Letter to Mao Yimin
(May 8, 1950)

Source: HQ (Aug. 16, 1982), 2. Other Chinese Texts: XHYB, 454 (Sept. x0]
1982), 76; Shuxin, pp. 364-365. 4

Comrade Yimin:'

Your letter of January 3 has been received. Thank you for your good wishes
and for giving me so many details about the conditions in our native village. 4

The poor people in our home village lead a very hard life, and life is even
harder for the families of [revolutionary] martyrs. For the time being, all the ‘i
can do is be a bit patient, and things could become somewhat better after th¢
land reform. By then the People’s Government may also give some assistan y
to the people such as loans, and the people will be able to gradually maki :
improvements in their lives.

Taking care of the families of martyrs is a national issue. There are sev
million households of martyrs’ families throughout the country, and they af
have to be taken care of. It would not be wise for us to give special and indiq
vidual attention to a few places. Nonetheless, with regard to the people in 6
greatest difficulties, the local people’s government should, during the time of
rent reduction and land reform, or in the in-between-season months,” give
them as much attention and care as possible.

It is very good that you are working in our home village. Your can write
me often and tell me what is going on in the village.

Please give my regards to the comrades in the village. I sincerely hope tha
everyone will work hard and make progress. 4

In reply, and with best wishes for your good health,

Mao Zedong
May 8, 1950

Notes

1. Mao Yimin was a native of Mao’s own home village, Shaoshan of Xiangtan xian, Hunaly
Province. He joined the CPC in 1938 and, prior to Liberation, worked in the Shaoshan distri
committee of the CPC. Shortly after Liberation (i.e., about the time of this letter,) he worked in}
the Huanglong district committee of the Xiangtan xian committee of the CPC. He died in 1968.
(Most of the above information is in a footnote in the HQ source.)

2. The Chinese term here is ging huang bujie (hiatus between green and yellow) which refers t
the gap in the agricultural season between the time when the crop is still in its seedling stage}
(green) and the time of ripening and harvesting (yellow). It is often taken to mean a time of short-}

APRIL — JUNE 1950 / 85

of means of consumption (i.e., before the crop can be harvested) and, by extension, a time of
age

shortage of enerBy-