Longing for a Return to the Golden Years

(Minghui.org) “Your father is in trouble again! And the police are outside the door now!” When Mr. Zhao Shuai got this voice message from his mother, who lives in Qionghai City in Hainan Province, he immediately started a video call with her.

That was April 7, 2021. Through the networked home security camera, Mr. Zhao and his mother could see six officers outside the door, some in uniform, others in plainclothes. They first knocked at the door, then pounded on it. After that, they kicked the door and threatened, “This is the last warning. If you do not open up, we will break in!” The officers also discussed contacting property management or a locksmith to open the door. This happened between 10 and 11 o’clock at night and lasted over 40 minutes.

Seeing the reckless behavior of the police and the helpless breathing of his mother, Mr. Zhao was also nervous even though he is not in China. Although this may sound almost like a Western movie, for Mr. Zhao, who’s from a family of Falun Gong practitioners, it was all too familiar and frightening.

Home Ransacked, Moving Frequently

In China where Falun Gong has been suppressed since July 1999, countless Falun Gong practitioners, including Mr. Zhao and his family, have been subjected to arrests, detention, torture, and harassment.

One such incident took place on New Year’s Day 2020. After the police pounded on the door that day, Mr. Zhao’s mother opened it. Over 10 police officers rushed in. Ignoring her questions, they searched everywhere, including the two bedrooms and kitchen. Even Mr. Zhao’s schoolbag was turned inside out. Mr. Zhao’s father had already been arrested and was being held at the local police station.

A year later, Mr. Zhao received a notice when he was preparing for a college entrance exam that his father was in a life-threatening condition. At the detention facility, he could not believe the emaciated person in front of him was his father. But from the person's weak voice, Mr. Zhao knew this was his father. “I never thought anyone could be so emaciated,” he recalled.

Like many men from northeastern China, Mr. Zhao’s father was tall and strong. Almost 6 feet tall, he weighed nearly 100 kilos (220 pounds). But after going on a hunger strike for 22 days--no food or water--he was only about 40 kilos (88 pounds). He could not walk or even stand.

That day Mr. Zhao carried his father home on his back. “He was as light as a feather. I never thought my father would be like that,” he said. Not only that, he was diagnosed with gallstones.

While his father was detained, Mr. Zhao had visited him and saw him growing thinner and thinner. But he was still shocked to see just how emaciated his father was. “I did not know how he'd been tortured in prison,” he added, “but I was really shocked.”

The persecution of Falun Gong goes beyond arrest, detention, and torture. Mr. Zhao’s father lost his job at the bank where he had worked for years, Mr. Zhao’s mother was forced to give up a promotion as a government employee and had to retire early. Even Mr. Zhao was discriminated against by his schoolmates.

With no other choice, the family left their home in Hegang City, Heilongjiang Province, in northeast China and moved all the way to Hainan Province in southern China. To avoid harassment by the police, they moved about once every six months. But no matter how difficult it was, they never thought about giving up Falun Gong and the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

Eventful Youth

When Mr. Zhao was four, his father borrowed some money for his own business. But the political campaign against democracy that year (1989) destroyed everything. To make things worse, the family was left with a debt of about 40,000 yuan, about 10 years of the combined salary of his parents. This led to constant arguments between the couple. Although the quarrels mostly happened behind his back, Mr. Zhao still heard them arguing from time to time.

To make things worse, Mr. Zhao’s father was diagnosed with hepatitis B with symptoms of liver cancer in 1993, when he was only 36. He tried all kinds of medicine, but the situation only got worse. With two siblings dead before 40 due to liver cancer, he continued to look everywhere for a cure, including folk medicine, qigong, and consultation with fortunetellers. To cover his medical bills, they even sold their television set and refrigerator. But nothing helped.

Frustrated and in despair, Mr. Zhao’s father became an alcoholic and smoked a lot. He often returned home drunk. Tormented by his illness, Mr. Zhao’s father often took sick leave and spanked Mr. Zhao frequently.

Mr. Zhao grew afraid to go home after school, due to arguments between his parents and abuse from his father. His favorite time of the day was his one-hour commute on the bus, where he could see the streets passing behind him. On cold winter days, the window of the bus would get foggy. Mr. Zhao would clear it with his hand. As it became foggy again, he would clear it again.

Getting to Know Falun Gong

Mr. Zhao’s unhappy childhood changed in 1995. “At that time, I was staying at my grandmother’s. My father came home from a business trip and told us he had found a cure for his illness--Falun Gong,” Mr. Zhao recalled. “My father’s health improved day after day, and our entire family became better and better.”

Mr. Zhao’s father also began to take care of him. In the past, because of illness, pain, worries, and hobbies such as chess and bridge, Mr. Zhao’s father often neglected family obligations. After he began to practice Falun Gong, he helped Mr. Zhao with his schoolwork and even cooked for the family. Every noon when he came home from school, a hot lunch was waiting for him. To him, the best time of the day was no longer the bus ride, but his home, a real home.

Another surprise was that Mr. Zhao’s father also helped him learn Falun Gong. In the past, the elder Mr. Zhao had tried various qigongs, but he only practiced by himself and never got his wife or son involved. This time, both Mr. Zhao and his mother began to practice Falun Gong, too.

Mr. Zhao’s mother used to suffer from sinusitis, which made breathing difficult. She had to use nasal spray from time to time and occasionally had to breathe through her mouth. In the freezing winters of northeast China, that was a horrible feeling. After she became a practitioner, her sinusitis was cured. Like her husband, she also became more patient and kinder. They no longer yelled at Mr. Zhao for his poor grades. Instead, they provided practical advice on how to improve. They also shared the beauty of Falun Gong with others hoping they could benefit from it, too.

At that time, Mr. Zhao was 11, and he liked reading Zhuan Falun and other Falun Gong books. Hearing other practitioners share their experiences also gave him inspiration on how to become a better person by living by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. He stopped crying for this or that toy. He no longer did bad things, such as damaging tiles in the nearby factory or harming young animals or insects.

The Golden Years

Mr. Zhao also liked going with his parents to group Fa-study and the exercises on weekends. Every Sunday, they would walk half an hour to the public square in town to do the exercises with hundreds of other practitioners. Several grandfathers standing in the front always wore golden outfits and they looked great. After doing the exercises, practitioners would stay together to watch the video lectures by Master Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong.

Mr. Zhao found Falun Gong very different from other systems. “Most qigong systems focus on doing the movements while Falun Gong teachings emphasize the improvement of character to be good people,” he said. “It has brought lots of changes to our family.” Everyone became healthier and happier. The difficulties in their lives were resolved. His mother was promoted, and both she and her husband got raises. They repaid their debts and had enough left over to purchase a separate, large apartment that was used for group Fa-study.

Ever since middle school, Mr. Zhao's father often woke him up during summer and winter breaks at 4:30 a.m. for group exercises. In northeast China, the temperature was often 20 or 30 degrees (Celsius) below zero. Nonetheless, people would feel warm and were happy every day.

For Mr. Zhao, the time between 1995 and 1999 were “golden years.” “Recalling those days gives me the feeling of the sun--bright and warm,” he explained. “Those were the most memorable moments in my life. When I have difficulties in my life, I always remember that period of time, which gives me comfort and strength.”

Miracles in the Dark Days

After the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began to suppress Falun Gong in July 1999, Mr. Zhao’s parents were forced to stay away from home many times to avoid being arrested. His father was sent to a labor camp twice, with terms adding up to five years. But Mr. Zhao feels fortunate because the family has been blessed by Falun Gong in the most difficult days of their life. People that know him often say he is very lucky.

Given the constant pressure and discrimination, Mr. Zhao didn't do very well in school. Nonetheless, he refused to answer any questions that defamed Falun Gong, even if it meant he would lose points. However, when he graduated from middle school, the best high school in Hegang enrolled students with talent and he was one of them due to his fine art skills.

When it was time for college, Mr. Zhao surprisingly received a letter from Capital Normal University in Beijing. Having always wanted to study in Beijing, this was a dream for him. It turned out that Capital Normal University had recently launched a Department of Graphic Design, to which he was admitted.

After graduating from college, Mr. Zhao worked as a designer in the military. Since his work was primarily praising the CCP and its army, he quit that job and tried other opportunities. He and his father had temporary housing built and rented it out. They also managed a small hotel. In 2010, they saw Udumbara flowers at the entrance of their apartment, which gave them hope and energy.

Mr. Zhao also worked in the banking industry. He had learned what he needed to know for the job on his own and was very considerate of his clients’ needs. He also helped them find technical partners to further expand their business. His performance earned a province-level award and, before leaving China, he was a company’s finance director.

Fleeing China

His successful career and happy family, on the other hand, could not overcome the pressure of the 22-year-long persecution.

A strange phone call from the police in 2018 alerted Mr. Zhao to the reality that his entire family is still being watched by the police. That means they can be forced to leave home and live with uncertainty at any time.

Mr. Zhao hopes his parents can have a stable life. He also expects better conditions for his daughter so that she will not be forced to study the CCP doctrines. Just like his own parents' expectations, Mr. Zhao hopes his own daughter can live by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. As a result, he decided to leave China with his wife and daughter and move to a land of freedom.

Mr. Zhao Shuai, his wife, and their year-old daughter

Unfortunately, his parents were still left in Hainan Province. Right now, his father has once again been arrested and he can't get any information from the police.

A Society Without the CCP

Similar to his college years, Mr. Zhao once again lost contact with his parents. But he knows his father did the right thing in telling others about Falun Gong and the persecution. “It is my father that introduced me to Falun Gong. From him, I have witnessed how wonderful and miraculous the practice is,” he said. “Falun Gong has taught us to be honest. And my father’s words and actions have also taught me how to be a father.”

These experiences also allowed him to see the vicious nature of the CCP. Mr. Zhao said the suppression has not only caused Falun Gong practitioners pain but has also harmed CCP officials themselves. By suppressing innocent practitioners and the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, the officials are leading China to danger.

What Mr. Zhao has experienced makes him believe that, as long as the CCP continues to exist, more Chinese will suffer tragedies like his family has. His story is just one example of the tens of millions of practitioners that have been arrested, discriminated against, or harassed in China for their belief in Falun Gong.

To help more people break away from the CCP, Mr. Zhao and his wife have been sharing their stories to expose the brutality of the CCP. He also hopes more people will reject the CCP and find hope, just like he experienced during those golden years.