Here are two stories that illustrate the idea of “words have consequences,” emphasizing that people should keep their promises and act virtuously. These tales of karmic retribution reveal that the principle of cause and effect is not an empty concept.
Words spoken, immediately proven
Lei Feng was a soldier in the Chinese Communist Army, and the Chinese Communist Party designated March 5th each year as “Learn from Lei Feng Day.” However, Lei Feng was a deliberately crafted heroic figure, and the bizarre stories promoted by the official propaganda makers were so absurd that they couldn’t withstand scrutiny. Both his diary and photos were fabricated for propaganda purposes.
Later investigations revealed that Lei Feng’s diary was collectively written by a group, and many of his photos were staged or retaken. The photographer who took the most photos of Lei Feng was Zhang Jun, a former political commissar of the Shenyang Military Region, who took more than 300 photos of Lei Feng.
On the afternoon of March 5, 2013, on “Learn from Lei Feng Day,” Zhang Jun spoke at the Shenyang Military Region’s Learn from Lei Feng Symposium. At the end of his speech, he swore to Chairman Mao: “I guarantee that everything I said today is true. If there is even half a falsehood, I will die on the spot.” Immediately after, Zhang Jun suffered a heart attack and died on the spot, despite rescue efforts. There are also photos from the scene as evidence, which were witnessed by attendees of the conference.
A merchant’s habit of short-changing customers leads to retribution
In Xingcheng County, Liaoning Province, China, there stands a unique archway. The archway is built with square stone pillars and multiple layers, making it stand out among the surrounding structures. The first layer of the archway has four large square pillars supporting it, and there are three differently-sized entrances beneath the structure. In front of the stone pillars. A pair of large stone lions stand guard.
The roof of the archway is made of green tiles and is carved from long stone bars. On the sides, the archway features horn-like decorations that curve upwards. However, one of these horn-like decorations is missing a piece, leaving a gap in the otherwise grand and intricate design.
On the right side of the archway, a large, several-hundred-pound horn-shaped stone can be found standing on the sidewalk. This stone is the missing piece from the archway’s horn decoration. Locals are familiar with a true story that explains the reason for the missing piece and the stone on the sidewalk.
According to local elders, the missing stone was due to the greed of a dishonest businessman surnamed Zhang. He was known for cheating on the weight of his goods. On one occasion, after agreeing on a deal, he secretly tampered with the scale. He then pointed at the horn of the archway and brazenly declared: “If I cheat on the weight, let a piece of the archway fall and kill me.” To everyone’s astonishment, a piece of the horn-like decoration broke off and fell, killing the dishonest merchant on the spot.
The residents kept this stone in the middle of the road where it fell, serving as a reminder of the story of the dishonest merchant who faced retribution. The tale continues to spread, reminding people of the importance of justice and the consequences of committing evil deeds.
Translated by Joseph Wu
