“A mischievous child, unique, facing the sun with hands clasped together, a mysterious smile on his face, muttering under his breath, a ray of golden light shining upon him from behind.
In this unprecedented collapse, I saw unprecedented freedom, in this never-before-seen darkness, I saw never-before-seen hope. It was at that moment, I knew, Youqing was my student.”
— Excerpt from “Salvation Lies Within”
The story of “Salvation Lies Within” unfolds as a tale about a teacher and a special student creating miracles together. Told in the form of an educational diary, it narrates the growth of Youqing, a 16-year-old boy, after meeting Mr. Ye. Before knowing Mr. Ye, Youqing, who had abnormal behavior and low intelligence, scoring a total of 20 points across seven subjects after nine years of schooling, was labeled autistic, a diagnosis that devastated his mother.
Yet, under Mr. Ye’s round-the-clock guidance for 1872 days, Youqing’s IQ increased from below 46 to 108. He progressed from being unable to take care of himself to shopping and cooking independently, from being despised and ridiculed to finding a life goal and dedicating himself to the elderly care profession, not only realizing his life’s value but also finding love. If Youqing were a dandelion, then Mr. Ye would be the north wind, whose support helped Youqing soar to broader horizons.
Yes Gunn, the author of “Salvation Lies Within,” is the teacher who accompanied Youqing on his transformative journey. Having worked tirelessly on the front lines of education for many years, he has solved over 300 children’s challenges, including internet addiction, school aversion, depression, rebellion, and autism. Inspired by such educational impact, Tsinghua University Press was eager to publish this book.
The English version of “Salvation Lies Within”
The story of “Salvation Lies Within” unfolds as a tale about a teacher and a special student creating miracles together. Told in the form of an educational diary, it narrates the growth of Youqing, a 16-year-old boy, after meeting Mr. Ye. Before knowing Mr. Yes Gunn (叶志刚，as the Chinese name), who had abnormal behavior and low intelligence, scoring a total of 20 points across seven subjects after nine years of schooling, was labeled autistic, a diagnosis that devastated his mother.
Yet, under Mr. Yes Gunn’s round-the-clock guidance for 1872 days, Youqing’s IQ increased from below 46 to 108. He progressed from being unable to take care of himself to shopping and cooking independently, from being despised and ridiculed to finding a life goal and dedicating himself to the elderly care profession, not only realizing his life’s value but also finding love. If Youqing were a dandelion, then Mr. Ye would be the north wind, whose support helped Youqing soar to broader horizons.
Yes Gunn, the author of “Salvation Lies Within,” is the teacher who accompanied Youqing on his transformative journey. Having worked tirelessly on the front lines of education for many years, he has solved over 300 children’s challenges, including internet addiction, school aversion, depression, rebellion, and autism. Inspired by such educational impact, Tsinghua University Press was eager to publish this book.
The English version of “Salvation Lies Within” (the Chinese version as “别慌“） is Mr. Ye’s only work in English to date. Unlike the Chinese edition, the English version integrates real cases from both the “Salvation Lies Within” Chinese version and “The Godfather of Peking University,” including the ultimate solutions to problems like internet addiction, rebellion, school aversion, depression, and autism.
As an educator, Mr. Ye’s philosophy is: “The purpose of education is to help them find their own life goals.” This is what he believes and practices.
Looking Inward—The Power of Education
On the afternoon of March 25, the English version of “Salvation Lies Within” book launch, organized jointly by the MOM DON’T CRY FOUNDATION, Star Island Shanmeng, and the Nextgen Academy, was grandly held at the One North campus of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
Numerous distinguished guests from both Singapore and China attended the event: Mr. Zong Junfeng, Chairman of Tsinghua University Press Limited, Mr. Sun Yu, Deputy Chief Editor of Tsinghua University Press, Mr. Sun Wenke, Vice President of the China Editors Society stationed, Mr. Han Jingyang, Vice President of the Tsinghua University Alumni Association, Ms. Zhu Linjun, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Editors Society, Mr. Yang Aichen, the responsible editor of “Salvation Lies Within,” Mr. Daniel Teo, Chairman of Hong How Group and Chairman of the Goh Loo Club, Ms. Wong Mah-Jialan, a Singaporean philanthropist, Ms. Yang Lan, Founder of the MOM DON’T CRY FOUNDATION, and Mr. Zheng Wei, Co-Founder of the Nextgen Academy, among others.
Yes Gunn is known as a legendary figure and a practitioner in contemporary Chinese education, famous for providing ultimate solutions to various educational dilemmas and pioneering educational services for the cultivation of family heirs. Born into a working-class family in 1982, he claimed to have dropped out of university in his second year to “pursue the realization of self-worth,” thereby stepping onto the educational stage. Later, because of his astonishing educational solutions and secretive personality, Yes Gunn was dubbed the “Mentor” of China’s education sector (a reference to Mentor in Greek mythology, who was entrusted by Odysseus to educate his son). “Salvation Lies Within” and “The Godfather of Peking University” are two deeply moving personal works that document his years of educational insight, showcasing Yes Gunn’s profound educational philosophy and extensive practical experience.
In “Salvation Lies Within,” numerous insights into Yes Gunn’s educational thought and practical summaries are observed. The book not only unveils solutions to various “catastrophic” educational problems but also discusses many common educational challenges from a new perspective:
- Autism, depression, internet addiction, rebellious suicide…What is missing in the younger generation?
- Why are these issues increasingly prevalent? Where does the root of the problem lie?
- What misconceptions exist in current solutions? How much impact do they have on families? How much harm do they do to society and the nation?
- What is the true purpose of education? How should teachers guide children? In what direction should they be guided?
With these questions, parents and readers interested in education seek answers in Yes Gunn’s book. In their view, “The significance of Yes Gunn lies in his revelation of the human condition from an educational perspective, raising and seriously considering the ‘Born For What?’ question. What he expresses is exactly the pain of being lost and the joy of victory that humanity faces in the cosmos.”
“He has brought a long-missed thrill to the education sector.” “This book reflects the sincerity and courage of the explorer, showing the twists and joys along the journey.” “The greatness of Yes Gunn lies in his standing in front of the entire painting of life, explaining its full meaning.” “Mr. Ye has enabled his students to live out 120% of their potential.”
Faced with widespread praise from parents and various sectors, Yes Gunn believes his educational process emphasizes “effective” education and puts it into practice. Moreover, each educational plan is tailored for the student after a detailed investigation, ensuring every child has a personalized plan.
So, what kind of educational purpose has he been exploring? In Yes Gunn’s view, education is not about being busy with classes, marking homework, and lecturing students; it’s about helping students find their life goals and become authentic individuals.
The real-life character Youqing in the book undoubtedly posed a challenge for Mr. Ye. Before Youqing, Yes Gunn had also dealt with students suffering from various psychological disorders, often regarded as outliers. However, in Yes Gunn’s view, these students are merely different from the norm, not outcasts; what they lack is a life goal. Moreover, those who consider themselves normal might never find their own goals, which is the true tragedy of life.
To the attendees’ surprise, the organizers also invited a young teacher discovered by Mr. Ye, Liu Ping, who is the “matchmaker” teacher who helped Youqing, the protagonist of the book, find love. In this “incredible” process of providing love assistance, she practiced Yes Gunn’s philosophy of “helping others to achieve self-fulfillment,” aiding Youqing and healing her own depression. The most touching aspect was Youqing, under the guidance of his teachers, maintaining his dignity on the journey to finding love, achieving a state that many ordinary people cannot.
As a co-organizer of this book launch, Tsinghua University Press, with its reputation and expertise in the field of educational publishing, fully supports and empowers the publication and distribution of “Salvation Lies Within.” Chairman Zong Junfeng expressed the hope that through this book, they can aid in education, spread innovative educational concepts, and call for society-wide attention to the mental and physical health of young people. This would allow children to grow up healthily in accordance with their nature, thereby promoting social progress and development. Ms Yang Aichen, the managing editor of “Salvation Lies Within,” revealed that in April last year, Tsinghua University Press adapted the story prototype into a drama titled “Together with love” (与爱同行）and brought it to the stage. Through different forms, it conveys educational content, awakening parents and society to a consensus on the attention to children with autism and psychological disorders.
Reaching Outwards—The Call of Philanthropy
The main organizer of this event, the MOM Don’t Cry Foundation Singapore (MDCF), is an international charity foundation registered in Singapore, founded in 2024 by Ms. Yang Lan, motivated by her personal experiences. The foundation’s funds come from spontaneous donations and support from mothers around the world who are deeply saddened by the current situation of their children. Its goal is to eliminate life tragedies and promote global educational progress by spreading educational miracles and discovering talented educators.
Besides sharing Yes Gunn’s profound educational philosophy and practical experience, another significant goal of this book launch event was to raise funds through charitable donations for children in need of care, supporting those facing challenges in their educational and developmental journeys. The foundation hopes to leverage the power of the community and the transformative power of education to promote fairness and equal opportunities, ensuring that every child can find their direction in life in a warm and caring environment, embarking on their life journey filled with confidence and hope.
At the launch, Yang Lan was the first to share her journey in educating her children. As the mother of five, she experienced despair when facing difficulties and was able to save herself from the mire with the help of Mr. Ye. Having witnessed the miracles of education firsthand, and with the support of her family, she is committed to spreading this care to more friends in need, fully dedicated to building a fortress to protect the mental and physical health of young people.
Wong-Mah Jia Lan, a renowned philanthropist in Singapore, mentioned her support for the education sector in Singapore during her sharing. She has adopted 836 orphans in her lifetime and donated over 27.5 million Singapore dollars to society. Now in her advanced years, Wong-Mah Jia Lan has been involved in charitable work for more than six decades. With her efforts, she has generously supported local universities and called for more people to participate in charity, helping those in need and realizing social value with the correct perspective on wealth.
Daniel Teo, Chairman of Hong How Group in Singapore, shared the importance of family value inheritance within his family legacy, from reflecting on his great-grandfather Lim Loh and his eleventh granduncle, the famous anti-Japanese hero Lim Bo Sheng, to his own philanthropic practices that drive the sustainable development of his family.
According to reports from wealth research institutions, of the global 2.5 trillion US dollars of family wealth, about 1.83 trillion dollars will undergo intergenerational transfer from founders to the next generation by 2030. Zheng Wei, the founder of the NextGen Academy in Singapore, cited this data and referenced the recent succession following the death of the founder of Wahaha, Zong Qinghou, to highlight the importance of cultivating the next generation and investing in education in family legacy. He fully recognized the advantages of a high-quality, resource-intensive education model and hoped to organically integrate Yes Gunn’s educational philosophy with the training methods for the next generation of successors as a strategic move for excellent successor training.
Becoming Stronger—The Magic of Belief
Yes Gunn’s book seems to possess a kind of magic power. During the launch, two parent representatives took the stage to share their emotionally charged stories of how they came to be connected with “Salvation Lies Within.” Hao’s mother, Li Jinrong, recounted the heartbreaking journey she began when her child, at the age of 6, asked, “Mom, what would happen if someone jumped from here (the 9th floor)?” This question marked the start of her struggles with her child’s ADHD. Another mother, Song Ying, who has six children, shared the story of her 19-year-old son, Tony, who weighed 150 kg, was addicted to video games to the point of dropping out of school, and has now, with the help of his teachers, returned to his studies, improved his health, and found his passion. They went through the darkest moments of parenting and found, through reading, the stars that could save themselves and their children, facing all challenges without ever giving up on their children’s education.
The highlight of the entire launch event was Yes Gunn’s passionate recitation of his educational views against the backdrop of the “Game of Thrones” soundtrack, titled “Even if it’s garbage, who can resist?”
Undoubtedly, Yes Gunn is an unconventional educator—his words are fervent, his viewpoints sharp, and his attitude resolute. In his actual educational practice, he seems to have used “magic to defeat magic,” rescuing those children whom the “Prussianized” modern school education system had already given up on and saving their families from collapse and despair.
He declared that his curriculum doesn’t focus on homework tutoring but believes “To change behavior, motivation must first be changed.” His teaching schedule has no concept of time, “Follow my rhythm. So, I can understand well what I’m doing and the kind of people I’m cultivating.”
Yes Gunn stressed the importance of sincerity in education, “I want to educate children who I truly like, and education should eliminate the falsity of human nature, helping them find their life goals.” He believes that life has not just one goal, but usually two major goals: what to do and what not to become. The second goal is constantly adjusting the first. This was how Yes Gunn responded to a live question from a Times Finance and Wisdom journalist. Parents and teachers should together help children discover and find their ideals and goals.
It is the fact that the current education system is involving the extreme competition and exam-oriented approach. The purpose of education is not just to satisfy family needs but also to carry the important tasks of nurturing talent and promoting social harmony and prosperous development. How to cultivate innovative talents capable of facing future challenges, viewing current education from a “simpler is better” perspective, should not be mechanical, rigid, or inflexible. Yes Gunn always emphasizes and insists on first helping students find their life goals, akin to finding a guiding light on the path of educational exploration.
“Born for what?” In his view, life goals are not only necessary for the lift but also essential in facing the challenging in the era of AI. Even Confucius’s principle of “teaching students according to their abilities” proposed two thousand years ago still applies today. However, under the social need for educational equity, how to achieve “education for all without discrimination” and make quality resources benefit more people is the urgent remedy needed for inclusive education. “To illuminate and to achieve self-actualization,” like the spring breeze that nurtures growth and water that wears away stone, is not only Yes Gunn’s personal educational practice motto but also suitable for everyone who sparks educational inspiration.
