"Honestly, had I not blindly believed in the Mentuhui cult, my life would never have become so destitute..." Xiao Li (pseudonym) confessed, her voice choked with tears that flowed uncontrollably like a breached dam. This was the scene public security officers witnessed during a follow-up visit with her.

A Love-Motivated Move and a Life Tested by Hardship

Born in Xinjiang in 1976, Xiao Li was the only daughter among four children. Obedient and lovely, she was cherished by her parents and lived a carefree childhood. As an adult working in Urumqi, she met her future husband, then a fellow restaurant employee. Originating from Dunhuang and finding income opportunities in Urumqi limited, he proposed moving back to his hometown after marriage. Though reluctant to see their daughter move far away, her parents, seeing the couple's genuine affection, ultimately consented. After relocating to Dunhuang with her husband, Xiao Li dedicated herself to homemaking. Her husband proved diligent and hardworking, farming their land while taking on temporary jobs in the city to supplement their income. The couple lived harmoniously. The following year, they welcomed a lovely son, their life progressing peacefully and smoothly.

However, misfortune strikes unexpectedly. When their son was seven, Xiao Li's husband succumbed to a sudden illness, leaving her and the child alone. His untimely death, with their son just starting elementary school, left Xiao Li heartbroken and sleepless. In rural settings, the man is often the family's pillar. Without him, her life grew immensely difficult.

Her parents were aging, her three brothers had their own families. Returning to her parental home would only burden them. Her in-laws, themselves not well-off, could offer only minimal support. Three years after her husband's passing, relatives, pitying their plight, persuaded the in-laws to help introduce Xiao Li to Lao Wang, a single man from a neighboring village.

Lao Wang, also a simple, honest rural man, had failed in an earlier business attempt, accruing debts that delayed marriage. Older now, he found Xiao Li a good woman, and they came together, forming a new family. Lao Wang treated Xiao Li's son as his own, showering him with affection. Through several years of hard work and saving from migrant labor, their situation gradually improved. Xiao Li's heart settled, believing that with perseverance, life would only get better.

Misfortune Strikes Again: Deceived by a Cult's False Promises

Just as Xiao Li felt renewed hope for the future, her child fell ill. One day in September 2018, the boy fell while playing. He seemed fine initially, but days later, he suddenly experienced dizziness and vomiting before losing consciousness. Rushed to the hospital, Xiao Li was told he had a congenital cerebrovascular malformation; the fall had likely triggered a cerebral hemorrhage, requiring immediate surgery. However, the procedure posed significant risks given his young age. This child was Xiao Li's only hope. During his birth, she had suffered a major hemorrhage that left her unable to bear more children. When doctors warned her to prepare for the possibility of surgical failure, she collapsed in tears outside the ward, lamenting how cruelly fate had treated her.

In her moment of despair, a middle-aged woman from the same village appeared. She told Xiao Li that believing in her "God" would save the child. After performing an affected prayer, she left. The long surgery eventually ended with the child surviving. From that day, the "concerned" woman visited daily, insisting her "God" had saved the boy and that joining Mentuhui would ensure lasting protection. Gradually persuaded, Xiao Li joined the cult, soon being appointed a deacon of a sub-assembly and engaging long-term in its activities.

Her husband, Lao Wang, firmly opposed her involvement, urging her not to be deceived. But Xiao Li, now deeply immersed, neglected all else beyond caring for the child's basic needs. Once he left for school, she would sneak out to attend cult gatherings and prayers. Some days, Lao Wang returned from work to find no warm meal waiting. Although their son had left the hospital, he required prolonged treatment, with medication costs becoming a heavy burden. The family's full weight fell on Lao Wang's shoulders. Friction over living expenses grew between the once-harmonious couple. As time passed, the child grew increasingly averse to his mother's participation in Mentuhui. Yet Xiao Li, convinced her hardships stemmed from insufficient spiritual devotion, believed her actions would protect the family from disaster. She continued sinking deeper into the cult's influence.

Eventually, Xiao Li became wholly consumed by cult activities, neglecting not only Lao Wang's well-being but also her son's daily life and education. She attributed their ongoing struggles to her own inadequate "cultivation" and ineffective "spreading gospel.”

During one illegal gathering, Xiao Li was apprehended by police. Even then, she remained stubbornly deluded.

A Heavy Price, a New Beginning After Waking from Delusion

Upon hearing of Xiao Li's cult obsession, her elderly mother in Xinjiang fell gravely ill and soon passed away. Though Lao Wang continued living with Xiao Li, the immense pressure led to constant bickering over minor issues, bringing their family to the brink of collapse. Ashamed of his mother's involvement with the cult, her son grew distant, their relationship almost vanishing entirely.

These cascading misfortunes made tears Xiao Li's daily sustenance, yet they also planted seeds of doubt about Mentuhui. Had the cult not poisoned her life, how could it have unraveled so completely? She had joined seeking her child's health and family harmony—who could have foreseen this tragic outcome?

Through the patient, spring-breeze-like guidance of public security officers and village officials, Xiao Li finally recognized Mentuhui for what it truly was: a complete cult. Now, even hearing its name makes her shake her head in firm rejection.

Happily, with their encouragement and support, Lao Wang and their son have reopened their hearts to Xiao Li.

"Xiao Li, what's past is past," Lao Wang said, holding her hand. "As long as you never believe in cults again, our family of three will surely build a better life together."

"Mom," her son added tearfully, "you always said you joined for my health, but did you ever truly care what I felt inside? All I ever wanted was a harmonious family! Now that I'm grown up, you must break free from this cult so we can live a normal life."

Moved by her family's unwavering loyalty, Xiao Li reflected deeply: "I thank the government and the officers for saving me, and my family for never giving up on me. From now on, I will live a normal life like everyone else—I will never believe in cults again."

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