(Minghui.org) Anyone who went to Lian’s home would have seen her father, who is 89, and her father-in-law, who is 92.
Lian has five siblings, and her husband has six siblings, so there were many children the two elderly men could have lived with, but they wanted to live in 50-year-old Lian’s home. Why? Because Lian and her husband both practice Falun Dafa.
Lian started practicing Falun Dafa in 1994, and her husband started in 1995. It was in 1995, that she brought her in-laws from the countryside to live with them.
Lian was very respectful of her parents-in-law. Her father-in-law did not have good hygiene when he came from the countryside—he spit on the balcony, wiped his nose with his hands, and dropped rubbish everywhere. Lian never complained. She helped her mother-in-law by cutting her fingernails and her hair. She also took her to the public bath place to bathe. (Most people in China do not have facilities to take a bath where they live.) Someone asked her mother-in-law enviously, “Is this your daughter?” She said with a smile, “She is my daughter-in-law and is better than my own daughter!” The in-laws took care of the housework while Lian and her husband went to work. The family was content.
That is, until 1999, when the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began to persecute Falun Dafa. Lian’s husband was illegally imprisoned for not giving up his faith in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Lian went to work during the day and looked after her in-laws when she got home.
A year later, Lian was illegally detained in a forced labor camp because she refused to give up her belief. This happy family was torn apart by the cruel persecution. Lian’s mother-in-law passed away in 2001 because she couldn’t bear to be apart from her son and daughter-in-law. Lian’s father-in-law was picked up and cared for by his eldest daughter.
After returning home from the labor camp, Lian cleaned and scrubbed their dusty home and brought her father-in-law back from his eldest daughter’s home. Lian took care of him by herself, cooked the food he liked, bought him comfortable clothes, and chatted with him to comfort his lonely heart. Under Lian’s meticulous care, he started to smile again. When Lian’s husband came home from prison, the elderly man was greatly relieved to see the couple reunited.
Carefully taken care of by Lian and her husband, the elderly man’s body and mind returned to the good state he was in before the persecution began. Both Lian and her husband found good jobs and resumed their peaceful lives.
Less than five years later, leading up to the 2008 Olympics, CCP officials feared that Lian and her husband would petition for Falun Dafa and arrested them on unwarranted charges. Lian was held in a forced labor camp for two years, and her husband was illegally imprisoned. This good family was broken up again!
In fact, Lian was arrested while she was waiting at the hospital for her father-in-law to have cataract surgery. He didn’t know that the police had taken Lian away until his daughter came to the hospital the next day. The old man cried, missing his son and daughter-in-law very much.
After returning home from the labor camp, Lian picked up her father-in-law and took him back to her home. The villagers knew that the old man had a doting daughter-in-law who practiced Falun Dafa. They were impressed, and some were even envious.
Lian’s parents lived in their eldest daughter’s vacant home. A few days after Lian’s husband was released from prison, he saw a notice to pay their heating bill posted on the door of his parents-in-law. He knew that they had no income and didn't want to trouble their children, so he pooled together all the money he and Lian had (about 2,500 yuan), and paid their heating bill without hesitation. When Lian’s father learned of this, he was moved and kept telling his wife, “This man has just returned from prison. He has no job and no income, yet he paid our heating bill.” Several other families heard about this and were also very touched.
In February 2017, Lian’s sister-in-law’s second child was born. Lian’s brother took care of his wife and baby, but could not also take care of his elderly parents. As Lian’s mother was in poor health, Lian and her husband took her parents home to take care of them. In May, Lian’s mother passed away. Lian’s older sister wanted to take the father to live with her, but the 86-year-old wanted to live with Lian because they practiced Falun Dafa and took good care of him.
To make it easier for the two elderly men, Lian and her husband sold their apartment on the fourth floor and bought a three-bedroom, two-living room apartment on the first floor. The two elderly men each had their own comfortable, sunny room. They shared a large living room to watch TV.
When the flowers bloomed in spring, Lian and her husband drove the men to the park to enjoy them. Sometimes they accompanied their fathers to see the outdoor festivities. Lian’s husband drove them to where they lived before to get a haircut, because they got good haircuts there and they were inexpensive. That made the men happy. At home, Lian’s husband took turns bathing the men, who were appreciative. Everyone in the family got along, and the neighbors envied them. Their children, grandsons, and nephews often came to visit. Motivated by the kindness and mutual respect they saw in Lian’s family, they bought clothes, shoes, and gifts for the two men when they came to visit. The two families got along well. The neighbors said that a big harmonious family like that was really unusual these days!
Filial piety is a tradition of the older generations. How many young people understand it now? Those younger people who practice Falun Dafa understand it.
Last year, Lian’s family returned to their hometown to attend a nephew’s wedding. Lian’s father-in-law wanted to stay at the elder sister’s home for a few days. On the third day, the elder sister called and said her father had a cold. A few days later, Lian’s husband brought his father back to their home and then took him to a hospital. The doctor said he’d had a massive heart attack. Since he was old and had organ failure, surgery wasn’t called for. He passed away at the age of 92.
The villagers said it was a joyful funeral. The elderly man passed away in just a few short days; his appearance was peaceful and relaxed.
From his small monthly pension and gifts from relatives and friends on his birthday over the years, he had accumulated nearly 50,000 yuan. After the funeral, Lian and her husband divided the money equally among their brothers and sisters.
Later, at a family gathering, Lian’s second sister-in-law said at the banquet, “From now on, our whole family will learn Dafa.” This year at Lian’s eldest brother’s home, Lian’s eldest brother-in-law said with emotion to more than 20 relatives, “Our big family is so happy. In the future, I hope the women learn from Lian, and the men learn from Lian’s husband.” Lian added, “We all learn from Dafa.” Everyone talked and laughed and were happy!
After Lian and her husband learned Falun Dafa, the changes in them affected the whole family. Some read Dafa books, and some listen to Master Li’s (the founder of Falun Dafa) audio Fa teachings. Lian’s eldest sister originally opposed Dafa, but she changed a lot later on. When she went to Lian’s home, she personally offered fresh fruit she bought to Master Li’s portrait. Other family members admire Dafa from the bottom of their hearts and are grateful to Master.
I am so happy that so many people understand the truth about Dafa!