To Zhou Wennan[1]

(May 12, 1950)

Comrade Wennan:

Your letter has been received, and it brings me much comfort. Regarding the matter of bringing your mother to the Northeast to live together with you, I think it is a good idea. I can write to the authorities in Hunan to arrange for her travel expenses. However, given your mother's advanced age, whether it would be safe for her to travel alone without anyone to look after her on the journey, and whether it would be more appropriate for you to go to Hunan yourself to escort her to the Northeast—please consider this and let me know. If you go to fetch her yourself, you can take with you the letter I will write to Hunan. I am returning the attachment[2] to you. Jiang Qing and the others are all well. Wishing you good health.

Mao Zedong
May 12, 1950

[1] Zhou Wennan was formerly the wife of Mao Zetan, Mao Zedong's younger brother. At the time, she served as the chief judge of the Criminal Division of the Shenyang Municipal People's Court.
[2] This refers to a letter from Zhou Chenxuan to her daughter Zhou Wennan, in which she described her situation of living alone in Shaoshan, Hunan, with no one to care for her.