The evolution of road deception in anecdotes:
And why is the asphalt placed on the long route, not the shortest? It is expensive.
YYY: That’s why they put it. And if they dig on a yacht, then zigzags also.

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J. Perelman's book "Interesting Astronomy" of the 1966 edition begins with a similar anecdote:
After finding two points on the class board, the teacher offers the young student a task: to draw the shortest path between the two points.
The student, thinking, diligently draw a twisted line between them.
This is the shortest way! The teacher is surprised. Who taught you so?
and my dad. He is a taxi driver."