Lian Wenxiang, 35, is a villager with junior secondary school education in Hejinying Village, Zhangziying Township of Beijing's Daxing County. There are six members in her family. Although her parents-in-law are both aged, they are still able to support themselves and help look after the household affairs. Her husband works in the village chemical plant; their two children are in school. Before practicing Falun Gong, Lian Wenxiang was diligent and virtuous, respecting her parents-in-law and caring for her children. The living standard of her family was of upper middle level in the village.
In June 1998, Lian Wenxiang heard from the villagers about Falun Gong and began to practice it. Ignoring all farm work and household affairs, she studied Falun Gong books all day long. She was so infatuated with the books that she wouldn't put them aside even as she was cooking. Her parents-in-law and her husband tried to dissuade her, but in vain. They sent her to her parents' home in the hope that they might be able to dissuade her, but they failed, too. She insisted on practicing Falun Gong and gradually went into a trance and became dispirited. To dissuade her from practicing Falun Gong, her husband tore up the books, which led to many arguments between them. As of early April 1999, they began to negotiate for a divorce. Lian Wenxiang insisted she wouldn't take the children, but only wanted the two rooms, in which she could practice Falun Gong. Because of the opposition of the family, they weren't able to divorce. Believing that her family had damaged the Falun Dafa, she said, "According to Li Hongzhi, whoever damages Falun Dafa will be destroyed by the Falun Dafa." Having thought about this for a long time, she decided to take her own life first lest her family should be destroyed. On April 29, 1999, she swallowed DDVP to end her life. Fortunately, she was discovered in time and brought back from the brink of death.
