﻿The results from the National College Entrance Examination,
or NCEE, will be released today.
Candidates and their parents are both nervous and excited
to see the results of this highly-watched national test.
So, how do exam candidates and their parents view the NCEE?
For me, the NCEE is the easiest way to change my path in life, my future.
And what's your opinion?
My parents aren't rich, so the NCEE is my only chance.
My wish is for my granddaughter to make something of herself and become successful.
Nowadays, without a college degree,
your only work option is physical labor,
and that makes for a hard life.
It's no way to live. Really.
It's important to graduate from a good university.
When you do, you have better starting salaries, benefits and all.
The competition is so intense they won't even interview without a college degree.
You know what? My son got over 600 on the NCEE!
Wow! Your son got over 600!
That's a really good score!
Jiarui,
go online to see if your score is already posted.
What? The scores are up?
Your brother works at the Education Bureau,
so you know.
Hey, the bus is here.
- Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! … - No, it's not up yet.
Oh, okay.
Hey, call me as soon as you get your score.
Please don't forget!
Fine, I won't.
You already told me three times.
You usually have good grades,
so I'm not worried!
Don't forget to call me!
Mrs. Xu, are you checking again?
Yeah.
Very soon the results will be out.
Don't worry.
Jiarui's is usually first or second in her class.
For the NCEE, she'll be fine!
Of course she'll be fine!
I'm ready to congratulate her!
Once she's admitted to college,
we'll celebrate!
You'll all be invited.
I hope so!
- You sure will! - Well, you know,
we might have two things to celebrate!
Oh?
Look.
The sales manager position is open, right?
In terms of qualification and performance,
I can't think of a better candidate than Mrs. Xu!
- Right? - Don't be so sure.
Office meeting!
Please allow me
to introduce our new sales manager, Li Jiaqi.
Hello, everyone.
Oh, the new sales manager!
I hope you'll all assist her in her new duties.
I look forward to learning from you all.
Welcome!
Alright. That's all. Let's get back to work.
Mm. Okay.
Mrs. Xu.
Yes.
Take Ms. Li and show her around.
Yes, of course.
Thank you.
Let's start this way.
Hey! Hey! Yuehua! Yuehua! Come here! Come here!
You know what?
The new sales manager they promoted started working here 2 years ago.
- And she's already promoted to sales manager! - Right.
Li Jiaqi has a pretty good performance record,
but not quite as good as Mrs. Xu.
But I've heard she graduated from a renown university.
Oh, that's why.
Mrs. Xu definitely has the ability,
but she only has …
she only has a 2-year degree.
Against someone from a prestigious university,
she can't measure up.
Yeah, you know,
this is preferential treatment.
Now I really understand what they mean when they say
"To be a scholar is to be at the top of society."
- Oh, knock it off! - Stop showing off!
Just stop it, will you?
- Oh, she comes. - Hey, didn't you have a client appointment?
Oh, right, right, right.
Mrs. Xu.
Hey, Jiarui,
did you get your score?
What?
With the release of the NCEE results,
comes a new group of NCEE champions.
The top scorers in arts and sciences from Hebei Province
come from Hengshui High School.
We have heard that these two champions have already been invited for extended visits…
Turn it off.
…at Peking University and Tsinghua University on June 22.
More details, after the break.
Retest.
You must get into a prestigious university.
That's the only way you'll have a good future.
Mom,
I don't want to retest.
Excuse me?
I don't want to.
Do you know what you're saying?
The future of our family depends on you, my child.
Do you know that?
Your father and I,
we work ourselves to the bone for your education,
so you can get into a good university,
so you can have a good future,
and now you don't want to retest?
You're such a disappointment!
Alright, enough.
Let's finish dinner, now.
Listen,
she missed the prestigious university by two points.
There's nothing wrong with her going to a regular university.
You think she'll get the same out of that?
Decent companies,
they don't even consider regular university graduates.
That's just how it is in China.
Officials and rich people run everything.
Our family,
we don't have money or power.
Unless you get into a good college,
you'll spend your life working hard for someone else,
and you'll be bullied and oppressed forever!
Do you get that?
Look at your cousin Xu Tao.
If she hadn't made it into a prestigious university,
would she be so successful today?
"Those who toil with their minds govern,
and those who toil with their hands are governed."
If you want to find a decent job in the future,
if you want to be respected,
you have to test into a good college!
It's the only way to change your future!
The only thing you want is for me to get in a good college.
Have you ever thought about what I want?
All these years, I haven't dared going after what I want and pursuing my own dreams.
I've been living like a studying machine, and I've done everything you asked me to do.
I'm not just a puppet you can play with!
Jiarui!
I will not take the test again.
I'll become a street sweeper if that's what I want.
Jiarui!
Don't speak to your mother like that.
Who do you think you are?
You think you're all grown up?
- Alright, calm down. - I can't believe her!
Finish dinner.
I can't.
I can't let her do that.
Come on,
let's get to work.
We have to finish everything today.
Everyone, come get some water!
Okay!
Coming!
Here you go.
Jiarui!
Quick, come have some water!
Wenhui.
Jiarui isn't cut out for this work.
Go tell her to come drink,
she'll wear herself out.
Mom,
don't worry about that.
Let's see how long she'll last.
Yeah, mom.
Wenhui knows what she's doing.
Jiarui!
My sweet girl,
don't be stubborn with your mom.
She only wants what's best for you.
Get a good education,
so that you can get a job that isn't so hard.
Don't end up like your grandma.
I've had to work in the fields under the sun
from dawn to dusk, every single day.
It's very hard.
Do you understand?
Let's get to work!
Look at you. You're not cut out for work like this.
Come on.
Mom,
I'll take a retest …
Now, parents,
the number of students taking the NCEE test exceeds 9 million annually.
It's an army of high school students trying to cross a wooden bridge.
A difference of one point can determine your child's fate.
As parents, we all want a bright future for our children,
and what we have to do
is get our children into prestigious universities,
to give them a stepping stone on their way to an outstanding career.
So this final exam is very important.
Students with the best scores
will be moved, next semester, to the gifted class.
The gifted class is taught by the school's best teachers.
Its annual college entrance rate is almost 100%,
and half the students will enter prestigious universities.
So, if you want your children to be admitted to a prestigious university,
I hope you'll all work closely with us to get your children the best …
Mom,
don't you have work today?
Come here.
Look.
I quit my job.
From now on,
we'll practice every day.
Jiarui.
Well,
you know you shouldn't stay up all night.
I'm fine.
I'll just take some medicine.
I know my body.
You're as competitive as ever.
You want Jiarui to become a successful woman,
and I understand that.
But we have to remember
that our fates aren't in our own hands.
There's nothing wrong with having big dreams,
but whether they come true or not,
that's not up to us.
I used to believe in destiny.
But then I started believing in God.
Through reading God's word,
I began to understand some of the truth
and see fate clearly.
People's fates are in God's hands,
and that's a fact.
Our fates are preordained by God.
People say, "Our fates are decided by Heaven,"
and that's absolutely right.
But does everyone who says that believe in God?
Not necessarily.
Right, whether you believe in God,
once people live in the real world for a time,
they all start saying things like that.
That proves that
"Our fates are decided by Heaven"
is a true statement.
"Our fates are decided by Heaven," it's true.
It's completely right, and I believe it too.
But people have to work their hardest.
When it comes to our kid's education,
it's our duty as parents to encourage and push them.
I think that
people have to do their best in every situation,
and work hard in the right direction.
Even if you don't reach your goal,
you'll have no regrets,
because you gave your all.
As parents, we should do our best to meet our responsibilities toward our children,
but we don't have the final say
on how they will end up.
If you believe in God
and read God's word,
you'll understand the truth and see more clearly.
Once we learn to "do everything in our power and leave the rest to Heaven,"
our lives become very relaxed.
When you recognize that our fates are decided by Heaven,
you'll know how to fulfill your responsibilities.
No matter what might happen,
you'll be grateful to God.
You won't blame Heaven.
You're absolutely right.
When you understand the truth, you can see clearly.
It's good to believe in God.
Hey, Xinping,
do you think you could loan me a book to read?
I'd like to know how to believe in God,
and how understanding the truth benefits people.
Once I understand it, I'll start believing.
Yes.
Yes, this evening,
I'll bring you the book.
Okay.
Good.
Xinping, the director wants to see you.
About what?
It's about your sabbatical.
Sure, no problem.
I'll be right there.
Hey, Xinping,
when will you be back from your sabbatical?
In about 6 months.
Oh.
Take better care of yourself.
I will.
We'll know in which class Jiarui's gonna be next month, right?
Ah, yes.
Let me do that.
Director Pan, from our mine …
The fat one?
Yeah.
To get his son into the gifted class,
he paid a bribe to a connection.
I heard he paid tens of thousands.
Do you …
you think we should try that?
I can work overtime in the mine, make more money.
Let's not be sneaky like that.
Mrs. Chen assured me,
Jiarui's grades are good,
she just needs help in physics.
Once she starts with tutoring,
the gifted class won't be an issue.
But the tutoring is a little expensive.
Teachers these days,
they skip important things in class,
so they can charge extra for tutoring lessons.
That's what we've come to.
Well,
it's a corrupt society,
and life without power or status is very hard.
If Jiarui can't get into a good college,
she won't have a good future.
But the fees for the retest are so expensive,
and the college tuition after that.
We don't have enough to cover that.
I'll work overtime in the mines,
make extra money.
Maybe you will earn more money, but it's also dangerous.
It's fine.
I'll be very careful.
You know,
if Jiarui can have a better future,
working a little harder is worth it.
Yes, that's true, but I just …
You know, what would be perfect for me if I could turn into a fish.
Jiarui, Xiaomeng.
Huh?
Here's the material for physics class.
The teacher wanted you to have it.
Physics.
I heard the physics part of the test is the hardest it's ever been.
Yeah.
Your grades are so good,
and even you think it's hard?
- Yeah! Aren't you taking some tutoring lessons too? - This is ridiculous! Yeah!
Hey, you guys know how demanding her mom is with her all the time.
Just thinking about this gives me a headache.
Jiarui, are you okay?
Why do you look so pale?
Hey, just relax,
I know how to handle this.
- Tell us how! - Here.
Just do the test with this little paper.
- Oh! The answers! - Cheating?
Isn't this bad?
Hey, everybody cheats on important college tests,
so what's wrong with a little extra help?
- Yeah, that makes sense. - And so,
if everyone else cheats and we don't,
we're just missing out, right?
Yeah,
just get the high score,
no matter what it takes.
That's right.
Now look, that's how you do it.
Your teacher won't notice it.
Give it here!
Come to my office.
Hey, you're home.
Mom! Mom!
Mom!
What are you … what … what's wrong?
She'll tell you.
Mom!
Mom, my classmates were …
What happened?
My …
Some of my classmates were cheating, so I—
I can't stop other people from cheating.
You're my daughter,
and I forbid you from doing immoral things like this!
You need to rely on your ability.
People who cheat always get caught in the end.
But I …
I was afraid I wouldn't get in the gifted class, so …
There's no excuse for cheating!
You can obviously get in with your grades.
Why were you cheating?
Now the entire school knows you cheated.
It's such a disgrace!
Now you aren't qualified to enter the gifted class.
How will you get into a good school?
All you care about is me getting into a good college.
Do you care about anything other than my grades and my college test?
What's wrong with the gifted class?
What's wrong with wanting you in a good college?
Hey, don't lose your temper …
Why can't you be just like Lin?
She studies hard and gets first place in every test,
but you?
You prefer cheating over learning!
You're a total disappointment!
Yeah!
You always think other people's kids are better than me,
that I'll never be anything!
If you like her so much, why don't you just have her as your daughter!
Jiarui!
Jiarui, where are you going?
Wenhui!
Are you okay?
Wenhui …
- Mom! - Wenhui …
Mom.
I'm sorry.
I want you in the gifted class,
but that's not the way to do it.
You have to rely on your ability.
People say, "Honesty surpasses prowess."
It's important that you always stay honest
so that people respect you,
do you understand?
Come here, sit down.
I'm strict with you,
and I know that it's hard for you.
You know,
your father and I both came from poor families.
College was not an option.
Our only option was menial labor for others.
I don't want you to go through that.
That's how things are in Chinese society.
For people like us, with no status,
you don't know how hard it is to find a regular job,
you don't know how long you'll keep the job for.
To keep your job,
you have to give your boss a gift at every holiday.
I'm being hard on you for your own sake.
If you don't work hard now,
you'll work much harder all your life.
Jiarui,
you have to test into a good college.
It's the only way you'll escape that fate.
Mom,
I understand.
Choir, choir,
c-h-o-i-r, choir.
Chord, chord, chord.
Triangle.
Chubby, chubby.
Plump, plump.
Thin, thin.
Circuit, circuit.
Yes?
Hi, Wenhui?
Yes?
Bad news,
Hongbin had an accident at the mine.
The doctor said his life might be in danger.
Come to the hospital right away.
Hongbin!
A family needs to stop here!
Hongbin!
Doctor!
- Will he be okay? - He's lost a lot of blood.
And his life is in danger.
Be prepared for the worst, but we'll try our best.
- Please, you have to save my son. - Get a blood transfusion ready!
Please!
Mom!
Mom …
Please call Jiarui.
Tell her to come see her papa.
I'm afraid …
Mom,
but Jiarui … she takes her test in two weeks!
If she learns about Hongbin's accident,
it will affect her focus!
Is her test more important than her father's life?
If anything happens to Hongbin …
Call her, or I will!
Mom!
Mom, mom, we really can't call her right now.
If we do,
it could ruin everything Hongbin and Wenhui have been working for.
Mom …
Mom, don't be sad.
Hongbin …
Yeah,
it's a slow recovery.
The doctor said he needs to keep him …
- It'll take time. - Mom …
Oh, we'll talk another day, bye.
Mom, what's going on?
You look really tired.
Oh, I'm fine.
Good.
You did pretty well!
Yeah.
My teacher said if I just use my abilities,
I should test into a prestigious university.
Mom, why is dad working so much overtime lately?
Your dad said,
your test is soon,
don't be nervous,
and study hard.
Stay calm. Alright?
Stay focused and don't be nervous. OK?
Jiarui,
don't be nervous, do what you normally do.
- Alright, I'm going in. - Okay.
Hey,
don't rush through your test.
Be sure to double-check your answers.
I got it.
Okay.
Dad!
Dad! Dad, why didn't you tell me?
Jiarui, you're here.
Are you okay?
I'm alright.
Your mother has suffered more than anyone lately.
It's great!
You'll be released soon.
Jiarui, we'll know the results in a few days?
Yeah.
Yes!
I'm sure this time, your score will be high enough.
Jiarui?
Jiarui,
did your score come out?
Jiarui?
Did your …
Dad, mom,
I know you both love me very much,
and I know you've worried a lot and sacrificed a lot
so that I can have a better future.
Mom, you've always been very demanding with me,
but I've always known that no matter what you do,
you do it for my own good.
But, this love and care
are now forcing me to do something I don't want to do.
I really can't stand it anymore …
In the last two or three years,
I've been under too much pressure.
I've often felt headaches, nausea,
and a strange feeling of terror and anxiety.
I need it all to stop.
Living like this is too painful!
I've been suffering too much for a shapeless future.
Is this really worth it?
Mom, I'm tired!
I really, really just want to find a quiet place and sleep.
Dad, mom, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry I couldn't live up to the dreams you had for your daughter.
Someone jumped into the water!
Jiarui!
My poor Jiarui!
Your daughter is essentially out of danger.
Once she wakes up, we'll observe her a bit longer,
and if we don't find any abnormalities,
she can leave the hospital.
Thank you, doctor.
I'm sorry.
It's my fault.
I'll never push you again …
How could this ever happen?
Jiarui, you're such a smart girl.
Why would you want to kill yourself?
I'm such a fool.
I don't even know my own daughter.
How could I have done something so stupid?
I never thought something like this would happen!
It's all my fault,
it's all my fault …
Don't blame yourself too much.
The world forced us to be this way.
This society is so dark and evil.
We only forced her to study
because we've suffered so much.
There's nothing wrong about that.
It's okay.
Jiarui is alright.
From now on,
let's just go with the flow,
let's not force her to study anymore.
Jiarui,
you're awake!
Mom,
I'm sorry.
I …
I didn't test into a prestigious university.
I don't care about prestigious universities.
I just want you to be healthy and be safe!
I'm sorry.
I've disappointed you again!
I can't forgive myself!
It's all my fault.
I didn't understand how you felt,
and I forced you to study.
I was wrong!
You want Jiarui to become a successful woman,
and I understand that.
But we have to remember
that our fates aren't in our own hands.
Hello? Xinping …
Hey, Xinyi.
Yes?
This mountain resort your uncle opened seems very quiet.
Right,
we usually don't have any guests.
If you have time, bring Jiarui and visit us.
You'll feel better.
Xinping, you two talk,
I'll go check on Jiarui and Xiaoqing.
Alright.
Up until now,
I believed that knowledge could change people's fate,
so I kept forcing Jiarui to study
because I wanted her to have a good future.
I never imagined
that I would make her want to die.
It's terrifying.
A lesson learned in blood!
Even though I knew that "Our fates are decided by Heaven,"
I was unconsciously fighting against fate.
- This clearly wasn't my daughter's fate. - Jiarui, come play with me.
But I insisted she take that test.
Wasn't I forcing her against her will?
If people don't believe in God,
who knows how many absurd things they'll do in their lifetimes?
Jiarui, Jiarui, Jiarui, look …
Jiarui is the only daughter I have.
I nearly sent her to her death.
How could I be so foolish and ignorant? So confused?
I think that
I must believe in God,
because I can't live in such confusion.
The last couple of days,
I've been reading The Word Appears in the Flesh,
the words are written so well.
They're very practical,
and I understand some truth after I read them.
I used to think
"One's destiny is in his own hand,"
"Knowledge can change your fate,"
it now seems to be wrong.
People's success and failure,
wealth and poverty, life and death
seem somehow mysteriously predestined,
and aren't in our control at all.
God dominates and manages these things.
Mm, that's right.
It all makes sense.
No matter what job people have,
or how tiring their lives are,
or how difficult,
what matters … what matters is spiritual fulfillment,
peace, and joy.
That's what true happiness is.
Wenhui,
when it comes to Jiarui's education,
you've seen people's fates are determined by Heaven.
Can you now see the benefits of understanding the truth?
When we don't believe in God,
and live by satanic philosophy,
we suffer so much.
The suffering is endless.
If people can worship God, understand the truth,
if they can learn to pray and obey God,
then they walk on the right path in life.
When we read God's word every day,
we can understand more of the truth,
and then we can learn to obey and worship God,
and we will have God's guidance,
God's blessings and protection in all things.
What a great blessing!
People who don't believe in God,
who struggle against their fates
and pursue knowledge to change it,
they struggle in business, in society,
in politics also,
struggling just to survive,
and they often exhaust themselves, often at the risk of their lives,
finally they die like that.
Such a life is extremely exhausting.
Yes.
When we read more of The Word Appears in the Flesh,
we learn how God controls the fates of mankind,
how God saves mankind,
and about the peaceful destination God has made for mankind.
Let's watch a video of readings of God's words.
Yes.
Let's go sit.
Jiarui! Xiaoqing!
Mom!
Come.
Let's watch a video.
Oh, okay.
Oh!
These words are so profound.
It's amazing!
I've never heard anything like that.
It really is the voice of God!
No celebrity could say those things.
God's words really have authority!
Yes.
All of God's words have authority and power.
They are different from people's words.
Those who can hear God's voice in God's words
are living people with spirits.
Who could reveal these truths and mysteries?
Only God Himself can reveal the mysteries of His sovereignty
and His command over the fates of mankind!
- Let's read more of God's words. - Alright.
Here, you read it.
After reading God's words,
do we have some understanding of the authority by which God dominates all things?
Yes.
Think about it,
who could control the movements of the sun, moon, and stars?
Who could control the four seasons, the wind, rain, and snow?
Who could command the rise and fall of nations and peoples?
Who could dominate and arrange people's births, aging, sickness, deaths, and fates?
Only God.
Right.
Only God has such authority and power.
None of us have any control over things like our appearance,
the family we are born into, our job, our marriages,
how many kids we have,
how rich or poor we are,
or how long we live.
We have no control over that.
The fact is, all of these things,
they are preordained by God for each of us
before we are born,
and no one can change them.
Some parents are uneducated and don't have much culture,
but their children are brilliant and talented.
Some parents are highly intellectual,
smart and capable,
but their children are stupid and incompetent.
There are many such examples.
Many people have advanced diplomas,
but they can't find a good job,
and accomplish nothing with their lives.
But others have no education, power, or status,
but are still geniuses who become very successful.
There are many others with highly successful careers,
who are admired by everyone,
but who suddenly lose their lives to disease or disaster.
Examples like these prove that
people aren't in control of their own fates,
and that everything is ruled and preordained by God.
That's right.
No wonder people say
everything is controlled by destiny, and not by people.
It's actually true!
Yes.
We don't realize that our fates are commanded by God,
instead, we wrongly believe "We can create our own happiness,"
and "Knowledge can change your fate."
We pay such a high price for this belief,
and suffer so much.
Some people may learn much knowledge,
but are they able to change their own fate?
Many officials and researchers
are advanced intellectuals.
They have status and position, and everyone admires them,
but do they all really have good futures?
Why do people want to be scientists, officials,
or even the president,
yet still feel empty and tormented?
Many people are trapped in the struggle for power, status, and wealth,
fighting against each other, getting ahead,
even causing some people to kill themselves or be killed.
Is that really the result they are looking for?
It is proven that no matter their knowledge or status in life,
no one can control their own fate,
because knowledge isn't the truth,
and can't be a person's life.
It's very dangerous when people pursue knowledge as the truth.
The fact is, the more knowledge we have,
the harder it is to accept the truth.
The more knowledge we have,
the more ambitious we are,
and the more tragic our endings become.
This is because people were created by God,
and people's fates, endings, and destinations
are all ruled and arranged by God.
No person can exceed God's authority or sovereignty.
This is the truth, and this is fact.
It's a shame so many people don't believe in God,
and don't know God's authority or sovereignty,
and instead want to rely on their own effort or on knowledge to change their fates.
What is people's goal when they pursue knowledge?
Isn't it simply to rise above others and stand out from the crowd?
It's to constrain others
or climb up by stepping on others.
Isn't that just people's arrogance and ambition?
Aren't those satanic dispositions?
Yes.
So, you see,
this is Satan's arrogance,
the desire to command and control mankind,
and be equal with God.
And mankind is exactly the same.
This proves that mankind has been corrupted by Satan.
Corrupted mankind lives in sin,
but why don't people seek the truth?
Why not seek God's manifestation and work, and hope to receive God's salvation?
You know,
no matter how much suffering people endure,
if they can seek the truth,
there is hope for them to escape the torment of struggling in sin,
escape Satan's corruption, bondage, and constraints,
be completely saved by God, live in the light,
attain peace and joy,
and live out a meaningful life.
Yes.
After we believe in God, read God's word, and understand the truth,
we understand God's omnipotence and sovereignty,
we turn to God and walk the right path,
after which we no longer struggle to change our fates,
we can escape the bondage and constraints of Satan's evil sayings and fallacies,
we no longer live by evil sayings like
"One's destiny is in his own hand,"
and "Knowledge can change your fate."
We are able to let go of our ambitions and desires,
accept and obey God's sovereignty and plans.
By "doing everything in our power
and leaving the rest to Heaven,"
we can avoid much of Satan's corruption.
When we're able to pursue the truth,
escape our satanic dispositions,
and live by God's words,
we gain God's approval and blessings,
and are brought into God's kingdom by Him.
Now we can see clearly
that pursuing knowledge can't change our fates at all.
Only by pursuing the truth
can we gain God's blessings and a beautiful destination.
Only the truth can change people's fates,
and become a person's life.
Accepting God's work,
and understanding and gaining the truth
is the only way to truly change our fate.
It's just as Almighty God says,
Yes, now I understand.
People's fates are ruled and arranged by God.
Whether people are poor or rich in their lives
was preordained by God long ago, and we can't change it.
Also, it's not enough to see that God rules over people's fates.
We also need to accept God's work and the truth.
That's … that's the only way to change our fates.
Yes.
I couldn't see that clearly in the past,
so I pushed Jiarui to pursue knowledge.
I always thought knowledge could change her fate,
and that …
that made me do many foolish things.
It's better to believe in God!
If we read God's words,
we can understand the truth and see clearly,
and we won't struggle with fate anymore.
That way, we won't be so confused or troubled,
and living that way will be much easier.
Yes.
Aunt Xinping,
after you read God's word,
you've been able to see so many things clearly,
so I think it's good to believe in God.
From now on, I want to believe in God too.
Wonderful!
Then from now on, Jiarui can come …
Hongbin.
Yes, I have the medicine.
Yes, I'm on my way now.
Right.
Okay, sure.
Hi, Wenhui!
Hey!
Xu Tao?
Yeah!
- When did you get back? - A few days ago.
I was thinking about going to visit you!
Where are you going?
I'm on my way home.
Okay, I'll give you a ride!
- Sure! Let's go! - Let's go!
Great!
You've been gone for so long!
Yeah, I haven't seen you in so long!
I heard about what happened to Jiarui.
How is she doing now?
Much better.
She's much more optimistic.
That's good.
Hey,
do you and Hongbin have any plans to send her to college?
We'll go with the flow.
Since she didn't get high scores,
a regular college will do just fine.
So she couldn't test into a prestigious school.
Corruption has become the norm at most universities in China.
Management is corrupt,
there's academic fraud, and plagiarism as well.
It's a waste of money.
She won't learn anything.
Actually, I thought about it,
I think you should send Jiarui to study abroad.
It'll be easier for her to find a job as someone who studied abroad.
Jiarui is an adult now,
so we'll have to ask her opinion about it.
Wenhui,
she is your only child.
Your decision will affect the rest of her life!
If you agree,
then I'll get her into university abroad.
You don't have to worry.
Hello?
Can I just spend some time with my family?
Alright.
I can't believe it!
What can you guys do without me?
Xu Tao seems to be doing pretty well in America.
Hey, Hongbin.
Yes?
Xu Tao said she would take Jiarui to America for college.
What do you think about that?
I think we should leave that decision to Jiarui.
Dad, mom, I'm back!
- Jiarui, you're home! - You're home.
Jiarui, come look.
Xu Tao bought that for you.
Xu Tao is back?
Wow.
Why is she back so suddenly?
To sign a contract.
Jiarui.
Yes?
Xu Tao said she would bring you to America for college.
What do you think?
To … to America?
I don't want to go.
But it's a rare opportunity to study abroad.
But I just want to stay here and believe in God.
Lately, I've been going to meetings and interacting with my brothers and sisters,
and I've seen that they're all very pure and sincere.
They focus on reading God's words and understanding the truth,
and their lives are all very relaxed.
When I'm with them, I feel very secure and happy.
In my whole life,
I've never felt so happy like I do now.
I think it's wonderful to believe in God,
and I can understand much of the truth.
Now I've learned that people were created by God,
and that in our lives we should believe in God and follow God.
Understanding truth to escape satanic dispositions
and live a meaningful life is the only way to gain God's approval!
Believing in God is the right path in life,
and it's very good that you understand that.
But you know,
university is also an important question.
Please, think hard about it and pray to God.
It's your decision.
As your parents, we won't constrain you in any way.
I understand.
I promise I'll think about it.
I'm going back to my room.
Wenhui,
your decision will affect the rest of her life!
A few days ago,
my niece came back from America
and said she could bring Jiarui to the U.S. for college.
To be honest,
I want Jiarui to go study abroad too.
But Jiarui doesn't want to, she just wants to believe in God.
The last few days,
I've been struggling with this.
I'm conflicted.
I keep thinking
if she can learn more knowledge and get a degree,
it will be beneficial for her future,
but I'm also afraid she'll lose her chance to gain God's salvation if she goes abroad.
I'm very conflicted,
and I don't know what to do.
Our knowledge of the truth is too shallow,
and we can't see clearly.
What do you think?
What do you think of this matter?
Wenhui, I can understand how you feel.
When we start believing in God, our understanding is shallow,
and we can't see things clearly.
That's right.
Of course, getting an education is necessary,
but what matters most is what kind of path we choose in life.
If we choose the wrong path,
we are assured to never have a good ending,
to never have a good destination,
and then we'll have lived in vain.
As parents, we all hope for a good future for our children.
It's only natural.
But the key is that we must see clearly
that whether someone takes the right path is up to their own choices.
It's useless for others to deliberately intervene or constrain them.
If Jiarui is genuinely someone who loves the truth,
we can offer guidance, pray for her,
and read God's word for her,
but if she doesn't want to pursue the truth,
even if you stop her from going to school and ask her to follow God,
will that be effective?
I think all of these choices are up to her.
We can give our children advice to consider,
but we can't constrain them.
Helping our children understand the truth is the way to fulfill our duties.
- Right. - Yes, that's true.
Hey, you know, if we watch videos of God's word,
and fellowship the truth, we'll know how to see these matters.
Mm, right.
Hey, we should let Jiarui and Xiaoqing watch it too.
Okay.
That's exactly how I was educated as a child. I still remember to this day …
Now let's read a few more passages.
Okay.
I'll read.
Alright.
Here you go.
Oh, okay.
Yes.
Turns out,
Satan has been using knowledge to instill its ideas and its theories
to deceive and corrupt people.
Yes. That's a fact.
We would have never known this
without the revelations in God's words.
Right.
Satan always teaches us to pursue knowledge.
It makes us rely on knowledge to change our fates.
But isn't pursuit of knowledge one of Satan's tricks?
- Yes. - It is!
That's right.
Almighty God's words reveal the facts
of how Satan uses knowledge to corrupt mankind.
Yes.
It allows mankind to see what's at the root of the evil in the world.
Yes.
Why is it that the world is now such a dark place?
Because mankind mainly worships knowledge
and chooses to deny God.
Very few people love the truth and God's words.
That's right.
If mankind could just seek the truth
and accept God's work,
there would be light in the world,
and mankind would naturally be happy.
That's right.
In the past, all we could see was the darkness of the world,
and mankind became ever more corrupt,
but we could never seem to find the root of the problem.
Logically speaking,
the more education people receive, the more knowledge they should possess,
the better and higher their morals should be.
Right.
So why is mankind becoming even more evil and depraved?
After reading God's word today, we understand
that this is the result of Satan's corruption of mankind.
That's right!
Much of mankind's knowledge is caused by the poisonous corruption of Satan,
with theories of the likes of atheism, materialism, and evolution,
not counting Satan's dedication to preach and preach,
"There is no God in this world,"
"There has never been any Savior."
There's also "Scholars govern and laborers are governed by others,"
"To be a scholar is to be at the top of society."
Yeah.
What about "Knowledge is power," "Your destiny is in your hands"?
Those count?
- Yes. - They do!
There's also,
"Distinguishing oneself and bringing honor to his ancestors."
This counts too.
Yes.
Right.
When the seeds of these satanic poisons are buried deep in people's spirits,
they produce terrible results.
People begin to deny God and resist God,
and struggle against fate by relying on their own efforts.
Their dispositions become ever more arrogant,
self-important, presumptuous,
twisted, cunning, and greedy.
They become unscrupulous in their quest for status,
they deceive and use each other,
and struggle violently with one another.
People no longer care for conscience, humanity, or morals,
and corrupt people become ever more insidious and vicious,
like walking devils or the ilk of Satan.
Yes.
Aren't these the results of Satan's corruption of mankind using knowledge?
Yes.
The more mankind worships knowledge and pursues it,
the more poisoned by Satan they become,
the more corrupted, and the more resistant to God.
Yes.
We've all noticed that
the more knowledge people have,
the more arrogant and self-important they become.
They always become more sinister and cunning.
That's right.
Just like those kings of devils, the demonic leaders of the CCP.
Most of them are intellectuals,
and they are all conspirators and ambitious people hungry for power.
For the sake of their own status, their own interests,
and so they can control mankind,
they do nothing but conspire
and scheme to rule and slaughter mankind.
Yes.
They encourage "Fighting with Heaven is a lot of fun!
Fighting with earth is a lot of fun!
Fighting with people is a lot of fun!"
They create fights,
fouling the entire earth
and making it impossible for ordinary people to live.
- Yes, they indeed do. - Right.
These kings of devils want to rule over the world,
and they use scientific knowledge to create nuclear weapons,
guided missiles, and chemical weapons,
which leave mankind trapped in danger of extinction.
Yes.
Aren't these the dangerous consequences brought on by mankind's worship and pursuit of knowledge?
Yes.
After hearing all of you,
I agree that is the case!
Yes!
- If people have no … - Lao Zhang!
Just now at the village entrance,
I saw the mayor and police officers going door to door,
making people sign a paper promising disbelief in God.
Oh no!
They'll be here soon!
Okay, it's no longer safe here. We have to leave.
Yeah.
- Let's go to Sister Li's house. - Alright.
- Let's go. - We'll go this way.
Quick.
Sister Li asked us to clean out the warehouse while she keeps watch outside.
Once we finish, we'll continue our meeting in peace.
Yes.
- Brother Zhou, let's go. - Okay.
Jiarui, how do you feel about the fellowship?
- Brother Zhang, we'll go find some chairs. - Okay.
I think today's fellowship was very good.
It was very clear.
I gained a lot from it too.
Thanks be to God!
That's good, then.
Thanks be to God!
Brother Zhang, may I ask …
I've heard you're a teacher,
and that you have a post-graduate degree.
You've studied so much,
so can you tell us how you feel about knowledge?
Yes, I'd like to hear too.
Alright.
Well,
if we're talking about how knowledge corrupts people,
I'm certainly one of its victims.
Before I started believing in God,
I believed "To be a scholar is to be at the top of society,"
"Those who toil with their minds govern others,
and those who toil with their hands are governed by others."
I had been inundated by these satanic poisons,
and I worshiped knowledge with all my heart.
I thought that reading and learning knowledge
was the only way for me to have a good future,
so I studied with all my strength.
After I graduated, I became a teacher at a renowned middle school.
Soon,
I had become one of the school's most important teachers,
and I felt exceptional.
I thought that because I had knowledge and talent, I was irreplaceable.
I was very arrogant and self-righteous.
I looked down on anyone with a lower degree than myself.
Gradually,
people around me distanced themselves from me,
and didn't want to talk to me anymore.
On top of that, because there was an adversarial evaluation system
among the teachers,
there were always conspiracies and schemes,
and it was impossible to trust one another.
I didn't even …
I didn't even have anyone I could confide in.
I would often ask myself:
I have knowledge,
I also have fame,
so why don't I feel the slightest bit happy?
Why … why do I feel tormented instead?
What happened then?
After that, I accepted Almighty God's work of the last days,
and after reading God's word,
I understood some truth,
and only then did I see how I had been deceived and corrupted by knowledge.
Just because I had a little knowledge,
I had become extremely arrogant, and condescending.
I couldn't get along with anyone else.
Especially in the process of experiencing God's work,
I often involuntarily used the viewpoints from my knowledge to evaluate and analyze God's words,
and that led me to a biased understanding of God's words, and made me produce notions.
It was very difficult for me to understand and accept the truth.
But some brothers and sisters, less educated,
gained a purer understanding of God's word.
They were able to simply accept and obey the truth,
and received the enlightenment and illumination of the Holy Spirit.
This is when I understood this passage of God's word:
When I saw how my knowledge harmed me,
I began to consciously let go of myself,
seek the truth, focus on accepting and obeying God's words,
and seeing matters according to God's words.
Step by step,
I began to recognize the satanic toxins contained within knowledge,
and gained a better understanding of my corrupt dispositions,
and I was no longer as arrogant or self-righteous as before.
I was able to interact normally with my relatives,
friends, family, coworkers, and students.
When everyone noticed that I had changed,
they wanted to interact with me,
and speak earnestly with me,
and that made me …
it made me especially happy.
- That's wonderful! - Good!
Thanks be to God!
It was the truth expressed by God that changed me,
allowed me to escape the bondage of knowledge,
and gain freedom and release.
All of this was the grace and blessing of God.
- Thanks be to God! - Amen!
Through my experience, I felt that
only the truth can purify people, save people,
and become people's life,
and that pursuing the truth is truly the right path in life.
That's great!
Brother Zhang,
your experience is so practical.
- It really is better to know the truth. - Yes.
Those who don't believe in God lack such understanding.
If we don't believe or read God's word,
and instead only pursue knowledge,
we aren't even aware of how deeply knowledge corrupts us,
and we still cling to the pursuit of status.
Without the truth, we are deeply ignorant,
and we can't walk the right path in life.
- Yes. - That's absolutely right!
Right.
Sister Xu, you're entirely right.
Those who don't believe in God
rely on the pursuit of knowledge to change their fates,
yet no matter how much Satan corrupts or harms them,
they are basically unaware of it
because they don't understand the truth.
- Yes. - That's right!
You know,
I used to think I could never achieve status without knowledge,
and that people could only rely on knowledge to change their fate,
so I studied and read books, and pursued knowledge.
My desire for status continued to grow,
as did my worship of people with power and status,
and my ambitions grew larger,
but I was never aware of where my ambitions and desires came from
or their consequences.
Now I can see clearly the darkness and struggles among government officials.
That system is so corrupt.
People will do anything to get what they want.
They always say,
"As a small mind makes no gentleman, a real man is not without venom,"
and "Men should always strive to be better than their contemporaries."
So they become kings of devils,
and they are all punished …
punished by God in the end.
You can all imagine the ending they'll come to.
They are walking the path to destruction.
Yes.
When I saw the darkness in being an official,
I felt that it was the wrong path,
so I began seeking the true way.
Afterward,
I read much of God's word, and understood some of the truth,
and it was only then that I understood how dangerous it is
to pursue knowledge above all else.
The more knowledge we have,
the more arrogant and ambitious we become.
Thankfully, I accepted Almighty God,
and the judgment and purification in Almighty God's words.
It was only then, I understood that in our lives,
we must accept the truth to walk the right path.
Yes.
I also experienced the significance of God expressing the truth to purify and save mankind.
As believers in God,
we have all felt in our own experience
that the more we pursue and understand the truth,
the more we know the positive things that come from God,
the more we recognize Satan's philosophies, and evil sayings,
as well as of the things Satan uses
to corrupt people like knowledge, fame, and status.
That way,
we can avoid Satan's temptations and seduction,
and escape Satan's deception, corruption, and harms.
When we understand the truth,
all our views about life, and the different kinds of people, matters, and things change.
We know how to live valuable lives
and which pursuits are meaningful.
When we understand the truth,
we understand the fact that God rules over the fates of mankind,
and then we are able to obey God's sovereignty,
we no longer struggle arrogantly against fate.
That's right.
We have something to rely on.
When we pursue the truth
and work hard to be honest people,
we can obey and worship God,
we receive God's blessings,
and we feel peace and joy in our hearts.
Isn't that the happiest possible life?
Yes!
- Living this way will bring the most happiness! - It seems that they understand it.
Let's read a passage of God's word.
- Okay. - Alright.
- Here, Sister Xu, you read. - Okay.
I see another good passage of God's word.
Jiarui, you read it.
Okay.
Right here.
Amen!
- God's words put things so clearly! - Right.
After hearing God's words, my heart feels bright!
That's the path we have to follow!
Yes. God's word is the truth.
Yes.
- You've all felt it, haven't you? - Yes.
When you read God's word, your heart is brightened,
you understand the truth and see things clearly.
When people are lost,
they need to be shown the way!
Yes.
When we read God's word,
God reminds us and shows us the way,
so we can understand the truth.
The words spoken by man have no value,
and no matter how advanced, it isn't the truth.
So, not reading God's word is the greatest ignorance and foolishness.
Yes.
- That's right. - It really is true.
Now we all see clearly the value in pursuing the truth.
The truth is invaluable.
Not only does the truth clearly point out the path people should take in life,
it purifies the corruption in people, changes people,
and changes people's life disposition.
Only by gaining the truth and living by the truth
can we live out truly meaningful and valuable lives.
Gaining God's blessings is the most valuable thing in life.
All that knowledge can get us is a good status.
We can become an official,
and gain some power and status,
but if we don't resolve our corrupt dispositions,
we may do evil things when we gain power,
and that's a dead end.
Right.
So, no matter what,
understanding the truth is still the most important thing in life.
Amen!
We still need to follow God to walk the path of light.
- That's right. - Yes.
We will gain God's salvation and a beautiful destination.
Right.
- Only that is genuine happiness! - Amen!
Right.
- Pursuing the truth is the most important thing. - Right.
- Understanding the truth is so important for us! - That's so true!
In the past, I thought that with knowledge,
you could find a good job, a good position,
and then people would praise you, approve and respect you.
That's why we hoped Jiarui would test into a good college and have a better future.
After reading God's words, I finally understand
that knowledge isn't the truth, and it can't save people.
Right.
Knowledge comes from Satan,
and the more knowledge people have,
the more corrupt they become,
the more they live like a demon,
and the less humanity they have.
Right.
Especially the government and those in power,
they have all the knowlege,
but their humanity and characters are more corrupt and evil than anyone.
They are all endlessly greedy, and they step on one another to gain more power.
The old saying is right,
"If the rails of the bridge are crooked, so is the frame."
Common people follow the officials down whatever path they take.
The world is becoming ever more dark,
evil, degenerate, and immoral,
because those in power are leading people down that path.
- That's true. - Right.
Now it's clear that pursuing knowledge is a path of no return, and to destruction.
It's the wrong path.
Only by believing in God and pursuing the truth
can people escape Satan's deception, corruption, and harm,
and live like a real man,
and receive God's blessings!
- Yes, that's right! - Thanks be to God!
- Hongbin has a very good understanding of things. - Yes, he does.
Well, you know, since we're talking about it,
I've also experienced how knowledge corrupts and harms people.
In the past few years, even though my mom pushed me to study,
the truth is that I also felt knowledge was very important.
I always carried my books with me,
and studied to get in a good university.
I was always nervous, and afraid others would do better than me.
Living that way is exhausting.
Now that I've heard your fellowship,
I finally understand that this was all caused because of Satan's corruption!
Right.
Now, I'm educated enough to get by,
so I don't want to pursue knowledge anymore.
Knowledge isn't the truth,
and knowledge might be able to gain a person status and position,
but being an official isn't a real accomplishment.
Right.
- Only God's word is the truth. - Amen!
And it's better to understand the truth.
From now on, I want to believe in God and pursue the truth.
That's perfect!
Thanks be to God!
Jiarui,
you've made the right choice.
Your father and I support you.
Today, after hearing so much of Almighty God's word,
and all of your fellowship,
my heart feels so much brighter!
If I hadn't believed in Almighty God and read God's word,
how would I ever understand these truths?
Thanks be to God!
So now,
I understand that pursuing knowledge is dangerous.
By pursuing knowledge,
you may be able to gain a status,
but you won't gain the truth.
You'll still be a corrupt person who resists God,
and in the end, you will be sent to hell,
and you won't have a good destination.
That's right.
Only by pursuing the truth and being able to obey and worship God
can we live in the light and have a good future.
From now on,
we'll believe in God and follow God,
and no matter what kind of suffering we experience,
we will rely on God,
there'll be nothing we can't get through.
By following God,
we'll understand the truth and live like a real man.
Yes.
That's what a meaningful life is,
and that's the way to gain God's approval!
Yes.
Thanks be to God for His guidance
in allowing us to understand the dangers of knowledge,
and know what a meaningful life is …
Mom, time for breakfast!
What are you doing?
I wanted to write down our experience.
What do you think?
Yeah, let's do it together.
Alright.
In this year's NCEE, our province has produced five top scores.
They all earned scores more than 160 points above the first-tier qualification threshold.
So, do high scores really equal happiness,
and can a single test really change the course of their lives?