A woman was visiting Mainland China on vacation and her eye was
caught
by a peculiar medallion with some Chinese characters on it. She
thought it
looked nice, and so bought it. For several years se wore it as a
good luck
charm, and it was quite a converation piece. One day, she attended
a dinner
with some visitors from China. One kept glancing at her, and then
looking
away discreetly. Curious, she approached him and asked why.
"It is the medallion that you wear." "Oh, yes, it is nice isn't it?
I
picked it up on vacation." Then she realized that the man she was
speaking
to was Chinese. "I've always wondered what it says. Could you
translate
it for me?" "Oh, I couldn't," he said. "Please?" "I do not think
you
would be appreciative." She asked again, and finally he relented.
"It
says: 'Licensed prostitute, city of Shanghai.'"
