(Minghui.org) My husband and I own a Chinese pharmacy. Because there are many other Chinese herb stores in our city, the competition is intense. Some pharmacy owners use different ways to maximize profit, such as mixing sand with the herbs or fumigating them with sulfur so they can be stored longer. These methods are the norm in the Chinese herb business.
Business Ethics
As Falun Gong practitioners we know that cheating people is inappropriate. So we always clean the herbs well, remove all the sand, and do not fumigate them with anything since it may lower the quality. In addition, we waive the consultation fee, which is usually 20 or 30 yuan. Although it means that we earn tens of thousand of yuan less every year, we know it's the right thing to do. Sometimes people don't bring money with them, however, we give them the medicine and tell them that they can pay us later. Our customers appreciate our kindness and are loyal to our store. We explain that the principles of Falun Gong teach us to have compassion.
Once, a vendor sent us extra cinnabar which was worth hundreds of yuan. When we returned it he called to thank us. He said, “I did not know there were any good people like you left in this society.” I explained that I practice Falun Gong and he said that he wished to learn more about the practice.
Our Customers
We tell our customers about Falun Gong. We usually start by talking about health and medicine, and then talk about ways to improve health. I often explain the benefits of Falun Gong, how it's accepted around the world, and how it's severely suppressed in China. Most people thank me and agree to withdraw from the communist party.
One day an elderly lady came in to buy Chinese herbs. We chatted and I suggested she recite “Falun Dafa is good” and “Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance is good.” She often recited the phrases. Her foot problem soon disappeared and she no longer needs a cane to walk. She made copies of the Falun Gong materials I gave her and gave them to her friends and neighbors.
Some customers who had difficult illnesses thanked us after they became well. They tried to give of us gifts such as chickens or even money. We turned them down, saying that as practitioners we can't accept them. We have maintained a cordial relationship with our customers, and they are happy to hear about Falun Gong.
A Lost Book
A neighbor of ours asked if their 17-year-old son could work in our store and learn about Chinese medicine. We agreed and the boy came the next day. He did not talk much and was not interested when we talked to him about Falun Gong. Soon after he came, our Chinese medicine reference book, the only copy in the store, was missing.
As time passed, and after he observed how considerate we are of our customers, the young man agreed that the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are good. We explained how the Communist Party slandered and persecuted Falun Gong. After he watched the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party video, he asked us to help him quit the Chinese communist organizations.
One day he came to my husband and me and said, “I took your reference book and I also stole 600 yuan.” He sincerely apologized. He said the practice of Falun Gong teaches people to be honest and he was ashamed about what he did. We thanked him and encouraged him to do better.
The young man has changed a lot. He works hard, is courteous, and is willing to help others. People like him very much. He recently began to read Zhuan Falun and now tells others about Falun Gong.
