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Fiction: Maple Leaves Turning Red
By Jiang Di
(Clearwisdom.net) The leaves of the big maple in front of the Chinese
Consulate have turned slightly red. At 9 a.m, Zhi Ping again showed up on time and stood in front of the display
boards, a stack of truth-clarifying materials in his hands. The morning sunshine
cast glimmers of light on his somewhat tired-looking face - he had just finished
his night shift. For the past few months, Zhi Ping spent almost every morning in front of the
Chinese Consulate. When passersby stopped to read the display boards, he would
always present them with a copy of the materials and tell stories about
benevolent Falun Gong practitioners suffering this brutal persecution in China.
There was not anyone in the audience who was not moved by these touching
stories. Today he still stands in front of the boards as usual, with a smile facing
people and vehicles passing by. An old man came from far away. When passing by the boards he stopped. He bent
his back and started to read. The wind blew up his white hair, and people and
vehicles quickly passed behind him while he was concentrating his attention on
reading. Zhi Ping stood to one side, calmly looking at the old man. On the boards are
all that he wanted to say. After he finished reading the last board, the old man looked at Zhi Ping and
said to him, "Young man, it's not easy for you practitioners." The old
man looked beyond and said after he muttered, "I have an analogy which may
not be proper." He pointed into the far distance. Zhi Ping then took a look
at the direction the old man pointed and saw a sewer drain surrounded by a
yellow fence near the road. Signs on all four sides around the sewer drain
reminded people to be cautious and watch out. The old man said slowly, "People's attitudes towards the fence and
safety signs vary. Some know there is danger behind the fence; they appreciate
the comprehensive care and compassion of the person who has put up the signs.
But those who do not recognize the danger would feel that the fences and signs
obstruct their way. Anyway, they all have to make a detour and would thus avoid
the danger." Pausing for a while, the old man continued, "Your
standing here is just like the fence and danger signs preventing people from
falling into the traps of lies." He took a look at the office building of
the Chinese Consulate behind Zhi Ping and tapped Zhi Ping's shoulder, "Keep
going! People need you." Zhi Ping watched as the old man walked away. Beyond, the maple leaves along the roadsides had turned slightly red. |