(Minghui.org) Zhao Xian and Li Xiang are old friends of mine. We grew up together and were good friends in school. They later moved to the city and became government officials, while I became a farmer in our home village.

Before the Qing Ming Festival (a memorial time in early spring) of 2015, they both called and wanted to talk about Falun Gong at some point during the festival.

They come back to our village only about three times each year. I had tried to talk to them about Falun Gong in the past, but these conversations always became heated arguments. But it was different this time. After we exchanged some pleasantries and sat down, Zhao Xian opened up first.

“We want to hear what you have to say about Falun Gong. I promise I will not interrupt you.” He said. “Falun Gong practitioners are willing to die for their belief. This does not happen in any other groups (in China). Why?”

Li Xiang added, “This is a big topic. Please don't just tell us that it is mysterious.”

I began talking about the physical health benefits from practicing Falun Gong.

I used to be skinny with a poor complexion, but after practicing Falun Gong, my complexion looked healthy and younger, and I also gained some weight. More importantly, I have had no illnesses for the past 18 years.

I looked younger than they did, even though we were the same age, and I often labored in the fields while they sat in offices.

“We are getting old but you look the same as you did ten years ago.” Zhao Xian sighed.

We then turned to the issue about Falun Gong being “mysterious,” which had been spread among the villagers.

My neighbor Zhao Fu and I both have one acre of farmland for vegetables that are side by side. He built several large greenhouses, four meters wide, in his field, while I have no greenhouses, buy my income is still better than his.

Whenever my vegetables were ready for market, the price of the specific vegetable I was selling would go up. It always happened like that.

Word travels fast in our village. They had already heard about the myths, but wanted to learn more details from me.

“It is mysterious.” Li Xiang added, “I heard Zhao Fu tried to copy your move but ended up losing money again. How could that happen?”

A few years back, I suddenly had an urge to grow Chinese cabbage in the spring, and Zhao Fu was about to replace the plastic covering half of his greenhouses. He said he wanted to make some money this time by growing the same vegetables as I did.

So, we bought the seeds and fertilizer together. We leveled the field and planted the seeds at the same time.

This time, his sprouts were strong and tall, and on my side, less than a quarter of the seeds sprouted. I had to pull them out and seed them again.

When Zhao Fu's Chinese cabbages sold at the market, the price was going down and he was paid only 50 cents per kilogram at the lowest point.

A few weeks later, when I was selling my cabbages, the price was on an upward move. The first batch was sold at one yuan per kilogram. Two days later, I received 1.33 yuan per kilogram.

Zhao Fu was convinced, and decided to practice Falun Gong. I taught him the exercises and gave him the exercise music. However, his wife fought hard against him, fearing that the authorities might persecute him. Zhao Fu gave up after a few days.

Li Xiang then asked me about a car accident that had happened years ago.

I was walking across a wide road one day, when I heard a loud horn and looked up. A cement truck was almost over me.

I don’t remember what happened next, but when I came to, the truck had driven over me and continued on for about 20 meters. It stopped after it knocked down a substantial light pole. Bags of cement were everywhere.

“Without Teacher's protection, my life would have ended at that moment.” I thanked Teacher with tears. Teacher has been protecting me from the very moment I started practicing Falun Gong.

I then told them about a time when I was taken into custody for practicing Falun Gong. I was abducted and taken to a brainwashing center in 2002. When I refused to be “transformed” by renouncing my belief in Falun Gong, they wanted to punish me.

I was locked to a chair. A wicked “instructor” swung a shovel's handle very hard down onto my legs. Seeing it coming down, my mind focused on one simple thought, “I have Teacher protecting me.”

The handle broke into two pieces but I didn't feel any pain. There was also no bruising or swelling in my legs.

Another wicked man used a pair of iron pliers to crush my ear. I only felt a little cold on the spot. That man was frustrated and smashed the pliers to the floor and cursed, “Who brought in these useless pliers?”

I said, “I didn't think much about it when I was tortured. But I later realized that our Teacher had protected me, and bore the pain for me.”

When I was talking about this, a mighty wave of gratitude filled my heart and moved me to tears. Zhao Xian and Li Xiang were also moved to tears.

I continued telling them about the staged “self-immolation on Tiananmen Square” and forced organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners.

They listened carefully. They became upset and angry at the Chinese Communist Party's atrocities.

Li Xiang remarked, “Now I understand why Falun Gong (practitioners) will die for their belief. I believe every practitioner has a similar experience like yours. What a great Teacher and a great Dafa! Every practitioner will safeguard (them) with one's life!”

They both quit the Communist Party using their real names and asked me to buy a copy of the book Zhuan Falun for them.

Li Xiang said, “We have heard about these stories before, but we didn't wake up until today. We have lost a lot of time.”

Zhao Xian added, “We have to run fast to catch up now.”