How Many More Honest People Are Left In This World?

By a non-practitioner in China

(Clearwisdom.net) I run a business buying fruits and vegetables in bulk and distributing them to resellers. My trade routes are in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and some inland towns and villages in China. My extensive travel has given me a good knowledge of China, hence nothing seemed to bother me much, and earning money was my only concern. However, I came across an incident that I will never forget. It has made me realize that there is something even more valuable than money, and that is the heart of a Falun Dafa practitioner.

In early spring of 2002, I traveled to Huaiyang County, Henan Province, to buy fresh asparagus, so that I could take it back to Guangzhou for distribution. I stopped at Bankou, a village where asparagus is farmed in abundance, and set up a temporary collection stall. For the next few days that followed, I was busy day and night. On the third day just before noon, a man came by with a load of asparagus on his bicycle. He was about 50 years old, with a strong build and very spirited. After parking his bicycle, and without asking for the buying price, he put his bag of asparagus on the weighing scale. I looked at the weight and told him how much it was worth. Then, I counted the money and handed him the cash. Without recounting it, he took the money, shoved it into his pocket and left. Somehow, I felt something wasn't quite right after he left. After rechecking my money bag, I noticed that I had overpaid him by a hundred yuan [500 yuan is equal to the average monthly salary of an urban worker in China].

"What am I going to do? Too late to catch up with him now! He will not bring back more asparagus to sell."

At about one o'clock that afternoon, the same man who sold me the asparagus, with sweat dripping all over, hurriedly pulled his bicycle up beside my stall. Pulling out a hundred-yuan note from his pocket, he said, "You overpaid me this morning. I'm sorry that I hadn't counted it before leaving. I didn't want you to get worried, so I hurried back to return the money. I know you are running a tough business, and it is hard to make a few yuan."

His words came out with such sincerity! I thought I was dreaming and I could hardly believe my ears. In this complex society, who would still do that? Dumbfounded for a while, I tried hard to find words to express myself. "May I know your name and address?" I asked, "I would like to write an article to the paper to express my thanks, and also to let others know."

He told me that he lived in a small village, in the farm district of Chuanhui, 18 Li (about 6 miles) from here. He said that he had been laid off, but as he had a few acres of land, he decided to come back to plant asparagus. After hearing him speak, I said to myself, "I haven't met an unemployed person that doesn't love money. He cycled 6 miles just to bring the money back. I don't think that there are too many of such people around in the world today." I invited him to have dinner with me, but he declined. When I asked his name, he smiled, then maybe because there were too many people around, he came close to my ear and whispered, "Just to let you know that I am a Dafa practitioner. Falun Dafa is good. It will help you gain peace and will bring blessing to the whole family." When he finished speaking, he jumped on his bike and left.

Two years have elapsed, but the incident still pops up in my mind every now and then. In the past, I did not take any notice when someone told me how good Falun Dafa is. Later, when the government launched its relentless attack on Falun Dafa and its practitioners on national TV, I was almost convinced. But now, I have personally met a Falun Gong practitioner whose honesty speaks for what he practices. To the man who sold me the asparagus, I would like to let you know that we, my wife, my son and I, all know that Falun Dafa is good. I would also like to tell the whole world that Falun Dafa is good: "Do not be misled by the lies being broadcast on national TV."

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