A family dispute involving an elderly couple, their two children, and assets from a major infrastructure project has been successfully resolved through mediation.
This case highlights the role of mediation as a non-litigious method for resolving conflicts, often praised as an "Eastern approach" to dispute resolution.
Several months ago, a reporter visited the Letianxi People's Tribunal of the Yiling District People's Court in Yichang City, Hubei Province. The tribunal's chief judge, Zhang Kuanhong, revealed that the tribunal itself might be relocated as the surrounding area falls within a land acquisition zone for a significant national project.
The urgency of the infrastructure development is clear. The Three Gorges New Waterway Project, a major comprehensive initiative on the Yangtze River integrating water conservancy, shipping, and ecological functions, officially commenced in Yichang in June 2026. It is designed to enhance the navigational capacity of the Golden Waterway and support the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.
"There have been quite a few family disputes arising from these relocations," explained Judge Zhang Kuanhong.
Months earlier, an elderly couple in Letianxi Town received two resettlement apartments and over 700,000 yuan in compensation due to the Three Gorges New Waterway Project. However, this windfall led to a fierce conflict with their married son and daughter over how to divide the assets, nearly pushing the family into a courtroom battle.
Initially, tensions were high between the brother and sister, with meetings quickly turning confrontational. The elderly couple wished to be fair, but each adult child felt the parents were favoring the other, a sentiment fueled by long-standing grievances. Unable to reconcile their children, the couple sought help through mediation.
Upon understanding the situation, the "One-Stop Public Legal Service Center" for the Three Gorges New Waterway Project and the "Farun Xiajiang" Judge's Studio promptly intervened.
"As a mediator aiming for fairness, you need to consider the elderly couple's perspective, while also addressing the daughter's practical issue—she has no place to live," clarified Zhang Yong after organizing his approach. Zhang Yong, a mediator from the Letianxi Town Judicial Office, collaborated with the judge's studio on this family dispute.
The mediation process, which took two and a half days, was conducted in two main rounds.
The first round, conducted "back-to-back" with the parties separately, aimed to identify the core issues within legal boundaries: the elderly couple's desire for security, the children's eagerness to receive assets, and the daughter's difficult living situation requiring support.
A key complexity was the household registration status. The daughter, being on the same household register as her parents, was legally eligible for a share of the resettlement compensation. The son, however, had previously moved his registration out due to marriage and thus was not eligible for compensation under the relevant regulations.
"But if the son received no compensation at all, it might affect his willingness to fulfill filial duties. This complexity needed to be considered," reminded Zhang Yong.
From the daughter's perspective, she was a single mother raising a child while renting, had no stable housing, carried debt, and lived in difficult conditions, making her in urgent need of a resettlement apartment. Legally, she had a valid claim.
"From the elderly couple's standpoint, having a stable place to live is paramount. Furthermore, to prevent the potential risk of the children neglecting their filial duties after receiving the compensation money, it's best to keep the funds in the elderly couple's hands. Having worked hard all their lives, this money is a crucial safeguard for their peace of mind," Zhang Yong stated firmly, prioritizing secure housing and support for the elderly.
The second round of mediation brought the elderly couple, their daughter, and their son together for a face-to-face discussion.
Initially, the son had refused to participate, citing a lack of time. The mediator employed a slight provocation: "According to the relocation policy, since your household registration has been moved, it really doesn't concern you much anymore..." Hearing this, the son put aside his work and made a special trip to attend.
During the session, the son admitted that while his living conditions were slightly better than his sister's, he worked a demanding job delivering water in the city, earning a hard-won income. He understood his sister's greater need for the apartment but explained his own family was not without financial pressures.
"Your parents have lived a hard life, raising you both wasn't easy. You know your mother's condition—her memory and mental state are not what they used to be. Now, just as life is finally improving, you're letting immediate interests cloud your judgment..." Zhang Yong patiently guided the discussion from a perspective of family bonds, explaining relevant relocation policies and civil code regulations, and encouraging everyone to see things from each other's viewpoints.
This heartfelt appeal led to a moment of silence among the family. "After saying this during the mediation, the son was nearly in tears," Zhang Yong later told the reporter. Ultimately, it was the decades of accumulated family affection that proved most persuasive.
"A challenge in mediation is that some things cannot be stated too bluntly, as it might hurt feelings and harm family unity," Zhang Yong noted. The key was to guide them toward empathy, considering both immediate hardships and long-term interests to preserve family harmony.
Finally, on December 11, 2025, an agreement was reached. The daughter, facing hardship, would receive one resettlement apartment. The other apartment would be for the elderly couple to live in, and they would retain control of the compensation money. The son and daughter would each take responsibility for supporting one parent.
Regarding the son's concerns, Zhang Yong explained: "If the son fulfills the support obligations outlined in the mediation agreement, he may later receive corresponding assets through inheritance. The elderly father has agreed to this arrangement."
A follow-up visit by the judge confirmed that the dispute has been properly resolved.
The Letianxi People's Tribunal, as a grassroots judicial force in the core area of the Three Gorges New Waterway Project, established the "Farun Xiajiang" Judge's Studio in June 2025. This initiative, operating through the project's One-Stop Public Legal Service Center, aims to provide precise judicial services throughout the project's lifecycle, with judges stationed regularly.
"Many residents here are first-generation Three Gorges migrants who generally strongly support the project's development. Having the court involved in mediating relocation-related disputes makes people more cooperative," stated Judge Zhang Kuanhong.
It is reported that the judge's studio has already resolved multiple disputes related to the construction project, including those concerning house sales, leases, and family matters, and has properly handled various risks such as property rights confirmation and divorce-related asset division within the acquisition zone.
The spirit of the Three Gorges migrants finds new expression in the construction of the Three Gorges New Waterway Project.
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