1 March 2007: The Interim Mistress

A Chinese businessman has advertised on Chinese job-finder website Sina.com for a stand-in mistress, whose role is to be beaten up by his wife.

According to a Beijing newspaper, when the woman found out her husband had a mistress, she insisted on beating her up. The man doesn't want his real mistress to suffer, so has offered about £20 per minute to anyone prepared to take her place for the beating.

Whether medical bills are also included is not clear.