Letter to Tan Shiying [1] (August 31, 1950)  Dear Brother Shiying:  I have received and read your letter of May, and I am deeply grateful for the long poem you so kindly sent me.
I feel very much for you in your difficult living conditions.
At present, those who work in institutions under the People’s Government or teach in schools receive very meager salaries, which make it hard to support large families.
Moreover, one must attend a suitable school to study Marxist theory before one can fall into step with others and adopt a common style of work.
Judging from your circumstances, the best course would be to find a job close to home; otherwise, you would have to go far away to take part in a short-term training course.
This would mean enduring great hardships and making it even more difficult to provide for your family.
I wonder whether you have the resolve to do so?
With respectful greetings,  Mao Zedong  August 31  Printed from the manuscript.
Notes  [1] Tan Shiying was a classmate of Mao Zedong in his youth.