Letter to Mao Yuju[1]

(May 26, 1938)

Brother Yuju:

Your letter of May 10 received and read. It is best that Tan Jiyu[2] does not come. A small sum has been sent to Chuxiong[3] and the others; a little assistance can be provided from time to time hereafter. Please urge them to be assiduous and frugal. It is very good that Mr. Zhou[4] stays in Shaoshan; he should be regarded as one of the family, with no distinction between this one and that. That is all in reply. Wishing you seasonal peace!

Younger Brother
Mao Zedong
May 26

Yuanyao[5] and the others are doing very well here.

[1] Mao Yuju, Mao Zedong’s elder male cousin and his private tutor during childhood.
[2] Tan Jiyu, a relative of Mao Zedong. In 1938 he wrote to Mao Zedong requesting to go to Yan’an.
[3] Chuxiong, i.e., Mao Chuxiong, son of Mao Zetan. At the time he was living with his maternal grandmother in Shaoshanchong. He went to Yan’an in 1945 and died a martyr in 1946.
[4] Refers to Mao Chuxiong’s maternal uncle, Zhou Zuyu. At the time he was living in Mao Zedong’s former residence in Shaoshanchong.
[5] Yuanyao, i.e., Mao Yuanyao, nephew of Mao Yuju. At the time he was working at the Secretariat of the Central Military Commission in Yan’an.