(Minghui.org) I am a chef by profession and started practicing Falun Dafa in 1995 when I was 24. Soon afterward, I was reborn. I changed from behaving foolishly to behaving in a dignified manner, I began considering others first, and became someone who really benefits society.
In 2000, I was illegally held at a detention center in the same cell as criminal prisoners. We were provided with two meals a day, but sometimes the second meal was not delivered. Each person received half a bowl of moldy corn cobs. Two people also shared a small bowl of salty water.
The detention center menu actually listed cabbage soup, celery soup, or radish soup; but I never saw any of those vegetables. Long-term prisoners said that it was indeed a soup; but after it was cooked, the vegetables were removed and fed to the pigs and what was left was given to us.
In that environment, every kernel of corn was precious. There was a thief, a big man at least six-feet tall, who was always hungry. I gave him half of my cornmeal every day, and drank only half my portion of the salty water and gave the rest to him.
One day, as I was drinking the salted water, I found a piece of meat. I immediately picked it out and threw it in his bowl. He stared blankly for a second and ate it quickly. After the meal, I saw him hiding his face for a long time. He came to me with a blushed complexion and said: "You always give me your food and take care of me. Today, you gave me the only piece of meat you had. I am very selfish, I am not even a human. If there was no one else here, I would kneel in front of you. You are good to me, I'll remember you forever." I smiled and said: “In fact, any Dafa disciple would do the same. Falun Dafa requires us to be good to others.”
The cell was less than 30 square meters and held 20 plus people. Everyone could hear and see what I did every day. I told them about Falun Dafa being introduced to the public, how practitioners are required to be good people, and how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) framed Dafa. I told them, “Jiang Zemin fabricated incidents like the Tianamenself-immolation and other untruths.” Hearing that Dafa was wronged moved the inmates: “You do not belong here. Hurry up and leave!”
Shortly after that, I was transferred to another detention center. The environment there was relatively relaxed. Half of the detainees were Dafa disciples. We read four lectures from Zhuan Falun every day, and the rest of the time we talked to other prisoners about Falun Dafa and the persecution.
All the prisoners understood the facts. They had sufficient time to understand what Dafa is, why Dafa disciples are being persecuted, and what kind of people Dafa disciples are. We coordinated the truth clarification well and always considered others first. Soon, all prisoners and police officers regarded Dafa disciples with respect.
When a company manager was released, he came back to the cell before the iron gate was closed and bowed to us three times. He said with tears in his eyes: “I didn't come to the detention center in vain. I met Dafa disciples who were wronged. You are the ones that I admire the most. In the future, if I hear someone saying that Falun Dafa is not good, I will stand up and say something fair about Dafa.”
After I was released from the detention center, I found a job in a cafeteria. It was far from my home, so I lived in the workplace dormitory. This cafeteria provided employees with breakfast, consisting of porridge, steamed buns, and pickles.
My coworkers who prepared breakfast all lived far away and had to get up early, which was very hard for them. I was responsible for cooking lunches, so I took the initiative and said: “I live nearby and get up early to do the exercises, and have free time in the morning. You don't have to come in early. I will make breakfast for you so you don't have to rush here.”
So I started preparing breakfast as well. They tried to share the overtime pay they got for preparing breakfast with me every month, but I never accepted it. In this job, I was the only strong young person, so naturally, I did all the dirty or heavy lifting jobs.
I worked there for eight months. On several occasions, I was asked to cook meals for a respected official. This guest was satisfied with the meals I cooked and transferred me to a cafeteria that prepared food for high-ranking officials. I worked there for a total of six years.
I brought the beauty of Dafa to everyone I had contact with. On several occasions, the city government asked businesses to terminate the jobs of all Falun Dafa practitioners. The managers at my workplace, however, didn't follow the order because they knew that I was a hard-working, responsible person, and made the best meals. They said that the chef who practices Falun Dafa was the most trustworthy person in the place.
A friend of mine who ran a hotel needed my help so he hired me as head chef. Being a head chef at a hotel restaurant meant I could be tempted to accept monetary kickbacks from suppliers. I was even asked to provide my bank account info so they could wire me a commission. I never accepted a penny from any of them. I told them: “I practice Falun Dafa and will not accept anything from you. As long as you provide good quality products, I will never be picky about your business.
One supplier said: "I have been delivering goods to the hotel for decades and have never met a chef like you. I wouldn't believe it if it wasn't my personal experience. Your faith is incredible! I admire your beliefs."
I replied: “What I do is very common for Dafa disciples. Anyone who practices Falun Dafa will be like this. The CCP has been cruelly persecuting us for years, yet, we still choose to practice it. Think about it. If Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is a facade, nobody would practice it."
He said, “That is true. Falun Dafa is the true faith.”
Almost all the employees who worked at this hotel heard the facts about Dafa and understood why it was persecuted. They also quit their CCP memberships and chose a beautiful future for themselves.
I am a life created by Dafa, so I have enough confidence to consider others first and not think about personal gain. I have the mentality to cooperate with others.
Wherever I worked, I told people that I practice Dafa. I used my actions to let people feel the beauty of Dafa. It is evident that these 20 years of unjust persecution were in vain; there is no way to change people's righteous beliefs.
All my colleagues and friends understand the truth and now respect Dafa. And they, too, have chosen a bright future for themselves.
I am only a particle of the Fa. People are saved because of the boundless compassion of Master Li (the founder) and Dafa. Wherever I go, I want to be a superb person and exemplify the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.