The proverb “He laughs best who laughs last” means that the person who wins or succeeds in the end is the one who truly enjoys the situation. In the story: The picnickers initially laughed at Alan. But Alan cleverly deceived them and later turned the situation around. He made them believe fish could be found in the field, causing them to search in confusion. Thus, Alan ultimately had the advantage and outwitted them, which is the essence of the proverb.