Letter to Xu Zhixing

(January 26, 1956)

Brother Zhixing:

Your kind letter of October 8 was received long ago, for which I am most grateful. I apologize for the delay in replying. It is now winter vacation. If you are willing, you may come to Beijing for a visit (go to Zhongnanhai and ask for Ye Zilong [2]). During the summer vacation, you may go to Shaoshan.

Best wishes!

Mao Zedong
January 26, 1956

[1] Xu Zhixing became acquainted with Mao Zedong in Wuhan in the winter of 1919. In 1926, at Mao Zedong's invitation, he went to work in the Central Propaganda Department of the Kuomintang in Guangzhou. At the time of this letter, he was teaching at Gezhi Middle School in Shanghai.
[2] Ye Zilong was then serving as Mao Zedong's secretary.