Read the red family letters

Author: Wu Qingyan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: To My Dear Sister Chengchi: My heart aches as I arrive in Hengzhou today. I will describe life on the ship—though the life you lead may be different, your heart must surely feel sympathy, for humans are emotional beings, and we, like blooming flowers, are even more so. I dread the roaring sound of turbulent waves, the sparkling moonlight at the bow of the ship, and even the talk of youthful joys and the sorrow of parting among fellow travelers. Sometimes, I ask companions to sing opera for entertainment, but find no joy in it. At other times, I grieve in silence, fearing others will laugh at my lack of revolutionary courage for not shedding tears. In short, these days have been extremely frustrating. Such feelings cannot be expressed in words. Alas! Oh, the demon of love! You have eroded our revolutionary spirit. We are young people with class consciousness, burdened with the great mission of world revolution. Can we be so attached to the deep affection of children? Do we lack any spirit of sacrifice? Absolutely not. We have been deeply trained in Marxism, which has long taught us: "The bourgeoisie has shattered the face of the family, turning familial relationships into mere monetary relations." "The deep affection of children has long been drowned in the icy waters of self-interest." Before private ownership is abolished, all relationships are economic ones. Though we have many romantic relationships, we cannot escape this ruthless, profit-driven capitalist society. Reality tells us that if I were in Changsha with you, my dear, my beloved, embracing you, giving you sweet kisses—though it would be fleeting joy—immediate problems would arise in life. Will you come to? Though there is work, financial issues would not arise, but for us young people together, it wouldn’t be ideal. Whispering sweet nothings, loving each other forever, we would only confuse matters and surely abandon revolutionary work. We would not only betray ourselves but also the Party, and the Party would not tolerate such. Moreover, with a thousand miles of mountains and rivers and poor transportation, once the army moves, new difficulties would emerge. Thinking ahead, the only way out is for us to strive in revolution—to overthrow all old forces and build our new society. Only then can true love be realized, free from economic ties. Dear sister, do not fear the hardships! China, trapped in the depths of hell, will now see sunshine and daylight. It is clear that imperialism, warlords, and all reactionary forces are nearing their graves. Even we, worth no more than a few coins, will become the masters of the world. Strive! Strive! Forward! Forward! Our destination will surely be reached! Dear sister, I know you are reluctant to leave me and that you are sorrowful, but driven by revolution, we cannot say much—it is simply impossible. I hope our army advances to the front, or at least returns in August or September to see you again. Perhaps our problems can be resolved then. Reassure yourself. Do not often think of me. Go and strive in revolutionary work—that is the true way to love me. As for me—I will always love you. My actions can be said to be the actions of the Party. I am not boasting—I no longer smoke cigarettes, and my bad habits can be...