My ninth brother will live forever. Mao Zedong respectfully mourns.

[1] Wang Jifan, Mao Zedong’s maternal cousin, was also Mao’s teacher at the First Normal
School. On the afternoon of July 11, 1972, Wang Jifan died of illness in Beijing. On the
afternoon of July 13, a grand memorial service was held in Beijing. His student, Hunan
Provincial Vice Governor Zhou Shizhao, delivered a eulogy. Mao Zedong presented a wreath
with the inscription “Ninth Brother, live forever, Mao Zedong Respectfully mourns” on the
ribbon.