(Minghui.org) I was born and raised in the countryside and have three siblings. My father worked as a teacher in another region. My mother, a farmer, worked every day in the field. She had to look after four children on her own and tend to the crops, working tirelessly day and night.
As the eldest child, and seeing my mother working so hard, I gave up school when I was in the fourth grade to help her in the field, look after my siblings and help them with their studies.
I always liked to chat with my aunt when I had time to spare, simply because she practices Falun Dafa (also called Falun Gong). She read Zhuan Falun to me and taught me to sincerely recite, “Falun Dafa is good. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” She told me I would be blessed by doing this, and said, “With a kind thought to treat Dafa well, one would be blessed with happiness and peace by heaven.” I seriously believe this.
Some people said that I was foolish to give up school, but I always responded to these types of comments with a smile. By learning about Falun Dafa from my aunt, I was aware of how to be kind and nice to people. Working hard so my siblings could have a better education, wasn’t this a wonderful thing to do?
When I was of a suitable age, others arranged a marriage for me. My husband and I initially lived with his family, who were very poor. When we eventually found our own home we were given a bill for 3,000 yuan, and told that it was for the loan for our wedding.
With tears streaming down my face, I sincerely recited, “Falun Dafa is good. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” My heart became calmer after continually saying these words.
I took the bill and put it away, thinking, “Why do I fear being poor? Wealth is from hard work. As long as I have good health I will not be deprived!”
I later had a son and daughter. Every day, before day break, I took my children with me as I went to work in the field. I worked all day, and came home when it was dark. I was able to feed my children a full meal. I took my children with me everywhere I went. In addition to growing food in the field, I also ran a small business. I was able to pay back the loan, and managed to save 80,000 yuan.
One day, my husband told me that he would like to go to another region to work. This plan appeared to be of financial benefit for our children and family, so I agreed with him. However, shortly after he left, he fell in love with a female coworker. He knew that I had 80,000 yuan, and asked me for the money.
To warm his heart, and in the hope that he would change his mind, I gave him all my savings. With the money in hand, he turned away from me and never returned, even during the Chinese New Year.
My husband didn't seem to give any thought to his 80-year old mother, or show any concern for our children. All my money was in his hands.
While bringing up my children alone, I also had to look after my mother-in-law. On the busiest days, I only had time to eat a single meal. My face was always covered with tears! It was really hard to bear it all! I wondered how I could possibly deal with the situation? At this moment, the words “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good. Falun Dafa is good.” appeared in my mind!
Master Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa, said,
“It’s hard to endure, but you can endure it. It’s hard to do, but you can do it.” (Zhuan Falun)
I repeated these words over and over again, and felt full of strength.
I didn't practice Falun Dafa at the time nor did I read the book, but I felt that Master was looking after me all the time. My aunt tried to get me to practice, but I said that I didn’t have enough time.
It wasn't until later that I finally made up my mind to practice, and asked my aunt for a copy of Zhuan Falun.
One day, I managed to find time to visit my parents’ home. Just as I was walking up to the house, I saw many policemen in the courtyard. Some of them were from the county police, while others were from the town police.
I questioned one of them, “What are you doing here?”
He angrily replied, “It's your aunt. She practices Falun Gong and distributed Falun Gong materials. Her home was raided and she was taken to Jinan Women's Forced Labor Camp for a year. It is Jiang Zemin’s order that if one person practices Falun Gong it will affect the whole family.”
I spoke loudly, saying: “Falun Gong teaches people the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Don’t you want people to be better behaved? My aunt had been in poor health since childhood. She suffered from various illnesses, including tuberculosis. After practicing Falun Gong for only a short time all her illnesses disappeared. It was Dafa that saved her life. My aunt went to Beijing to seek justice for Falun Gong and was brought back home to be detained for two weeks by your 610 Office, and her home was ransacked while she was detained. This time, her home was ransacked again, simply because she distributed Falun Gong materials. Please treat Dafa nicely, and you will be blessed with happiness and peace by heaven.”
The neighbors had congregated while I was talking, and all confirmed that what I had told the police was true. A neighbor reminded the police that: “Good and evil would be repaid in kind. Don't be too hard on people. To be a good person is not so easy these days.”
The neighbors continued to talk about the matter among themselves, which made the police feel uncomfortable, and thus, they left.
I was so relieved when the police had gone. I opened a drawer in the main room of my parents’ home, and a copy of Zhuan Falun was in front of me. As tears welled up in my eyes I said to Master in my mind, “Thank you my merciful Master!” The police turned the place upside down, but didn't see the book.
When I asked my mother where the book came from, she said it was a gift from my aunt to my father, and was kept in the drawer. I believed that it was Master who kept this precious book for me! I wrapped the book with great care and kept it in my bag.
As soon as I got home I started reading it.
Through studying the Fa, I understood many questions about life that had puzzled me for a long time. The book taught people to do good deeds, in line with the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I also understood that a person’s life was karmic retribution and that if you’re in debt with someone you had to pay them back.
As I left school at a young age, there were still some words in the book that I couldn't understand. I wrote them down and asked my children to help explain them to me. As long as I had time I would read Zhuan Falun.
I was very busy looking after my elderly mother-in-law, my children’s study and tending to the fields, but I always felt full of energy. As long as I had time I would recite “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good. Falun Dafa is good.” My negative emotions were gone, and I was able to smile in my life. Without complaints and hatred, I took things as they came.
My aunt helped all my family and my uncle’s family to quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations. My family was blessed for doing so. My son became a postgraduate student with distinction in a university in Jinan, while my daughter was admitted to a technical school.
I allowed others to grow food on my land, and my elderly mother-in-law was now looked after by her own daughter. So, I was free to move to Jinan with my children. I became a helper to a family and now earn over 3,000 yuan a month, which was my one-year income in the country. My daughter now works for a company, while my son is still studying. We are leading a happy life.
My children and I went back home to the countryside this Chinese New Year, and a neighbor remarked that I looked much younger than before. We went to see my mother-in-law and gave her 500 yuan. She was very touched and said, “My son hasn't come home for a few years, but you come to see me and offer me money.”
I smiled, “Mom, I read Dafa books that teach me to be kind and nice to people. It is Master Li who is teaching me to do so.”
My mother-in-law burst into tears, “I am very grateful to your Master.”
I used to be depressed and cry all day, but by studying Dafa I have changed my outlook on life and understood the true meaning of life. A good person should be kind and nice to others. I will walk righteously on the cultivation path, unconditionally assimilate to Dafa, and return to my true origin.