Letter to Mao Yuju [1] (July 11, 1952)  Brother Yuju: I have received all your letters since my return and am greatly relieved. There is also a letter replying to Zou Puxun [2]; please forward it on my behalf.  I have just received a letter from Mao Zelian [3], informing me that Sixth Aunt [4] has passed away and that he himself has broken his leg in a fall. I wonder what the actual situation is—does his leg still have any chance of healing? He did not mention needing money, so I am unsure whether he is managing to get by. When you have time, could you look into this matter and let me know?  I also received a letter from Brother Zhang Youcheng [ ]; it says that there is a shortage of grain and that pork prices are very low in our hometown. I wonder if conditions have improved by now. If it is convenient, please do tell me how things are going back home.  In order to learn more about the situation in our village, I plan to invite Li Shuqing [ ] and Zou Puxun to come to Beijing for a visit after the autumn harvest. Would you be so kind as to seek their views and inform me accordingly?  With best regards,  Mao Zedong  July 11  Printed from the manuscript.  Notes  [1] Mao Yuju was Mao Zedong’s elder cousin and his private-school teacher in childhood.  [2] Zou Puxun was Mao Zedong’s classmate and neighbor during his private-school days.  [3] Mao Zelian was Mao Zedong’s younger cousin.
  [4] Sixth Aunt was Mao Zelian’s mother.  [ ] Zhang Youcheng was a friend of Mao Zedong from his youth.  [6] Li Shuqing was from Xiangtan, Hunan Province. Before the Xinhai Revolution, he was an enlightened teacher in Shaoshan, and Mao Zedong often visited his home to read books and seek advice. After the founding of the People’s Republic, he served as a member of the Hunan Provincial Institute for Historical and Cultural Research.