His Drunk-Driving Punishment Was to Teach People to Cook, Selling Noodles Became his Second Way to Make a Living

Turning his life around, while helping others in the process too, from the Front Page Sections, translated…

A man in his seventies, Rong-Chun Lin from Nantou was caught, drunk driving for a third time, sentenced to six months in prison, and needed to pay a fine of $180,000N.T.s, he owns a small noodle stand, and couldn’t find a way to pay, so instead, he’d chosen community services.

The prison system in Nantou assigned him to teach the inmates in prison, the families of the victims to cook various Taiwanese foods, so he could contribute what he already knows and help the pupils gain experiences to become entrepreneurs.

Lin needed to fulfill the requirement of completing 109 hours of community services, from Monday to Friday, he’d reported to the local government offices, his noodle stand now only operates on the weekends, he’d made fun, “It seems I’d become a government worker now.” Toward his punishment of teaching the inmates to cook, Lin felt, “I get to pay my debts up to society and help others at the same time, I’m really glad I got this chance!” He said there’s a very slight chance his own son would take over his business, if there’s someone whom he can pass his skills to, he would be more than happy about it.

Lin had owned and operated his noodle stand for over forty years, he said that because of his work, it would be hard, not to have a drink or two with friends, but the price of drunk-driving is just too HIGH. He’d made up his mind, that if he ever got drunk again, he will not drive, or ride his motorcycle.

The Correctional Officer at Nantou jail, Hong said, Lin’s cooking had a great reputation locally, assigning him to teach other inmates to cook, it’s an extension of what he did daily, and it would help the individuals serving time to gain a skill that they can make a living on, increasing the chances of employment after their release.

So, this man contributed his skill in prison, he’s doing his time for drunk-driving, and he’d learned his lessons the hard way, and now, he’d put his life to better use, he will probably be able to stay dry, if he keeps on teaching those inmates to cook, because it’d given him a sense of purpose, and make him feel that he is contributing toward the greater world.