Genie, expectant.
Dave paused, stroking his chin. A mischievous glint sparked in his eyes. “For my final wish,” he said, “I want you to scare me half to death.”
Okay, let’s dissect this joke and then cook up something new based on its elements.
Joke Dissection:
- Core Concept: The joke relies on a classic “trickster tricked” scenario. A seemingly clever lawyer attempts to exploit a business offer and ends up being outsmarted through basic psychology and deception.
- Key Elements:
- Cultural Stereotype (Subtle): The “enterprising” Chinese doctor setting up a business with a seemingly unbelievable offer. This plays on a (potentially outdated) stereotype of shrewd business acumen.
- Greed/Arrogance: The lawyer’s motivation is purely financial gain through perceived deception. His arrogance leads him to believe he’s smarter than the doctor.
- Simple Solutions: The doctor’s “cures” are absurdly simple (kerosene) and leverage the lawyer’s own reactions against him.
- Wordplay/Reversal: The “cure” hinges on the lawyer proving his symptoms are gone by identifying the kerosene or noticing the $20 bill. The final punchline uses the very act of complaint as proof of cure.
- Repetition: The repeated use of Box No. 22 (kerosene) creates a running gag and increases the lawyer’s frustration.
Humorous Enrichment – A “Did You Know?” Style Observation:
Did you know that in ancient China, doctors were often paid only when the patient was healthy? This system, known as “preventive medicine,” flipped the modern model on its head. If the patient got sick, the doctor received no payment until they were well again. So, our clever clinic doctor isn’t just savvy; he’s unintentionally reviving a centuries-old approach, only with a much more flammable “preventative” measure! Perhaps Box No. 22 also included a small pamphlet on avoiding open flames.
Alternative Joke Spin-Off (A Modern Update):
A programmer sees the same sign outside the doctor’s clinic. He thinks, “This is totally exploitable! Bug-fixing as a service!”
Lawyer: “Doctor, I’m experiencing extreme lag. My processing speed is down.”
Doctor: “Nurse, reboot the system. Box No. 22.”
Lawyer: “Wait, is that a command-line script for reformatting my hard drive?!”
Doctor: “Excellent! Your processing speed is back online. Twenty dollars.”
Lawyer (a week later): “I’m suffering from memory leaks, Doctor! I keep forgetting things!”
Doctor: “Nurse, Box No. 22.”
Lawyer: “You’re trying to wipe my RAM again!”
Doctor: “Wonderful! You remembered. That’s twenty dollars.”
Lawyer (now in a rage): “Doctor, I’ve developed a serious glitch! I can’t tell the difference between a joke and a serious medical diagnosis!”
Doctor: “I’m so sorry. We don’t have a cure for that. Here’s one hundred dollars.” Hands the lawyer a receipt printed on thermal paper, which immediately fades to blank.
Lawyer: “Hey! This just disappeared! You scammer!!!”
Doctor: “Perfect! Your glitch is fixed! Twenty dollars, please. And try not to cause a stack overflow.”