"Trustworthy" Good Friend ~ Lai Ching-hsiang

Getting to know Prosecutor Lai was something that happened in recent years. He is always dressed in casual wear with a pair of casual shoes; I have never seen him in a sharp suit. He feels like a big brother next door, as well as a man of great learning. It is probably unprecedented for rehabilitation work to receive such high regard from a prosecutor. Whether it is his care for rehabilitated friends or his dedication to community outreach activities, Prosecutor Lai seems just like an ordinary citizen who plays every role to perfection. If he were asked to play a clown, he wouldn't hesitate for a second. He often says, "If my going out adds value, just take me along." Therefore, during the establishment preparation period for the drug rehabilitation shelter, whether visiting organizations or inspecting sites, Prosecutor Lai never missed a single time whenever he had availability. He even earnestly communicated his philosophy to others, hoping they would also join in the cause. However, he was once met with a harsh remark from someone: "Drug users are beyond saving." Drug offenders have a high recidivism rate, and rehabilitation work is indeed not easy. Even religious groups and prison wardens have lost confidence in correctional education within prisons, yet only Prosecutor Lai and the working team of the Rehabilitation Protection Association insisted on doing "the right thing." As long as a single rehabilitated person turns over a new leaf, it prevents the creation of another crime victim while also helping more than one family live in peace, which is of considerable benefit to social security. Therefore, Prosecutor Lai is willing to be a "happy fool," quietly burning himself to light the way for others.

The path of rehabilitation for inmates after leaving prison may be rough and bumpy, and employment is the primary issue. A small number of rehabilitated individuals have physical storefronts. To encourage them, Prosecutor Lai takes the most practical approach by "purchasing" their self-operated products—such as vegetables, fruits, fish, chicken, eggs, and souvenirs. Whether for personal use or as gifts, everything comes from the products of rehabilitated individuals, which warms their hearts. Later on, he became good friends with them; whenever they encountered legal problems, they would consult Prosecutor Lai. Such a role of both mentor and friend shows no bureaucratic airs on Prosecutor Lai whatsoever.

Outside of work, Prosecutor Lai is someone who loves to cook. From time to time, he teaches us clever tricks to make bento dishes colorful, flavorful, and nutritious: organize the ingredients one by one, pack them in bags, and freeze them in the refrigerator. The next morning, take out the frozen foods one by one, "tap and loosen them," put them into the bento box, and place them in the food steamer at 11:00 AM so that at 12:00 PM you have a hot bento to eat. In particular, the color of the vegetables remains just as crisp and green. If any leftover bento goes uneaten, put it in the refrigerator to chill first, and when you want to eat it, take it out and eat it as "cold sushi." A phrase he constantly has on his lips is "feeling good about oneself," which is Prosecutor Lai's dining philosophy.

Prosecutor Lai's self-introduction is also quite unique: "Trustworthy" is his brand. He believes that rehabilitated individuals are different from ordinary people, which is why they need help, but he also believes in everyone's kindness. When everyone reaches out a hand to help rehabilitated individuals, it will awaken their good intentions, and he believes that the return of rehabilitated individuals to society is just around the corner. Adapting a coffee advertisement line—"Life should be wasted on wonderful things"—he gives rehabilitated individuals a big hug. Prosecutor Lai is just that generous and trustworthy, spending the second half of his life enjoying the value of life.