To Mao Anying and Mao Anqing

(August 26, 1939)

Anying and Anqing, my dear sons,

I received your last letter and was overjoyed!

How have you been lately? Have you made progress?

I am fine and have done some reading, though not much, and I feel rather unsatisfied in my heart, unlike you who are in a time of dedicated study.

For you and all the young comrades, I have asked Comrade Lin Boqu[1] to buy a batch of books and send them to you. I wonder if you have received them? Let me know in your letter. I will write more next time.

Wishing you growth, progress, and happiness!

Mao Zedong

August 26, 1939

[1] Lin Boqu was then the representative of the Chinese Communist Party in Xi’an. Mao Zedong asked Lin Boqu to buy a batch of books and send them to the children studying in Moscow, but unfortunately the books were lost in transit.