Zhiming was the youngest, but the most considerate
During that time, the remote countryside in Northern China was our paradise and brought much happiness during our childhood. The winter in Northern China was frozen and snowy. For us Spring Festival was the most exciting time of year.
At my grandmother’s house, there was no theatrical performance for us to watch. The frozen ground covered with snow served as our boundless stage to play snow fights and throw snowballs at one another. Usually we would go sledding, running, shouting, laughing with excitement, with our hands and faces almost frozen and glowing. Without pastries, cake and sugar, we would have roasted sweet potatoes.
Among all the brothers, Zhiming was the most obedient and always followed me wherever I went. Once we had some outdoor activities, and Zhiming failed to catch up with us. After going back to find him, we discovered that he had stumbled on a stone and fell. He was sitting on the ground crying. I felt afraid and sad. I was afraid that my parents would blame me for neglecting my younger brother. I felt sad that my brother had fallen down and was in pain. Therefore, I started crying, too. Seeing me crying, Zhiming stopped crying and took a roasted sweet potato from his pocket, put it into my mouth and said, “Brother, don’t cry. I am all right.” Zhiming was the youngest, but the most considerate.
To study in a military school
As I grew up, I was admitted to Anhwei Hefei University of Technology. When I was in my second year , Zhiming was about to have his college entrance exam. At that time, our home had a very tight budget. Teaching in the university, my parents remained poor and could hardly support the household and my college tuition. To lessen the economic burden on our parents, Zhiming with his outstanding grades decided to study in a military school because military school students did not have to pay any tuition, and were given a monthly grant. With his outstanding grades, Zhiming was admitted to The Air Force Institute of Engineers in Xi’An City and studied electricity. I remembered that during his first year he sent me an amount of money that he saved on food and expenses to help me through university.
During countless nights when I was studying in the classroom and felt like taking a rest, I would think of my brother and exert myself to study harder. In this greedy and immoral society, whenever I became trapped in material pursuit, I would think of my brother and my turbulent heart would calm down.
To spend the summer vacation at home brought the most pleasing moments. During his first summer vacation in the military school, Zhiming came back home and we saw each other again. He had become physically stronger and was more mature. We spent time together swimming, playing table tennis, playing chess, and talking about philosophy and life. Zhiming enjoyed playing the guitar and I remembered that his favourite song was “Road of 365 kilometres.”
Because of his outstanding academic results, after his graduation from the military school, Zhiming was offered the opportunity to undertake further studies in the graduate institute. During his school years, he saved money to buy his parents a washing machine and a new colour TV to replace the old black and white one.
In 1996 I came to San Francisco to continue my studies. After graduation, my financial status was much improved. But Zhiming still lived a very frugal life. Once when I went back to Beijing from the USA to visit Zhiming, there were, besides books, only one bed and one guitar in his dorm. He sat on his bed playing the familiar song for me, “Road of 365 kilometres”. The song expressed a deepening and indissoluble sense of brotherhood that accompanied me from my hometown to a foreign country.
Being unlawfully sentenced to four years in prison
After receiving his Master’s degree, Zhiming was assigned to work for The Air Force Institute of Training. In 1998, he wrote a letter to me and told me that he had found his path of life—practising Falun Gong. By reading his letter, I could sense his delight and happiness. Later, in another letter he told me that he had been promoted to the head of the computer room and the most excellent annual Communist Party member in his working unit. When the future of our family was becoming more and more promising, in July 1999 one unpredictable storm swept across mainland China like the evil waves of the Cultural Revolution. Civilians were arrested, their homes confiscated. Serving in the army, Zhiming was one of the first to confront the persecution. The leader of his unit talked to him every day, asking him to give up practising Falun Gong. But Zhiming used his personal experiences to prove that Falun Gong brought benefits to practitioners and did no harm to the society and civilians.
With the escalating persecution, the army launched a campaign called “a test everyone must pass”. Therefore, Zhiming was in an increasingly stressful situation. From March 2000 to May 2000, Zhiming was imprisoned in some place near Xi Shan by the political Department of the Air Force and underwent “transformation” for three months. Because Zhiming refused to give up Falun Dafa, the Air Force Headquarters, under pressure from the central government, let Zhiming go home. In the meantime the police took over Zhiming’s dorm. Besides Falun Gong books, the police also found a receipt for a donation Zhiming made to help children to continue their education. This really shocked them.
After returning home, Zhiming was frequently harassed by the police. Unable to stay at home, he had to wander about and became homeless. Since June 2000, we have heard of nothing from him. I was told that Zhiming was arrested by the National Security Bureau whilst visiting his friend in Shanghai. Without any warrant or legal procedure, Zhiming and his friends were charged with an “illegal gathering” and arrested just because of their belief in “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.”
Several months later, the police notified my parents that Zhiming was arrested. Later, they were also notified that he was sentenced to four years in prison.
Musical movement—life obtains its eternity because of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance”
In the October of 2001, one of Zhiming’s cellmates was released and brought us this letter from him:
Dear Father and Mother, how have you been?
I am in the prison but don’t worry about me. I just want to know how our family is.. I hope that you can write me a letter.
I hope that you will not feel sad about my imprisonment. I was not involved in politics; nor did I do anything against our government or society. I just want to do justice to Falun Gong. I am not in blind pursuit of anything. I just keep my firm belief in “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.” Facing myself I could never do anything against my conscience. No eternal power could alter my belief.
Having read some books on the Cultural Revolution, I understand much about life and society. I know that people can be easily swayed by public opinion and stirred by developing concepts. But I clearly understand that my choice is out of reason and calm because “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance” is my true nature and also most precious. In all my life, it has never changed.
[...]
By the way, they said that I was sentenced to four years in prison. In a month, I may be transferred to another location. But I am sure that I don’t have to stay in prison for four years. As the saying goes, “If people want to know the height and purity of pine trees, they have to wait until the melting of snow.” I am very optimistic about my situation.
Hope that you will take care of yourselves. I wish you well.
Zhiming.
September 27, 2001.
After reading my brother’s letter, I was in tears. Past memories flashed across my mind and made me choke with emotion. My heart was deeply shocked.
I had struggled between reality and my goals. Helplessly I had left my kindness and purity in the past and forgot my childhood in that remote countryside in Northern China. I adopted the attitude of minding my own business, busy with making a living, in pursuit of fame and wealth, lost in the world!
I had never known what belief was and why people would sacrifice their lives to defend their belief. When looking back at my past, it dawned on me that the purpose of our brotherhood, which had lasted for thirty years was to strike up a melody—life obtains its eternity because of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.” The theme of the melody had been composed by the youth of my brother—“I have not wasted my time. Someday you will understand that what I did is the most worthwhile.”
Chinese version available at
http://www.yuanming.net/articles/200302/17305.html
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