Renting a boyfriend/girlfriend for the Spring Festival

As time got closer to Chinese New Year this year we began asking friends what their plans were for the holiday. As the country pretty much shuts down for 10 days, the tradition is for everyone to go back to their hometown and spend the time with their families and follow the traditions of celebrating the New Year (fireworks, banquet dinner, giving money in red envelopes, etc). However, over the years many of our friends have expressed that they were dreading going home because of the pressure they would receive from their families about not making enough money or not being married yet.

Due to the pressure of getting married, within the last few years the idea of renting a boyfriend/girlfriend to go home for the holiday has become very popular. Below are some articles I've found about this:

http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/536610/20140131/rent-boyfriend-1-day-solves-problem-single.htm#.Uusobne1akQ
"Take my daughter!" Parents post pictures and ads of their children to try to find a spouse for their child. I highly recommend watching both videos on the page.

http://www.theworldofchinese.com/2014/01/rent-a-lover-this-spring-festival/
-This guy offers 1 million rmb (roughly $165,000) for a female to escort him for seven days. Special bonus was included if she had a Phd and/or was a virgin. Requirements included holding a bachelor's degree, not weighing more than 50kg (110 lb.)  and was cute looking. Over 5,200 girls responded to his post offering their services.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/17/world/asia/chinese-mother-newspaper-ad/
One mom placed a full page ad in the Melbourne newspaper ($2465) in Australia begging her son to come home for the holiday promising she won't pressure him to get married anymore.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-02/08/content_11963739.htm
Defending the practice of renting someone to take home

http://www.theworldofchinese.com/2013/07/chaoji-shengnu-episode-20-rent-a-beau/
Renting a 'loved one' on taobao.com (equivalent to craigslist or ebay in the US)