(Minghui.org) In the spring of 1998, my wife began practicing Falun Dafa, and within about a week, she had changed dramatically. She no longer complained of aches and pains due to her rheumatism every day, and her mood was vastly different from before—she was always cheerful. The sorrowful expression that had once plagued her due to her illness disappeared, and our home was once again filled with a joy we hadn’t felt in a long time.
I was both surprised and puzzled by the changes in her. One morning, I followed her to the town square, where I saw a group of people sitting in meditation accompanied by melodious music. Right then and there I felt a sense of deep comfort and ease. Nearby, an elderly woman was explaining the characteristics of Falun Dafa to a group. I listened in and felt that this practice was different from other forms of qigong.
Just then, someone approached her to buy a book. I saw that it was titled Zhuan Falun and purchased a copy. I quickly realized it was no ordinary book: I was instantly captivated, and a sudden clarity dawned on me. Every sentence in the book spoke of righteous principles and taught one to be a good person; every word resonated deeply within my heart. From that moment on, I embarked on the path of cultivation in Dafa.
In the spring of 2006, my wife was arrested. I returned from out of town to rescue her, rushing about everywhere to find out where she was being held. I decided to go to Beijing to appeal. When I got there, I followed the crowd of petitioners through the gates of the Petition Office at Zhongnanhai. At that moment, it felt as though I had stepped into hell: my scalp tightened, my hair stood on end, and an invisible pressure made it impossible to breathe—as if I were being suffocated.
I steeled myself, thinking, “Why was I there in the first place? I am a Falun Dafa practitioner, my wife is being illegally detained, and I must tell the truth—only the truth can bring her home.”
That afternoon, a large bus arrived. The authorities registered those of us who hadn’t been called, took photos of us, herded us onto the bus, and drove us to a remote location before letting us off. That’s how my first trip to Beijing to petition ended. Although I did get to see anyone in authority and didn’t get to tell them the truth about Dafa, my greatest gain was letting go of my fear.
After I returned from Beijing, I continued to study the Fa and looked inward for my attachments. Soon after, I took the train to Beijing for the second time. This time, I didn’t go to the Petition Office—I went straight to Tiananmen Square. The blazing summer sun was like fire, turning the Square into a giant oven.
I asked a woman selling souvenirs where I could file a complaint. She asked what I was petitioning about, so I told her, “My wife was arrested for practicing Falun Dafa. She’s a good person. I’ve come to petition for justice.” She then called over a police officer patrolling Tiananmen Square.
The officer inspected my bag and saw T-shirts that read “Falun Dafa Is Good!” and “Quit the Party to Stay Safe!” as well as Falun Dafa books. He then took me to a van, had me hold up the T-shirt and Falun Dafa books, and took my picture.
Several reporters were also taking photos of me, so I told them, “The reason I’m here is that the 610 Office in my district has arrested good people who practice Falun Dafa and detained them without informing their families where they are being held. I can’t find my wife, so I’ve come here to insist that the government release her and give me an explanation.”
I was taken to the Qianmen Police Station, where a duty sergeant who appeared to be in charge said, “You must have had a reason for bringing these things to Tiananmen Square, right?”
I replied, “I simply wanted to ask the government why they arrest good people. My wife is an exemplary schoolteacher. For 30 years, she has been dedicated to her teaching, supported her husband, raised our children, and cared for our elderly parents. She was arrested simply because she practices Falun Dafa to improve her health and become a better person. What did she do wrong? Where is she being held now? Is she dead or alive? I have no idea. Tell me, what is a husband supposed to do in a situation like this?”
He said, “Coming here to petition on your own won’t make much of a difference or cause much of a stir. Aren’t you just wasting your time running around for nothing?”
“How could my trip be in vain? I came here precisely to lay out the facts and let people know that Falun Dafa is good! Even if only you understand this and realize that Falun Dafa is good—and that Dafa practitioners are all good people—if you stop participating in the persecution, then my trip will have been worth it, I won’t have come for nothing!”
Just then, he suddenly slumped over onto the table. It took a long while for him to lift his head, his eyes welling with tears. I was deeply moved as well. Perhaps my sincere thoughts had touched him, awakening his conscience. At that moment, I felt immense gratitude for Master’s blessings, and tears streamed down my face. My trip had not been in vain—a life had been awakened and had come to understand the truth of Dafa. That alone made the journey worthwhile!
He then picked up the phone and called the provincial 610 Office to inquire about my wife. When they replied that there was no such person on record, he flew into a rage and called the governor’s office, saying, “What are you people at the 610 Office doing? You arrested someone but can’t even track down her whereabouts—what’s going on? Her husband has come to Tiananmen Square and is demanding her release. You need to find her immediately and get back to him right away!”
After he hung up, he reassured me: “They’ll get back to us soon, so don’t worry. Since you came alone and didn’t cause any public disturbance, I’ll write up a document exempting you from punishment—you can just take it and go home.”
A short while later, word came back that my wife was being held at the provincial labor camp. He then contacted the reception staff at our province’s Beijing Liaison Office to arrange for my accommodation at their guesthouse, and the following day, the public security division where I worked sent a vehicle to bring me back from Beijing.
Upon my return to the public security division at my workplace, the leadership there faced reprimands from higher authorities specifically regarding my trip to Beijing to petition, so they pressured me to sign some sort of a written pledge. I asked, “What am I supposed to pledge? That I will stop being a good person and become a bad one?”
Later, after I thoroughly explained the facts about Dafa—and armed with the document from the duty police officer at Tiananmen Square (who had understood the truth) stating that I was exempt from punishment—they took no further action against me and allowed me to resume my normal duties. My wife, for her part, was not subjected to any physical abuse throughout the time she spent in the labor camp.
After I returned from Beijing, I fully expected to face repercussions at work for the trouble I had caused. I thought they would surely come down hard on me. To my surprise, however, not only did my superiors and coworkers refrain from reprimanding me, but my standing among them actually soared.
Many gave me a thumbs-up in admiration: “He really has guts—he’s impressive!” “In this day and age, who else would risk so much to stand up for justice and go all the way to Beijing to fight for his wife’s rights?” “That’s amazing! A real man.” Some female colleagues even remarked, “If you’re looking for a husband, a man like him is the ideal choice—but such men are incredibly rare. You’d be hard-pressed to find another one like him anywhere.”
Because I regularly share the facts about the practice with my supervisors at work, they are very supportive of Dafa. Some of them and some of my coworkers have read Zhuan Falun. After learning the truth, they have personally benefited in various ways and have quietly protected me. At times, when the 610 Office or the Public Security Division called to harass me, my supervisors turned them away.
Looking back on the 27 years of my cultivation journey—filled with trials and hardships—every step forward has been meticulously arranged, empowered, enlightened, and watched over by Master. This disciple bows in reverence to Master Li!