After reviewing the case, Judge Cao Yunyang advised them to seek mediation to save time and expense, but neither was willing to sit with the other. Finally, Cao gave each man a Suan Niao toy, whose childlike sound broke the tension in the room.

"Many people understand the legal reasoning, but still need a small nudge to let it go. Introducing the Suan Niao toy at the right moment can break the stalemate and help mediation proceed," Cao said.

Chief Judge Yang Jie said: "The Suan Niao approach is far from simply trying and patching things up. It uses the law as a standard, and reason and empathy as a bridge to reach consensus within the legal framework."

Liu Xueru contributed to this story.