Letter to Madam Song[1]
(May 8, 1950)

Madam Song:

Your letter from last December has been received. The circumstances of Comrade Mao Zeqing[2] are not very clear; I only know that he was working in the Northeast, and I have heard that he has passed away due to illness. He was a hardworking comrade, and it is a great pity. This is my reply. Wishing you good health!

Mao Zedong
May 8

Notes
[1] Madam Song, namely Mao Songshi (1918–1960), was from Jiangshe Town, Xiangtan City, Hunan Province, a peasant. She was the wife of Mao Zeqing, a clansman of Mao Zedong.
[2] Mao Zeqing (1911–1947), originally from Shaoshan, Hunan. He joined the Communist Party of China in 1938 and served as an education staff officer at the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University and as chief of staff of the North Manchurian Military Sub-district in Hejiang Province, among other posts.