As 2024 comes to a close, I’d like to briefly summarize 10 noteworthy events from this year. While none of these are particularly monumental, they may have some impact on the future, whether big or small.
Relocating to a New Office
For details, see the article: Moving to a New Office
At the end of last year, I bid farewell to the old office building where I had worked for 10 years and moved to a new office. Although the team and work content remained the same, the work atmosphere and mindset have subtly shifted.
The Passing of Two Relatives
For details, see the articles: 1. The Chinese Earth Burial I Know 2. Returning Home to Attend a Funeral
In the first half of 2024, the last two important relatives from my grandparents’ generation passed away one after another. I spent a long time reflecting on the continuation of family lineage and also sorted through my evolving feelings about the tradition of earth burial—from reverence to resistance, and then to resignation and acceptance.
Participating in Rural Governance
For details, see the article: Participating in Rural Public Welfare Activities
In 2024, I participated in dozens of rural governance projects, marking my return to such work since 2012. This experience gave me a deeper understanding of rural governance. Unfortunately, I didn’t document much about this topic, with only one brief article to record it.
Engaging in Local Enterprise Case Studies
For details, see the articles: 1. How to Legally Terminate an Employment Contract in China 2. Can Female Employees Choose Their Retirement Age at Will? 3. Some Interesting Local Enterprise Legal Cases (Part 1)
In 2024, I participated in a series of legal case studies involving local enterprises. Due to confidentiality requirements, many cases couldn’t be publicly shared online. I only selected a few low-sensitivity, ambiguous cases to publish, and didn’t follow up with further updates.
First Exposure to Prosecutorial Appeal Cases
For details, see the article: First In-Depth Exposure to Prosecutorial Appeal Cases
In 2024, as the leader of a working group, I completed a post-evaluation of a batch of prosecutorial appeal cases handled by the procuratorate. This was my first time working on such cases in my career. Previously, I had only dealt with anti-corruption and “two-law linkage” cases at the procuratorate. This experience further enriched my professional expertise.
Returning to the Judicial Bureau
For details, see the article: Some Stereotypes About the Judicial Bureau
In 2024, as the deputy leader of a working group, I spent a month at a county-level judicial bureau. This was my first comprehensive exposure to judicial administrative work since I left the judicial administrative system in 2014. This experience gave me a more thorough and in-depth understanding of the overall work of the judicial bureau. It’s gratifying to note that some of the ideas in the above article have almost entirely shifted by the end of 2024.
Working on Juvenile Issues
For details, see the articles: 1. How to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Minors with Intellectual Disabilities 2. Mental Health Issues in Minors Need High Attention
In 2024, I participated in work related to juvenile crime prevention, protecting minors from harm, and handling special cases involving minors. Overall, I feel that there are many issues in the current systems, social atmosphere, and family and school education regarding the growth of minors. It will take more patience and support from society to alleviate these problems.
Participating in Homicide Prevention
For details, see the articles: 1. Reflections on Homicide Prevention 2. How to Prevent Personal Extremist Incidents 3. How to View the Incident of a Judge Being Murdered
In 2024, I once again deeply engaged in homicide prevention work. It felt like this issue had never been taken so seriously before, perhaps due to the immense social pressure during the economic transition period. On one hand, there’s a need to address underlying issues, and on the other, preventive measures must be taken. This includes enhancing security capabilities in public places like schools, hospitals, and squares by the end of the year, which are crucial components of this effort.
Helping My Mother-in-Law Build a House
For details, see the articles: 1. Why Are Landslides in Hunan Province So Severe? 2. Preparing to Build a House in the Countryside
In the second half of this year, economic pressures suddenly escalated. Several loans came due, followed by the need to repair a landslide behind my hometown house caused by a typhoon. Then, my mother-in-law wanted to rebuild her house. After much effort, we managed to get through it. The house is now almost complete and should be fully renovated before the Lunar New Year.
Re-Experiencing Campus Culture
For details, see the articles: 1. Attending the 2024 Graduation Party at the Law School of Foshan University 2. Attending Training at Northwest University of Political Science and Law: My First Trip to Xi’an 3. The Middle School Education That Cannot Afford to Lose 4. Attending a Parent-Teacher Conference
This year, I visited various educational institutions—from universities to kindergartens—over 10 times. The farthest trip was to Xi’an’s Northwest University of Political Science and Law for training. I also returned to my alma mater for events, gave public lectures at several middle schools, and participated in group activities at my child’s elementary school and kindergarten. Each visit to a campus brought different insights and reflections. I also shared scattered personal views on the uneven distribution of educational resources and unreasonable teaching methods, hoping that education can continue to improve and truly bear the hopes of the nation, the people, and families.