(Minghui.org) In our northern rural village, the tofu shop was usually the liveliest place in the morning, somewhere people looked forward to going for a delicious breakfast. One day, however, the shop nearly erupted into a violent fight.
One morning in 2009, my husband went to the village tofu shop to enjoy some tofu pudding. As soon as he returned home, he began to cry. Shocked, I asked him what had happened. He said he had been hit by Mr. Hu, the owner of the tofu shop.
It turned out that when my husband went to the shop that morning, the village chief’s wife was waiting for him at the entrance. She said, “You told Mrs. Hu (the shop owner’s wife) that I didn’t pay for my meal yesterday. You are a respected person in the village, and I usually respect you. How could you do something like this?”
My husband replied, “I did not. I didn’t even see you come to eat yesterday, how could I say you didn’t pay?”
The two of them went to find Mrs. Hu. My husband asked her, “When did I ever tell you that she didn’t pay for her meal yesterday? I didn’t even see her yesterday. How can you make up something like that?”
Mrs. Hu said nothing. Mr. Hu stood nearby glaring and shouted at my husband, telling him to shut up. My husband responded, “How can you not let someone speak up for himself when you’re telling lies?” Hearing this, Mr. Hu grabbed a bamboo dustpan and struck my husband hard.
Mrs. Hu knew that my husband had undergone stomach cancer surgery four years earlier and could not become agitated, so she quickly stepped in and pulled her husband away. My husband has always been known as an honest and decent man who never stirs up trouble. After being treated like this, he could not bear it and immediately told me about it when he got home.
I became furious and said, “This is simply too much bullying!” The more I thought about it, the angrier I became. My husband wanted me to go and talk to them, or otherwise, he said, he wouldn’t be able to swallow this humiliation!
I am 76 years old, and used to be known as a “tough person.” I was strong-willed, sharp-tongued, and quick-tempered, unwilling to suffer even the slightest grievance. In 1996, I began practicing Falun Dafa, following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and I gradually changed, learning to hold myself to the standards of the Fa.
So when I heard my husband say that he could not swallow this humiliation, I suddenly calmed down. I realized I was looking at things from the standpoint of personal grievance again. If someone hits or kicks another person, isn’t there a karmic connection behind it? Grudges should be resolved, rather than be repaid with resentment.
I said to my husband, “I can’t go argue with them. I must stand on the principles of the Fa and listen to Master’s teachings. If I go and fight with others, would I still be a Falun Dafa practitioner? Wouldn’t that bring shame to the Fa?”
Upon hearing this, my husband began crying again. He said, “Don’t you care about my feelings? Are you just going to watch me die from anger?” In order not to upset him further, I decided to go to the tofu shop. On my way there, I kept thinking about how to handle the situation.
Many people were outside the entrance of the tofu shop when I got there a few minutes later, discussing the fight that had just occurred, including several people I had helped withdraw from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations.
When people saw me coming, they thought I was there to continue the fight. As soon as I stepped into the shop, a large crowd rushed in behind me. Even the nearby vendor frying dough sticks stopped his business and followed us in. Everyone expected a big scene.
As soon as I entered, I called Mrs. Hu’s name loudly. She answered and came out holding a ladle. I said, “I heard my husband and your husband had a ‘world war?’” I laughed after saying that.
As soon as I laughed, everyone watching laughed. Mrs. Hu replied, “Today’s incident has nothing to do with your husband or my husband. It was all because I told a lie. Because your husband comes here every morning and people trust what he says, and I mentioned him as a reference. I am old now and my mind is not as clear as it used to be. In fact, the village chief’s wife didn’t even come here to eat yesterday. It was all my mistake.”
She kept saying it was all her fault, but I did not lay a single word of blame on her.
In the end, she said, “Please pass my apologies to your husband. Tell him not to be angry anymore, and to come for breakfast tomorrow morning.” Then she went inside and brought out a few mixed corn and wheat steamed buns, saying, “I know your husband likes these. Please take some for him.” I normally don’t accept things from others, but that day I took them to show that I was not upset. Smiling, I left with the buns, and the Hu couple, along with the onlookers, saw me out.
A few days later, I passed by the tofu shop again. Mr. Hu immediately brought out a chair from inside and insisted that I sit for a while. I smiled and sat down, and helped his entire family withdraw from the CCP.
More than ten years have passed since the incident. I never felt comfortable writing this down, wondering whether doing so would be showing off. I have a limited education, and I cannot write elegantly. I simply wish to express my gratitude to Master. It was Master who transformed me from a tough lady into a kind and gentle person.
(Selected submission in celebration of 2026 World Falun Dafa Day on Minghui.org)
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