To Comrade Old Man Xu:  You were my teacher nearly ten years ago, and you remain my teacher still; no doubt you will continue to be so in the years ahead. When the revolution suffered setbacks, many Communist Party members abandoned the Party, some even going over to the enemy. Yet you joined the Party in the autumn of 1917, adopting an attitude of the utmost militancy. From that time until today, throughout our long and arduous struggle, you have shown greater initiative, greater courage in the face of hardship, and greater humility in learning new things than many younger comrades. Terms like “old age,” “declining physical and mental strength,” or “obstacles and difficulties” have all been rendered powerless before you. In contrast, for certain others, they have served merely as excuses for timidity and inaction.

You are a man of vast knowledge who nevertheless always feels his own understanding to be inadequate; whereas there are those who possess but a “half-bucketful” of knowledge yet insist on making a great show of it. What you think in your heart, that is what you say aloud and put into practice; whereas in some individuals there lurks, in some hidden corner of their minds, a measure of moral impurity. You are ever at the side of the masses; while others seem to find pleasure in distancing themselves from them. Everywhere you demonstrate yourself to be a model of obedience to Party and revolutionary discipline, whereas others appear to regard discipline simply as a restraint imposed upon others, one from which they themselves are exempt. For you, the revolution comes first, work comes first, and the interests of others come first; whereas for certain others, personal aggrandizement comes first, rest comes first, and self-interest comes first. You consistently choose the most difficult tasks and never shirk responsibility, while others prefer only the easy ones and, when confronted with responsibility, seek every possible means to evade it.

In all these respects, I deeply admire you, wish to continue learning from you, and hope that all our Party comrades may likewise learn from you. It is on the occasion of your sixtieth birthday that I am writing to extend to you my warmest congratulations. May you enjoy robust health, may you live long, and may you remain a beacon and exemplar for all revolutionary party members and for the entire people.  With revolutionary salutations!