Legends, wisdom + lucky numbers

When tea is being poured for you, you tap the table with your two longest fingers to say thank you. It represents the gesture of bowing before the king and comes from a myth during the Ching Dynasty when the king was out among the people and the servant didn't want to give away the king's identity. I'm finding that "story" and "wisdom" is a big part of day-to-day culture and behavior, and I don't think it's just Lin and Scarlett goofing on me.

Sometimes, it's a legend, a double-meaning, a lucky number -- or, my favorite, a good proverb or aphorism. For me, these are little gifts of culture and communication you unwrap with your mind and get to play with again and again in life.

For example, today is 06.06.2006. 6 is a lucky number.

Or more practically: I've been warned by etiquette books and R/GA colleagues that it's quite common in China to be asked what you earn. I had planned on making a joke out of it ("Not enough!"), but then I might lose a little face. So, instead, I learned a proverb (translated loosely) to respond with: "I don't feast every day. But I don't starve either".